(Re-Upload: We had a fight with YouTube on this one.)
Transform your budget AR-15 into a range-ready beast with these sub-$100 upgrades! In this video, Josh from AT3 Tactical shares practical tips to elevate your shooting experience without breaking the bank. From slings and triggers to magazines and lights, we cover the best budget-friendly upgrades to make your $400 AR-15 feel like a $1000 setup.
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Timestamps:
0:00 Your Budget Setup Doesn’t Suck
2:10 Building a Foundation First
3:20 Other Stuff You Need
5:27 Functional Upgrades
8:03 Cleaning Gear
9:32 Ergonomic Upgrades
11:40 Upgrade Priorities of Work
🤝 Transparency
We strive to provide the growing AR-15 shooting community with helpful, fact-driven information about the AR-15 & AR-15 style firearms and accessories to do our part in bolstering a more well-informed community and safer when handling, building, or shooting their personal firearm. Let’s face it, we all have to start somewhere when it comes to becoming a firearms expert. Our goal is to help you get there one small step at a time. The purpose and content of this video is to provide general information regarding the products and their applications on any/all related firearms that strictly comply with all federal, Minnesota state, and local laws. The viewer expressly agrees that AT3 Tactical LLC; its officers, directors, employees, and agents shall not be liable for any damages or losses related to the products and information provided in this video and hereby agrees to hold the foregoing harmless from any such losses or damages. AT3 Tactical LLC is a Federal Firearms Licensee.
AT3 Tactical | Build The Ultimate AR
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My "Good Enough" build
Blem Psa ar15 : $400
Sig Lpvo : $200
Magpul K2 grip : $20
Temu Light : $20
Temu Sling : $10
Temu rail covers (magpul clone) : $5
Temu Backup Iron sights : $5
Total : $660
With this setup I can hit an 8" steel target at 100 yards reliably, the gun is more accurate than me for now. I have had 1 malfunction out of 1000 rounds so far. Got some videos on my channel of me shooting if you want to see how it looks and functions
I like joeboboutfitters adjustable grip screw for trigger $10, and ambi selector $15. Magpul MS3 sling, I can also use it for my weed wacker.
Feel like i just seen this video few months ago…. also unless you shoot night comps, paying $100 for a flashlight is just tarded to me..
Which Ambi safety is $25?
Loved the video and the straightforward options
What about a spare complete BCG?
I won't waste my money on a sling. Im not Rambo. Just carry the damn rifle and put it down or pick it up as required.
That why I never and will never buy a AR straight out of the box…. I built all 6 of mine myself…. and I am new to the AR world since 2024… each one is built different than the next one… each has their own color scheme too. All are under 1k each….
Good advice.👍🏼
I will never care what other people say. Slings suck. I just seldom find a use. Idk. Maybe I just have my rifle ready or lean in against a tree. I just don't find that middle ground unless I'm scrambling up a bluff.
When you build one, you realize how amazing they are and how also amazingly simple there. It’s funny how my friends and family would say stuff like “I’d be afraid of it exploding”. My buddy has an AR and he literally said that. 10+ builds later, and no mistakes beyond a bunch of scratches while learning. AR 15 mil spec is almost perfection at this point, because it’s been around so long, and the tolerances have all been all but finalized. You would think the warranty would be something that you would be risking by building your own, but that is not at all the case. The return policy and warranties of high-end companies is just the bees knees. Just be honest take pictures and send an email and you’ll get whatever you need. I’m mostly speaking of warranties and returns that are allowed by Criterion, Geissele, Daniel Defense and that price range. But the low end budget sweet spot of PSA/Palmetto State Armory also has amazing return policies. They will literally give you a new barrel. If you shoot it out. I literally had a barrel sent out to Criterion (shipped to them on their own dime) where it came back with a headspaced bolt, and even the carrier group for that bolt. That was not even a feature from the barrel that I bought. From a random vendor! Mike at Criterion is absolutely the man.
Watching this with a Knights that's $7k after the ACOG, offset Aimpoint T2, Elzetta light, and B&T suppressor sitting 6 feet from me lol. Joking aside, my personal opinion (degreed mechanical engineer and competitive shooter of 18 years) a BCM bolt, ALG or similar trigger, and a reliable optic that performs well is various lighting conditions gets you 90% of the way to a top-notch rifle.
I bought GBRS Group slings for both of my AR-15’s along with at least 40 Magpul mags total by now. Still working on finishing my CQB/distance sight set up for one. The other is set up for long distance, static targeting only. Neither are anything fancy, but they’ll get the job done and that’s what matters.
If we don’t help the new shooters…we won’t have new voters that shoot.
