Customize Your AR-15 the Right Way

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

There is something to be said about a stock AR-15 rifle. For the most part, they just work. More than likely, it will run on any ammo you feed it, from inexpensive, can’t-pronounce-the-foreign-country-it-was-made-in ammo to flawless match ammo. Why change what’s not broke? If you are frugal and pragmatic, which I am, then the KISS principle works: Keep It Simple, Stupid. End of story. No need to customize an AR-15.

The thing is, as you replace parts, especially operating parts, you can be introducing errors and potential failure in the rifle. Some aftermarket parts work, and some are just not compatible. If that happens, your AR-15 is no longer a balanced system. A new gas block might be delivering too much or not enough gas. Or the aftermarket BCG won’t cycle properly. You added a suppressor, except now your face gets gassed with every shot fired.

What Does Mil-Spec Mean?

Don’t get wrapped around the mil-spec label. Mil-spec simply means the part is within specifications for the military contract. Mil-spec parts are not the best nor the worst, they are just in spec. I understand the need to make the gun your own. I also get that the AR-15 design is modular with the ability to swap out parts and still work. Building your own AR-15 helps you better understand how the gun works and how to best maintain it.

Does Anyone Keep Their AR-15 Stock?

With so many aftermarket parts, it is difficult not to tinker with the platform. My recommendation is that if you customize your AR-15 — and you know you will — first determine how the rifle will be used. Will it be for defense, competition, hunting, or plinking? Once that is figured the rest should fall in place.

Something to take into consideration is cost. Smart buyers would think twice about buying a used AR-15 equipped with aftermarket parts built on some guy’s kitchen table. For instance, don’t expect to get back the $300 you paid for a tricked-out, BCG with an exotic coating. The part is not stock. Adding aftermarket parts is pricey and not a good investment for resale. The value in an aftermarket part is that your gun is performing how you want it to perform.

3 Things To Avoid on Your AR-15

The AR-15 is a classic rifle, and I believe there are three things you should never do to yours.

Too Much Weight

Consider how your gun will be used and get rid of useless accessories. If customizing your AR-15 means adding a bunch of stuff to your gun, I suggest you put your AR-15 on a low-carb diet and shed some weight. Do you really need a bipod and a vertical grip, along with a tactical light and stand stand-alone laser pointer? Do you need a heavy, adjustable precision stock if your AR is used for home defense? Junk adds weight. Don’t add weight! You may need to carry your rifle for extended periods, and weight is not your friend. I also hate accessories that can snag on gear or impede movement in tight environments.

Too Much Optic

Match your optic needs to the rifle’s purpose. A defense rifle does not need a high-magnification rifle scope. A red dot or holo sight is plenty for a defense gun that will be used under 50 yards. Even with a red dot and training, a 100-yard shot can be an easy chip shot. 

Incorrect Barrel Length

Use the correct barrel length and muzzle device for your gun’s purpose. A 16-inch barrel is typical and the most common barrel length, but you may want a longer, 20-inch barrel for varmint hunting or precision shooting. A long barrel offers more velocity and better accuracy. Shorter barrels make sense in a defense gun, but remember you need to register an SBR if your rifle barrel is under 16 inches. Muzzle devices can really ruin the day at the range with your buddies. Some muzzle devices project concussion sideways, and your pals will need earplugs and ear muffs. Just because a muzzle device looks cool doesn’t mean it will do what you want. Do you want to hide muzzle flash or reduce recoil? 

3 Must-Do Customizations For Your AR-15

In my mind, there are three customizations to an AR-15 that don’t compromise the AR-15’s balance yet allow you to shoot more accurately and make the gun your own.

Optic

Mount an appropriate optic. Accuracy will increase exponentially by adding an optic, which makes shooting an AR-15 easier. Easier is best. Red dots and holo sights for defense guns are great options. An intermediate option is an LPVO (Low Power Variable Optic), which offers features of a riflescope and a red dot, if the LPVO is an illuminated model. And, the optic should be illuminated, in my opinion. For hunting and long-range shooting, mount a traditional rifle optic with as much magnification as you can afford. On my pig and varmint rigs, I moved on to thermal optics, since I use these rifles at night.

Install a Trigger

The trigger is another customization that will dramatically improve accuracy. Look for a crisp and consistent aftermarket trigger based on the rifle’s purpose. Too light of a trigger on a defense rifle can be a liability, so don’t install a competition trigger in your defense gun. A light trigger for long-range shooting is ideal.

READ MORE HERE: Real Avid AR-15 Tools: DIY Gunsmithing

Swap Furniture

Stocks, pistol grips, and rails can offer better ergonomics than mil-spec furniture. You want to be comfortable shooting, and you want the rifle to fit your stature. I prefer more vertical grips than the A2 mil-spec type grip. The deer hunter in me hates the rattle of some mil-spec stocks.

To Customize Your AR-15 or Not?

It is hard not to customize your AR-15 and make it your own. There are truckloads of aftermarket parts to choose from, so choose wisely. For me, I like the simplicity of a mil-spec AR-15, but that has not stopped me from customizing my rifles.

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