Top Wire Management Devices for AR-15 Accessories

There are some pretty cool accessories for AR-15 rifles these days, but some of them have wires that get in the way. The most popular accessory that uses a wire is the weapon-mounted light. It’s nice to have a small remote pressure pad conveniently located under your thumb, but what do you do with the wire?

It can stick up and get in the way when shooting or catch on things when moving your rifle around. There are many different ways people control the wires on their lights, lasers, and other accessories. I’ve used zip ties for years, and others like to use ranger bands, tape, or some type of handguard wrap.

So, what is the best way to manage wires on your AR-15 rifle? Let’s explore the options so you can decide which method is best for you. Here are some ideas I’ve used in the past.

GrovTec Rail Wrap

A rail wrap is designed to protect your hands from heat as the barrel makes the handguard hot. But if you are going to have a wrap around your handguard, why not use it for wire management, too? My GrovTec rail wrap works great for keeping wires out of the way, and it has a bungy for tucking your sling into.

When running wires under a rail/handguard wrap, it’s easiest to run the wire where you need it first and then install the wrap over it. You can run wires under a wrap once it’s on, but it’s a little trickier. You can also use small zip ties in combination with a rail wrap if needed.

Zip Ties and Ranger Bands

Using zip ties to control wires is one of the cheapest and most popular methods. Many lights even come with small zip ties for securing the extra wire to your rifle. Many like to weave zip ties through the various slots on their handguard, which is fine, but watch out for the barrel as it can get hot enough to melt the zip ties. This also goes for your gas tube as well.

You also want to make sure the zip tie’s connection doesn’t get in the way of your grip. Zip ties are low-profile, but that square connector is annoying when it falls right where your hand wants to rest. I would keep all zip ties loose until you have them all on. Once you have tested your grip and ensured nothing is in the way, you can tighten them down.

Ranger bands are big, thick rubber bands. I like to use them to secure my sling when my rifle is not being used, but they also work great for holding wires out of the way. You can buy an assortment pack with several sizes for a few dollars. I keep plenty of these on hand because you can always find a use for them.

Tape

There are many different kinds of tape people use on their rifles. I’ve seen people use duct, electrical, and sports tape. Some companies make tape just for rifles, but it’s not much different from old-fashioned hockey tape. I won’t tell you what kind of tape you should use—it’s your rifle. But here are some things to consider.

Electrical tape works fine for a while, but it loses its stickiness over time. Hot, cold, moisture, and dust all turn electrical tape into an ineffective mess after a while. It also leaves residue all over your handguard that’s hard to remove. But, if you need a quick fix, it will work great for a while, it just doesn’t look that good.

Duct tape works for everything, at least for a while, because it’s duct tape! But the downside is that it looks even worse than electrical tape and will turn dark colors when heated up. As the handguard gets hot, duct tape will become somewhat gooey underneath. Both duct tape and electrical tape are slippery and do not work well for gripping.

I’ve found that grip tape works best for handguards. Grip tape is durable and made to withstand sweat and the constant wear from your hands. I know a lot of people who crisscross it around their vertical grip to improve the grip on their rifles. It also works great for keeping your wires out of the way.

Magpul Wire Control Kit

Magpul’s new wire control kit (WCK) is a very low-profile M-LOK attachment that holds up to two wires in place. This works great when you need to run wires in different directions. You can make a 45- or 90-degree turn with the WCK and snap the wire in place. Each kit comes with six devices that use only one M-LOK slot. You can use them separately or line two or more up for a longer run of wire.

Once you have the wire where you want it, attaching it is as easy as simply pushing it into the M-LOK slot. However, pay attention to wire placement because the WCK is not easy to remove once installed. To remove one, you will need to place an Allen wrench or some other type of tool behind the device (inside the handguard) and push on it from the back. Sometimes, they come off easily, and other times, I’ve had to fiddle with them for a while.

Nightstick Wire Management

Nightstick sells two sizes of wire management “clamps” that work great. One style attaches to the Picatinny rail, and the other uses an M-LOK attachment. Both are basically small metal boxes that allow you to run the wire through them and then close them on top of the wire. Grooves on all sides allow the wire to enter and leave the box from any side you need.

Many of their long-gun lights come with a wire management clamp, but you can also purchase them separately. I like using these because they are easy to open and adjust when needed. When you purchase them separately, they come in packs of two.

Which one is best for you?

There are plenty of options, and everyone has their preference. If you are new to adding accessories and managing the wires on your rifle, I would try a few out. The most expensive option is the GrovTec rail wrap, which costs $50. Next is the Magpul WCK, which costs $20. Everything else is less than $20, making it easy to try out. Everyone has their preference, so have some fun and try a few different ways to see which one works best for you.