Financially sound advise involved made quality content is one of the many things that set this channel apart
4:35 On Slings: Passing along some great service I received from Adaptiv Defense this week after I messed up my order. Fantastic customer service and they make a great sling. Highly recommended.
Wait a sec, did you guys do a repost of one of videos that you posted last year? I swear I’ve seen this video before.
I swear I’ve seen this video months ago. Is this a reupload?
How did he know my name and that I need to clean my guns lol
Brandon herria and demolition ranch as proven more money does not mean better. Budget AR and budget AK-47 beat the higher price ones. They (4 guys) all agreed only needed to change triggers on budget rifles.
My advice is buy once, cry once. Be disciplined, save and buy quality gear from the get go. You’ll never wonder, worry or have bins of budget gear taking up space in your place.
I bought a $300 PSA upper and 6 years later I’ve put about 1.3k into it. Still adding here or there.
I’ve had to help new shooters at the range with budget AND exotic builds.
Ammo, 1 extra magazine (incase the first one is bad) a case for your rifle (some ranges are funny you just walking around with just your rifle. ) and finally a cleaning kit. (Surplus ones are cheep and good to start with). They are the 4 things I would recommend for right at the beginning when you first get a rifle.
Trigger, red dot, grip, hand guard and buttstock next for me if needed.
I recently bought an m&p15 sport 3 and get parts once a week just need a trigger, charging handle, and a red dot. Which the red dot will come last.
Did you do this video in the past it seems familiar
Very cool someone took the time to help. Most think about a dot…but completely ignore slings and mags. Never really experienced a horrible trigger on an AR, but not going to lie, if I build it, the trigger will be better than milspec.
Buy $400 rifle, add these ten $100 items, rifle will feel like a $1,400 rifle. 😎
Glad you started with the most important $100 upgrade: ammo and range time.
I just want a premium left-handed upper.
Never again, will I buy a pre-built AR-15/AR-308.
I build all my own, and modify them as I go.
Now, all of my ARs will outperform any top shelf AR, in function and accuracy…
I always tell people to first shoot the gun as is. I always say iron sights first. Get used to handling it, following safety protocols, loading and unloading, fundamentals, and just getting rounds on paper. I think for the newer shooter, keep as is until ya have around 200 rounds down range. That gives people an idea of what they are doing and where upgrades may be needed. For me, trigger first. After 200 rounds, they will really notice the improvement. Watch what some of the experience shooters around them do and what they shoot. Talk to them, many deals are usually available for accessories from the local community. Then keep at it and have fun, it is a journey to be enjoyed. Excellent video as always man!
I have that same rifle, definitely a good buy for $500(I overpaid sadly)
$100 vortex red dot
Polished the trigger assembly
$60 h2 buffer
Spent probably $500 on ammo so far. I'm happy with the purchase for sure, it's overgassed but reliable, I haven't had a single issue from it. Just gotta keep buying ammo and range time now. I'm definitely buying that grip and sling next, then a light. But the ammo and range time add up in cost quickly so that's my current hurdle. One thing that I noticed, the pins to my trigger assembly were installed backwards from factory so they wanted to walk out and my trigger was sticking on the reset too. $15 in sandpaper, 30 mins of my time solved both of those issues and left me with a very nice trigger.
I have one I’ve had mine for about five months. I think I got it for 485 and I’ve put about maybe $275-$300 in you know upgrade parts and I would confidently say that I trust my rifle with my life and that it can hold its weight with other multiple thousand dollar rifles. No bullshit radical is an amazing company and they make great rifles. you don’t gotta get the namebrand Daniel defense PSA this and that to have a great rifle
The first thing is to get comfortable with what you have and practice repetitive motions. Then think about what bothers you, encroaches in to make you not able to place in zone.
Make your rifle feel like a $1000 rifle just use these 10 $100 items. Math is fun! Still some good advice.
Very wise to suggest training first and a trigger next. After building nearly a dozen ARs (my favorite way to 'buy' a high value rifle is one-piece-at-a-time) my advice is to invest in the trigger, BCG and barrel. The rest is pretty much just personal preference.
I will also say…watch the sales. There are Memorial Day sales going on right now. You can get great deals on triggers, optics, BCGs, or any other part or accessories.
As for a sling…I also love the Blue Force Gear Vickers sling. I bought one, outfitted it with parachute clips and use it for ALL my rifles. Try as I may, I can only shoot with one rifle at a time. 🤷♂ So…one sling works for all of them. 10.3" to 20" and everything in between.
Welcome gentlemen.. to the Pitbull pin.
🙌🏻 preach 🙌🏻