Caleb's Picks: Top 5 Upgrades for Your AR-15
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- Опубліковано 24 лип 2024
- Brownells Gun Tech™ Caleb Savant tells us his picks for the Top 5 upgrades to get better performance from your AR-15. These tips are geared toward the new AR-15 owner, but there may be some nuggets for the old hands as well. There are plenty more upgrades you can make, but these are the top five that'll give you the most noticeable performance improvements. Good news: these upgrades require little-to-no gunsmithing.
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:30 Sights/Optic
2:23 Trigger
3:39 Pistol Grip
4:39 Stock
6:24 Handguard
9:19 Wildcard
(1) SIGHTS / OPTIC: If you're on a tight budget, start with just a set of flip-up sights. When you get an optic, those flip-ups will be great backup sights. You can go with a red dot optic or a 1x to 6x or 8x scope, called an LPVO (low-power variable optic). Which you choose will depend on your needs. Most optics come with a mount that clamps directly to your rifle's receiver rail. An old-style carry-handle rifle will require a special adapter to mount your optic (Brownells sells them). Does your rifle have an A2 front sight tower? You CAN still put an optic on it, with a few limitations.
(2) TRIGGER: The stock "mil-spec" AR-15 trigger is pretty gritty. It gets the job done, but it's not meant for precision shooting. For a modest investment, you can get a replacement trigger with a WAY better pull. There are even one-piece, drop-in trigger modules from companies like Timney, Wilson Combat, Rise Armament, and Triggertech that give your AR an instant trigger job.
(3) PISTOL GRIP: The basic A2-type grip is OK, but you can easily replace it with a grip that better fits your hand and shooting style. Magpul and other companies offer ergonomically enhanced pistol grips that give you a more comfortable, more secure hold on the gun, which will help you shoot it better.
(4) STOCK: Most factory AR-15s come with a basic M4 carbine type adjustable buttstock. It works, but it's pretty bare bones. An inexpensive replacement like the Magpul MOE® stock will get you a much more comfortable cheekweld and better control. The even more comfortable B5 Systems SOPMOD stock has internal storage and more sling-attachment options.
(5) HANDGUARD: You really can't easily mount a light, laser sight, vertical foregrip, or other accessories to the simple plastic M4 carbine handguard that comes with many basic AR-15s. Magpul offers snap-on handguards with M-LOK® slots for mounting accessories, or you can go with an all-aluminum snap-on handguard with four M1913 Picatinny rails (Brownells carries one by Daniel Defense). Then there's a huge variety of free-floating handguards with a full-length Picatinny rail on top and M-LOK® slots on the sides and bottom. You will have to get out a wrench or two to install one of these 'guards.
Finally, Caleb has a SIXTH upgrade he strongly recommends for getting more from your AR-15: PRACTICE. Put in time at the range, take some classes, improve your own physical skills, and see how much better that rifle shoots! - Спорт
The fun part is when you’ve upgraded enough parts that you can build another rifle from the old parts. 😎
And the fun begins again! I love it
Seeds of guns. Plant a seed (extra trigger) in a box in the closet and poof a yr later it's a new weapon
Been there done that!😁
Lol I assembled and rattle can painted a 12.5 strictly out of leftover parts, and that thing keeps ticking like a Timex! I love that gun.😂
@@kwiturbitchin5277 YEP, me too!
“I’m not going to give any names”
Magpul, Brownells, Midwest,..
😁😉
#1 sights
#2 sling
#3 light
Don't even own an ar-15 but I use these videos for my Tarkov kits.
I accept that. Mechanic Actual, out.
I would add perhaps the most important advice: don't overdue it with the upgrades! I have seen far too many people add too much crap onto their AR's effectively making them ineffective in a gunfight. Most of these are carbines and are designed to be simple, light, and nimble. I have met far to many people that once they show up to a shoot I feel like a drill sergeant pulling unneeded shit out of their bags (off of their guns) to get them ready.
Good thing there aren't too many gunfights to be had, eh?
