AR-15 Workbench: How to Upgrade Your Rifle’s Furniture

One of many best upgrades is to the rifle’s “furnishings.” This time period often describes the inventory, forend, and grip, however it will probably additionally incorporate different equipment like slings. Should you’ve been eager to improve your AR however haven’t been certain the place to begin, you’ve come to the correct place. I’ll cowl a number of the commonest and helpful upgrades, and provide a couple of ideas for choosing the correct elements and putting in them your self.

Of the three factors of contact between you and a rifle, the inventory is probably a very powerful. Having inventory that may alter to your physique and provide a stable, constant cheek weld will make you a extra correct and assured hunter. The excellent news is that swapping shares on an AR-15 will be so simple as slipping on a brand new pair of footwear.

That is the UBR Gen 2 Collapsible Inventory from Magpul.

Why would you need a new inventory? Excessive-quality aftermarket shares include options past what you’ll get on a price range rifle. Many characteristic quick-detach (QD) sling studs, compartments for spare elements, rubberized elements for consolation and grip, and skeletonization to scale back weight. Additionally they match snugly across the buffer tube, in order that they don’t rattle and wobble like different shares you will have used.

For this improve challenge on my Sig Sauer M400 SDI-X, I went all-in with Magpul’s UBR Gen 2 Collapsible Inventory. The UBR comes with its personal buffer tube (therefore the upper worth), nevertheless it doesn’t operate like your normal collapsible inventory. The decrease buttstock portion can alter for size of pull (LOP), however the high cheek relaxation portion stays in place. This permits the consumer to set the proper LOP with out having to alter the cheek relaxation or the place of the scope.

The draw back is that it’s a ache to put in. For most traditional inventory swaps, merely discover the mechanism that enables the adjustment plunger to be pulled down flush with the inventory and take away the previous inventory from the buffer tube. (This mechanism will change relying on the inventory you could have, however belief me, there’s all the time a manner.) Then, reverse the method on your new inventory.

As a result of the Magpul UBR comes with its personal buffer tube, it requires fairly a couple of further steps. Happily, it additionally comes with directions that, in contrast to Tim “The Toolman” Taylor, I learn rigorously and adopted precisely.

To vary shares, take away the previous inventory from the buffer tube and observe the offered directions to put in the brand new one.

The pistol grip is the opposite widespread furnishings improve for an AR-15. There are actually tons of of choices on the market, they usually’re all simple to put in.

That is the MOE-K2 grip from Magpul.

Why would you need a new grip? The grip you could have won’t have sufficient texturing, or it might need an excessive amount of. Regardless of the case could also be, you could find an aftermarket choice that matches your preferences. Grips will also be designed with totally different angles that may be matched to no matter you are feeling most comfy utilizing.

The grip that comes with the Sig M400 is nice, however I used to be in search of one thing with extra aggressive texturing. The Magpul MOE-K2 has precisely that, and I additionally like the marginally straighter and shallower grip angle.

To swap the grip, unscrew the previous one utilizing the screw positioned throughout the deal with. These screws can have numerous head sorts, however I’ve discovered that flatheads and Allens are the commonest. Whichever it’s, simply remember to discover the screwdriver that matches it precisely. The very last thing you wish to do is strip that screw. You’ll additionally want a screwdriver with some size because it has to achieve down into the grip. The brand new grip will include its personal screw, so remember to use that one throughout set up.

The one wrinkle to the method is that you just’ll have to maintain observe of the spring that places stress on the security selector detent. Don’t lose it, and through set up set it into the opening within the grip as you screw it in. Ensure it’s straight within the detent gap because it goes up, and also you’ll be good to go.

To vary the grip, unscrew the manufacturing unit unit utilizing the screw positioned contained in the grip. Then, set up the brand new one, being cautious to maintain observe of the security selector spring.

The ultimate main piece of “furnishings” on an AR-15 is the handguard. Like shares and pistol grips, handguards are available in tons of configurations and at a spread of worth factors.

