{"id":71861,"date":"2021-02-15T07:00:05","date_gmt":"2021-02-15T13:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunmagwarehouse.com\/blog\/?p=71861"},"modified":"2022-06-21T16:09:54","modified_gmt":"2022-06-21T22:09:54","slug":"seven-must-have-ar-15-accessories","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunmagwarehouse.com\/blog\/seven-must-have-ar-15-accessories\/","title":{"rendered":"Seven Must-Have AR-15 Accessories"},"content":{"rendered":"

In AR-15 the A stands for Accessories!<\/span><\/h2>\n

If you are reading this I probably don\u2019t have to explain to you that the AR15 is an excellent gun. One of the more attractive aspects of the AR platform is the ability to customize and accessorize the gun. The customization and accessorization of the AR-15 allows the user to tailor the gun to their specific needs. It also allows us to take the AR-15 from formidable to quite possibly the ultimate defensive firearm.<\/span><\/p>\n

At the same time, for duty and defensive use, the AR-15 is a formidable tool\u2014right out of the box. Add a reliable magazine (<\/span>MAGPUL<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Lancer<\/span><\/a> are my favorites) and 28 rounds of a good soft point defensive round and you are good to go for a wide variety of circumstances.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"AR-15
An AR-15 handguard can have a lot of work to do. In addition to my sling attachment, which holds the weight of the whole package, the handguard is the home for my REIN weapon light and my laser. The handguard must hold the laser firmly in place. Remember, this laser is an aiming device.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Let\u2019s face it though, adding some accessories to your M-4 can make a huge difference when it comes to efficiency.<\/span><\/p>\n

To that end, I have compiled a list of what I think are the seven most important AR-15 accessories. I have tried to compile a list in order from most important to least important. Yup, we could argue about the order all day long. Some folks might find very good reasons related to their context to tweak or completely rearrange the order of importance. They aren\u2019t wrong, and neither are you. You do you. <\/span><\/p>\n

I think this list and its order applies to most people most of the time. Use it as a starting point as you decide what the most important accessories are for your defensive or duty AR-15.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. An M-LOK Handguard<\/span><\/h2>\n

When I compiled this list of AR-15 accessories, I did it with defensive and duty use in mind. To me, that means reliability above all else. Your gun needs to run and all the accessories need to be in place and ready to go. <\/span><\/p>\n

When I build out an AR-15 for serious use, it gets an M-LOK handguard. This is what the majority of accessories are going to attach to. Your sling, weapon-mounted light, and your laser (if you have one) will all mount to your handguard. They need a solid home, and M-LOK has become the standard.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Victor
One of the biggest disadvantages of some of my must-have AR-15 accessories is the fact that they live out on the end of my rifle. This makes my Victor SBR a bit front heavy. More push-ups needed.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you already have an AR15 with an M-LOK handguard, move on to number two unless you want to build your ego and feel good about the choices you\u2019ve made.<\/span><\/p>\n

What do I look for In a handguard?<\/span><\/h3>\n

When I select an M-LOK handguard I seriously lean toward a free float, aluminum handguard with a solid attachment to the upper receiver. <\/span><\/p>\n

Can polymer get you by? <\/span>Probably, but the advantages of a free-floated aluminum handguard are too many to ignore. <\/span><\/p>\n

The security of your expensive gear is important. You need everything to be right where it is supposed to be when your safety depends on it. A free float aluminum handguard is also going to increase your accuracy by allowing your barrel to point regardless of the pressure on the handguard and making sure any additional kit is pointed where you originally pointed it.<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve never been disappointed with the offerings from BCM or Midwest Industries when it comes to M-LOK  free float handguards. You won\u2019t regret the upgrade.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. A Quality Two-Point Sling<\/span><\/h2>\n

I recently sat in a deer stand with Joe Weyer, the man behind <\/span>Alliance Police Tr<\/span>a<\/span>ining Facility<\/span>, and among other things we were back and forth about what the most important AR-15 accessories are. It was a lively discussion. We didn\u2019t shoot any deer that day\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe contends that a rifle just isn\u2019t a rifle unless it has a functional sling. So far Joe and I are in lockstep.<\/span><\/p>\n

A good sling serves many purposes. It can provide a way to carry your AR-15 with no hands either in front of you or behind. It helps to maintain control of the gun if you end up in a physical struggle over the weapon. A sling provides additional stability for shooting and allows you to easily take your support hand off the gun to do work. The list of how a sling can help you do work is long.<\/span><\/p>\n

A rifle isn\u2019t a rifle without a sling.<\/span><\/h3>\n
\"Springfield
I really like my Springfield SAINT Victor SBR and its set up. This gun includes all 7 of the upgrades I recommend for a fighting AR-15. The best part about the Victor is it ships with a solid M-LOK handguard from the factory. This is where my Defense Mechanisms front QD attaches.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In Joe\u2019s opinion, a sling is so integral in the use of the rifle that it is actually a part of the rifle and so there is no need to mention it as an accessory. He has a point here. You notice that I haven\u2019t included a bolt as an accessory. An AR-15 just isn\u2019t a rifle without a bolt\u2026 or a sling.<\/span><\/p>\n

On the other hand, I\u2019m guessing there are folks here that may have not even considered that a sling (and knowing how to use it) is so dang important. This is why I think it should be on the list.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you are in that group, get yourself a sling.<\/span><\/p>\n

My favorite, by far, is the <\/span>Rifle Sling from Defense Mechanisms<\/span> secured to that handy handguard and the buttstock, the sling is adjustable, versatile, stow-able and, functional.<\/span><\/p>\n