AR-15s are like the Legos of the adult world — totally customizable with a ton of parts to swap out, upgrade, and changeup.
But if you’re like us sometimes it can get overwhelming deciding exactly what to upgrade…
So, if you’re unsure what furniture or accessories to make your AR-15 run better, you’ve come to the right place.
With our guide, you’ll be able to make a better-informed decision on how to make your AR-15 the best fitting and looking one out there.
We’ll go over our favorite buttstocks, all kinds of grips, rail protectors, slings, and more.
Note: we consider the pistol grip, buttstock, and handguard the primary furniture of the AR-15 since almost all AR’s need to have the three essential ingredients to function comfortably.
If you want a basic look at AR furniture, check out the Brownells Daily Defense below. Jeff Gonzales of Trident Concepts goes over the AR-15 and what you might want to consider upgrading.
Table of Contents
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Best AR-15 Pistol Grips
Called a “pistol grip” since they resemble the grip angle of pistols as opposed to traditional rifle grips, for most, the pistol grip is more ergonomic, not to mention more “normal” looking on an AR.
If you bought a stock AR-15, it most likely came with a standard A2 grip. That often feels a little too skinny and cheap.
It’ll do fine, but there are too many affordable options out there that will fit your hand much better.
1. Magpul AR-15 MOE Grip
The go-to grip for our ARs…the Magpul AR-15 MOE Grip offers a lighter, more comfortable, but still affordable option.
Bonus, it also features a hollowed space with a cap on the bottom to store essential items like an extra bolt. And it comes in several colors all for around $18.
Also, the MOE+ Model has a rubber anti-slip coating ($23) which we highly recommend.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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2. Hogue Overmold AR-15 Pistol Grip
Another of our favorites that is ergonomic and very grippy due to the larger size, rubber material, and finger grooves is the Hogue Overmolded AR-15 Grip. It comes in around $20 and sports a beavertail — which we prefer.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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3. Magpul MIAD AR-15 Pistol Grip
And for those of you who want the best fit and customization, we recommend the Magpul MIAD.
Why? Well, it gives you a couple of swappable choices for palm-size and front finger grooves. Coming it at around $34 it’s a solid option.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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4. Tyrant Designs Mod Grip
When aesthetics AND comfort matter…
We dig the Mod Grip which gives you a rubberized front/back while keeping it sexy.
This one lets you get really high up on the rear of the grip too if that’s your preference.
My only nitpicky thing would be I’d like to see an extra finger groove in the front for my hand geometry.
Otherwise solid if you want an AR grip that turns heads.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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Best AR-15 Buttstocks
It’s that thing you rest your cheeks on.
While we go in-depth with a dozen of the most popular choices in our Best AR-15 Stocks article, we’ll keep it brief here with a couple of our favorites.
1. Magpul MOE-SL
The Magpul MOE-SL Stock sports a slimline build that offers a better cheekweld and some weight savings.
It’s been so far in my testing. And at around $56, you can’t really beat that price.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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2. Magpul PRS Buttstock
For the precision rifle, the Magpul PRS Buttstock offers fine adjustments for both cheekweld and length of pull.
Weighing almost 2-pounds, this stock comes built to last. But word of caution, it does require a rifle-length buffer tube assembly.
This Magpul stock is priced at $240.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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3. VLTOR IMOD Stock
The most comfortable adjustable stock we’ve tried, the VLTOR IMOD Stock is what we use to run in our race carbines.
It features a sloped cheek weld that just feels right — light enough but a little expensive at $90.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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4. ELF Ultralight Stock
When you absolutely need the lightest stock while still being adjustable, look at the ELF Ultralight Stock.
Admittedly, it’s not the comfiest but comes in at just around 5-ounces…and looks super cool.
It’s priced at $134.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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5. B5 Bravo Stock
The B5 Bravo Stock is my current favorite — light and reasonably priced.
Great cheek weld that’s almost as good as the Imod Stock but sheds ton of weight and saves you a couple bucks.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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What do you think of the Bravo B5 Stock? Why not give it a rating below?
And to combo with the buttstock…how about something that allows you to fold the buffer tube back until it’s needed?
