Gun Industry Insights · Monthly
What AR-15 builders added, what was in stock and what they paid in September 2026. Written for FFL dealers, gun shops, retailers and parts brands, read from tens of thousands of parts added to builds and daily prices on 30,215 products at 24 retailers.
Published October 1, 2026 · Data window September 1 to 30, 2026
Parts added to builds
Tens of thousands
324 brands, 57.5% on phones
Median price of a part picked
$94.99
▲ +5.6% vs August 2026every part added, at its price that day
Most built brand
19.8%
Geissele, +0.3 ptsshare of builds containing the brand
Cheapest in stock 5.56 per round
$0.534
+1.9% vs August 2026monthly average of the daily low
01
It was 6.9% in August and second to the Wilson Combat forged stripped lower, which it passed in September. The PSA MOE EPT complete lower moved from ninth to third. The lower builders reached for most this month comes finished.
02
Aero's M4E1 stripped lowers and Breach charging handle were in stock on zero of the 26 to 29 days we priced them in September. GunPartPicker began ranking in stock parts first on August 23, so builders saw Aero less often, and the one Aero complete lower that was in stock quadrupled its builds. Expect the share to come back when Aero restocks.
03
Radian Raptor charging handles finished first and third in their slot and the ADAC-15 stripped lower more than doubled its builds. Smith & Wesson (up 4.6 points) and Palmetto State Armory (up 2.3) were the next biggest gainers, both on complete lowers.
04
Stocks (67%) and grips (63%) were easy to find. Builders adjust to it: 74% of the lowers they added were in stock at month end. The Wilson Combat forged lower was the second most added lower and was in stock on 4 of the 17 days it was priced. A dealer with receivers on the shelf sells into the tightest part of the market.
05
Charging handles rose 15% to $90.99 as Radian and Breek Arms replaced cheaper picks, and the median across every part added went from $89.99 to $94.99. Ammo held at the bottom: the cheapest in stock 5.56 NATO averaged $0.534 a round and 9mm $0.274, while .308 Win rose 13.5% to $1.009.
| Category | Most added | Share | Runner up | Share | vs Aug |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optic | EOTechEOTech HHS GRN Holographic Hybrid Sight | 21.3% | EOTechEOTech XPS2 Holographic Sight, Tan | 6.3% | held #1 |
| Rifle Scope | Sig SauerSig Sauer TANGO6 MSR 1-6x24mm | 21.1% | Vortex OpticsVortex Strike Eagle 1-8x24 | 9.5% | held #1 |
| Optic Mount | WeaverWeaver Multi-Slot Base 48400 | 41.7% | GeisseleGeissele Super Precision 30mm Scope Mount | 10.3% | held #1 |
| Iron Sights | NcStarNcStar Pro Series Flip Up Sight Set | 33.1% | MagpulMagpul MBUS Gen 3 Folding Rear Sight | 15.5% | held #1 |
| Light | StreamlightStreamlight ProTac Rail Mount HL-X Laser | 23.2% | StreamlightStreamlight ProTac Rail Mount HL-X | 10.5% | held #1 |
| Laser | SteinerSteiner DBAL-D2 Dual Beam Aiming Laser | 38.5% | SteinerSteiner DBAL-A3 Dual Beam Aiming Laser | 20.2% | held #1 |
| Suppressor | SilencerCoSilencerCo Velos LBP 556 | 19.6% | Otter Creek LabsOtter Creek Polonium K 556 | 6.1% | held #1 |
| # | Brand | September | Aug | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Geissele | 19.8% | 19.5% | +0.3 pts |
| 2 | Magpul | 19.1% | 18.1% | +1.0 pts |
| 3 | Palmetto State Armory | 18.8% | 16.5% | +2.3 pts |
| 4 | Bravo Company | 17.6% | 17.6% | 0.0 pts |
| 5 | Radian | 16.9% | 12.3% | +4.6 pts |
| 6 | Wilson Combat | 14.1% | 13.8% | +0.3 pts |
| 7 | Strike Industries | 13.1% | 13.9% | -0.8 pts |
