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What’s it take to excel at precision shooting?
Perfect practice.
Your brain creates habits, using a 3 point loop system. To overcome problems like recoil anticipation, you have to pay close attention to your physical and emotional mindset. Over time, with practice, smoothly pulling the trigger will become a habit rather than something you have to think about.
As you begin building smart shooting habits, it helps to have a firearm you love. AR-15s are a popular choice among gun enthusiasts for a variety of reasons, with customizations being at the top of the list.
What ar 15 accessories and customizations will improve your shooting style? Read on to find out.
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Iron Sight and Red Dot Sights
Did you want iron or red dot sights on your AR-15? Iron sights are still a popular option, however, they’re not the best for accuracy.
Instead, red dot sights are one of the first ar 15 accessories you’ll need if you’re into tactical training. The sights give you the ability to work on the accuracy of your shot, so you’ll be prepared when it matters the most.
All sights perform similar tasks, but not in the exact same way. The first thing you should look at to make the right purchasing choices is the size.
The size of your firearm will determine what site size will best suit your needs. For instance, if you’re using a rifle, you need a larger size than you would for a handgun.
The next feature to consider is the battery. We suggest purchasing sights that use popular battery brands rather than specialized orders. If you run out of juice, you can simply buy a new pack of batteries rather than having to shop at a specialty store.
Next, you’ll need to decide how long you want the battery life to be. More expensive sights will have longer battery lives, which can be a tremendous convenience on the field.
Moving on, you’ll be in charge of picking the size of the red dot as well.
Reticle Sizing
The red dot is referred to as the reticle size. Small reticles are perfect for making long-distance precision shots. However, a smaller reticle can be more difficult to see in the daytime. We suggest purchasing sights that use large reticles if you’re a new shooter, as you perfect your shooting skills.
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Precision Shooting With Handguards and Rail Systems
Next on our list of ar 15 accessories, we have handguards and rail systems. If you don’t have the right type of handguard, handling your air 15 will be a big pain in the butt.
Improperly sized handguards make it difficult to shoot accurately, or comfortably for that matter. They also make it difficult to focus on the target, instead of just looking at your hands. The handguard and rail systems also play a part in how your AR-15 looks.
Did you want to build a classic-looking ar-15? Then we suggest sticking with traditional handguard slash rail systems. Whereas, if you’re looking for a military replica, you can find handguards specially designed to achieve a military aesthetic.
Next, consider how much weight you’d like your firearm to have. Some handguards and rail systems are designed to be lightweight, making them perfect for long-range field expeditions.
Whereas, other heavier options are great for stationary shooting sessions. If precision shooting is something you care about, you’ll want to purchase a handguard that’s designed for accuracy.
Free Float vs Classic Styles
Free float handguards are perfect for precision shooting. Since free float handguards don’t impede the barrel in any way, you won’t have to worry about losing any accuracy on your shot.
Next, think about what you’d like the future of your AR-15 to look like. For those looking to add additional accessories, we suggest steering clear of the classic drop-in handguards. Classic drop and handguards have a wonderful traditional appeal, but they don’t allow for mounting accessories.
Next, decide how much you’re willing to spend. Finally, if you haven’t already done so, follow this link to get approval for making and registering your customized AR-15.
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Lower Parts Kits
Moving on, you’ll also want to take your time choosing between the different triggers and lower parts kits. Are you going to be replacing old parts on your AR’s 15’s existing lower receiver? Do you plan on building up a stripped lower from scratch? If yes, you need to purchase a quality lower parts kit.
Lower parts kits are a great way to save time when you’re building. Instead of having to individually shop for every small spring and minuscule part, you’ll be ready to go.
You’ll find that there’s a wide range of prices between the different lower parts kits, and this is because of what they include. An affordable, basic kit will include things such as a bolt catch plunger, roll pin, spring, and the bolt catch itself.
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Smooth Trigger Options
Next, avoid getting buying poor quality, or overly cheap lower parts kits. When the lower parts kit is too cheap, it’s usually a sign that the trigger isn’t going to function well.
Low-quality lower parts kits are infamous for including triggers that have a stiff or weak pull. To avoid winding up with the trigger you hate using, we suggest reading online customer reviews.
See exactly what the lower parts kit contains, and look for reviews that specifically cover the trigger performance. You’ll want to look for a trigger that has a smooth pull and a nice crisp break.
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Improving Bolt Carrier Parts
Moving on, you’ll also want to look into upgrading your bolt carrier group or BCG. The BCG is the part of your firearm that’s responsible for producing semi-automatic rounds. Once you pull the trigger, a series of steps begin to unfold.
Pulling the trigger first allows the firing pin to hit the primer on the chambered round. Next, the firearm automatically grabs and ejects the used shell casing from the fired round. During the recocking of the hammer, the lower receiver is prepared for the next round. All of these actions happen automatically when you pull the trigger.
You’ll be happy to know that upgrading your BCG is an inexpensive alteration. Typically a BCG upgrade only takes a few minutes, and it can help eliminate some of the most common AR-15 failures.
You’ll want to make sure that you’re purchasing a bolt and BCG that work well with heat and friction. Again, reading a few online customer reviews can help point you in the right direction.
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AR-15 Slings
Next, sharpshooters will agree that having the right AR-15 sling can make or break your shooting experience. The only problem is, there are a gazillion different sling styles out there, making it tough to choose just one.
To help you narrow down your decisions, we suggest only shopping for nylon or leather gun slings. Both nylon and leather can hold up in the field, plus they look great too. Some AR-15 owners swear by nylon strings because they’re more lightweight.
However, other AR-15 enthusiasts opt for leather slings because they provide a slight give. Instead of a tight, stiff strap, leather has a little bit of flexibility to it. Be careful; however, over the years, leather slings can stretch to the point of being unusable.
After choosing your material, you’ll need to decide whether you want a single point, two points, or three-point sling. A single point sling only uses one connection point to attach to the AR-15.
Whereas two-point slings have two connection points. The three-point sling has front and back connection points, but it also provides an additional torso loop. The torso loop can be great for convenience while also helping you improve the accuracy of your shot.
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Ergonomic Grip Options
Last but not least, you’ll also need to choose the right type of grip when you’re building an ar-15. You’ll be pleased to find that there are a lot of comfortable and aesthetically pleasing grip options out there.
At the end of the day, the grip you choose will boil down to your personal taste. What type of features should you consider when selecting a pistol grip?
For starters, the grip needs to feel right to you. If something seems off about the grip, but you can’t quite put your finger on it, it’s not the right choice for you.
Size and Budget
Next, you want to consider your hand size and how the grip helps orient your hold on the gun. Moving on, consider whether you want to use smooth vs aggressive grip textures.
Finally, consider how much you’d like to spend. Grips can cost anywhere between $5 and all the way up to a few hundred dollars. As long as the grip doesn’t irritate your hand, and meet your needs, you’ll be all set.
Finding the Right AR 15 Accessories
As you start purchasing ar 15 accessories, remember that your opinion matters the most. At the end of the day, the customizations you make need to be ones that you’re proud of.
If precision isn’t your main goal, then you can focus on buying accessories that help your firearm achieve a specific style or look. Whereas, if all you care about is hitting your target every time, select accessories that are designed for accuracy.
So go ahead and start making the customizations that make you happy! For more tips like these, read another one of our articles.
