Posted on 08/21/2016 5:48:47 AM PDT by Kaslin
After the massacre of gay Americans having a good time at an Orlando nightclub by an Islamic terrorist there were vivid discussions about people owning an AR-15 -- the principle long gun in use in America -- despite the fact that it was not the firearm used by the murderer. For some the discussion immediately lurched to gun control, but a lot of people had very little knowledge to support their arguments. I thought we should take a look at the AR-15. (Note: I am neither a gun owner or member of the NRA.)
Another issue about the gun came to light as a friend of mine told me “no one needs an AR-15,” which has become an oft-used statement by the unknowing. I asked him if he had ever asked someone why they would want to own the gun. The answer was no, so I thought I would ask some people for him, since I expect that he did not engage gun owners.
The AR referred to in the gun’s name comes from Armalite Rifle, the original manufacturer. The gun was redesigned in 1964 to become the U.S. military’s M-16, which has been the common gun used by U.S. soldiers since that time. Thus, this gun was originally designed for civilian use. The M-16 has been redesigned to become the M4 carbine, which is in use by the U. S. military today.
Military-type guns can be “select-fire.” They can shoot as “fully-automatic,” which means once you pull the trigger and hold it back the gun will fire until the magazine is empty. Or you can adjust it to semi-automatic mode, which means you must pull the trigger each time you want to fire a round.
That is the main difference between military-style guns and ones owned legally in the U.S. by private citizens. The AR-15 can only be fired semi-automatically. Semi-automatic technology has been around for over 100 years and is the way the vast majority of guns are made in the United States. A revolver, which is the kind of handgun you would see in a Western used by Wyatt Earp, is the kind of old-style technology that would cause someone to cock the trigger then pull each time and so a new round would load and fire.
People who do not like AR-15s refer to them as either an “assault” or “military-style” rifle. They are neither. In fact, since the early 1990s, the gun has been the most-frequently-used rifle in marksmanship competitions. It is also the most-frequently-used rifle for defensive usage. One of the primary aspects of the gun’s popularity is it can be designed for multiple purposes. Those who don’t have experience with guns may not understand the value or the benefit of a gun that can be that adaptable. But it is not legally adaptable to be fully automatic.
Why would someone want to own such a gun? I interviewed six owners of varying ages and backgrounds -- all were male. They vary in age between 34 years old and 63 years old. They also vary in how long they have owned guns to between being a recent gun owner to one who has been active with guns for over 50 years. They all go shooting regularly to burnish their skills and stay fresh with their guns. For most shooting is a hobby. There was a consistent characteristic – the AR-15 was not their first or only gun. Many people think of someone being a gun owner as having one gun. All of these people and many other legal gun owners have multiple guns. Each person I spoke to had both handguns and long guns (rifles).
Why the people acquired an AR-15 varied. Interestingly, a few mentioned that they thought the gun was a good investment. C.J. told me he felt all his guns were good investments. He has owned guns for 14 years and has found his guns to have gone up in value. He has sold a few of his guns in the past and has always done it in compliance with California law, which requires the sale to go through a licensed dealer.
Tony called the AR-15 “The Harley Davidson of rifles.” It is the premier American-manufactured long gun. He, like C.J., had great things to say about the gun. He mentioned what a few people said -- that the gun is very adaptable.
One drawback is that the gun needs to be cleaned and maintained regularly, as Neil brought to light. Most experienced gun owners would see cleaning as a normal part of gun ownership. The comparison here is to the Russian-designed AK-47, which operates reliable under most conditions.
Zvi stated he acquired his AR-15 for its ease of handling and affordability. He is a more recent gun owner, but “loves it.” Gabe bought the gun because of his work in a gun-related industry. He found it to be “fun and very entertaining.” Gabe also agreed that his experience is that the gun is very versatile. Neil called it a “great defensive weapon.” Neil called the AR-15 the “gun of his generation” since it was used by almost all soldiers from the Vietnam War through Iraq.
