Which should you buy, Wilson Combat or Radian?

Wilson Combat for bolt carrier groups, lower receivers and triggers. Radian for charging handles. Pick Wilson Combat if you want close to average prices: builders pay 15% cheaper than average. Builders pick its bolt carrier groups 29x as often and lower receivers 2.3x as often. Pick Radian if you don't mind paying more: builders pay 33% pricier than average. Builders pick its charging handles 56x as often. Or mix them like builders do: 34% of Wilson Combat builds add Radian, most often the charging handle.

Is Wilson Combat cheaper than Radian?

Wilson Combat. Wilson Combat 15% cheaper than average, Radian 33% pricier than average.

Which do more AR-15 builders use, Wilson Combat or Radian?

Close. About as many builds each.

Wilson Combat or Radian: which receivers do builders pick?

Wilson Combat. Wilson Combat lower receivers picked 2.3x as often, upper receivers picked 2.0x as often.

Wilson Combat or Radian: which internals do builders pick?

Split. Radian charging handles picked 56x as often, Wilson Combat bolt carrier groups picked 29x as often.

Wilson Combat or Radian: which furniture do builders pick?

Wilson Combat. Wilson Combat pistol grips picked often, Radian rarely.

Wilson Combat vs Radian: AR-15 brands compared

Q: Can you mix Wilson Combat and Radian parts?

Yes. 34% of Wilson Combat builds add Radian, most often the charging handle.

Wilson Combat leads in 3 of 6 categories.

Wilson Combat for bolt carrier groups, lower receivers and triggers. Radian for charging handles.

From tens of thousands of real builds and live prices at 30+ retailers.

Our take

Wilson Combat is best for:

Wilson Combat is the custom 1911 shop from Berryville, Arkansas, and AR folks know it for barrels, drop-in triggers and accuracy tested rifles.

Custom shop · Accuracy guarantee · Drop-in triggers · 416R barrels

Close to average prices
Bolt carrier groups, picked 29x as often
Lower receivers, picked 2.3x as often
Triggers, picked 10x as often

Radian is best for:

Radian makes ambidextrous AR controls in Redmond, Oregon, and the Raptor charging handle is the one everybody knows. They used to go by AXTS Weapons Systems.

Ambi controls · Limited lifetime warranty · Billet charging handles

Paying more: about 33% above average
Charging handles, picked 56x as often

Many builders mix them: 34% of Wilson Combat builds add Radian, most often the charging handle.

Biggest differences

"Picked" is the share of builds with that part that chose each brand.

	Wilson Combat	Radian	Difference
Price vs average	15% cheaper	33% pricier	Wilson Combat cheaper
Share of builds	24%	26%
Charging handles picked	0.7%	41%	Radian 58x
BCGs picked	17%	0.6%	Wilson Combat 29x
Lowers picked	11%	4.6%	Wilson Combat 2.3x
Parts listed	591	398	Wilson Combat 1.5x
Retailers carrying	15	15

Price: Wilson Combat wins

For the same part, Wilson Combat parts run 15% cheaper than average and Radian parts run 33% pricier than average.

Builder favorite: Tie

Wilson Combat is in 24% of builds and Radian is in 26% of builds.

Why Wilson Combat: There's no written warranty because of federal warranty law, though Wilson stands behind its products.

Why Radian: Radian covers everything it sells with a limited lifetime warranty against manufacturer defects.

Receivers: Wilson Combat wins

Builders pick Wilson Combat lower receivers (2.3x) and upper receivers (2.0x) more often than Radian.

Most picked Wilson Combat receivers

Wilson Combat Lower Receiver Forged$51.79, in stock at 2 stores

Wilson Combat Billet Upper Receiverout of stock

Wilson Combat Wc-15 Billet Lower Receiver$61.63, in stock at 4 stores

Most picked Radian receivers

Radian Weapons ADAC-15 Stripped Lower Receiver$514.95, in stock at 3 stores

Radian Weapons 16" Upper .223 Wylde 1:8$2,029.95, in stock at 3 stores

Radian A-DAC 15 Stripped Lower Receiver$489.99, in stock at 4 stores

Internals: Split

Builders pick Wilson Combat bolt carrier groups (29x) and triggers (10x) more often than Radian. Builders pick Radian charging handles (56x) more often than Wilson Combat. Wilson Combat barrels, muzzle devices and gas blocks are picked often, Radian's rarely.

Why Wilson Combat: Wilson AR barrels are 416R stainless with button rifling.

Why Radian: The Raptor is an all billet ambidextrous charging handle you can run from either side.

Most picked Wilson Combat internals

Wilson Combat Bolt Carrier Assy 5.56 NATO Polished$150.49, in stock at 7 stores

Wilson Combat Lo-Profile Gas Block .750"$30.37, in stock at 7 stores

Wilson Combat Tactical Trigger Unit$152.99, in stock at 7 stores

Most picked Radian internals

Radian Raptor Charging Handle & Talon Safety Selector$154.95, in stock at 3 stores

Radian Weapons Enhanced Bolt Carrier Group Nitride$209.95, in stock at 6 stores

Radian Weapons Vertex Trigger$229.95, in stock at 4 stores

Furniture: Wilson Combat wins

Wilson Combat pistol grips picked often, Radian rarely.

Most picked Wilson Combat furniture

Wilson Combat Starburst Gunfighter Pistol Grip$25.32, in stock at 8 stores

Wilson Combat M-LOK Handguard$108.68, in stock at 8 stores

Wilson Combat Buttstock$49.49, in stock at 3 stores

Most picked Radian furniture

Rarely picked

Shopper clicks: Tie

Of recent clicks through to a store for these brands, 55% went to Wilson Combat and 45% went to Radian.

The full record

Everything we track for Wilson Combat vs Radian, from builds, store listings and daily prices.

	Wilson Combat	Radian
Share of builds	24%	26%
Price tier	Mid priced	Premium
Parts listed	591	398
Part types	55	23
Retailers carrying	15	15
In stock now	61%	63%
Price change, 90 dayson the most picked parts	Flat	Flat
On sale now	None	None