A buyer’s guide from the maker
How to Choose an AR-15 Brass Deflector
To choose an AR-15 brass deflector, check three things: what your upper receiver has behind the ejection port, which shoulder you shoot from, and whether you want to keep your brass. Most Mil-Spec forged uppers have a factory deflector bump, so a stick-on deflector fits. A brass catcher is the only type that keeps your cases.
Published by Northwest Arsenal, maker of the stick-on AR-15 brass deflector. Where another type suits you better, we say so. Compare every deflector type.
Start here
Compare deflector types
Stick-on, clip-on, rail-mounted and brass catchers side by side.
Shooting left-handed
Why lefties gain the most from a brass deflector.
Install in four steps
Clean, prime, press for 60 seconds, cure for 24 hours.
Pick a color
Black, OD Green, Coyote Brown and Arctic White.
Key takeaways
- Look behind the ejection port first. A forged deflector bump means a stick-on deflector will fit.
- Left-handed shooters gain the most, because the AR-15 ejects on the side their face is on.
- Billet uppers vary. Fit is not guaranteed, so check the bump before you buy.
- A deflector turns brass away. It does not keep it, and it does not replace eye protection.
What does an AR-15 brass deflector do?
An AR-15 brass deflector turns ejected cases away from the shooter. The rifle throws each empty case out of the ejection port to the right and slightly back. The factory bump behind the port turns some of that brass. A deflector on the bump turns more of it away, so less of it comes back at you. It does not replace eye protection.
The Northwest Arsenal AR-15 Brass Deflector is a patented stick-on part (U.S. Patent No. 9,664,468) that sits over the factory bump. It weighs 0.6 oz and is made of impact-resistant polymer in Springfield, Oregon. See it on the Northwest Arsenal AR-15 brass deflector page.
Which type of AR-15 deflector suits your rifle?
There are four ways to turn AR-15 brass: the factory bump on its own, a stick-on deflector on that bump, a clip-on deflector, and a deflector that mounts to a Picatinny rail. A brass catcher is a fifth option and the only one that keeps your cases.
A stick-on deflector is the lightest choice and takes up no rail space. A clip-on or rail-mounted deflector suits an upper with no bump, such as an A1-style upper, or a shooter who moves one deflector between rifles. We compare every type, with a table, in our guide to AR-15 shell deflector types.
Will a brass deflector fit a forged or billet upper?
The Northwest Arsenal deflector is made for Mil-Spec forged AR-15 upper receivers in 5.56 NATO and .223 Remington. Forged uppers share the same bump shape, so the deflector seats on it the same way every time.
Billet uppers vary from maker to maker. Some have a forged-style bump and some do not, so fit on a billet upper is not guaranteed. Look at your upper behind the ejection port before you order, and read the fitment answers in the Northwest Arsenal deflector FAQs.
Do left-handed shooters need a brass deflector?
Left-handed shooters gain the most from an AR-15 brass deflector. The AR-15 ejects to the right. When you shoot from the left shoulder, your face sits on the right side of the stock, close to the ejection port, so hot brass passes near it. A deflector on the bump turns more of that brass away from you.
We cover lefty setups in our post on brass deflectors for left-handed shooters. The deflector itself is on the left-handed AR-15 brass deflector page.
How do you install a stick-on AR-15 deflector?
The Northwest Arsenal deflector mounts with 3M VHB adhesive. The alcohol prep wipe and the 3M adhesion promoter come in the pack.
- Clean and degrease the bump with the alcohol prep wipe.
- Apply the adhesion promoter and let it flash dry for 30 seconds.
- Peel the backing, line the deflector up on the bump and press firmly for 60 seconds.
- Let it cure for 24 hours at room temperature before you shoot.
No tools, no drilling and no gunsmithing. Step-by-step photos are in the Northwest Arsenal install guide.
How do you look after a brass deflector?
A stick-on brass deflector takes brass strikes and helps protect the finish on the bump. Over time it shows wear, like any part that brass hits. To take it off, warm it slightly and pry it with a non-marring tool. A removed deflector can go back on with fresh 3M VHB adhesive. Tips on wear and scratches are in our look at deflector wear and scratches.
Which color should you pick?
The Northwest Arsenal deflector comes in four colors to match your build: Black, OD Green, Coyote Brown and Arctic White. It comes in packs of 1, 5 or 10, starting at $19.99. Orders ship from Springfield, Oregon in 1 to 2 business days, to the US mainland only, with a 30-day defect guarantee.
Brass deflector questions
Do right-handed shooters need a brass deflector?
A right-handed shooter does not need a brass deflector on most AR-15s, because the factory bump already turns much of the brass away. Right-handed shooters still add one when a particular rifle sends brass back at them, when they shoot at a crowded bench, or to help protect the finish on the bump.
Does a brass deflector change how an AR-15 shoots?
A stick-on brass deflector does not change how an AR-15 cycles or shoots. It sits on the outside of the upper receiver, behind the ejection port, and does not touch the bolt or the charging handle. At 0.6 oz, the Northwest Arsenal deflector adds almost no weight to the rifle.
Does the deflector work with calibers other than 5.56?
The Northwest Arsenal brass deflector is designed for AR-15 rifles in 5.56 NATO and .223 Remington. Other calibers built on the same Mil-Spec forged upper may eject cases at a different angle, so we only state fit and performance for 5.56 NATO and .223 Remington rifles.
Where is the Northwest Arsenal brass deflector made?
The Northwest Arsenal AR-15 brass deflector is made and shipped in Springfield, Oregon, by a family-run business built by shooters. Northwest Arsenal is the trading name of Johnson Customs LLC, and the design is patented under U.S. Patent No. 9,664,468. It is sold on nwarsenal.com, not on Amazon.
Does a brass deflector replace eye protection?
No, a brass deflector does not replace eye protection. It turns more ejected brass away from the shooter, but cases can still bounce off walls, benches and the rifles of shooters beside you. Wear eye and ear protection every time you shoot, with or without a deflector on your AR-15.
Shop the Northwest Arsenal deflector
Patented, 0.6 oz and made in Springfield, Oregon. Every deflector is sold and shipped by Northwest Arsenal, with free shipping on orders of $80 and up.