I just like the full-length M-LOK handguard on this Sig Sauer rifle, so I made a decision to maintain it.

Why would you need a new handguard? You may want an extended handguard to cowl extra of the barrel, make room for extra equipment, or partially cowl a suppressor. You might have considered trying a distinct accent attachment system like M-LOK or picatinny rails. You probably have a plastic handguard, you may wish to change to a extra sturdy steel unit, or you might have considered trying one thing lighter and sleeker.

I selected to not change the handguard on my Sig rifle. I just like the one which comes with the gun, and swapping handguards can generally be extra hassle than it’s price. That’s as a result of the handguard attaches to the barrel nut. The barrel nut secures the barrel to the higher receiver, however they aren’t all the identical. They’re designed to connect to a sure handguard, so there’s no assure that what’s in your rifle now will work with the handguard you wish to purchase–in reality, it in all probability gained’t.

Which means you’ll should take away the prevailing barrel nut and fix the brand new one which comes with the handguard. That is doable for most folk, and there are tons of how-to movies on the Web. However in the event you like your handguard, you might wish to assume twice earlier than embarking on that challenge.

Should you ever determine to swap your handguard, you will have to take away the previous handguard, the gasoline tube, and the previous barrel nut. Then, set up the brand new barrel nut, gasoline tube, and handguard in line with the producer’s directions.

A vertical grip on an AR-15 attaches to the underside of a handguard and extends in direction of the bottom. Most rifles don’t include one since they’re a matter of private choice and are much more various than shares or pistol grips. They will vary from full-sized vertical grips to shorter variations of the identical to angled grips to easy handstops.

This barricade cease from Magpul permits for steady bracing towards a barricade, and it additionally doubles as a hand cease.

Why would you need a vertical/fore grip? Giving your off-hand extra buy on the entrance of the rifle will present higher management–each on the preliminary shot and on any follow-up photographs.

For this construct, I opted for one thing slightly totally different–a Magpul Barricade Cease. It acts as a handstop on the aspect that faces the shooter, however the different aspect can be utilized to brace the rifle towards a tree department, fence publish, or every other capturing relaxation. Since I plan to make use of this rifle for searching, and I attempt to not make unsupported photographs if I may help it, I assumed a barricade cease could be extra helpful.

This mannequin of Magpul’s barricade cease attaches on to M-LOK slots.

Should you’re like me, you neglect a few sling till you head out into the sphere. Then, after an hour of lugging round a seven-pound rifle, you actually want you had one. Their utility is clear, so I gained’t bore you with an evidence.

Since most AR’s don’t have conventional sling studs, attaching a sling requires slightly further thought. Your inventory ought to have QD attachment factors, a slot for a sling strap, or another manner of attaching a sling to the rear of the rifle. For the entrance, some handguards have QD attachment factors. If yours doesn’t (like mine), you’ll have to make use of an aftermarket QD mount that attaches to the rail system.

You’ll be able to connect a sling to this UBR inventory utilizing the QD holes (pictured) or just by threading the sling by means of the slot on the backside of the inventory.

Most AR slings are hooked up at both one or two factors. For searching functions, I’d suggest a standard two-point sling. Single-point slings are designed to permit the shooter to drop his rifle and transition to a different weapon with out shedding management of the rifle. However they aren’t nice if you wish to carry the rifle for prolonged intervals of time.

Should you’re in search of a fantastic two-point sling, you possibly can go along with the pictured mannequin from Magpul or this versatile sling from FHF Gear.

At this level you is perhaps asking, “Why would I purchase a whole rifle simply to swap out all of the elements?” This is a wonderful query, and I feel the reply is, “You shouldn’t.” As a substitute, consider carefully about what sort of furnishings you need in your rifle before you purchase it. Get your fingers on the rifle in individual and see what you want and what you don’t.

Should you can’t discover an AR that has every thing you want, you possibly can all the time construct your personal. They don’t name them the Lego of rifles for nothing.