Home defense AR-15 build
A home-defense AR-15 has to be reliable, handy indoors and able to light up what it's aimed at. This build pairs a complete lower with a 16-inch mid-length upper (no NFA paperwork) with an M-LOK handguard, a red dot, a 1,000-lumen weapon light on an aluminum M-LOK rail section, an ambidextrous charging handle and a two-point sling.
Choose ammunition made for defense rather than range FMJ, and check your state's rules on magazines and features. Prices update every night from the stores we track.
Total today
$1,036.32
9 parts · lowest price at the stores we track · updated Oct 4, 2026
Our compatibility checker found no problems.
Parts list
| Part | Pick | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Lower receiver | Complete AR-15 Lower Receiver W/ButtstockSpikes TacticalComplete lower with a collapsible stock, so you can shorten it for indoor use or body armor. | $283.99Battlehawk Armory |
| Upper receiver | PSA 16" Midlength 5.56 NATO 1:7 Nitride B5 MLOK Upper, No BCG & CH, BlackPalmetto State Armory16-inch 1:7 nitride barrel, mid-length gas, M-LOK handguard; sold without a bolt carrier group or charging handle. | $199.99Palmetto State Armory |
| Bolt carrier group | Bolt Carrier Group 5.56x45mm NATO Mil-Spec BCG Nitride BlackFaxon FirearmsNitride bolt carrier group, mil-spec dimensions. | $133.40BrownellsIn stock |
| Charging handle | AR-15 Raptor-LT Ambidextrous Charging Handle BlackRadian WeaponsAmbidextrous charging handle: easy to run with either hand. | $74.99Sportsman's WarehouseIn stock |
| Optic | Romeo5 Gen II Compact 1x20mm 2 MOA Red Dot BlackSig SauerRed dot with a 2 MOA dot for fast shots at room distances. | $119.99BrownellsIn stock Sale |
| Weapon light | TLR-1 HL Weaponlight, BlackStreamlight1,000-lumen weapon light with a Picatinny mount. | $164.99GunMag WarehouseIn stock |
| Light mount | GrovTec M-LOK Aluminum 5-Slot Picatinny Rail w/ Push Button Base, 2.2" L, Type III Anodized BlackGrovtec Us, Inc.M-LOK Picatinny rail section to mount the light on the handguard. | $27.99GunMag WarehouseIn stock |
| Sling | RLS Two-Point Rifle Sling CoyoteMagpulTwo-point sling, so the rifle stays with you when your hands are busy. | $16.99GunMag WarehouseIn stock |
| Magazine | Magpul 30 Round PMAG GEN M3 - BlackMagpul30-round Magpul PMAG. Check your state's magazine capacity limits. | $13.99GunMag WarehouseIn stock |
Prices and stock can change at the store after our nightly check. MyGunLab earns a commission when you buy through store links, at no extra cost to you (disclosure). Background: our guide.