Boom…enter the Law Tactical Gen 3 Side Folder Adapter.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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Just make sure to never fire when it’s folded or else bad things might happen…
Best AR-15 Handguards
We’ve covered these in detail in a previous article on Best AR-15 Upgrades. So check that out if you want a ton of options to choose from.
But again, if you want a couple of our faves, stick around and we’ll dish out two models worth looking at.
1. Magpul Rail Covers
If you want bare bones, basics…go with Magpul Rail Covers.
They’re super affordable at under $15 and give you the basic elements you need.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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2. Magpul XTM Rail Covers
For a thicker feel that covers the rails entirely, we suggest Magpul XTM.
You get four pieces for $8 which isn’t a bad price at all.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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Cosmetic Upgrades
Let’s take a little break from furniture and focus on how to make your gun look better…because sometimes that matters (ok, most of the time).
1. Gunskins
You’ve seen vinyl wrapped cars…but now Gunskins brings it to your guns and magazines.
Easy to put on after a couple tries and perfectly suited for your handguard…check out our full review here.
Gunskins is also hooking up readers with 10% off with code PEWPEW10.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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AR-15 Sling Plates and Slings
Again, we have a whole article dedicated to the Best Rifles Slings that goes super in-depth with some of our faves.
That said, we’ve got a few choices here for sling plates and slings. Spoiler alert, we like the Magpul (seeing a pattern here?) series that lets you choose between one-point and two-point sling attachment.
1. Magpul RSA Sling Attachment
The Magpul RSA Sling Attachment mounts securely to your Picatinny rails to give a front sling attachment point.
It retails for $30.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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2. Magpul ASAP Sling Plate
The Magpul ASAP Sling Plate takes the place of your standard AR end plate and gives you a sturdy sling attachment point.
It’s better than fixed attachments since it allows you to quickly swing over from strong side to weak side shooting.
A minor annoyance, though, is that it rattles if no sling is attached. It comes priced around $30.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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3. Magpul QD End Plate
This end plate offers an attachment point for quick-detach swivels on your slings.
No more rattling problem like the above — just make sure you choose the right end plate for your kind of sling. Again, it’s priced at around $30.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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4. Magpul MS3 Sling
The Magpul MS3 Sling offers a ightweight and durable sling that lets you easily transition between one point and two point sling modes.
It’s priced at $50.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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5. Vickers Combat Applications Sling
Our new go-to if you don’t need quick detachment options is the Vickers Combat Applications Sling.
It’s used by tons of U.S. troops because it’s simple, tough, and easy to adjust.
It comes priced at $45.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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6. Pew Pew Tactical Sling
After years of shooting all the slings above…we’ve got our own Pew Pew Tactical Sling. Made in Georgia by Flatline Fiber.
Just the right amount of padding to be comfy but not get in the way. And of course a super easy pull-tab to adjust length.
And the best…it comes in Black Multicam and regular Multicam.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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Again, check out our full review of the best slings for your specific purpose.
Best AR-15 Vertical Grips
Vertical grips give you potential increased weapon handling and control. So, here are a couple of our recommendations.
1. Troy Vertical Grip
The Troy Vertical Grip is a sturdy grip with a bar that locks down entirely onto the rail instead of just being held by one screw.
It’s also modular so you can choose the perfect size. Standard version is $70 while the CQB-sized version is $45.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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2. Magpul RVG Vertical Grip (Picatinny)
Another great Magpul product that fits onto Picatinny rails is the RVG Vertical Grip.
It comes in a wide assortment of colors and is priced at $23.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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3. Magpul MOE Vertical Grip
The Magpul MOE Vertical Grip offers a version that fits onto Magpul MOE handguards that are not Picatinny rails, or on newer M-LOK versions.
This grip comes priced between $18 and $21.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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Best AR-15 Alternative Grips
Other grips that aid in control of your AR-15 but aren’t exactly vertical grips…
1. Magpul AFG
The Magpul Angled Foregrip offers a grip that is closer to the bore compared to traditional vertical grips.