It's very easy to overcomplicate the AR-15 platform and I'm not trying to sound like some old school dude because I'll tell you I just bought my first one this past january. A Sig Sauer M400 Moe classic. I think that's the name of it. Anyway all I did to it was remove the rear flip up sight and I put a carry handle on it that's it. It's an all-around excellent rifle. I got the iron sights set up perfectly for me. I do have a red/green optic that I can put on it. Not for magnification purposes. And I am currently building a 24 inch that I'm going to try to use for longer distances 600 plus yards. All I'm putting on that is a nice big booming magnification optic and I'll probably put iron sights kicked off at a 45. And that's it. For now. I've been contemplating an AR pistol. But I mean the Sig has a 16 inch barrel it's not that bad maneuvering inside with. But then again everybody's got an opinion and a purpose for their weapon. Anyway thanks for reading my ramp. Stay safe and God bless 🙏🔥🏴🇺🇸
@@SouthOfSanity79 I would add a weapon light for sure.
Just built my first one, have shot a handful of them but never owned one. I bought a red dot but I'm not even installing it until I get comfortable with my cheap palmetto setup and irons. I want to be proficient with it in base form so that as I add things I can actually tell what makes a difference. Range time is was more important than tacticool shit.
I agree it's just like my dad told me about fishing lures some lures are meant to catch the fisher not the fish. But on the other hand unless you ARE a drill or an instructor teaching a course than in what setting would you feel it was your duty to walk up to someone on the shooting range and start stripping their firearm? If someone is lawfully and safely enjoying their second right it's none of your business what they have on their gun and l. If someone came up to me and started lecturing me let alone removing things from my rifle I kindly tell them to f*ck off. No disrespect
Great suggestions. One easy upgrade not mentioned here is a better charging handle. I tend to go for ones with wider handles to give me more leverage.
Not so much the whole charging handle but at least an extended latch. Went through several different types before finding one that did its desired job WITHOUT snagging clothes or tangling slings. Don't recall the brand of my fav but its similar to the ones by Rise or Strike.
I like upgrade #6 the best. It's what I'm doing now. Thanks Caleb.
That was my new year's resolution. Get training. Got a rifle, pistol, and medical class so far this year. Definitely recommend.
Once I discovered the A5 style buffer set up from VLTOR it has been one of my favorite upgrades.
#6 is actually the most important (and most overlooked) on the list!
Sig MSR Red Dot - $69
Less than almost every set of iron sights available.
Sig Romeo5 has been my go to. I haven't had one fail yet... But I trust irons more tbh. If I go budget optic, I will use back up irons as well.
Exactly
I have both, and love both. Romeo 5 is worth the extra $.
Red dot, sling, ambi CH, ambi / 45 safety, save for a good light. Solid front sight is just honorable mention. That’s my list.
#6 is my favorite! A few tips I've gotten at my old age, from wiser men.. "If you can shoot a glock trigger, you can shoot anything else better" .... "Guns are just tools. And tools should feel good in your hands. The tools you LEARN with will always feel the best" and "Guns are like motorcycles. They are 100% safe until you "think" you have them mastered". That last one relates well to many things. I have been in construction for 35 years and seen more "stupid" mistakes by VERY skilled tradesmen than I care to remember, just "in a hurry" or "done this a million times" moment.
Complacency get people killed.
I pretty much agree. I go one further.....if you can shoot a double action revolver well,,,you can shoot even a Glock with a New York trigger. Just my experience. Practice and more practice. You can overcome a bad trigger but you will NEVER overcome a bad barrel.
The best advice was the last, freak'n train.
"Upgrade #6: You" Damn, didn't expect to get called out like that Brownells
I kept the mil spec stuff on mine, it's what I am used to and comfortable with.
Get as many reliable magazines as you can!
I like upgrade #6 the best!
Charging handle is one of the most important upgrades to me.
My preferred upgrades for an off the shelf AR would be a flat wire buffer spring and LaRue MBT 2s trigger.
Talking grips: I actually like the A2 grip, but I swapped the A2 for a rigid Ergo for my Mk.12 (the A2 was going to go towards my M4 clone anyway) and the difference in feel is there. It feels a LOT better to get a hold of the Ergo grip than the A2, I highly recommend using a different pistol grip for any new AR owners.
And where can we mail those extra A2 grips to?
