Best Magpul Upgrades for the AR-15

Here’s the scenario: you saved up your pennies and finally got that awesome AR-15 you’ve been eyeing.

Now, you may be asking yourself, what’s the best way to get the most performance out of that rifle?

Congratulations! If you’ve got a good AR-15, the expensive part is over. But there are accessories out there that can take your rifle’s utility, ergonomics, accuracy, and reliability to the next level.

Magpul is well-known for its wide variety of accessories, particularly for the AR-15 platform. But with a ton of options available, how do you know what to put on your rifle?

We're here to help! We’ll break down some great Magpul accessories to help you maximize your AR-15.

So keep reading!

Best Magpul Accessories

1. Magpul PMAG Gen3 - Best Magazines

Best Magazines

Magpul 30 Round PMAG Gen M3

$13

at GunMag Warehouse

Prices accurate at time of writing

$13 at GunMag Warehouse

The MagShack (see price)

Magpul (see price)

Brownells (see price)

It’s interesting, but one of the best accessories you can get for your rifle is probably already included with the gun. I review a lot of firearms, and more often than not, when I crack open a new rifle, there’s a PMAG in a plastic bag waiting for me.

Good magazines make your AR-15 more reliable. Not only do they feed the rifle, but they make sure the bolt locks back on the last round.

This is a wonderful shortcut for loading the next magazine. And if you sincerely need to reload, time is of the essence.

PMAGs are tough, reliable, and battle-tested. For years, various branches of the military have deployed them.

2. Magpul DT Carbine Stock - Best Stock

Best Stock

Magpul DT Carbine Stock

$65

at Magpul

Prices accurate at time of writing

$65 at Magpul

Primary Arms (see price)

OpticsPlanet (see price)

The stock is a critical touch point on an AR-15, and upgrading it can improve performance and ergonomics. The Magpul DT Carbine is a great option for several reasons.

First off, the shape up top is good for cheek weld, but below you get the benefit of a rounded, bottom corner, which makes mounting the rifle easier. The butt pad is solid, absorbs some of the mild recoil, but also hooks up well on your shoulder.

That A-frame shape also makes the stock stronger, which is very important if you ever have to mortar your rifle to clear a malfunction. Plus, the ambidextrous lever uses dual tension (hence DT) to lock the stock firmly into place whenever you adjust it.

Finally, the DT will accept a standard sling via a slot or a QD attachment.

3. Magpul MOE K2-XL Grip - Best Grip

Best Grip

Magpul MOE K2-XL

$24

at Magpul

Prices accurate at time of writing

$24 at Magpul

Primary Arms (see price)

Midway USA (see price)

A good grip on an AR-15 can be an upgrade in ergonomics. You don’t use the grip to pull the rifle into your shoulder, but it helps you generally point and manipulate the weapon.

Grip angle is important for prolonged use, so you’ll want to find one that is comfortable. I like the MOE grips from Magpul for a number of reasons.

The grip angle is great, the texture is light but present, and the K2-XL version fits my big hands really well. Plus, it’s got a handy storage container for your favorite lube or beard oil.

Magpul makes a number of grips, so don't grab the K2-XL, unless you have big mitts!

4. Magpul MBUS - Best Sights

Best Sights

Magpul MBUS 3

$100

at Magpul

Prices accurate at time of writing

$100 at Magpul

Brownells (see price)

MidwayUSA (see price)

Primary Arms (see price)

Being able to deliver accurate fire is crucial in a fighting rifle, so redundancy is a great idea. There are so many great optics out there, it’s easy to forget that all electronics can fail.

While it’s generally rare, optics can lose zero or just quit working altogether, and batteries can run out at the most inopportune times.

Never fear! With Magpul MBUS, you’ll always have a secondary sighting option. Mount these up on your Picatinny rail and dial them in as a great backup.

They’re small, inexpensive, adjustable, and tuck neatly out of the way. When you need them, simply push the button and they pop into place.

For hard use, consider the MBUS Pro, which is essentially the same, but made of steel.

What do you think of the MBUS Sights? Rate them below!

5. Magpul MS1 Sling - Best Sling

Best Sling

Magpul MS1 Sling

$25

at Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore

Prices accurate at time of writing

$25 at Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore

OpticsPlanet (see price)

Primary Arms (see price)

Magpul (see price)

There are a number of great slings on the market, but Magpul’s MS1 is marvelous for its simplicity. This dedicated 2-point sling has webbing that is 1.25” wide, so it's comfortable to wear all day long.

