I’ve always been a bolt action guy but it felt like a good time to pick up my first AR with all the ‘stuff’ going on right now. I wanted one just to play with and have in case of the proverbial SHTF; I'm not interested in completely tricking this thing out. It was hard to not get a Ruger AR 556 when local place had them for $479. I ran a couple boxes of cheap steal case Russian 5.56 ammo through it and it functioned great. More fun to shoot than I remember an AR being too.

Anyway, I was wondering what upgrades you Ruger AR owners found worthwhile. The trigger is a bit heavy but not bad enough to justify a replacement. I’m mainly considering an inexpensive red dot like a Vortex/Primary arms OR I may just replace the plastic flip up rear with a fixed Troy industries rear sight. Is a carry handle/sight a better upgrade than just the sight alone? I’d like to mount a flashlight on it too if this can be done via the bayonet lug/front sight. Or is it worthwhile replace the handguard? I’m not a fan of the fat/sharp edged foreends.

Thanks in advance for the feedback.

Holosun probably has the best red dot sight for a reasonable price - look them up on YouTube for reviews.

I would use a folding rear sight, and learn to use it first
a red dot sight is very easy to use and a great accessory. (After learning to shoot iron sights)
Check here for a flashlight mount : https://www.elzetta.com/product/zfh1500/
There are some good trigger upgrades for under $100

Have fun

I recently got a Holosun HS503CU for my Ruger Ar556 pistol. Seems cool. Auto On, Auto Off, Solar and battery, 2moa dot, with or without a circle. The dot looks like a couple of squiggly lines to me though. Wife says not to her but, uh, anyways... I am certain it's usable as is. We'll see. I called Holosun, got a real live American guy, first try. I liked that. Damned short on time, so it's unfired.

There's another Holosun model without solar that caught my eye too. And the Sig Romeo 5 for $100.

I dug around and found some real cheap but well reviewed offset sights, flashlight mount, Mlok rails, and things including red dots and a 3x magnifyer but have not tried yet. Hardly any bandwidth right now...

SIG Romeo 5 would be where I'd go if you want a red dot scope.

Some info on the AR556 - some bathroom reading material. Have fun!

For the Ruger AR556, keep an eye on your buffer. Mine had a burr on the rear of the bolt carrier that made a circular groove in the face of the buffer. Called Ruger and they sent me a new buffer and bolt carrier. The only issue with the original bolt carrier was the burr, but that was easily polished out.

I free floated the barrel. Removing the barrel nut on the Ruger ARs is a PITA. Some type of Loctite they use. I had to apply heat, then set the upper/barrel in the freezer for a while, then the barrel nut came right off.

Other mods include:
Larue Trigger
Oden Works adjustable gas block
Upgraded the collapsible stock.
Spikes muzzle brake

Currently I have a Vortex Diamondback 2-7 BDC on it, and have been shooting out to 300 yards. Pretty accurate with 75 and 77 grain loads.

Man, not even a few minutes in and there are some dumb comments on there. LOL. Takes all kinds I guess

Case in point.

I found the same thing happened with mine so I polished the rear of the bolt carrier. I didn't feel a burr but there was certainly a jagged circle in the face of the buffer. If it keeps cutting, I'll call Ruger.

Thanks for the heads up and all the other suggestions.

First thing I did with my ar556 was drop in larue mbt-2s.

Replaced the Ruger collapsible stock with a Magpul ACS-L, because I got tired of getting my beard hair pulled out by the shorter telestock. Grip was replaced with a k2+ Magpul, just liked the angle better. Handguards were replaced with moe carbine, because.

Replaced the buffer with an h2. I grabbed a toolcraft m16 cut BCG on sale for cheap and swapped out the carrier with the original, keeping the new bolt for a spare. No idea why Ruger went with the Colt semi-auto cut carrier.

I think that's everything functionally changed parts wise. I lucked into a good deal on a Burris xtr ii 1.5-8 and joined the cult of the lpvo on this particular rifle; we'll see if it sticks.

I agree the Sig Romeo 5 is decent long battery life and shake turns it on
Nice cheap sight

479 for the Ruger seems like a very good deal

Hank

I replaced the trigger on mine and it came with a cheap Chinese scope that works so far.
I don't trust anything with batteries. Murphy's Law.
It shoots ok for a carbine.