I just got my 1st AR and if I change the grip I'm going to use one that has storage, for just in case stuff.
Great info as always!!
Love these videos!
I really like these upgrades! Thanks for preparing this for us!
Great upgrades.
Great video
Awesome video man!
Nicely done & some advisory wisdom to boot 👍
Nice. Liked upgrade number 6. Cheers 🥂
Thank you. All good options.
Caleb, thank you.
Have a great day and be safe gun people
Back at you!
Well done Caleb.✌🏽
Very helpful.
Thanks for the timely vid, Caleb and Brownells -- my new AR arrives today! +1 Like
Good suggestions
Thank you 😊
I appreciate that 6th upgrade! I really needed to hear it. Didn’t expect it to come from you.
Yall are hilarious i love the promo placement💯😂 A1 stuff there
Boom! Number six is the best advice out there.
Thanks Caleb!
Sure thing!
I’d say don’t go hog wild buying stuff past this list. Spend the rest on ammo because after all, if you run out of ammo then it’s just an expensive club. Buy when you can, a little or a lot every time you go to the store. It’ll add up quickly.
I must say this response is excellent. Very true. You can have a $10,000 AR-15 but if you don't have ammo.. well now.. it's baseball bat or club. A very expensive one at that.
I have a friend of mine who got into the AR-15 seeing this past January when I did. And he's got one it's a 24 inch barrel.. it's probably a good thing too because he needs all that damn picatinny rail and M walk space. He pulled that thing out of the back of his explorer and I was about 100 ft away and I couldn't identify what weapon he had in his hands. There was that much shit hanging off of it and I could see him struggling to lift it and maneuver it around a little bit and.. as he approached I looked at it and I'm thinking of myself holy shit what did you do to that rifle? Dude put everything on it. There's like two batteries on IT wires going to two different freaking lasers a flashlight some kind of optic I've never heard of.. he's got magazines hanging off the damn thing like two extra mags clipped on to the rifle. Just ridiculous. But then again you know that's his shit not mine. I like to keep my stuff simple. I love my iron sights because when optics fail and believe me I'm sure you know this.. optics do fail what do you have if you don't have iron sights? You have suppressive fire at best. Stay safe, keep carrying and God bless 🙏
Not if you add a bayonet.
@@SouthOfSanity79 🤔 mmm sounds familiar!!
Man #6 was my #1 when I first heard you start talking. LOL. By doing that you get a better idea of what you want upgraded and in what order. You guys rock and thank you for these videos. Blessings from Texas!
Keep’em coming ! Thanks for the video sir. #6, oh yes, work the weapon as much as you can.
Excellent
Good stuff Baron
Thanks!
Excellent! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Very good video!
Thanks for watching Roy!
I like the advice to get some training. Great upgrade.
Definitely some solid info for new AR folks. Good stuff Caleb!
Thanks brother!
No.6 is my favorite!
I like the AB Arms Mod 1 hand guard, not only is the underside molded to fit your hand perfect, but it also has a full picatinny rail on the top of it
Good choices for first 5 upgrades.
Thanks bro!
Anytime!
Don't forget the Faxon Pencil barrel
1:12 Twist 😎😊
Thanks for the tips on the AR platform Caleb. Also Brownells really took care of me over labor day weekend and did an outstanding job. Shoutout to phone rep. Santino!
Excellent! Thanks for watching and I'll pass along the kudos for Santino!
Thanks
Caleb, Thanks for number 6! That should probably be number one! With that then you can make better decisions as to which direction you need to go when it comes to upgrades!
Agreed! If they were in order of importance, number 1 would undoubtedly be TRAIN!
Get a larue 2 stage trigger guys along with a grip screw adjuster that tunes most of the take-up away.
Best upgrade ever. Also the bcm grip I like much more than the Magpul grips because it eliminates chicken wing stances
Good Video/Info !!!!!
I say this as a compliment, he's like Mr.Rodgers of the gun world.
I'll take it!
To add to your list...MI does make products to accessorize the GI handguards...as well as they have an array of drop-ins to choose from...
Sights and optic mounts, even drop-in triggers...
