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One of the great things about AR 10 and AR 15 rifles is that many of the parts are interchangeable.
This is handy for AR shooters for two reasons:
You can save some money on parts. It might be inconvenient. But you can swap parts to whichever rifle you’re shooting at the time.
You can use the same parts on your AR-10 and AR-15 so that they’re as similar as possible for better platform familiarity between the two rifles.
However, not all the parts are interchangeable.
But, if you want to make your AR-10 and your AR-15 as similar as possible or hot swap parts, get these three components:
Our Best Choices
All of these parts are very well made and will hold up through whatever you need them to do. And they’ll make your AR-10 and AR-15 feel and function very similarly. That way you can transition from one rifle to the other with no friction.
Want to know what else you can use on both your AR-10 and AR-15? We’ve got them. Check them out.
Top AR 10 & AR 15 Interchangeable Parts on the Market
Best AR 10 and AR 15 Interchangeable Parts Reviews: Pay Once, Use Twice
These reviews are organized in order of ease of installation. The parts that you can most easily swap are up first.
The parts that take the most work to move from one rifle to the other are near the end.
Time for a little AR builder fun.
1. Bravo Company Manufacturing BCMGunfighter Stock Assembly Mod 0 - AR-10 and AR-15 Interchangeable Stock
The Bravo Company Manufacturing BCMGunfighter Stock Assembly is the original BCM stock. And I think it’s still the best, even though the Mod 1 and SOPMOD versions are available.
This stock is super easy to adjust with one hand, since the adjustment tab is huge. You can basically just grab the stock around the middle and squeeze it to adjust the length of pull.
But it also locks up super tight once you release the adjustment tab. There’s no wiggle at all.
Also, the recoil pad is pretty generous, which is nice if you’re going to throw this on an AR-10. Shooting .308 is comfortable with this stock on your gun.
The body is also really nice. It’s got a bit of an angle for a good cheek weld. But this stock is still nice and slim. It doesn’t make the rear end of your gun fat the way some of the stocks with super wide cheek rests do.
I only have two minor complaints about this stock:
The QD mount is an anti-rotation mount. I prefer attaching my sling to a QD mount on the rear of the lower receiver. But, if I do attach the sling to the rear end of the stock, I actually want the QD swivel to, you know, swivel.
Also, it requires a tool to install. There’s a small hole in the adjustment tab that you can put an allen wrench in to pull the tab down for installing. On one hand, this stock will never come off unintentionally.
On the other hand, the installation isn’t quite as simple as some other stocks.
However, both of these complaints are minor. The QD socket on this stock isn’t the ideal place to attach your sling anyway. And the installation is easy, even if it requires a tool.
I use this stock on all my AR-type rifles. You can’t go wrong with this stock.
Pros
Cons
2. A.R.M.S. Inc. AR-15 Polymer Sight Set - AR-10 and AR-15 Interchangeable Backup Sights
Some people complain about polymer sights. But iron sights on an AR-15 are almost always backup sights these days. And we’ve already seen that polymer sights are plenty durable to be used as a backup sighting system.
The A.R.M.S. Inc. AR-15 Polymer Sight Set is easily the most capable set of backup sights around.
Yes, they’re polymer. But it’s steel lined polymer. So these are as durable as a Glock magazine, which is actually really durable.
But the main reason these are my go-to backup sights is because they’ve got better long range capabilities than most battle sights. Here’s why:
There’s an overhold notch on top of the precision aperture (there’s also a large aperture for night shooting and all that). That way, you can zero your sights wherever you like your zero. If you need to shoot further, you can line up your sights with the overhold notch.
It might sound silly. But it actually works quite well. And it helps you retain your rifle’s effectiveness at longer ranges, even if your primary sighting system goes down.
Also, the release buttons to pop these sights up are huge. Which is nice if you need to deploy them under stress or with gloves on. You can basically just slap them and they’ll pop up. Easy peasy.
The only real complaint about these sights is that they’re kind of expensive. But you’re paying for some legitimate functionality.
Pros
Cons
3. Magpul AR15/M4 MOE-K2 Grip - AR 10 and AR 15 Interchangeable Grip
The Magpul AR15/M4 MOE-K2 Grip has been my go-to grip for a long time now. It’s easily the best all-purpose grip on the market.
The best part about this grip is the overall shape. There’s a perfect little indent for the webbing of your hand. And the backstrap takes up the extra space between your hand and the lower receiver.
This grip makes it really easy to get consistent hand placement and puts your finger in a natural position over the trigger. It’s comfortable and helps you shoot better.
This grip also has a really nice upright grip angle, which puts your wrist in a more neutral position when you grip your rifle. It’s more comfortable and helps you quickly align the rifle with your line of sight.
There’s also a storage compartment in the bottom of this grip. I never use it. But if you want to keep some batteries or snacks in your pistol grip, you can.
The only downside to this grip is that I find that it’s better for tactical shooting than it is for precision shooting. With my thumb wrapped around in a standard shooting grip, this grip is amazing.
But if I use my precision shooting grip—with my thumb on the same side as my trigger finger, not wrapped all the way around—this grip is slightly less comfortable. But it still works just fine. You can shoot precisely with this Magpul grip. But it’s obviously designed for faster, tactical shooting.