| 8 | Rise Armament | 10.9% | 10.8% | +0.1 pts |
| 9 | CMMG | 10.8% | 10.6% | +0.2 pts |
| 10 | Smith & Wesson | 9.7% | 5.1% | +4.6 pts |
| 11 | Daniel Defense | 8.6% | 7.7% | +0.9 pts |
| 12 | Aero Precision * | 8.4% | 25.3% | -16.9 pts |
| 13 | Timber Creek | 7.8% | 8.2% | -0.4 pts |
| 14 | Spike's Tactical | 7.6% | 7.3% | +0.3 pts |
| 15 | EOTech | 7.5% | 6.5% | +1.0 pts |
| 16 | B5 Systems | 6.8% | 7.1% | -0.3 pts |
| 17 | Sig Sauer | 6.4% | 6.6% | -0.2 pts |
| 18 | Streamlight | 5.3% | 4.4% | +0.9 pts |
| 19 | Breek Arms | 5.2% | 3.6% | +1.6 pts |
| 20 | Lewis Machine & Tool | 4.8% | 4.2% | +0.6 pts |
| Brand | Share | vs Aug |
|---|---|---|
| Radian | 16.9% | +4.6 pts |
| Smith & Wesson | 9.7% | +4.6 pts |
| Palmetto State Armory | 18.8% | +2.3 pts |
| Breek Arms | 5.2% | +1.6 pts |
| Griffin Armament | 3.1% | +1.1 pts |
| EOTech | 7.5% | +1.0 pts |
| Brand | Share | vs Aug |
|---|---|---|
| Aero Precision | 8.4% | -16.9 pts |
| Fortis Manufacturing | 3.5% | -1.6 pts |
| Strike Industries | 13.1% | -0.8 pts |
| Hogue | 2.4% | -0.7 pts |
| Phase 5 Weapon Systems | 4.3% | -0.6 pts |
| Dead Air Armament | 3.1% | -0.6 pts |
| Part | Slot | vs Aug |
|---|---|---|
| Smith & WessonM&P15 Complete Lower, Black | Lower Receiver | +82.2% |
| Palmetto State ArmoryPSA Complete Lower, Magpul MOE EPT, FDE | Lower Receiver | +132.6% |
| Wilson CombatM16 Bolt Carrier Assembly, Polished Nitride | Bolt Carrier Group | +87.2% |
| RadianRaptor Slim Line Ambi Charging Handle | Charging Handle | +65.5% |
| Aero PrecisionAR15 Complete Lower, FDE MOE Grip and SL-S Stock | Lower Receiver | +326.1% |
| RadianADAC-15 Stripped Lower Receiver, Gray | Lower Receiver | +166.7% |
| Part | Slot | vs Aug |
|---|---|---|
| Aero PrecisionBreach Ambidextrous Charging Handle | Charging Handle | -91.3% |
| Aero PrecisionM4E1 Complete Lower, MOE SL Grip and SL-S Stock | Lower Receiver | -93.8% |
| Aero PrecisionM4E1 Stripped Lower, Special Edition | Lower Receiver | -91.6% |
| Bravo CompanyUpper Receiver Assembly, T-Markings | Upper Receiver | -91.8% |
| Fortis ManufacturingLightweight Enhanced End Plate, Gold | End Plate | -89.5% |
| Aero PrecisionM4E1 Stripped Lower, FDE Cerakote | Lower Receiver | -83.2% |
| Part | Days in stock |
|---|---|
| Wilson CombatAR-15 Lower Receiver, Forged | 4 of 17 |
| Yankee Hill MachineBillet Upper Receiver, Matte Black | 5 of 22 |
| Forward Controls DesignAR-15 Handguard 13.7 in. M-Lok | 7 of 21 |
| Aero PrecisionBreach Ambidextrous Charging Handle | 0 of 29 |
| Aero PrecisionM4E1 Stripped Lower, Black | 0 of 27 |
| Aero PrecisionM4E1 Stripped Lower, FDE Cerakote | 0 of 28 |
| Category | Tracked | Aug | Picked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Receiver | 24.8% | 25.2% | 71.7% |
| Lower Receiver | 28.1% | 24.6% | 74.3% |
| Barrel | 41.5% | 40.8% | 68.8% |
| Handguard | 41.6% | 42.4% | 73.2% |
| Complete Rifle | 44.3% | 45.7% | 63.0% |
| Trigger | 45.5% | 44.6% | 56.8% |
| Bolt Carrier Group | 46.8% | 44.8% | 88.1% |
| Gas Block | 47.1% | 46.3% | 67.7% |
| Suppressor | 51.4% | 52.9% | 79.3% |
| Optic | 52.3% | 49.9% | 82.3% |
| Charging Handle | 54.2% | 54.4% | 93.8% |
| Rifle Scope | 54.7% | 51.1% | 87.9% |
| Muzzle Device | 57.0% | 56.1% | 82.2% |
| Light | 57.0% | 55.4% | 86.2% |
| Safety | 59.5% | 62.9% | 93.6% |
| Pistol Grip | 62.8% | 60.3% | 90.0% |
| Foregrip | 63.0% | 61.4% | 84.8% |
| Stock & Brace | 66.6% | 67.0% | 89.0% |
| Category | September | Aug | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Receiver | $225.63 | $212.99 | +5.9% |
