So I am not a week into my first AR, nor have I even shot it, and I am already giving myself a headache trying to figure out what accessories to get. I think my best bet is going to be to shoot it how it is (I have a sling and a flashlight mount on the way) and go from there. I do not plan to use it for home defense, just shooting at the range and hunting.

I did not realize how easy it is to get caught up in all of the hype of "dressing up" an AR.

Sorry, just had to vent...

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S&W M&P 15 Sport II

Shoot it first then accessorize it. If your main goal is target shooting the Sport II is ready right out of the box. There is a chance you don't even like the platform so why spend money before you know. LOL

Best money spent is on a trigger.
Optics if you wish.
Spend any additional on ammo.

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Straight shootin'
SWCA#2439

Go shoot it and quit obsessing over how to change it before you even know what you like or don't like about it.

You mention using it for hunting and range shooting... how does the light fit into those two uses? Are you hunting raccoon?

Well, I already have a flashlight to mount to a gun, so I figured why not. I am planning to do some night hog hunting, so a flashlight may not be a bad idea anyways. The flashlight mount that I purchased attaches under the front sight. This way, it is aligned with the sights and is not requiring a rail.

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S&W M&P 15 Sport II

There's a reason that AR's are...... aka......................

"tinker toys" for grown men

"Barbie's for men"

Note: as a general rule ..... when you decide that the next accessory "needed" is a set of wheels...... you've gone 3 accessories too far!!!

You will need filters for that light if you plan to use for hog hunting. I've always used filtered lights on the feeders to see the hogs at night, not on the firearm itself.

AMMO! Should be the only accessory that you NEED

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Who said you have to add anything.....ever thought about shooting it as is for a while ?

We used to "sporterize" old military bolt actions, now I see a lot of junkerized AR's with more stuff bolted on them than the law should allow.
Bi-pods, night sights, scopes, red dot sights, flash lights, flash hiders , silencers and an I-phone....is it all necessary, does it make you a better shot ....

Using a flashlight to hunt hogs is all wrong. As mentioned you need filtered light. I use a green spotlight to light them up. A regular flashlight will run them off....unless your South Carolina pigs are different from our Texas pigs.

You forgot a KEURIG coffee maker.

Welcome to the "Rabbit Hole" that is the AR15. Shoot it as is for now and go from there.

The optic will be determined by your shooting needs an how far you consider long range to be. The round is pretty capable out to 600 yards but I wouldn't go that far for shooting hogs. I'm not sure I would go further than 100-150 yards for that matter since hogs are a pretty tough animal and .223/5.56 is not the ideal pick for that use.

300 AAC or Blackout would be better. Or 7.62x39. Either would just require an upper swap and use the lower you have now. One of those rounds or a bigger AR15 compatible round will allow you to shoot farther too.

Anyway, depending on the ranges you are looking at, a 1-?X by 24mm scope or a 2-7/2-8 power scope might be a good match to cover the hog hunting and the range shooting. One can easily over do it on the scope and scope manufacturers are more than happy to make and sell scopes that are too much for the intended round (if they are round specific).

Other than some iron sights, a proper optic, and a light, I wouldn't hang too much on there. Anything extra is just extra weight you have to carry with minimal added value or benefit.

223/556 is good for deer though, correct?

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S&W M&P 15 Sport II

As with anything, proper shot placement is key. It wouldn't be my first choice for deer, but many folks have used it.

Barely maybe.... with some of the heavier loads....in a survival situation, yes...... many feel the minimum is a .243 with 100gr bullets

I don't know... I am leaning towards at least a Magpul MOE handguard just because I have read reviews where people say the stock handguard gets hot quicker than others. I am guessing I will never be shooting that much at one time, so probably not an issue.

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S&W M&P 15 Sport II

Shoot first, then decide. I have added a red dot sight and switched my rear sight from Magpul to Matech... other than that, it is just like it came out of the box several years ago.

as already said, shoot it first man! bought mine last Friday afternoon, shot it that evening after a quick cleaning, enjoy it a little before stressing over mods, especially those that are largely not needed

@Scar,

Congratulations on your new AR. Before you deck it out with accessories, you need to identify the mission that it will serve.

