AR-15 Rifles [The Definitive Resource]

Mono AR-15

The AR-15 is America’s most popular sporting rifle. And because of that, there’s dozens of reputable manufacturers, tons of options, and thousands of accessories.

Whether you’re starting the search for the perfect AR-15 as a first-time buyer, looking for your next AR, or building one with the perfect upgrades and accessories…you’re in the right place.

Table of Contents

From buying to upgrading and building your own AR-15, this guide has you covered:

Chapter 1

AR-15 Fundamentals

If you’re new to AR-15’s…or looking to brush up on your knowledge…these resources will help you get a great baseline.

  • The Best AR-15s: A Buyer’s Guide
    BY Eric Hung,

    Want to find the best AR-15 for you? We start with how they work and important specs. Then we cover the best brands/models for all budgets.

  • Common Rifle Calibers
    BY Eric Hung,

    Quickly learn about the pros and cons of popular rifle calibers with our handy guide. We also cover average price, recoil, and recommended ammo for each.

  • AR-15 vs AK-47
    BY Eric Hung,

    Quickly learn the pros/cons of the AR-15 vs AK-47 debate. We'll cover ergonomics, reliability, cost, accessories, and even recommended models.

  • AR Pistol vs. Short Barrel Rifle
    BY Todd Gimian,

    We cover the pros/cons and current legal standing regarding SBRs vs. AR pistols. Come learn more about these shorter platforms.

Chapter 2

How to Shoot the AR-15

Learn how to properly and safely operate your AR-15. We’ll cover the standard firearm safety rules then go into AR-15 specifics like stance, cleaning, and common failures.

Chapter 3

AR-15 Complete Rifle Reviews

We have tons of AR-15 complete rifle reviews but here are some of our favorites that stand the test of time.

  • 5.56 NATO / .223 Remington / .223 Wylde

    BY Scott Murdock,

    Springfield’s flagship duty pistol is now available in a compact configuration. Are there more on the way?

    • Best AR-15s
      BY Eric Hung,

      Want to find the best AR-15 for you? We start with how they work and important specs. Then we cover the best brands/models for all budgets.

    • Best AR-15 Pistols
      BY Eric Hung,

      Want to build or buy an AR-15 pistol? We cover the legality, best individual parts, our go-to complete builds, and best pistol uppers.

    • BCM Recce-16 MCMR
      BY John Currie,

      BCM has a stellar reputation. See if their Recce-16 AR-15 deserves it. We hands-on review it for reliability, accuracy, ergonomics, looks, and more.

    • Daniel Defense DDM4V7
      BY John Currie,

      Is the steep price tag on the Daniel Defense DDM4 V7 justified? We hands-on test the DD for reliablity, accuracy, ergonomics, and more.

    • Palmetto State Armory 16" AR-15
      BY Eric Hung,

      Is PSA worth it? We test three rifles over many years and many rounds...we review their fit, finish, accuracy, reliability, and more.

    • Aero Precision 16" M4E1
      BY Eric Hung,

      Find out why the Aero M4E1 is the best "bang for the buck" rifle with our in-depth review on look/feel, reliability, upgrades, accuracy, and more.

    • FN-15 Patrol
      BY David Lane,

      Looking for a classic AR-15 from one of the top manufacturers? We hands-on review the FN 15 Patrol Carbine from reliability to price, accuracy, and more.

    • Lead Star Grunt
      BY David Lane,

      Looking for an AR-15 that doesn't need any upgrades out of the box? And is still affordable? We hands-on review the Lead Star Grunt that does both.

    • LWRCI DI & IC SPR
      BY Eric Hung,

      Looking at getting an LWRCI AR-15? We hands-on review both the DI and IC-SPR for reliability, accuracy, ergonomics, value, and more.

    • Sig Sauer M400 Tread
      BY Ken Whitmore,

      Looking for a great AR-15 that's a cut above budget starter rifles? We hands-on test Sig's M400 Tread for reliability, accuracy, worth-it-ness, and more.

  • Alternative Calibers

    BY Scott Murdock,

    Springfield’s flagship duty pistol is now available in a compact configuration. Are there more on the way?

    • Best Pistol Caliber Carbines (AR-9)
      BY Eric Hung,

      Got a pistol? Got a AR-15? Enter the AR-9 platform! Find out why they are great defensive guns and a couple of our favorites.

    • Best .22LR AR-15s
      BY Scott Murdock,

      Training, plinking, or fending off an army of squirrels -- an AR-15 in .22 LR has a lot of uses! From full rifle to conversion, we can help you find the one!

    • Best .300 BLK Uppers
      BY Eric Hung,

      The .300 Blackout is here to stay. We'll cover the best uppers out there for all budgets and build types...from pistol to rifle to suppressed.

    • Best 7.62x39 (AK) Uppers
      BY Matthew Collins,

      Want to combine the accuracy of an AR-15 with the power of an AK-47's .30 caliber round? We cover the most popular 7.62x39 AR-15 uppers and complete rifles.

