A Philadelphia couple enjoyed a night out together… right up until their lives changed forever.
The husband and wife were walking to the front door of their apartment when they noticed a man staring at them.
The man appeared to be high on drugs and was silent as he fixated on the couple.
After the couple spoke for several minutes they decided to go into their apartment, but the man jumped between them and forced his way inside.
The husband followed the intruder inside and grabbed his legally owned AR-15.
The husband ordered the intruder to leave the apartment. Instead, the intruder ran towards the husband yelling at him.
The husband told the intruder to stop but he didn’t…
So, with no other choice, the husband fired a single shot at the intruder from his rifle.
The round hit the intruder in his torso, fatally wounding him.
It was later revealed that the intruder was awaiting trial for an aggravated assault charge.
Now, it’s no secret that the AR-15 is one of the most popular choices for home defense because of its ease of use and 30-round magazine capacity.
But one of the greatest aspects of the AR-15 is the ability to accessorize or upgrade the rifle.
Especially, since many upgrades for the AR-15 can be done by the gun owner.
So, you don’t have to go to a gunsmith and spend hundreds of dollars to have an upgraded part added to your rifle.
Whether you use an AR-15 for home defense or target shooting, here are a few upgrades you should consider.
Bolt Carrier Group:
The most important part of your AR-15 is the bolt carrier group
This part performs many functions of the rifle such as feeding, chambering, firing, and ejecting the rounds.
The BCG also controls the gases to cycle the next round.
The majority of malfunctions that occur with an AR-15 will happen with the BCG.
But the BCG can be finicky…
If you over lubricate the part it might malfunction. But if you never lubricate it the same thing might happen.
One way to improve the BCG is to upgrade to a nickel boron bolt carrier group.
The nickel boron coating creates a smooth surface to reduce friction. It also requires less lubrication. Plus, the coating will help with corrosion in damp climates.
If you are interested in an upgraded BCG, consider Brownell’s nickel boron BCG.
Optics:
One of the most popular upgrades that shooters make to their rifles is an optic.
Many shooters like red dots because they are easy to install and use.
Another option is holographic sights. These are similar to red dots but use different technology.
Also, always train to use the sights that come on your rifle…
You just never know when your optic will fail. (I’ve seen it many times when I’ve been teaching rifle classes.)
If you are considering a red dot, check out Trijicon and the Sig Sauer Romeo 5.
Sling:
One of the least “sexy,” most overlooked, but most important accessories to your AR-15 is a sling.
A sling does more than just hold the rifle to your body.
It can be used as support when shooting and allows you to transition from your rifle to your pistol without dumping your AR.
A sling allows you to know where your rifle is and to maintain control of the weapon at all times.
So, adding a sling to your rifle is just as important as a holster is to your pistol.
And there are many options for slings such as single, two-point, and three-point attachments.
If you are looking for a sling you may wish to check out the Blue Force Gear Vickers Sling.
This sling was designed by military operators and allows for quick adjustments.
The truth is, the variety of AR-15 upgrades are endless, but these three will get you started in the right direction.
