What MUST HAVE upgrades should I get for my new AR?

[v0lcom13sn0w]

definitely a peq15 box and a set of panos

 

[Member 53328]

If the recoil of a 5.56 or .223 is a problem for a shooter, to the point they need a comp/brake, I think we have bigger issues at hand.

 

[Diamondback]

I did an instructor class a couple years ago for some Thurston County LE agencies, and one attendee had a 11.5 barreled rifle with a comp. It cracked the loudest I ever heard. Sometimes one can stand behind the shooter to lighten the concussion, not this time. Needless to say, I gave him options...take it off, or change rifles.

A few days after the class, I contacted some hearing specialists and went over the above scenario with them. Their response...even though you may wear both plugs and muffs, the concussion alone is still able to damage your hearing.

Henceforth, I do not allow comps on my range or anywhere I'm hosted to instruct.

If you're having problems with recoil, there are ways to get an AR to recoil less and flat without a comp.

I'll take a flash suppressor over a comp any day.

Does your experience say the same about linears too? I was looking at one for a bedside pistol, but now I'm not so sure.

 

[Member 53328]

Does your experience say the same about linears too? I was looking at one for a bedside pistol, but now I'm not so sure.

I'm no instructor but if you want a comp the linear would be your best bet. I prefer a flash hider. Something simple like the A2. Surefire and a few other companies make some nice 3 prong flash hiders. The ideal way to go is a suppressor. Shooting inside a house/room is loud. I would try and mitigate it as much as possible. That's just my .02cents though.

 

[kukusya]

I'm getting my first AR soon. Gonna try to get a Sig M400. I wanted to hear some thoughts on what I should be upgrading first. Obviously I have a budget, but simple things I can do myself that will help the performance of the gun would be appreciated. Also any tips for a first time AR owner?? What would you add to this gun to make it better? Let me know make/model/reason why of attachment so I can look into it.
So far this is what I was thinking:
- Burris TAC30 with fast fire 3 optics
- Vg6 gamma muzzle brake
- folding vertical fore grip
- extra mags
(Pic because it's cool)

View attachment 980637

Get sling, few mags, good irons and ammo ammo ammo. Train train train you will find your peace after 2-3k rounds in what upgrade need it. Buy plywood and 2x4 to build shooting barrier

 

[Diamondback]

I'm no instructor but if you want a comp the linear would be your best bet. I prefer a flash hider. Something simple like the A2. Surefire and a few other companies make some nice 3 prong flash hiders. The ideal way to go is a suppressor. Shooting inside a house/room is loud. I would try and mitigate it as much as possible. That's just my .02cents though.

I don't particularly *want* a comp, but NFA is a bloody nuisance and I'm looking at 10.3's and 12.5's. Right now my briefcase 10.3 has an AFAB with an Indian Creek blast-shield to go around it as soon as I get the bayo lug lopped off...

 

[Member 53328]

I don't particularly *want* a comp, but NFA is a bloody nuisance and I'm looking at 10.3's and 12.5's. Right now my briefcase 10.3 has an AFAB with an Indian Creek blast-shield to go around it as soon as I get the bayo lug lopped off...

I am not in the camp of carrying an AR15 pistol as an EDC or truck gun, in a bag or brief case. I know a lot of people talk about doing so though. I am no help in this case. I have a suppressor on my 11.5 SBR. The suckers are loud when you start going that short.

 

[DirectDrive]

I don't have one, but I have noticed that the BRT linear gets good reviews and is popular with hunters.

Review: Black River Tactical Covert Comp

I turned to the Covert Comp from Black River Tactical as a bit of a last resort. I tried several a handful of other linear compensators and found that, while they did direct the blast and flame for…

jerkingthetrigger.com

 

[clanhanson]

I can tell you that the coolest AR setups are minimalist (except all black is out and is visible from a mile away anyway). Don't go hog wild with unnecessary gadgets and gizmos and don't set it up for night fighting unless you intend to utilize those features. Don't buy cheap mounts, they'll chew up your rails. Invest in a good torque driver and follow manufacturer recommendations. Pick up some Permatex Orange, avoid outdated blue liquid loctite. Don't even look at red loctite. I would pick up some Slate Black Industries rail covers and perhaps SVG. Try stuff other than Magpul, especially MOE. Don't paint your rifle without carefully and thoroughly taping off ingress points, pins, notch markings, serials, etc. And finally, do not under any circumstances get a dust cover with a lame quote or image on it. Use a milspec and be done with it.

 

[Member 53328]

Spray paint. It makes you shoot faster. Not as many likes on Instagram though…. Haha.

