10 AR-15 ESSENTIALS

Maximize your AR-15 with our recommendations

The AR-15 platform is one of the most versatile and customizable rifles on the market, allowing shooters to tailor their firearms to their specific needs and preferences. Whether you’re using your AR-15 for home defense, hunting, or competition shooting, here are the top 10 essential accessories every AR-15 shooter should consider:

1. Red Dot Sight or Optic: Enhance your aiming capabilities with a quality red dot sight or optic specifically designed for the AR-15 platform. Choose a sight with a crisp reticle, durable construction, and appropriate magnification for your shooting needs. As you probably already know, optics are essential for longer range shooting. Invest in a great optic; our team recommends the Vortex red dot.

2. Tactical Sling: Keep your AR-15 secure and within reach with a tactical sling that allows for comfortable carrying and quick transition to shooting positions. Look for a sling with adjustable length, sturdy attachments, and quick-detach buckles for added convenience. Consider the Vero Vellini paddy rifle sling to match our leather collection. All of our stocks, with the exception of our California compliant stocks, accommodate for slings. Add the QD sling swivel to your cart with your purchase of a stock.

3. Vertical Foregrip: Improve control and handling of your AR-15 with a vertical foregrip or hand stop that provides a stable gripping surface and enhances shooting ergonomics. Get the most out of your shooting experience by choosing the best foregrip for your preferred shooting style and shooting positions. Try our picatinny milspec vertical grips;  we offer two vertical foregrips : the HFG (the Hera Front Grip) and the HFGL (the leather front grip).

4. Fixed sight:  Ensure reliability and redundancy in your aiming system with backup iron sights that provide a reliable aiming solution in case of optic failure or battery depletion. Choose a fixed sight that are compatible with your optic and easy to deploy for quick target acquisition. See our aluminum front sight.

5. Hand Guard: Longer handguards are the most commonly utilized handguard length, offering more room for accessory add-ons and ensuring the gas block and tube are protected. However, a 12″ hand guard may be preferred for a more compact weapon. Hera offers hand guards in various lengths and styles with our  with M-Lok handguards being the more standard option. Shop our rifle hand guards hards here.

6. Upgraded Stock: Customize your AR-15’s stock for improved comfort, fit, and functionality. Choose a stock with adjustable length of pull and cheek weld, as well as storage compartments for batteries or small tools. Choosing between the CQR Gen 1 or 2 comes down to your own personal comfort but if you prefer the option of a compact stock then we urge you to try out the CCS stock. At Hera we prioritize high quality polymer products therefore we offer some of the lightest rifle stocks currently on the market. 

Need a New York or California compliant stock? We have plenty of stocks with removable stock spacers. 

7. Muzzle Device: Reduce recoil, muzzle rise, and flash signature with a muzzle device such as a muzzle brake or compensator. Choose a device that effectively mitigates recoil without increasing noise or blast to the shooter or bystanders. At Hera we have a range of compensators for your needs.

8. Ambidextrous magazine release: adding this to your custom rifle build is ideal for quick magazine release, this addition is particularly  favorable amongst sport shooters. The ambidextrous release  allows the shooter to remove and replace magazines from either side of the weapon. Add the Hera Ambi Mag Release to your next Hera haul.

9. Magazines: Choose either our 10 round mag or a 20/30 round magazine. Your preference for either magazine might come down to your state’s shooting or hunting regulations. You might also prefer a 10 round magazine for improved balance. Choose and shop the 10 round mag, the 20 round mag, and the Hera signature transparent frame 30 round mag.

10. Magazine Pouch or Carrier: Keep your spare magazines organized and readily accessible with a magazine pouch or carrier that attaches to your AR-15’s rail system or belt. Choose a pouch or carrier that securely retains your magazines while allowing for quick and easy retrieval during reloads. This is where we introduce to you Hera Gear–coming to our site soon. 

By equipping your AR-15 with these essential accessories, you can optimize its performance, functionality, and versatility for a wide range of shooting applications. Whether you’re a tactical operator, competitive shooter, or recreational enthusiast, these accessories will help you get the most out of your AR-15 rifle.

Stay tuned to our blog and newsletter for upcoming releases. Let us know if you have any other AR-15 recs!