We’ve seen these a lot on builds where vertical foregrips are not allowed by law. It’s priced at $33.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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2. Magpul Hand Stop
The Magpul Hand Stop brings a low profile way to improve weapon handling and prevent your hand from reaching the muzzle for shorter AR-15s. It comes in at $18.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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Best AR-15 Bipods
1. Fab Defense T-POD G2
How about BOTH a vertical grip and bipod? That’s what you get with the Fab Defense T-POD G2.
The T-POD G2 is a good sized grip, releases to become a bipod quickly, and allows your rifle to cant left and right when deployed.
We kinda think the feet could be better traction on hard surfaces, though.
It comes in between $120 and $135.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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2. Harris Bipods
The old school tried & true bipod — Harris Bipods. These are spring-loaded with quick telescoping legs.
Just make sure to choose the correct method of attachment to your rail and leg length. Priced between $70 and $100.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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3. Atlas Bipods
Atlas Bipods are what we run in our precision rifles.
We love the ability to “push” into the bipod for a repeatable and very sturdy shooting platform.
Expensive (between $220 and $280) but you really get what you pay for.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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Magazine Related Accessories
1. Magpul Magazine Pulls
The company actually got its start with these magazine pulls (get it…Mag…Pul…you got it.)
These attach to the bottom of magazines to assist in removal from a rig and to cushion drops. Nab three for $12.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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2. Magpul Mag Coupler
The Mag Coupler allows you to join together two magazines so you got an extra 30 rounds on your rifle.
Just be aware of the extra weight. This fits PMAG30 and PMAG 30 M3 magazines and is priced at $17.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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Best AR-15 Suppressors
We didn’t really know if suppressors were furniture…but hey here they are. We have a complete guide to the Best AR-15 Suppressors since it’s so much info.
But if we had to choose one…it’d be the Silencer Central Banish 30 which also got chosen as Guns & Ammo’s Silencer of the Year for 2021.
Titanium, multi-caliber, and user-serviceable. It’s everything you’re likely looking for…
And how does it shoot? With much less blowback than competitors. And it’s super soft too, which is the whole point!
Again…check out our Complete Guide to AR-15 Suppressors.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are tons of options when it comes to modding or upgrading your AR-15 build.
While we gave you just a handful of options to choose from, there are tons of upgrades you can toss onto your rifle.
What is your favorite accessory? Let us know in the comments! We’ve covered tons of AR-15 stuff here but we’re not done yet! Check out the rest of the AR-15 guides.
44 Leave a Reply
What is your opinion on the ZION-15? I have heard great things. They come standard with B5 stock and grip.
Sorry. You did mention the Bravo B5 butt stocks. They pass for real use.
You said you were covering the best furniture for AR's but you never even mentioned any of the best. You went basic, cheap and expensive show-off (on the pistol grips). The best are the items that would be selected for real world, go-to-war, heavy combat use. I bet you won't even post this in the comments.
strike industries extended charging handle latch
the best 20 dollar ar upgrade
period
^^^THIS.
Yes. Perfect.
Magpul Magpul Magpul!!! Yeah, they make pretty good stuff. My money on best stock though is the Daniel Defense collapsible stock. Rubberized cheek weld is very comfortable and just looks sleek.
One stock I think everyone should consider is the A1 length fixed stock. I got a Brownells Retro one and it's really nice.
Congratulations. Now you have a $6,000 rifle. And you still can't shoot worth sh#t.
HEY! If man were meant to bulleyes at 25 yards God would have given him better aim. Now leave me, my $6000 rifle, and my abysmal aiming skills alone!
Curious that you left out some great equipment. This article did not seem to be that well thought out. I know, there's a lot out there but you could have used types of builds as major categories, then filled in the blanks with equipment specific to that role. You could have made it a multi part series. Just a thought.
Shut up, Tom. How about you write the article then.
Tom should have. The readers would have actually received useful information if he had. I'm sorry that you are only brave enough to tell him to shut up, from behind your keyboard, and not to his face.
I agree. B should shut up.
Dudes, you cats ate normally spot on, but no mention of the Luth-AR MBA? May need to look into a lil jb weld for your pipe...
