First AR15 (and gun) accessories recommendations?

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nidh0gg

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Hey everyone, I dont quite have my ar15 or PAL yet but I finally managed snag a Colt Expanse on the deal price ($660) and get it on hold for me that I've paid for so when my RPAL finally comes in I can just go pick it up. So since my rifle is pretty much confirmed and set in stone I've figured I might as well get some accessories while I wait and I'm wondering if my current plan for accessorizing my ar is any good or if theres better things i can stick onto it.

I currently Have:
Colt Expanse
Vortex Sparc AR RDS

What I'm planning on getting:
Extended handguard with a cutout for A2 Frontsight (thinking of this one atm but theres not a whole lot of info on it so im not too sure about it)
Foregrip (Vertical/angled/short which one should a newbie get?)
Vortex VMT 3x Magnifier
ButtStock (I have no idea which ones are good....)
Dust Cover (are these really $20+?)
Barrel Shroud (I heard because you can't have a muzzle brake the recoil is increased, is it significant?)
LAR15 Mags (plastic or metal? and whats a good price for them)
Back up iron sights (are these necessary?)
 
I would shoot the gun as you have it and decide from there. Buying stuff, just because, is the best way to have a bin full of junk in a year and a waste of money. Spend the money on ammo and training for now. From there, you can decide what works and what doesn't. Try other ARs. The more stuff you put on a rifle, the heavier it gets.
Things you add to any gun should help and not hinder you.

Having said that, common upgrades include:
Charging handle like a Raptor or BCM
Upgraded competition trigger like a Geisselle or Timneys
A magnifier if you shoot out to distances past 100yds
A good sling. I like convertible single to dual point
AFG or foregrip
Muzzle brake ( but not needed) if you compete
Flashlight ( again, not necessary early on)
Magpul stock and pistol grip ( again, not necessary if the stock one fits you)

If you are in the Lower Mainland, check out DSSMatch.com. The guys in the group are awesome and can help with your AR issues.
 
Still alive said:
I would shoot the gun as you have it and decide from there. Buying stuff, just because, is the best way to have a bin full of junk in a year and a waste of money. Spend the money on ammo and training for now. From there, you can decide what works and what doesn't. Try other ARs. The more stuff you put on a rifle, the heavier it gets.
Things you add to any gun should help and not hinder you.

Having said that, common upgrades include:
Charging handle like a Raptor or BCM
Upgraded competition trigger like a Geisselle or Timneys
A magnifier if you shoot out to distances past 100yds
A good sling. I like convertible single to dual point
AFG or foregrip
Muzzle brake ( but not needed) if you compete
Flashlight ( again, not necessary early on)
Magpul stock and pistol grip ( again, not necessary if the stock one fits you)

If you are in the Lower Mainland, check out DSSMatch.com. The guys in the group are awesome and can help with your AR issues.
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ahh i see thanks,

just curious but what does upgrading the charging handle do? just smoother pull?
and is AFG or foregrip just personal preference or are they for different things?
 
nidh0gg said:
ahh i see thanks,

just curious but what does upgrading the charging handle do? just smoother pull?
and is AFG or foregrip just personal preference or are they for different things?
Click to expand...

The stock CH is small and not ambidextrous. The upgraded ones stick out more and they are ambi so you can #### the gun quickly from both sides. Only a problem in competition, really.

Military use the "donkey ####" foregrip so they transitioned into civvy use. The AFG is more a competition grip so you get a consistent support hand hold on the fore end quickly as it provides a stop. I have the Magpul stubby on one of my ARs. I use it as an AFG as a hand stop. I don't actually grip it. My other rifle just has a quad rail ( yeah, I know! Luddite!) and I like it better. Personal preference.

That's why I suggest you shoot your gun and get familiar with it to see what you like and what you may want.
 
lavino said:
This!

First accessories should be those couple thousand rounds of 223/556....

Oh almost forgot.. LAR15 mags (while they are still legal...)
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oh? is there a chance that lar15 mags might become prohibited or the rulings be changed? I thought it was more or less OK'd

Still alive said:
The stock CH is small and not ambidextrous. The upgraded ones stick out more and they are ambi so you can #### the gun quickly from both sides. Only a problem in competition, really.

Military use the "donkey ####" foregrip so they transitioned into civvy use. The AFG is more a competition grip so you get a consistent support hand hold on the fore end quickly as it provides a stop. I have the Magpul stubby on one of my ARs. I use it as an AFG as a hand stop. I don't actually grip it. My other rifle just has a quad rail ( yeah, I know! Luddite!) and I like it better. Personal preference.

That's why I suggest you shoot your gun and get familiar with it to see what you like and what you may want.
Click to expand...
ahh i see, thanks a lot. Ill probably just grab the vism handguard rail and then take it to the range a couple times until i feel the need to upgrade (I just really don't like that handguard it comes with..)
 
Daver_II said:
Get your RPAL.


Get your gun...


Shoot it...



then see what you like.
Click to expand...


yes..there are little things that you dont think about until you actually start using your gun..for example, i learned two lessons today when i used the Magpul coupler to pair two Pmags...first, I like to use the maglula loader (I HIGHLY recommend it) to load my mags and it was so difficult to remove when the two magazines are joined that i had to take them apart just to get the loader off. Second, as an avid knife collector, i have a Tops WolfHawk rail mounted knife attached to my gun...guess what, the coupled PMAGS block me from being able to unsheath the knife.

Looking at your list, i can already see one issue..the Vortex magnifier swings out to the left (unlike the Eotech and Aimpoint versions) so it ends up in front of your left eye and makes two eye shooting difficult...now it is possible to reverse, but you might not have factored that pain into your equation.