    • Best Alternative AR-15 Calibers
      BY David Lane,

      Looking for a harder hitting AR-15? We cover 5 of the best alternative cartridges and calibers with their pros, cons, and recommended uppers & ammo.

Chapter 4

AR-15 Ammo Choices

Your AR-15 is hungry so you gotta feed it some good ammo! These articles will cover the best ammo for self-defense and range shooting. Plus some popular alternative calibers.

Chapter 5

AR-15 Optics & Scopes

Your AR-15 probably came with iron sights or even bare-nekkid…time to upgrade for a much better shooting experience! We’ll cover non-magnified sights such as red dots and holographic sights, all the way to prisms and magnified scopes.

Chapter 6

AR-15 Upgrades & Accessories

Unless you spec-ed out your AR-15 completely, chances are it can improve to meet your needs. We’ll cover all the essential upgrades from internals (triggers, BCGs, etc) to external accessories (lights, lasers, grips, etc).

  • Overall

    BY Scott Murdock,

    Springfield’s flagship duty pistol is now available in a compact configuration. Are there more on the way?

    • Best AR-15 Upgrades
      BY Eric Hung,

      Find out the best AR-15 upgrades across the entire platform and different budgets. Learn why we chose each item and how they perform in our test builds.

    • Best AR-15 Furniture & Accessories
      BY Eric Hung,

      Find the best AR-15 furniture and accessories to make your rifle perfect for your end-use -- from buttstocks, handguards, grips, slings, bipods, and more.

    • Best AR-15 Uppers
      BY Eric Hung,

      Our favorite complete AR-15 upper receiver picks for general purpose, short barrel, pinned, and lightweight builds.

    • Best AR-15 Lowers
      BY Eric Hung AND Cameron Corley,

      So many AR-15 lower receivers out there...We cover our top picks of the best lowers across budgets, materials, & end-use.

    • Building a Featureless AR-15
      BY Eric Hung,

      Quickly learn what makes a rifle "featureless," how to build a featureless AR-15, the benefits, and top mods for grips, stocks, and muzzle devices.

  • Individual Upgrades (Bang-For-The-Buck)

    BY Scott Murdock,

    Springfield’s flagship duty pistol is now available in a compact configuration. Are there more on the way?

    • Best Drop-In Triggers
      BY Eric Hung,

      Looking for the perfect AR-15 trigger? We cover the most popular from drop-in to upgraded mil-spec. Plus video of each trigger pull and fastest split times.

    • Best BCGs
      BY Eric Hung,

      We tested the best-in-class bolt carrier groups (BCGs) for mil-spec, low-mass, slick coatings, exotic materials, and more.

    • Best Handguards: Drop-In & Free-Floating
      BY Eric Hung,

      Looking for the best AR-15 handguard for your purpose and budget? We cover free-floating and drop-in versions...and even some cutting-edge carbon fiber variants.

    • Best AR-15 Muzzle Brakes & Compensators [Hands-On]
      BY Eric Hung,

      Want less recoil and vertical movement? We hands-on test some of the best muzzle brakes for recoil reduction, side blast, sound levels, and reticle movement.

    • Best Barrels
      BY Eric Hung,

      Looking for the best AR-15 barrels? We cover our favorite manufacturers that we use in our own builds. Plus specific barrel models to suit your end purpose.

    • Best AR-15 Charging Handles
      BY Travis Pike,

      There are dozens of AR-15 charging handles out there. We hands-on tested almost all of them and chose our favorites for specific AR build needs.

    • How to Lower AR-15 Recoil
      BY Ken Whitmore,

      Want a softer shooting AR-15? We scientifically test recoil reduction from stance, gas, brakes, and lightweight BCGs to see what makes the most difference.

  • Niche Individual Upgrades

    BY Scott Murdock,

    Springfield’s flagship duty pistol is now available in a compact configuration. Are there more on the way?

    • Best AR-15 Suppressors
      BY Eric Hung,

      Looking for the best AR-15 suppressor? We cover a few of the most popular cans specifically for 5.56 as well as some multi-cal options.

    • Best Adjustable Gas Blocks
      BY Travis Pike,

      What's the best AR-15 adjustable gas block? We cover all the most popular ones out there and choose our hands-on-tested number one block to rule them all.

    • Lightest AR-15 Handguards
      BY Eric Hung,

      Want the lightest AR-15 Handguard possible? We cover different materials from carbon fiber to magnsium. Plus our pick for the best-bang-for-the-buck rail.

    • Best Lightweight BCGs
      BY Eric Hung,

      Want to really reduce your double-tap split times? We've tried the most popular lightweight BCGs on the market and know which are the best after thousands of rounds.

    • Best Piston Conversion Kits
      BY Matthew Collins,

      Everyone and their mom makes a piston AR-15 now. We go over the pros/cons of going piston, the best piston AR-15 uppers, and also the best conversion kits.

    • Best Carbon Fiber Barrels
      BY Matthew Collins,

      Carbon Fiber barrels are one of the most amazing advancements in firearms since rifled barrels and select-fire. We took a look at what makes these barrels so great, why they perform so much better than other barrels, and who makes the best ones.