One of the well-known attributes of the gun is it has very little recoil (kickback), especially for a long gun. This characteristic makes it easy to use and increases the accuracy for the shooter. This is directly in contrast statements written in the New York Daily News column by Gersh Kuntzman, the reporter who shot the AR-15. His description almost makes one believe he made up the whole story; it was so contradictory to fact.
Most studies have shown that the law-abiding citizens love this gun and the people I interviewed validated that. Hopefully, this column will help to explain why people like this gun and want to own it for legal use.
Only 2-3 percent of crimes/murders are done with long guns. It brings to question the campaign against them. The hot rhetoric against them is neither warranted nor going to solve the problem of illegal gun use.
Don’t have that one. Although I had to look that one on my American Classic Rifleman’s poster of cartridges. Looks like a skinny, slightly longer version of a 45-70. Looks like a longer 30 carbine kinda. What do you have that shoots it?
Mine is a Marlin SS Guide Scout lever action.
“It’s all the “tacticool” accessories that come later that takes a bite to the wallet.”
Good point.
It isn’t really an issue with AKs that come `vanilla’ in the box, but if you plan to add, say, a floating keymod forestock to a $500 stock 16” barrel M4, you may as well pay a little more for it factory-installed and save yourself the work, time and money.
Patrick Sweeney and others have written good books on accessorizing the AR.
We joke about it a lot. My wife's AR is called "Mother's little helper". :)
I hate the AR15 platform.
I own a nice one.
Yes, everyone should own one. It’s critical that we do. The AR15 is the symbol of the American patriot.
My favorites above that are the Mini14, the FS2000 and the P90. But if I had to get rid of everything and keep one ? The AR15.
It’s more than the sum of it’s parts.
But Marlin, Savage and Remington also made rifles in the caliber.
It was a popular cartridge in the 1890’
Mine is what Marlin calls the 1895 SS Guide Scout.
Single action on a revolver means that when you want to shoot, you first have to pull back on the hammer to move the cylinder into alignment. You then pull the trigger, and it does not bring the next round in the cylinder into alignment. If you can rotate the cylinder by only pulling the trigger, it is not single action.
Sure, It’s a good toy and when you want a real gun go to the Siaga 308.
#12, That has to be a Hillary supporter. ????
1) that's PULL the trigger, not cock it. Hammers are cocked, not triggers.
2) Given the author's reference to Westerns, he's almost certainly talking about single action revolvers. But the difference between SA and DA is undoubtedly lost on him.
Should you own one?
Yes ... preferably 2 and lots of 30 round mags and ammo to feed them AND LOADED in the mags.
My wife calls my 300 SBR canned setup the prom date. :)
I saw the whole kit except for rear sight online at Palmetto State Armory for $419.99 yesterday, with free shipping too.
If you’ve never built one I highly recommend it as not just a more affordable option to owning an AR but to getting a much better understanding of the various components and their function in the rifle.
It’s a terrific hobby and no more complicated than putting a model airplane together but as others have mentioned it’s the add-ons which can max out your credit cards. Red dot sights, key mod and mlok rails, vertical grips, angled grips, it gets addictive!..
I do not like the AR-15 or the M-16. Both of which I have fired a lot. Personal preference. My criticisms?
1) Too fragile. I want better durability.
2) Too hard to properly clean. Seriously, if you want to do a good job, you have to use dental picks and dental mirror. It takes three or more times longer to clean.
3) Too difficult to maintain. Its “1 shop, 2 shop, 3 shop” maintenance overlaps too much.
Certainly it has some good stuff as well, but these drawbacks take a lot away from it.
Everyone ought to own at least one AR-15.
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Heh, it’s a great round. No recoil with a brake, yet a true 1500 yard round.
Good round too, sadly just not near as popular.
Modern Revolvers are Double Action.
Pull the Trigger, they go Bang.
You just cock the Hammer for effect, like Dirty Harry always did before he recited the punchline.
You feel lucky Punk? Go ahead, make my day. LOL
BTW - My favorite Pistol is my Model 29 S&W. Fits my hand and it is a piece of Art. Absolutely beautiful Weapon.
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