In addition, the MS1 slider is a buckle-type device that allows you to adjust (open or close) the sling to your desired length. It’s quick, easy to use, and stays in place once you’ve selected the length you want.

The slickness of the webbing and low profile of the slider ensure it doesn’t hang up on clothing or gear you might wear, like a plate carrier.

Bottom line: a sling on your rifle allows you to stow it so you can use both hands.

6. Quick Disconnect Sling Mount - Best QD Mount

Best QD Mount

Magpul Quick Disconnect Sling Mount

$30

at Magpul

Prices accurate at time of writing

$30 at Magpul

Brownells (see price)

Primary Arms (see price)

These devices are small and can easily be overlooked, but they make mounting or removing a sling a lot easier. If you have QD on your stock and QD on your rail, you can attach these to your sling and you’re off to the races.

QD sling mounts allow you to quickly plug the sling into the QD slots on your rifle. If you want to remove your sling, you simply press the button to release.

While the QD sling mounts don’t affect accuracy or reliability, they do improve ergonomics and add utility to your rifle.

7. Magpul M-LOK Rail Covers Type 2 - Best Rail Covers

Best Rail Covers

Magpul M-LOK Type 2 Rail Covers

$15

at Magpul

Prices accurate at time of writing

$15 at Magpul

Primary Arms (see price)

OpticsPlanet (see price)

Shoot a few magazines through your AR-15 on a hot day, and you’ll soon learn why rail covers are a good idea. That forend gets hot in a hurry, and although they’re usually made of aluminum and disperse heat well, they can’t always keep up.

Rail covers not only give you another layer of protection from heat, but they also have the added benefit of great texture. This creates a better grip and allows the shooter to pull the rifle into their shoulder better, helping mitigate recoil.

Magpul makes these for Picatinny and M-LOK applications, so make sure you get the ones that work for your rifle.

8. Magpul M-LOK Hand Stop Kit - Best Handstop

Best Handstop

Magpul M-LOK Handstop

$25

at Magpul

Prices accurate at time of writing

$25 at Magpul

Brownells (see price)

Primary Arms (see price)

In a similar fashion to rail covers, the hand stop kit allows you to place a custom hand stop in just the right spot on your rail. These tactile little panels plug in and provide extra grip.

The rear stop gives you a little extra leverage for pulling the rifle into your shoulder, further mitigating recoil. The forward stop can be a great index point to keep your hand from sliding too far forward on shorter rails with hot suppressors!

Magpul also makes these for Picatinny and M-LOK, so choose the right ones for your application.

How We Chose the Best AR-15 Magpul Accessories

We’ve been shooting AR-15s for years and have experience in different arenas of their use, whether it’s for fun, hunting, competition, or even professional deployment. In addition, we continue to train with our ARs and stay up on developing tactics and techniques.

There is a whole world of different accessories out there, and we’ve tried many. In our experience, Magpul is consistently one of the best brands, bringing marked improvements to a rifle at an affordable price.

We have thoroughly tested all of the following Magpul accessories and heartily recommend them.

Meet the Experts

At the helm of this review was Pew Pew Tactical Content Producer Sean Curtis. Sean spent over two decades in law enforcement, where he became a POST-certified handgun instructor and NLEFIA Red Dot Instructor and received CLEFIA Advanced Firearms Instructor Training and AR-15 armorer training. He has since attended a variety of training, including Tactical Performance Center Handgun Mastery & Carbine Mastery, and earned USCCA rifle instructor certification. Aside from training and prior to joining the Pew Pew Tactical team full-time, Sean wrote for several gun publications, evaluating and testing guns and gear, and has written hundreds of articles.

This review was edited by Editor-in-Chief Jacki Billings, who runs Pew Pew Tactical’s experienced team of reviewers. Jacki is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, ACES: Society for Editing, and the Professional Outdoor Media Association and has her bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications. She has worked as a media professional for close to 20 years, specializing in gun media for almost 10 years, and has worked as an editor for five years. She uses her extensive professional journalism and editing experience to set testing protocols and editorial standards.

Final Thoughts

We've showcased some of our favorite Magpul accessories to enhance your AR-15. Our testing has shown that these items can not only improve your ergonomics but also increase reliability, accuracy, and add utility.

To top it all off, Magpul products are durable and won't break the bank -- all the more important if you're already in the doghouse over your new rifle!

Which Magpul accessories do you use on your AR-15? Let us know in the comments below. If you're still shopping for a great rifle, check out Best AR-15s: Ultimate Hands-On Guide!