However, it’s still an amazing grip for the money. And I put one on almost every AR-type rifle I have.
Pros
Cons
4. Radian Weapons AR-15 Talon Safety Selector - AR 10 and AR 15 Interchangeable Safety Selector
I’ve been a shameless shill for the Radian Weapons AR-15 Talon Safety Selector for quite a while now. And there’s no end in sight.
The main reason I’ve been pushing this safety selector since it came out is because I don’t trust screws. And this safety selector doesn’t have any.
The selector lever secures to the barrel with pins. There’s no way that your safety lever can come loose. The safety levers are just as secure as everything else on your lower receiver that’s held in with pins and detents.
Also, it comes with 4 different safety levers (short, medium, long). Additionally, all the safety levers are really easy to use. Even the short safety lever is easy to flip.
And this safety selector can be configured for a 90 or 45 degree throw. So you can configure this selector however you want it.
The only trouble with this selector is that it does have a break in period. It’s just a tad stiff when you first install it. I usually put a dab of grease on the safety selector detent to help smooth it out until it breaks in.
But you can break it in by just flipping your safety selector a bunch of times in front of the TV. The price, configurability, and performance of this Radian Weapons safety selector are top-tier.
Pros
Cons
5. Hiperfire EDT Heavy Gunner Trigger - AR 10 and AR 15 Interchangeable Trigger
The Hiperfire EDT Heavy Gunner Trigger is one of the best options for a trigger that you will use in an AR-10 and an AR-15 because it has a really strong hammer strike. So you won’t have any issues with 5.56mm or .308 primers.
It’s also a mil-spec style trigger (not exactly a mil-spec trigger. But it installs the same and functions similarly). This even further ensures that your rifle will operate reliably.
Even though it’s a mil-spec trigger, the trigger press is really nice. The movement is very smooth. There’s very little takeup. And the break is nice and crisp. Bottom line: it’s easy to make precise shots with this trigger.
Once you’ve taken your shot, the reset is super positive. It’s just a really nice trigger from break to reset.
Also, it comes with 2 trigger springs: a 4.5 pound and a 5.5 pound trigger spring. So you can set the pull weight where you like it.
Although it’s a very nice trigger, there are limits to what a mil-spec trigger can do. If you want a super precision trigger, you’ll probably need a drop in trigger unit.
But, this is one of the best all-purpose triggers you can get. With a little practice, you could easily use this as a precision trigger. And it works great for tactical or competition shooting.
Pros
Cons
6. Bravo Company AR-15/M16 Mil-Spec Buffer Tube - AR 10 and AR 15 Interchangeable Buffer Tube
Now we’re getting into the parts that are a bit trickier to swap out. And the benefits of using a single buffer tube for multiple rifles are minimal. So this will be quick.
The Bravo Company AR-15/M16 Mil-Spec Buffer Tube is exactly that: a mil-spec buffer tube.
However, you’ll never be sad about putting Bravo Company parts in your rifle. They have outstanding manufacturing and quality control. So you’ll almost never have a problem with a BCM component.
This buffer tube is made of 7075-T6 aluminum and hardcoat anodized to prevent corrosion and maximize service life. And the coating is thick, but not so thick that it will make your stock difficult to adjust.
Then, it’s got 6 adjustment positions to help you set your length of pull exactly where you want it.
This receiver extension is a tad bit more expensive than some of the other options. But every single part that BCM makes is inspected. So the extra few dollars can really save you a lot of headache when you put your rifle together.
In a nutshell: this Bravo Company buffer tube does exactly what it’s supposed to do. Once it’s on, you probably won’t ever think about it again.
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7. BCM Low Profile Gas Block - AR 10 and AR 15 Interchangeable Gas Block
Here again is another component that might be too much of a hassle to swap between rifles. But it’s nice to have go-to components for all your builds. The BCM Low Profile Gas Block is an excellent go-to gas block.
Your gas block is one of the most important components on your rifle. A poorly machined gas block will cause all sorts of operation issues. And it’s really hard to diagnose a bad gas block. Your gas block is not the place to go cheap.
This gas block is made with some of the most stringent manufacturing and quality control standards on the market.
BCM inspects every part that leaves their factory. So you know that you won’t get a lemon, which is exactly what you want from your gas block.
It’s phosphate coated. And BCM hones the inside of the gas block after the finish has been applied to ensure that it installs easily.
Overall, this gas block is nothing fancy. But it’s extremely well made, tightly quality controlled, and ensures headache-free assembly and operation.
Pros
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Assembling the Lego Rifles!
AR-10 and AR-15 rifles are like Legos for grownups. So it’s cool to know which parts can be swapped between the two rifles. Or to just have some go-to parts that you love and trust for all your AR builds, regardless of the caliber.
Also, using the same parts on all your AR-type rifles builds platform familiarity. So you can transition from your AR-10 to AR-15 without any hiccups.
If you want to get just a few parts that will deliver all these benefits, pick up these three components:
- Bravo Company Manufacturing BCMGunfighter Stock Assembly Mod 0.
- A.R.M.S. Inc. Polymer Sight Set.
- Magpul AR15/M4 MOE-K2 Grip.
So, if you’re still haphazardly mixing and matching, it’s time to pick a few favorites and start standardizing your collection for maximum shooting performance.