 

[Diamondback]

I am not in the camp of carrying an AR15 pistol as an EDC or truck gun, in a bag or brief case. I know a lot of people talk about doing so though. I am no help in this case. I have a suppressor on my 11.5 SBR. The suckers are loud when you start going that short.

TBH, the 10.3 isn't an EDC either, it's in the "heavy case" for longer-term Away From Home or Dirtbags Getting Frisky situations. Normal is just the "light case" and my on-body EDC 1911.

 

[AFS]

I'm getting my first AR soon. Gonna try to get a Sig M400. I wanted to hear some thoughts on what I should be upgrading first. Obviously I have a budget, but simple things I can do myself that will help the performance of the gun would be appreciated. Also any tips for a first time AR owner?? What would you add to this gun to make it better? Let me know make/model/reason why of attachment so I can look into it.
So far this is what I was thinking:
- Burris TAC30 with fast fire 3 optics
- Vg6 gamma muzzle brake
- folding vertical fore grip
- extra mags
(Pic because it's cool)

View attachment 980637

I'll echo what others have already said - shoot it and get comfortable with it. Use that time to determine what changes will make you more efficient and accurate with it. The biggest and most important upgrade you can make is training. Ammo and magazines don't hurt either!!

 

[RobMa]

I'm getting my first AR soon. Gonna try to get a Sig M400. I wanted to hear some thoughts on what I should be upgrading first. Obviously I have a budget, but simple things I can do myself that will help the performance of the gun would be appreciated. Also any tips for a first time AR owner?? What would you add to this gun to make it better? Let me know make/model/reason why of attachment so I can look into it.
So far this is what I was thinking:
- Burris TAC30 with fast fire 3 optics
- Vg6 gamma muzzle brake
- folding vertical fore grip
- extra mags
(Pic because it's cool)

View attachment 980637

Shoot it at first, get the feel of it. You will find you will get a better idea of what you might want to change before wasting a bunch of money trying different things...

 

[clanhanson]

That is a good price for Lancers, but the next time you turn around Midway will be back up to $20ea.
Botach typically has the lowest every day price on Lancer mags.

Lancers are actually better than Pmags because of their integrated steel feed lips and stiffer body material.
Pmags are fine for 5.56 as are Lancers, but Lancers excel for 458 SOCOM, 300BLK and for longer service life.

My top three AR mag ranking would be :

1) Okay SureFeed (USGI)
2) Lancer (best polymer)
3) Pmag (best budget polymer)

Testing of pmags vs lancer mags has shown that polymer feed lipped mags are more desirable. Pmags fail visually and defects are easy to spot. Lancers or mags with steel lips can deform slightly and may look functional but may not be when they're needed. InRange TV has a good discussion about them.

 

[DirectDrive]

Testing of pmags vs lancer mags has shown that polymer feed lipped mags are more desirable. Pmags fail visually and defects are easy to spot. Lancers or mags with steel lips can deform slightly and may look functional but may not be when they're needed. InRange TV has a good discussion about them.

I would not take that discussion seriously.
That is a very strange conclusion and it sounds like it was done by a Pmag fanboy.

 

[3MTA3]

I would not take that discussion seriously.
That is a very strange conclusion and it sounds like it was done by a Pmag fanboy.

A while back I saw a YT where several mags were tested the same way and this did come up as did issues with the interface between plastic and metal collecting crud. It wasn't done by a fanboy, just someone doing an evaluation. The tests were pretty extreme and all mags of all types had relative strengths and weaknesses. I personally wouldn't have issues with a Lancer.

IMO Brownell's hold up the best, but they are heavier and more expensive.

 

[Member 53328]

There's a reason the military uses Pmags. Just saying.

 

[Cosmoline]

There's a reason the military uses Pmags. Just saying.

I like my pmags. I don't know why there seems to be any trepidation about them. If it holds ammo and works, why complain?

 

[Member 53328]

I like my pmags. I don't know why there seems to be any trepidation about them. If it holds ammo and works, why complain?

There is nothing wrong with pmags. If they work in combat for the Marine Corps, I am pretty sure they will work on a static range….

 

[clanhanson]

I would not take that discussion seriously.
That is a very strange conclusion and it sounds like it was done by a Pmag fanboy.

Actually military. The steel on my lancers is thin and flexes, I can see it deforming and causing feed issues. They're magazines for Instagram, not duty. I'm no pmag fanboy... the only 5.56 polymer magazine I like is the Steyr AUG waffle mag. Indestructible (and polymer feed lipped).