These are the best AR-15 mods for home defense.
A good home defense AR15 just needs to be lightweight and simple to operate.
Let's check them out & use it on your next training session!
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What we recommend - The Surefire M600DF & Cloud Defensive REIN for any tactical long guns including the AR15. They have tons of aftermarket scout light mounts & pressure switch accessories that can go on M-LOK, KeyMod & Picatinny handguard rail system.
In addition, a good low light training class is high recommended for anyone using a weapon light on their guns and you will learn a lot to increase your skill set
- Max Lumen Output - 1500 Lumens (18650 battery)
- Max Candela Output - 12800
- Length - 5.56"
- Weight - 5.15 Oz
- Mount - MLOK, M1913 & KeyMod
- Max Lumen Output - 1400 Lumens (21700 USB rechargeable battery)
- Max Candela Output - 60000
- Length - 6.172"
- Weight - 6.91 oz
- Mount - MLOK, M1913 & KeyMod
Why use a light - A weapon light allows a home defender to clearly identify the target in the dark. You have to see the target before anything else.
More than 80% of the shooting according to FBI happens in low light situations, so having a effective weapon light is indisputable for home defense.
Positively ID targets - A high lumen light helps the shooter positively identify whatever is in front of the muzzle before pulling the trigger, and this is absolutely critical when making a decision on a weapon light.
Peripheral Illumination - A wide flood beam light lets defenders see around them without pointing the muzzle directly, eliminating the need to aim at every object in the dark when using proper techniques.
Look For A High Lumen & Candela Light - There are times where the ambient light or other photonic barriers can affect your light beam, so pick a highest lumen & candela light in the range 14000 candela & 1000 lumens or more can solve this problem.
Good Activation Switch - Simple, user-friendly light activation is crucial. While tape switches work, they can fail, so dual-switch capability ensures reliable, failsafe performance.
AR Sights For Home Defense
Faster Aim - While most personal defense situations occur at close range where point-and-shoot techniques are sufficient, a red dot sight offers clear advantages.
Better Situational Awareness - A red dot sight with a wide field of view enables faster target acquisition without the need to align iron sights. For AR-15s used in home defense, red dots provide quick, accurate aiming, making them an excellent choice for point-and-shoot scenarios.
Always On, Never Off - Durable red dots, like the Aimpoint Micro, boast over 50,000 hours of battery life, remaining always on and ready without the need for button presses.
Target Plane Focused - A parallax-free red dot allows users to stay focused on the target without aligning the sight. This enables flexible head movement and unlimited eye relief, especially helpful in improvised shooting positions requiring precise aim.
Foregrip
What Do We Recommend - A simple BCM vertical grip works perfectly, but if you prefer a more natural wrist angle, an angled vertical grip is a great alternative.
Why use a foregrip - A foregrip on the handguard improves muzzle control and grip leverage, enhancing overall handling when using proper technique.
Drive The Muzzle Faster - Mounting the foregrip further out on the handguard lets the support hand extend closer to the muzzle, enabling faster, more precise movements and minimizing over-travel during target transitions.
Better Stability & Recoil Control - A vertical foregrip enhances rifle stability and recoil management, allowing better control for quick follow-up shots, especially when using the C-clamp grip.
Consistent Grip Every Time - Using the grip as a reference point ensures consistent hand placement, which improves accuracy and muscle memory over time.
Large Size Charging Handle
Why use a large size charging handle - A large charging handle latch offers a bigger gripping surface, making it easier for shooters under stress to charge the rifle or clear malfunctions quickly.
Better Leverage - Unlike standard small latches on factory AR-15s, a larger latch provides better grip and leverage, ensuring smoother operation of the bolt carrier group without slipping or difficulty.
What Do We Recommend - We highly recommend the BCM Gunfighter and Raptor ATX charging handles for their durability and user-friendly design.
Battery Assist Lever
Why add this thing to your AR15 - The battery assist lever (BAD Lever) enhances the speed and efficiency of bolt catch manipulation, improving weapon handling and malfunction clearing, especially under stress.
Enlarged Button For Better Weapon Manipulation - The standard AR-15 bolt release paddle can feel too small during high-adrenaline moments. The BAD Lever's larger button simplifies operation, ensuring quick and reliable manipulation.
Works For Lefites & Righties - Designed for both left- and right-handed shooters, the BAD Lever extends a paddle to the right side of the rifle. This allows the bolt stop to be operated from the ready position using the trigger finger, streamlining reloading and malfunction clearance.
Please Note: The BAD Lever may get in the way of the left side magazine release button if your AR15 has one.
Bonus - Nice To Have
Suppressor
"Why use a suppressor on an AR15?" A suppressor-equipped AR15 allows the defender to see and hear shortly after a lethal engagement event, which is beneficial for communication with someone inside the home and law enforcement officers who may arrive at the scene while adrenaline is still running high.
A suppressor-equipped AR-15 enhances situational awareness after a lethal engagement, allowing the defender to see and hear more effectively. This is especially useful for communicating with family members or law enforcement officers while adrenaline is high.
Some argue that the loud report of a non-suppressed firearm can deliver a strong psychological deterrent to threats, signaling, "It's serious—proceed at your own risk."
While opinions on suppressor use vary, it's essential to train and use one appropriately based on your specific needs. For recommendations, OSS suppressors paired with an upgraded charging handle and bolt carrier group are top choices.
Laser System - Aim Assist In Improvised Shooting Positions
A weapon-mounted laser provides fast, accurate aiming at close range, even in awkward or improvised shooting positions, eliminating the need to align sights.
Considerations for Use
Visible lasers are often seen as non-essential for several reasons:
- Cost and Durability: Many lasers are expensive and prone to losing zero after impacts, raising reliability concerns for home defense.
- Accuracy Issues: If the laser is improperly zeroed, the point of aim may not align with the point of impact. This misalignment becomes more pronounced as distance increases, potentially compromising accuracy.
- High-End Options: Reliable laser systems for long guns require significant investment, making them impractical for many users.
How Should Your Home Defense AR15 Look Like
After all the research, your home defense AR should look like this
If you want a multi purpose AR for defense, hunting & range. Something like this is a pretty good lightweight setup
- Simple
- Lightweight
- Red Dot & Light
- Added laser aiming device for night vision
- Can be suppressed if desired
- Can add red dot magnifier if desired