I am now the proud owner of a M&P 15 that I bought from a friend of mine, and this is my first AR-15. I have spent days looking at accessories online and I'm probably more lost then before. I'd like to add a flashlight, and I'm not sure which is the best way to go about it. I looked at some new rail systems with picatinny rails like the UTG quad rail guard ARR-238 - AR-15 M4 Carbine Quad Rail Black UTG Pro Mil-Spec Forearm Replaces Original Handguards 6.7" but I don't know how it would look or even what light to get to attach. My rifle came with a vertical grip and Surefire G2 light, but I thought it took away from the look of the AR, and I think a simple mounted light on the rail would look great. Any suggestions or advice or even photos would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Austin

Most of the decisions you are asking about can only be answered by you. What to add to a rifle depend a lot on how you envision its use, i.e. home defense, plinking, patrol, competition, hunting, etc. However, I will offer advice about some brands to avoid. I personally would not put UTG **** on my gun. I first heard of them in the airsoft world, which in my book means cheaply made, and poor materials. The old saying, "you get what you pay for" really does apply. Other brands to avoid would be Tac Star, and Swat Force. They make any number of laser sights, red dots, weapon lights and various other accessories. I know this doesn't completely answer your question, but I hope is helps you avoid some costly lessons. Good luck.

Check out this deal at Primary Arms... both their super bright (380 lumen) weaponlight and a quad rail system for $120.

I have this light, and it is awesome. Good reviews on Arfcom.

Primary Arms Weapon Light Bundle

I would be a little leary of that deal. The rail itself on that site only goes for about $45. I would order one of the troy 7 inch drop in rails instead. They have them on that site for $149. I would urge you not to go the cheap route if you intend this as a defensive weapon. I have made that mistake twice before with defensive handguns, and fortunately their deficiences surfaced on the range and not a gunfight. If you're building a plinking rifle then by all means have at, but if its just for plinking why would you need rails, lights, lasers, etc? Good luck to you.

What Gunfighter9 said about a Troy drop in rail.....I don't think you can go wrong with that setup. I added one to my M&P15 about a month ago and couldn't be happier with it. Of course, this was after I tried to get away with a new railed hand guard for cheap and it didn't get the job done.

Here is how mine turned out......



The changes I made to it, from start to finished, can be found in this M&P15 review that I did. It encompasses those things that I thought would work and those that really did.

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Stu