Top 10 Reasons You Should Own An AR-15

The Federalist ^ | 12/12/2018 | Mark Overstreet

[Kid Shelleen]

In a recent item for The Federalist, David Harsanyi considered the M16 rifle one of the five most innovative firearms in American firearm development history. Yet something equally significant can be said about the semi-automatic AR-15 derived from the M16. Second to the muskets used in our revolutionary and civil wars, the AR-15 may be the most important firearm in American political history.

All told, more Americans have fired more rounds from more AR-15s for personal defense, defensive firearm training, marksmanship competitions, individual practice, and hunting than from any other rifle. For that reason, the AR-15 is the primary firearm upon which Americans would rely if they had to fight for freedom today.

Here are 10 reasons to own at least one AR-15 and to become skilled in its use

[Magnum44]

Buying your first AR is like buying a boat or a plane, without the regrets. By that I mean the cost wont stop with the basic gun, but neither will the fun. Eventually you will want to change the rail, put on a better stock, get a light and optic sight, shorter or more accurate barrel, etc, etc. And then you will want to build more than one because, like any other tool, you need the right tool for the job you have in mind (close quarters work vs distance shooting, etc). But you will never stop having fun working up the variations and trying the different options.

But everyone starts somewhere, so a basic gun the best way to just wade into the water. Have fun. Oh, and learn to reload, cause the ammo is going to be expensive for a while.

[MHGinTN]

10 1/2 inch barrel models for 556 or 300 Blackout are best way to go. Put an arm brace on it so it remains a pistol version.

[RobertoinAL]

Number 11 - If the SHTF, there will be plenty of .223 ammo.

[MHGinTN]

Palmetto States Armory

[AnotherUnixGeek]

The #1 reason for me to buy an AR-15 even though I don’t really need a rifle is because liberals want to deny me the right to have one. I’m seriously considering it.

[Intar]

BS. The ar has been around since 1947.

I was going to point that out as well, however the AR-15 came out in the late 50's based on the AR-10 prototype. The M-16 is the military designation of the original AR-15 prototype introduced to the armed services rifle trials and lost our to the M1A1 in 1962 only to be adopted in the late 60's (I want to say '66, but can't remember the year) when the M1A1 was routinely outgunned by the AK-47 armed NVA.

[Stentor]

Smith & Wesson M&P15 Sport II (about $850)

Guess I got my Sport (original) at the right time. Big stack of them in the middle of the floor on special for $556.00. I mean huge stack. That was October 2014. I forget what I paid for the ammo.

[LibWhacker]

I wanted one that glowed bright blue when demo-orcs were nearby. Never found it (I think someone was lying to me) so I got a Colt 6920 or 6910, can’t remember (it wasn’t the law enforcement model).

Anyhoo, congrats on your choice and your plans to get proficient with it!

[matthew fuller]

You gave the Jack booted thugs a pass for Ruby Ridge?
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/aug/26/ruby-ridge-1992-modern-american-militia-charlottesville

[Kid Shelleen]

+1000; That is what I am counting on

[DEPcom]

11. The AR-15 platform is a fun rifle to shoot.

[DEPcom]

“11. The AR-15 platform is a fun rifle to shoot.”
Change that to 12

[old-ager]

> AR 15 ... 1947

No. Very late 50s.

But to your point, it was a consumer item. There were ads in hunting magazines by about 1962.

[Yo-Yo]

“AR-15 derived from the M-16”

BS. The ar has been around since 1947.

No, technically the sentence is correct. Eugene Stoner first developed the select fire AR-10 in .308 in the mid 1950s to compete against the M14, but got no major military contracts.

He later shrunk down the AR-10 to the AR-15 chambered in .223 Remington as a select fire weapon in 1959. When the U.S. Air Force first adopted the Armalite AR-15, it was then designated as "Rifle, Caliber 5.56 mm, M16."

Only later, after Colt purchased all of the rights to the AR-15, did they come out with a semiautomatic version for civilian use.

So technically the AR-15 as we know it today was derived from the select fire AR-15 that the military designated M16.

Interesting aside, when I went through USAF Basic Training in 1977, our rifle marksmanship training was done using rifles that were marked "COLT AR-15" in fancy engraving, then a smaller stamped "M16" in a different font. They also had no forward assist.

[PGalt]

Either will work. Get them while you can.

worth repeating

[gundog]

M1A was adopted in 1959. The M-16 in 1964.

[nonliberal]

I PM’s you.

[Yo-Yo]

Second Palmetto State Armory.

My AR was assembled from a PSA full kit and an Andersen lower. All in for $600 about 5 years ago.

[Carriage Hill]

There are some gun brokers in my List:

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[metmom]

The government not wanting me to is reason enough.