Your AR-15 works. These parts make it work for you.
FAB Defense builds polymer furniture for the AR-15, M4 and M16, and the catalog is big. This guide cuts it down to the upgrades we'd start with, in the order most shooters feel them: stock, grip, handguard, magazines, sights and support.
1. Start With the Stock
The stock decides how the rifle sits on your shoulder, so it's the upgrade you notice on the first shot.
- GL-CORE: compact, light and snag-free, with a flat rubber butt pad that works with or without body armor. Adapters fit both mil-spec and commercial buffer tubes. Best for: a do-it-all carbine.
- GL-CORE IMPACT: the same idea with a patented 3-setting recoil reduction system. Best for: long range days and recoil-sensitive shooters.
- GL-SHOCK: built-in shock absorption, a patented anti-rattle lock and water-resistant storage for two CR123 or AA batteries. Best for: a rifle that carries a light or optic.
- GLR-16: a collapsible stock with the anti-rattle mechanism, a storage compartment and an optional cheek riser. Best for: a budget-friendly upgrade over a stock M4 buttstock.
2. Fix the Grip
A factory A2 grip is fine until you shoot a lot. Two options:
- AGR-43: a rubber overmold with finger grooves, an extended beavertail and a sealed storage compartment.
- GRADUS: a 15° reduced grip angle for a more upright wrist, popular for precision and CQB setups.
Shoot with a magwell hold? The MWG turns the magazine well into a grip and adds a flared funnel for smoother reloads.
3. Handguard: M-LOK or Picatinny
- Vanguard AR: slim polymer M-LOK with an extra heat shield and two QD sling sockets. Choose it if your lights and grips are M-LOK.
- FGR-3: three Picatinny rails plus a free gripping area, with better heat isolation than a bare rail. Choose it if your accessories are Picatinny.
No gunsmith needed for either.
4. Magazines
The ULTIMAG 30R has see-through windows on both sides, an anti-tilt follower and tool-free disassembly. Capacity limits apply in some states, so check yours first. Need fewer rounds? There are also 10-round and 5-round versions.
5. Backup Sights
Optics fail. Pair the RBS rear (3 mm and 1.5 mm apertures, tool-free windage) with the FBS front (tool-free elevation). Both fold flat until you need them.
6. Support Without Front Weight
The AR-Podium is a bipod built into an AGR-43 pistol grip. It mounts at the lower receiver, so it adds no front-end weight and leaves your rail free.
Where to Start
On a budget, start with the stock and the grip, since those touch your body on every shot. Then pick a handguard that matches your accessories. Browse everything that fits in our AR-15 collection or go straight to AR-15 stocks.
Check your local laws on magazine capacity and rifle configuration before ordering.