| Upper Receiver | $419.99 | $393.34 | +6.8% |
| Barrel | $199.73 | $199.73 | flat |
| Handguard | $175.46 | $174.95 | flat |
| Bolt Carrier Group | $199.00 | $199.00 | flat |
| Trigger | $159.13 | $166.81 | -4.6% |
| Charging Handle | $90.99 | $78.88 | +15.4% |
| Buffer Tube Assembly | $68.95 | $99.20 | -30.5% |
| Gas Block | $51.30 | $43.42 | +18.1% |
| Muzzle Device | $65.99 | $72.56 | -9.1% |
| Stock & Brace | $54.51 | $52.99 | +2.9% |
| Pistol Grip | $17.95 | $18.99 | -5.5% |
| Safety | $44.99 | $45.00 | flat |
| Magazine Release | $29.75 | $23.70 | +25.5% |
| Optic | $520.84 | $484.99 | +7.4% |
| Rifle Scope | $399.99 | $349.49 | +14.4% |
| Light | $155.99 | $155.09 | +0.6% |
| Suppressor | $869.99 | $899.99 | -3.3% |
| Complete Rifle | $729.82 | $949.99 | -23.2% |
#1 Texas
11.6%
#2 New York
9%
#3 Florida
5.9%
#4 California
4.9%
#5 Pennsylvania
4.3%
#6 Ohio
4.2%
#7 Georgia
4%
#8 Michigan
3.6%
#9 Virginia
3.1%
#10 North Carolina
3%
#11 Washington
3%
#12 Indiana
2.6%
| Retailer | September | Aug | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| KY Gun Company | 20.9% | 22% | -1.1 pts |
| Brownells | 11.7% | 6.9% | +4.8 pts |
| GritR Sports | 10.7% | 8.9% | +1.8 pts |
| Classic Firearms | 8.4% | 7.2% | +1.2 pts |
| BattleHawk Armory | 7.5% | 15.1% | -7.6 pts |
| Palmetto State Armory | 7.2% | 6.9% | +0.3 pts |
| Primary Arms | 6.4% | 4.3% | +2.1 pts |
| AR15 Discounts | 4.9% | 4% | +0.9 pts |
| Optics Planet | 4.8% | 6.5% | -1.7 pts |
| Dirty Bird Industries | 4.3% | 3.5% | +0.8 pts |
| Ammunition Depot | 4.1% | 4.3% | -0.2 pts |
| MidwayUSA | 2.9% | 3.7% | -0.8 pts |
| Caliber | Low $/rd | vs Aug | Median $/rd | In stock listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| .22 LR | $0.073 | +30.4% | $0.124 | 29 |
| 9mm | $0.274 | +2.2% | $0.572 | 361 |
| 12 Gauge | $0.367 | +20.3% | $0.869 | 866 |
| .40 S&W | $0.394 | +1.8% | $0.712 | 242 |
| .45 ACP | $0.440 | -2.9% | $0.816 | 200 |
| .223 Rem | $0.514 | +0.4% | $0.976 | 239 |
| 5.56 NATO | $0.534 | +1.9% | $0.673 | 107 |
| 7.62x39mm | $0.698 | +1.5% | $1.050 | 37 |
| .300 Blackout | $0.745 | -4.2% | $1.410 | 91 |
| .308 Win | $1.009 | +13.5% | $1.958 | 270 |
| 6.5 Creedmoor | $1.115 | +0.2% | $2.022 | 123 |
Builder data. Every part added to a build in the GunPartPicker builder from September 1 to 30, 2026, UTC. A part counts once per build however many times it was swapped in and out, and brands come from the brand record, so twin spellings of one company count together. August uses the same rules. Adds measure intent, not purchases.
Stock and price data. Daily snapshots of 30,215 products at 24 tracked retailers. In stock means at least one tracked retailer listed it as in stock on the day. Serialized parts are carried by fewer of the tracked retailers, which raises their measured out of stock rate. Ammo is normalized to cost per round from each listing's round count.
One change on our side. On August 23 the builder began ranking in stock parts first. It moved demand toward parts people can buy, so some of the August to September shift in brand share, above all Aero Precision, reflects that change as well as the market.
Cite as
GunPartPicker Gun Industry Insights, September 2026, gunpartpicker.net/insights/2026-09
Press and data requests
mack@gunpartpicker.net. Custom cuts by brand, category or state for dealers and manufacturers.
For brands and retailers. See the media kit and the quarterly Gun Industry Insights.
Next edition. October 2026 publishes in the first week of November. The Q3 2026 quarterly edition publishes in the second week of October.