For example:
1. When I was physically able to shoot NRA Service Rifle competitions, I used an early Colt HBAR Match Target. Once I got comfortable with it, I upgraded the sights to National Match sights, and I installed a Service Rifle float tube.

2. When I decided to build an NRA Match Rifle, I purchased a Rock River 24 " upper. I replaced the float tube handguard with a slotted float tube handguard. This upper wears a Lyman micrometer rear sight and a Mid Tompkins front.

3. After my accident, I built a long range AR for up to 1000 yard matches. That upper has a 26" 1:8" Wilson barrel, with a slotted/vented handguard. The muzzle is crowned and relieved for a front sight mount, and in sling matches, wears a Redfield Olympic rear sight and a Mid Tompkins front sight. For F class matches, it also wears a Weaver T10 and a Versa Pod bipod.

4. For a M4 type CQB rifle, I built an upper with a 16" stainless steel barrel with spiral cooling grooves. The primary sight is a BSA reflex optic, with a set of detachable iron sights for backup, and a rail mounted laser for really close quarters.

For the most part, until you define the role your rifle is filling, I would not buy doo dads to trick it out.

As a side note, most of my AR shooting is at 600 yards, with an occasional 300 and 500 yard match thrown in. I have just developed a 1000 yard load in 223 that is 1000 yard capable, but just needs to be tried at distance.

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Judge control not gun control!

Really, in my opinion, the Magpul MOE hand guard just gives you a lighter weight hand guard with a different look than the stock hand guards. Take that for what it is worth, as opinions are like elbows, most everyone has a couple. If you like the MOE's then there is nothing wrong with them as they do give you ready options for attachments without adding excessive weight to your rifle.

I haven't had the stock hand guards off of a MP15 Sport because I don't own one, so I don't know if they even have a heat shield in them. However, when I put Magpul MOE hand guards on my Smith & Wesson MP15A and MP15 OR, I thought they got just as hot as the stock hand guards (single heat shield in top and bottom half both) if not more so, as the MOE just has the heat shield in the bottom piece.

In my personal evolution with AR15's, I went from stock hand guards to Magpul MOE's. I then went to drop in quad rails (basically for a place to mount a light, and sometimes for a sling attachment point, which the MOE provided as well) and I am now back to the stock round hand guards on some of my rifles, if I find a good work around for mounting a light. Additionally, some of the big fat stock round hand guards have true double heat shields top and bottom.

It depends on who you ask, State law, and the size of the deer.

5.56/.223 CAN do the job with the proper shot placement and the right bullet. In my opinion, it's a marginal caliber for White Tail and Mule deer. As long as you can make a quick and ethical kill, you won't hear me say a word despite my opinion on the cartridge.

In many States, the minimum cartridge is specified by regulation. In PA, .243 is the minimum. They find out you used a smaller round, you will be fined at a minimum. You might lose your ability to get a license for a while as well.

If your State allows it, then it's not a problem, legally.

IF your state allows it then you need the right bullet. A 556 55gr plinking ammo is not what you need. You're looking at expensive ammo. 70 + gr and proven performance. On another forum there is 60+ pages of a guy hunting hogs out to 300 yards with 223 AR but he uses match hunting ammo and with 70 - 77 gr

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It wouldn't be my first choice for hog's either..... a wounded hog gets mean , will kill dogs and inflict damage on the hunter to boot. Make sure your tree climbing skills are up to snuff if using the 22 ...it may say 223 but it's still just a 22.
And make sure that first 22 shot is a killing shot or things are going to get real exciting. Don't depend on spraying and praying with enough rounds to overheat the handguard to get a hog....it doesn't work that way. Going after a wounded boar isn't for the faint of heart.
My first choice is a 41 magnum !
Gary

I use it for hog hunting... well, eradicating actually. Shooting from an elevated stand at hogs at a feeder. I don't use dogs and really don't care if the hog runs.

The best accessory ever invented for a rifle is.........AMMO!