That having been said, it is not a bad idea to watch Youtube reviews that can uncover such issues. I chose my BCM foregrip due to Larry Vicker's endorsement...speaking of whom, the Vickers sling is thought to be the best design (and they have lots of variants).

RL
 
I'd second the advice above to shoot it first and see how you like it before accessorizing. Ergonomics, weight and function are the three main reasons to upgrade (aesthetics is more personal preference than anything else). The areas I personally like to focus on are the internals (charging handle, trigger, controls, BCG, buffer) in addition to a good sling, lightweight collapsible stock, BUIS, handstop and muzzle device.

Definitely get some LAR-15s and Gen 3 PMAGs (I like the 20/5s) because you can use these in almost* every black rifle out there. The metal LAR115s have an advantage over the polymer ones in that you can use the Magpul L/Ranger plates, various couplers and extenders.
 
I just got my first AR two weeks ago. My first priority is at least 10 magazines and building up a reserve stock of ammo. Once I have at least 500rds on reserve I'll think about what I want to do to the gun. open/iron sights are very important not only to have but to be proficient with them. Optics fail. My hunting rifle has iron sights and its already saved me one hunting season from being cancelled.
 
blaxsun said:
I'd second the advice above to shoot it first and see how you like it before accessorizing. Ergonomics, weight and function are the three main reasons to upgrade (aesthetics is more personal preference than anything else). The areas I personally like to focus on are the internals (charging handle, trigger, controls, BCG, buffer) in addition to a good sling, lightweight collapsible stock, BUIS, handstop and muzzle device.

Definitely get some LAR-15s and Gen 3 PMAGs (I like the 20/5s) because you can use these in almost* every black rifle out there. The metal LAR115s have an advantage over the polymer ones in that you can use the Magpul L/Ranger plates, various couplers and extenders.
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Ahh i see, i was thinking of just getting the polymer lar15 mags since because they are lighter and im probably not going to bother with L/ranger plates but prefer the couplers, do you know if the polymer ones are compatible with the standard lar15 couplers?

RL1 said:
yes..there are little things that you dont think about until you actually start using your gun..for example, i learned two lessons today when i used the Magpul coupler to pair two Pmags...first, I like to use the maglula loader (I HIGHLY recommend it) to load my mags and it was so difficult to remove when the two magazines are joined that i had to take them apart just to get the loader off. Second, as an avid knife collector, i have a Tops WolfHawk rail mounted knife attached to my gun...guess what, the coupled PMAGS block me from being able to unsheath the knife.

Looking at your list, i can already see one issue..the Vortex magnifier swings out to the left (unlike the Eotech and Aimpoint versions) so it ends up in front of your left eye and makes two eye shooting difficult...now it is possible to reverse, but you might not have factored that pain into your equation.

That having been said, it is not a bad idea to watch Youtube reviews that can uncover such issues. I chose my BCM foregrip due to Larry Vicker's endorsement...speaking of whom, the Vickers sling is thought to be the best design (and they have lots of variants).

RL
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thanks a lot for the insight, did not know that about the vortex magnifier, i probably wont be buying the magnifier immediately either way but will wait to see how just the 1x RDS fares, however do you possibly know of any disadvantages on flipping the magnifier around so it flips down to the right?

will definitely look into the maglula loader
 
not sure if you are reading my gun store tour but i did include some pics of the vortex and eotech

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as for disadvantages...not sure...i mean the ejection port is on the right...any chance that the spent casing can hit the magnifier? not sure...cant recall any reports of it

RL
 
nidh0gg said:
Ahh i see, i was thinking of just getting the polymer lar15 mags since because they are lighter and im probably not going to bother with L/ranger plates but prefer the couplers, do you know if the polymer ones are compatible with the standard lar15 couplers?
Click to expand...
I don't believe the polymer LAR-15s will work with the couplers (wedge) to join a pair end-to-end.
 
blaxsun said:
I don't believe the polymer LAR-15s will work with the couplers (wedge) to join a pair end-to-end.
Click to expand...
RL1 said:
not sure if you are reading my gun store tour but i did include some pics of the vortex and eotech

as for disadvantages...not sure...i mean the ejection port is on the right...any chance that the spent casing can hit the magnifier? not sure...cant recall any reports of it

RL
Click to expand...

ahh thanks a lot guys
 
The magnifier flipped to the left allows a right handed shooter to use their left eye to identify targets while keeping their right eye on the sight. Say if your target reached into their pocket, you need to know if they just pulled out a set of keys or a gun. Flipping the magnifier to the right for a right handed shooter is to prevent the magnifier from blocking your peripheral vision. Obviously its the opposite for a lefty shooter. I personally like the quick release twist on and twist off magnifiers like Aimpoint as I'm not SWAT and id rather the magnifier not be there if I don't want to use it. Down side to that obviously is you need a pocket to carry the magnifier around in when not in use.
 
I have the vortex magnifier just reversed it to so I could use my left eye and there is no difficulty flipping it to the side once you have your technique it actually works out perfectly
 
Congrats on the purchase. But I feel your waiting will be a lot harder now that you have a blaster waiting for you :p

Don't buy into what other people like. Get your gun and try it first. Try other people's at the range maybe you will find something you like better.
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Hey guys, I am also a noobie in the AR world.
I got my first ar. I purchased S&W M&P sport 2. I plan on getting rid of the A2 front sight and replacing the hand guard.
I was hoping someone may know of a short, light weight, railed hand guard that wont break the bank.
That I could put a front magpul sight on for back ups with my Vortex Sparc AR red dot.

I plan on doing some shooting first but I would just like a point in the right direction.
 
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