    • Best Featureless Grips
      BY Eric Hung,

      We've been shooting featureless in CA for years. Here's our favorite grips that shoot great, look semi-normal, and will keep your AR & AK legal.

  • Accessories

    BY Scott Murdock,

    Springfield’s flagship duty pistol is now available in a compact configuration. Are there more on the way?

    • Best AR-15 Magazines
      BY Annette Evans,

      If you're a new AR-15 owner, or an old hand looking for recommendations, here's everything you need to know about picking the perfect entry-level mags.

    • Best AR015 Flashlights
      BY Eric Hung,

      We hands-on test some of the most popular AR-15 flashlights. Complete with tons of pictures, beam patterns, mounting options, and more.

    • Best Pistol Grip
      BY Ken Whitmore,

      Having the right AR-15 grip is super important. We hands-on test some of the most popular and choose our overall winner, KISS grip, and long-range pick.

    • Best AR-15 Buttstock
      BY Eric Hung,

      Want to find the perfect AR-15 buttstock? We tested 12 of the most popular and choose our favorite ones for your different builds and budgets.

    • Best AR-15 Bipod
      BY Matthew Collins,

      Looking for the best bipod for your hunting rifle or AR-15? We cover what makes a great bipod and a few of the most popular ones out there that we owned or shot with extensively.

    • Best Vertical Foregrips
      BY Sean Curtis,

      Want more control of your AR-15? We hands-on review some of the most popular options from traditional vertical grips to angled and even some special foregrips.

    • Best AR-15 Lasers
      BY Eric Hung,

      Want the fastest acquisition in low light? We hands-on review the most popular green & red lasers for brightness, zero, ergonomics, price, and more.

    • Best AR-15 Pistol Braces
      BY Brandon Harville AND Jacki Billings,

      Not sure which pistol brace to get...or the legalities? We cover the top choices for AR-15 and AK braces with an emphasis on price and usability.

Chapter 7

Building Your Own AR-15

It’s adult Legos! Learn how to choose the best parts for your budget and purpose, essential tools, and proper building techniques. And for the even more adventurous…how to build from your own 80% lower receiver.

Chapter 8

Everything AR-10

The AR-10 is the AR-15’s big brother in terms of overall size and caliber. If you ever wanted a semi-auto .308 that feels almost exactly like an AR-15…the AR-10 is the way to go.

  • General

    BY Scott Murdock,

    Springfield’s flagship duty pistol is now available in a compact configuration. Are there more on the way?

    • AR-10 vs AR-15
      BY Matthew Collins,

      The AR-15 and AR-10 rifles are two of the most popular and successful rifles in history. Find out the differences, pros/cons, and what's best for you.

    • Best AR-10s
      BY David Lane,

      The AR-10 is a grownup version of the AR-15. It's bigger, meaner, and louder. We'll show you the best AR-10s out there across all budgets.

  • Complete AR-10 Reviews

    BY Scott Murdock,

    Springfield’s flagship duty pistol is now available in a compact configuration. Are there more on the way?

  • AR-10 Lowers

    BY Scott Murdock,

    Springfield’s flagship duty pistol is now available in a compact configuration. Are there more on the way?

    • Best AR-10 Lowers
      BY Matthew Collins,

      Building an AR-10 is a great way to get a great gun that shoots big bullets for a (relatively) small amount of money. These are the best lowers for building an AR-10 that won't disappoint.

  • AR-10 Individual Parts Reviews

    BY Scott Murdock,

    Springfield’s flagship duty pistol is now available in a compact configuration. Are there more on the way?

    • Best AR-10 Barrels
      BY Travis Pike,

      Looking to build a new AR-10? We cover the different patterns, interchaneability with the AR-15, and our favorite AR-10 barrels for accuracy and budget.

    • Best AR-10 Lowers
      BY Matthew Collins,

      Building an AR-10 is a great way to get a great gun that shoots big bullets for a (relatively) small amount of money. These are the best lowers for building an AR-10 that won't disappoint.

Chapter 9

AR-15 History & Education

Everything else that doesn’t fit!

  • How And Why The M16 Failed In Vietnam (And Is It Reliable Today?)
    BY David Lane,

    How bad was the M16 during the Vietnam War? And can you trust it (and the civilian AR-15 variants) today? We cover it all.

  • Brief History of the M16
    BY Scott Dylan,

    The M16 is one of the most iconic and prolific weapon's platforms on the planet. This rifle, despite a rocky start in the jungles of Vietnam, would go on to change the way nearly every Western nation outfitted their troops. Let's take a look at the storied history of the mighty M16.

  • What is an AR-15 Dissipator
    BY Travis Pike,

    Learn what exactly is an AR-15 dissipator, its pros/cons, whether the design is still useful in this day and age, and recommended models.

  • AR-15 vs. M4
    BY Matthew Collins,

    Want to know the difference between the AR15 for civilians and the military M4? We cover that plus a little history, similarities, and the best for you.