I love these videos of yours, guys
Upgrade #6 is the most important.
Agreed
Yep, the trigger. Dropped in a Timney 3# Match, a world of difference!
STNGR makes a great free float hand guard. Comes with the barrel nut and a dog bone to torque it down. It has anti-rotation tabs on it too. Made my Ruger 556 look so much better
I use Chip McCormic light trigers. There fantastic. The stright ones.
"Built",or "Assembled ",5 ARs and every one shoots great. So much fun !
Emergency reload drills are hands down the best to start with in my opinion. Teaches you how to efficiently toggle all the bits on your AR, trains you to get on target and fire an accurate shot under slight pressure, trains you to keep the barrel pointed down range while doing non-shooting tasks, and it's a low round count per repetition. Added bonus: it'll point out if your physicality would benefit from an ambidextrous mag release, safety selector, or bolt catch release. Subtle non-shooting benefit of not skipping leg day when you squat down to pick up the empty magazine.
"Do somethin' witchya Ar-15" Caleb 2022
I was just peepin that “training” AT-4 in the back safe the whole time 👀😂 great video
A Red dot Prisim optic is a must.
Good video. :)
I’d also recommend a end plate with the QD sling mount built in (if you’re using a sling with QD ends)
I purchased my first AR-15 at 43 years old this past january. Sig Sauer M400 Moe classic. I was in the shop at the right time I bought it used. Not a scratch on it the barrel flawless.. all I did was take that rear Magpul flip up sight off of it and I put a carry handle on it. And then I found a place where I could take some long shots. Living in the middle of New Hampshire anything more than 300 yards.. good luck finding a place to do that. But anyway I got it sighted in properly.
I believe that it's a good setup for close medium and long range possible threats. Obviously the long range comes with a hell of a lot more practice.
I did just start another build. 24 inch barrel. Sticking with the 5.56 cartridge. All I'm going to put on this one is a big booming optic and I'll put iron sights kicked off at a 45. That's it.
Being a father of five girls and homeowner and the only person paying any bills around here.. I have to keep it simple with my firearms.
Regarding iron sights.. I know a lot of people think they're useless. Well let me pose a question to any of you that find iron sights to be pointless or a thing of the past. Riddle me this hypothetically you're in a firefight. You're optic no longer works because it either broke if it's not battery powered the glass broke or something's wrong with it or if it's battery powered the battery died or it got wet or whatever. You don't have iron sights. How are you going to aim accurately and effectively? And that's a serious question I'm not trying to be one of those shitsters. I asked people that question and nobody ever answers me they say it'll never happen to me. But anyway thank you for reading my ADHD rant. Stay safe out there, keep carrying and God bless.
Precisely. I always tell new gun owners to master their iron sights first, then get an optic. Contingency plans for any situation or malfunction is very important. BRFA.
That #6 hit me hard.
I’d also add to that list buffer and buffer spring.
Great video, very informative. I’m a new AR owner this was great for me!.
I would also like to see your thoughts on the full length drop in handguards that go over the gas block/front sight, like the one from VISM NcStar?
Even just upgrading the springs for the trigger will help out a lot. Will cost less than $15 and will give a more consistent trigger pull
Good information.👍
Have done the "add lots of things" to a couple ones in the past. Sold 'em, and went with a basic iron sighted M4 clone. Added a stock GI sling, and a more vertical grip. That's it. A six pound carbine with nothing to break off, snag on stuff, or batteries to die out. Speaking only for myself, I'm much better with simple and light.
And if you're fighting in night? Or need to use a flashlight?
@@A-SavageRedneck I don't need a flashlight to shoot. Didn't use one in Vietnam, and as a peace officer for 28 years, two of the three shootings I was involved in were at night. Perhaps I'm blessed with excellent night vision, but I'm still here. Even though I'm now past 70, when I go outside into my woods where I live, the flashlight I have is a small one that stays in the pocket. I don't have any problems using ambient light around me.
If you have a fixed front sight upper and want a basic upgrade I'd recommend a the Magpul hand guard and a Midwest Industries MI tactical light mount with a Streamlight Rail Mount. Very sturdy and cost effective. A sling and training is all you need from there.
