The AR-15 has captivated enthusiasts like no other rifle. For literal decades, its design has served as the framework for dozens of rifle platforms, with it having been in service in some capacity ever since its introduction in the late 1950s.
And on the civilian market, it has remained one of, if not, the most popular rifle systems ever created, as it can be adapted to fit just about any role and purpose. Simply put, just about every single component on an AR-15 can be swapped for another one with more unique features, making the platform’s level of customization nigh on infinite.
However, if you were to do a cursory search for “AR-15 parts”, you would probably be left with more questions than answers, as just about every AR-15 rifle and parts manufacturer offers a plethora of specialized components that very drastically in price and quality. And with that in mind, whenever you’re planning to upgrade your rifle, the importance of choosing quality parts from reputable manufacturers cannot be stressed enough.
And among the vast assortment of reputable brands to consider, Expo Arms stands tall as one of the best, especially towards the end of the year. To take some of the guesswork out of upgrading your rifle, we’re breaking down why Expo Arms is one of our top picks.
Why End-of-Year Upgrades Make Sense
Before we get into the details on all that Expo Arms has to offer, it’s important to highlight why the end of the year is the one of the best times to upgrade your AR-15. As hard as it is to believe, 2025 is indeed nearing its end, and in these waning months, the industry is going to see some of its largest sales events of the year.
Dozens upon dozens of high-quality rifles, parts, and optics are going to be marked down to the lowest prices they’ve been this year, giving you the opportunity to completely overhaul your rifle’s aesthetics and performance for a fraction of what it would normally cost.
So, this begs the question: of all the high-quality brands to choose from, why should you choose Expo Arms?
Expo Arms: Overview
Expo Arms has risen to prominence thanks in large part to their wide array of AR-15 and AR-10 parts. Not only are each of their parts and accessories crafted from high quality base materials, but they’re one of the more budget-friendly brands on the market, despite offering top-tier parts and gear. And as you’d likely suspect, during the holiday sale season, many of their products marked down by a large margin, making them even more price-competitive.
If you’re unfamiliar with them though, you might be wondering what exactly they offer. Below, we’re looking at some of their most popular offerings:
Expo Arms Upper Receivers
Being a manufacturer of AR-15 rifles and parts, it’s no surprise that Expo Arms has several different upper receivers to choose from. Depending on your preference, they offer stripped and barreled uppers, all of which are available in different configurations.
Their stripped uppers are made from either forged or billet aluminum—Expo’s forged uppers use a mil-spec design and are available in either a standard or T-Marked configuration; the only difference being that T-Marked upper has multiple “T-Mark” reference points for mounting optics or other accessories. Their billet uppers are machined from 6061-T6 Aluminum and are available with a slick-side design with no forward assist. Aside from this, it’s still compatible with standard AR upper parts. So, if you’re looking to piece together a new upper for your rifle, you have a variety of solid options to consider. Plus, if you opt for their upper parts kits, they can be exceptionally affordable to build.
If you don’t want to build an upper, you can always opt for one of their barreled upper assemblies. Offered with either a 13.9-inch barrel with a pinned and welded muzzle device, or a more standard 16-inch barrel, both are chambered in 5.56 NATO and come with exceptionally high-quality barrels. Coming with Expo Arms’ 41V50 chrome-lined barrel and a 13-inch and 15-inch Expo M-LOK handguard, respectively. Still, something to keep in mind is that these uppers are only barreled, so you will need to get a BCG and charging handle to complete it.
It’s also worth noting that there’s a lot to consider when shopping for upper receivers, such as the parts they use, as well as how well they perform in different applications. Fortunately, our Expo Arms Upper Review offers some further insight into what they all offer.
Expo Arms Barrels
Your rifle’s barrel plays a key role in determining how it performs in any given application, which is why choosing a high-quality barrel is often one of the top priorities enthusiasts have when upgrading their rifles or building new uppers. In general, it’s best to look for barrels that are made with high-quality steel, have rust and corrosion resistant coatings, and if you want, added features like chrome-lining for a longer barrel life and protection against corrosive ammo.
Expo barrels are without a doubt some of the best affordable AR barrels on the market, checking all the boxes mentioned above. Depending on your preference, they offer several different barrels chambered in 5.56 NATO, ranging in length from as short as 10.3 inches to as long as 18 inches.
They’re available in multiple barrel profiles too—their medium profile barrels offer a nice blend of lightweight agility and durability, as they maintain the same profile throughout its entire length, aside from the flared section needed to install the gas block. For maximum durability, they offer much thicker SOCOM profile barrels that are much more resilient to harsh use. No matter which one you look at though, they all come standard with a chrome-lined bore, a manganese phosphate barrel coating, and a dimpled gas block shelf for proper gas block alignment.
Just like with their upper receivers though, there is a lot to consider before buying a barrel, as barrels with different lengths and profiles offer various levels of performance. So, before you set off to buy one, we recommend checking out our guide, “How to Choose an AR-15 Barrel” to get a better idea of which one is going to work best for you.
Expo Arms Handguards
Being one of the three primary points of contact you’ll have on your rifle, your choice of handguard plays a pivotal role in determining how comfortable and functional your final build is going to be, and Expo Arms handguards have you covered on both fronts. Every option in their lineup is designed to maximize functionality.