Props for mentioning the Houge grip, it is indeed a terrific step up from milspec. But what about the collapsable buttstock that is often sold with the grip? Same grippy overmold, decent checkweld and lacks the rattle that sometimes happens with Magpul. Also has three quick swivel connect points for slings. I mean, what more can you ask for @ ~$70 for grip and stock from OP?
How about the PWS ratchet castle nut and QD end plate combo (Brownells #100-031-925)? This is the slickest setup I have seen and eliminates the need to stake the castle nut. I have seen very few folks (myself and many gunsmiths included) who know how to properly stake a castle nut. This product gives you a third QD attachment point and eliminates staking.
I have loved your reviews for years. When I make a purchase, your reviews, along with some select others, come into play. For this I am sincerely thankful.
Now the but....
BUT: Why not just name this article the Best Magpul Accessories.
Sure, I'm a little biased as I'm a huge BCM fan, but I do run some Magpul items as well.
I still love you folks but this was not your best work. Not by a stretch.
Really like this wed site I got a PSA 16” freedom rifle kit with Anderson lower that I put an A2 butt stock on and has a vortex viper scope sitting on it makes the perfect truck gun I have it everywhere I go. Love reading the articles and reviews here, I learned a lot from this website and I am excited about future upgrade to my rifle. Thank you for all of the info
Thanks for the positive words :D We're always glad to be able to help.
Why not just say I like anything Magpul. This "article" might as well been an add for them, they make some nice stuff but come on this was annoying.
Most reviews of a Magpul product are going to be extremely enthusiastic. That’s what happens when you make a great product at a reasonable price.
A small point of correction in your article, but the Magpul PRS stock can be used with both a standard mil-spec carbine buffer tube, or a rifle length tube. It comes with an adapter for one or the other. I have 2 on my long range builds, and love them for that. Heavy and expensive are the downsides, but heavy is an advantage for a range/bench gun. If you shop around, you can usually get them for a little under $200 - still expensive, but once you shoot with one, and feel the stability it offers over other stocks, you'll probably feel good about the investment.
while your review was pretty extensive and complete, you didn't mention that most AR furniture is imported, and sports a 1000% mark up. Aluminum is aluminum, and plastic is plastic. A plastic nylon sling, no matter what the clips, and buckles, is only a $3. sling! A reasonable profit is one thing, but having ten middlemen between China, Japan, etc. and the U.S. market is no excuse for the outrageous furniture prices. A whole AR with a 100% + mark up from the actual factory is only a $475. rifle. (property card value- new M-16).
I really like the Magpul PRS Buttstock, but $200 plus it is way overpriced. I don't care how many adjustments it has.
How about the Tango Down BG-18 "Battlegrip"? Fits my hand perfectly and I prefer the more vertical angle which is easier on my wrist. It also has a small tab on the front to cover the "gap" between the grip and trigger guard that can raise a blister on your middle finger after a lot of rounds. Same price or a little cheaper than the MOE. I like it better.
The item FAB defense T-pod, is that something thats tough as in able to be trusted for a combat situation or is it mainly just a fun gadget to play with like say competition? I like the idea a lot because when you go prone if you need to change direction of shooting you grab the bipod and tilt and slide and a vertical grip should be mounted where its comfortable. Its a good join of the two.
Seemed like a Magpul advertisement.
Eric,
Great article as always. I would recommend adding the ATI X1 pistol grip to your selection. I have it on my AR-10 (pic sent to you) as well as my AR-15. Awesome grip. Take care and rack on.
- Bib
Just learning about rifles after a long hiatus away from long guns in any capacity. Great article. Read through this to better understand options and preferences from a total beginners perspective. Thanks Eric... I'll be reading more.
Hi Eric,
Will a LUTH AR LAR MBA3 or MAG PUL PRS adjistiable butt stock fit a 6.5mm cm Ruger Per Rifle wiithout modification??
Thanks in adv for your reply...
DT
For slings, I am a Vickers man every time. Vickers just released a “Push Button Sling” that has QD hardware on each end. This is now my go-to. $77 at Blue Force Gear. I fasten it directly to my Magpul MOE stocks without additional hardware, and add a Magpul QD sling attachment (MAG528) for $20 to the front tip of my rail.