I had the MI tactical light mount, it's a cool product but your light gets a ton of heat transferred into it from the gas block. It works if you've got stock plastic handguards, but if you're getting magpul handguards you should just attach your light on to the mlok via a picatinny adapter or a scout pattern mount for the streamlight hl-x, it's a better setup in the long run.
@@lazor222 Fair take. Personally, I trust the MI mount more than plastic Mlok slots on the handguard. Heat transfer isn't much of a problem if you have a quality light.
In your video about dont need hi end parts for your AR15. In most ranges they wont let you shoot unless you have basic iron sights or equivlant.
About the only thing I would add to your list is a larger ambi charging handle for use with an LPVO, and I’d probably actually drop the replacement trigger from the list.
Great video as always, thanks much.
Do you use a LPVO? If yes, Which brand and model do you use?
Grip is import. I love the Magpul K2+ grip.
Quality Ammo Upgrade # 1 😀👍🏼
I'm doing all except im keeping the sandpaper trigger for now.
#6 Drill the third hole
The trigger guard is often overlooked but super cheap to upgrade. You'll notice the difference when reloading. A comfortable trigger guard allows you to do more reloads without the trigger guard digging into the top of your middle finger.
Also, I run the Strike industries bikini stop as a low profile way to improve grip vs a vertical foregrip.
I can 1000% agree with that!🚀✨🚀✨🚀
Suggestion: review ATF Worksheet 4999 on what is an AR pistol and what is an SBR.
How about a video on the top 5 free ways to improve you AR accuracy, and yes, #6 will be training and practice.
Swapping pistol grip is probably the least expensive but the most dramatically altered the feel, or even handling of the rifle in my opinion.
Coming up next is the sling. A sling that matches your style of carry your rifle really makes your day.
After having tried an ambidextrous safety that doesn't interrupting my trigger finger, it was a no return for me.
Upgrades are always fun! Thanks for the content… what do you think of the surefire warden?? I believe that’s what is on your gun in the video?!?
I love it!
You don’t need to worry about a fixed front sight. There are many “high speed” shooters who leave the front BUIS up even with a red dot. Some prefer fixed iron sights with a red dot as well…front and rear…often with a 1/3 cowitness optic
Here just in time
Now we need something like this for the AR-10 platform. Both high and low profile variants.
What, in your opinion, would be all that different? Maybe depending on your caliber you'd go with something more than an LPVO but outside of that, the upgrades would be about the same.
@@JenkinsStevenD Stock, optics, and trigger at least. I shoot 6.5 Creedmoor and 8.6 LM. Long range requires a different setup.
I built a flat top,and I ended up putting a cheap tasco red dot that I had laying around on it.i have 2leupold scopes in my foot locker I might put a 3x9 on it before deer season.
The trigger I have for my AR is a FRT. It is awesome. Almost like a machine gun.
ATF nazis might be knocking on your door soon. Nazis with bureaucratic fiat.
I'd hold off on the stock and trigger and 1st! Add a sling and weapon light, (iron sights and red dot), I also did Ambi charging handles cause the wife shoots lefty, (her primary guns are lefty or ambi).
I have a number of ars with the front sight post and i have never had a problem with using a red dot.
For a lot of red dots you can flip out the base with a riser that permits a 1/3 cowitness too. Shouldn't be an issue for most people either way though.
That standard setup looks like the Ruger AR556 I have except the scope I put on it has no problem with the front site and the red dot attached to the scope doesn't either. It still has the rear flip-up sight too.b The only thing I might consider is a binary trigger group.
Am I the only one who prefers the A2 grip? Some of the other grips fit my hand better, but the grip angle is why I always go back to it.
Since you said this video is for beginners, It should be pointed out that Daniel Defense quad rail you show is actually a free floating rail and one of few that are drop in with no gunsmithing.
If you are a new shooter AND you are using this for home defense, the first things you should spend your money on is irons/optic >> weapon light >> training in that order. It is night about 1/2 the time and you need to be able to identify your target, aim at your target, and understand your abilities and limitations. After you have those three hammered down, then hit the rest of Caleb's list which is a good list. I see the weapon light omitted from people's lists far too often though.