For starters, their standard M-LOK handguards are available in a wide range of configurations. Made from a durable 6061-T6 aluminum construction, it has full length upper picatinny rails and comes standard with full-length M-LOK attachment points in seven positions, giving you ample space for mounting accessories. In addition to their M-LOK handguards, Expo Arms also offers Quad-Rail designs for users who prefer the security of Picatinny attachment—or those who just like the slightly retro aesthetic.
If you’re in the market for a more premium handguard, their Enhanced Wedgelock Handguard is the move. Available in an M-LOK configuration, they’re made from 6061-T6 aluminum, and as their name suggests, they make use of a wedgelock mounting system. Wedgelock systems are some of the most secure handguard mounting systems available, ensuring it won’t come loose or lose zero, even when used in tough conditions. Being a more premium option, they are a pricier choice, but you have plenty to pick from, as they’re offered in either a 10.75-, 13-, or a 15-inch length. And, with the end of the year sales around the corner, they are more than worth adding to your wish list.
Expo Arms BCGs
The bolt carrier group (BCG) is widely considered to be the heart of the AR-15, as its responsible for feeding rounds into the chamber, holding the firing pin, and ejecting spent casings throughout the firing process. And much like the barrels mentioned above, it’s imperative that the bolt carrier groups you consider adding to your rifle are constructed from high-quality materials and components—something that Expo Arms excels at.
Expo Arms’ BCGs offer excellent value for those looking for a no-frills choice that’s built with absolute durability in mind. For the AR-15, they offer three distinct BCG options: nitride, phosphate, and hard-chrome plated. Before going into their different coatings, it’s worth noting that each one is constructed to mil-spec standards, meaning they come with an M16 cut design, 8620 Carpenter Steel carriers, Carpenter 158 Steel bolts, and properly staked gas keys. Plus, they’re all high-pressure tested and magnetic particle inspected, ensuring they’re more than strong enough to handle high pressure rounds and free from any micro cracks that could become issues over time.
The nitride coated BCG is among the more popular BCGs they offer, one that’s ready for use across all applications. With it being nitride coated, it’s very resistant to rust and corrosion, cleans up easily, and is rather affordable too.
Their phosphate BCG is functionally identical to the nitride one but is more of a true mil-spec BCG because of its phosphate coating. Comparatively, it has more of a matte finish instead of a glossy one, but rest assured, it’s still exceptionally resilient to rust and corrosion. Lastly, the chrome-plated BCG is the most premium of the three, offering superior corrosion resistance and easy maintenance since carbon doesn’t stick to it as much. Regardless, you can’t go wrong with either option.
Expo Arms Muzzle Devices
Expo Arms primarily offers the A2 style muzzle device, better known as the ‘birdcage’ or mil-spec flash hider. They’re currently offered in three configurations that are designed for AR’s chambered in either 5.56 NATO, .30-caliber rounds, or 9mm. And they’re easily some of the most affordable muzzle devices on the market, providing you with a simple yet effective option if you’re in need of an affordable muzzle device.
Relatively recently, however, Expo Arms has introduced a new muzzle device to their lineup that was made in collaboration with Forward Controls Design. The Extended Single Chamber Muzzle Brake effectively functions like other suppressor accessories in that it’s designed to accommodate Dead Air’s Keymo suppressor mount design. So, if you plan to run a suppressor on your AR, you can use this muzzle device to run a Keymo-compatible QD suppressor with no issues. Being a more specialized option, it is a fair bit pricier than their A2 muzzle devices, but compared to other similar muzzle devices, it’s a solid value (one that gets even better around the holidays).
Matching your Upgrade to Your Goal
Now that you know what Expo Arms offers, the big decision of how to upgrade your rifle remains. So, where should you start? Ultimately, the best place to start is to take a step back and consider how you want it to perform in the end, as well as the features you want it to have.
For instance, if you’re wanting to turn your rifle into an SPR, you’d benefit most from Expo Arms’ 16- or 18-inch 5.56 NATO Barrels and their Keymo muzzle brake to have better long-range performance as well as less felt recoil and the ability to run a suppressor. If you want to maximize your rifle’s durability, their thicker SOCOM profile barrels and hard-chrome plated BCG will be your best bet to ensure that your rifle will be more than capable enough to withstand harsher conditions. Finally, if you’re wanting to just swap barrel lengths to something shorter, you can also opt for either their 13.9-inch upper, or one of their shorter barrels—just remember that if your AR is currently configured as a rifle, you’ll need to use a barrel that’s either 16+ inches long, or a shorter one that has a long enough muzzle device pinned and welded to it.
Conclusion
With the year quickly ending and the holiday sales on the way, the prices of some of the industry’s most popular rifle parts and accessories are about to hit a serious low. And among the various brands that are to be included in such sales, Expo Arms ranks highly.
Simply put, their commitment to crafting nothing short of high-quality products has earned them an incredible reputation amongst even resolute enthusiasts, as even though they are a more budget-friendly brand, everything they offer boasts an incredible degree of quality. No matter the time of year, they’ll always be a solid choice to consider, but as the year-end sales roll around, choosing Expo Arms is a no-brainer.