Hey Eric, how are you mounting the Atlas V8 to the MLOK rail? I want to make sure I order the correct mount and I am having some trouble. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!
I like your articles and your products but some are just way to pricey for my taste. $220 for a bipod? Most people like myself are on a budget an d getting anything for my AR is a luxury
item. Ammo included. Some items for the budget hungry guys like me would also be a treat. Keep The articles coming. I enjoy the read.
He used a Harris bipod. Those aren't too expensive. But you buy a budget bipod then it night crap out on you. I had a Harris bipod break on me while I was slinging my rifle. The rifle fell and almost landed on a rock that would had broken my optic. You get what you pay for. If you have to save for mo ta to get something nice do it. Dknt go the cheap route.
To E. Hung &readers,
Indeed, a stellar article with expertise insight; however please allow me to offer some naive critique/Devil's advocate as I am a very novice shooter.. why is this article saturated with Magpul furniture/accessories/peripheral mods? Where did I miss the disclaimer that this would effectively operate as an advertisement for Magpul - notwithstanding, an outstanding American manufacturer? Please do not misinterpret my written tone, which is not to disparage whatsoever but rather to learn. Why is there not more variety of brands and representation of other, perhaps boutique or competitive, manufacturers? Did I miss a piece of the article that explains this or does Magpul legitimately deserve ~70% of the 'Top' slots in this category (and others referenced in other articles)? What about MAKO/Fab Defense, Fortis, ERGO, Strike Industries, Seekins Precision, or even LaRue makes high-quality polymers for furniture, in addition to many others.. Why can't the well-deserved superiority of Magpul be stated once and then explore more of the diversity of the A(r) market? Please pardon my sense of pretense; it's not even a grievance, it's just the continuous exposure to Magpul I feel could potentially start to undermine their identity as being just the ubiquitous brand that is available everywhere. I'd hate to see them[Magpul] be conflated with, like, some 'Wal-Mart' brand line of products. Or perhaps I'm just a novice shooter that has yet to truly appreciate the functional supremacy of the Magpul concatenation, Thank you for reading. Criticism of my dialogue is recommended.
Hi Lucas, thanks for the detailed message! I definitely am due for an update to this article. Now that I've been much more immersed in everything AR, I'll have some good additions to this list.
magpul has a well deserved reputation for fantastic products priced very aggressively.
of the brands you listed, at least 2 of them (strike, mako) are produced overseas (not always a bad thing, but some people strike term off the list for this reason. ergo is generally (subjectively) poor quality. seeking and fortis are space age scifi designed stuff that would be at home in the next halo video game (although the quality is good, and if that's your bag, no hate from me!) larue is solid stuff and id encourage this (excellent) web site to test it out!! thats only my opinion, and its worth exactly wjat you paid for it though!
I was thinking basically the same exact thing halfway through reading the “pistol grip” section. I saw where this was headed and immediately asked myself if magpul was paying PPT. Haha. Don’t get me wrong magpul is one of the great American companies who’s innovations have changed many aspects of the shooting world. But to be honest. I am always looking past the magpul whenever possible and going with something else. Honestly I’m just getting bored with magpu and would really like to see them try something new. I know they are known for polymer but they’ve made enough money by this point they should try and expand and branch out into machining. Maybe make some magpul handguards or vertical grips from aluminum. They came out with the Mbus pro set of buis sights that I love. I’ve got a set on my favorite rifle now. That’s just my two cents though. That being said, magpul makes a hell of a quality product that most anyone can afford. For that I am thankful for magpul.
FYI, it says "Atlast" bipod in the Picture. Other then that, great article, I love this site, and I can't wait till I can get my AR.
Thanks for catching that!
Eric,
Thank you for all the helpful articles and videos. As a relatively new shooter I learn a lot from this channel. Keep up the good work.
Peter S
Thanks Peter, really appreciate the kind words!
he's right! LOVE the site. im a fairly advanced ar hobbyist, but im loving the reviews and guides!