Why the AR-15 Is Misunderstood — and Loved

New American ^ | June 8, 2022 | Selwyn Duke

[HamiltonJay]

Just have the iron sights on mine, not a marksman by any means, but hit the target consistently at 100 yards... if rioters decide to target my neighborhood, feel confident I can defend my position with it.

Hopeful that I never have to use it in such a capacity, but after the summer of 2020, I have absolutely no delusions that if it benefited the global elites to burn my neighborhood to the ground, our government would stand by and let it happen

[zeestephen]

Thanks, null and void.

I saw this posted on another thread.

Worth posting and reading twice.

[Bodega]

IIRC they’re too small for deer hunting in WV.

[DMZFrank]

I own 8 AR-15’s. Two are chambered for the standard 5.56 NATO M195 cartridge used in Vietnam and it’s subsequent iterations. One is chambered in .22 LR, the common squirrel cartridge. One is chambered in .300 Blackout, which fires a 125 grain bullet at an initial muzzle velocity of 2230 fps, with 1360 ft lbs. of energy at the muzzle. One is chambered in .458 SOCOM using a 250 grain bullet at 2150 fps and 2150 ft lbs. at the muzzle, and another in .50 Beowulf 300 grain bullet at 1870 fps, 2330 ft lbs. at the muzzle. One is chambered in 6.8 Wolverine cartridge using a 90 grain bullet at 2750 fps with 1510 ft lbs at the muzzle. The last is chambered for the .300 Ham’R using a 125 grain bullet at 2600 fps with 1765 ft lbs of energy at the muzzle. There are .410 shotgun upper receiver conversions that are available too.

Compare this with the G.I. M195 Vietnam era cartridge firing a 55 grain bullet at 3,250 fps with a muzzle energy of just under 1300 fps. With the exception of the .22 LR round and my 5.56, they are all more powerful then the Vietnam era cartridge. The only limiting factor as to what cartridges can cycle through the AR-15’s action is the length of the cartridge (max 45 mm) due to the size of the mag well in the AR-15. (The AR-10 can accommodate cartridges 51 mm in length) But if you are willing to forgoe semi or full auto firing, I have seen bolt action single shot upper receiver conversions that allow a .50 Browning Machine Gun cartridge to be used with the lower receiver as the trigger control and stock group.

But that is PRECISELY why Eugene Stoner’s brilliant design is arguably the most versatile firearm ever conceived. I assembled each and every one of these myself from parts starting with a standard Mil-Spec AR-15 receiver, assembled the barrels into a standard stripped Mil-Spec upper receiver. Once the receivers are assembled, they can be installed on ANY Mil-Spec lower receiver by simply pushing out two captive pins. They all use the same STANAG magazines (the .458 and the .50 Beowulf can only hold 10 rounds though) and the same bolt and bolt carrier. (The .22 LR requires a dedicated bolt carrier and barrel and a different magazine)

I believe that there are approximately 175 different rifle and pistol cartridges to which the AR-15 and AR-10 platforms can be readily and easily adapted to with common hand tools. (The only specialized tool needed is a armorer’s wrench)

The 2nd amendment is about a militia. A militia is a body of citizens organized for military purposes and bearing weapons supplied by themselves and of the kind in common military use at the time. The RKBA IS about “weapons of war.” If we let turds like most leftist and RINO gun grabbers define the 2nd amendment as being for plugging bunny rabbits, we have negated it’s purpose altogether. The framers of the constitution did not write it to ensure your ability to hunt and blast paper targets. Most states require a license to hunt anyway.

The fact that a rifle firing an intermediate power “assault rifle” cartridge is being transmogrified into a gun grabber “powerful” notion should have NO BEARING whatsoever in the right of the citizen militia to possess it in order to maintain the “security of a FREE state”!!!

[gundog]

I believe that is false. However, many States in the East forbid hunting with bottlenecked centerfire rifle cartridges. I believe the issue is the lethal range of the projectiles. This has given rise to the .350 Legend cartridge, a straight-walled cartridge that you can buy an AR-15 upper to accommodate.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/.350_Legend

[larrytown]

Iron sights have never changed for me - now my eyes.... that’s another situmacation altogether.

[Who is John Galt?]

...instead of the real meaning of "AR": "ArmaLite Rifle."

"AR" stands for ArmaLite, NOT "ArmaLite Rifle". That is readily apparent, if you consider the products ArmaLite has designed or produced, including:
AR-9: shotgun
AR-13: aircraft machinegun
AR-17: shotgun
AR-22: blank firing device
AR-23: sub-caliber training device
AR-24: handgun
The former head of ArmaLite (Mark Westrom) based an advertising campaign on historical fact:
"AR Stands For ArmaLite!"
FWIW, I'm not sure the current owners could find their own backsides, with their hands duct taped in their back pockets...

[larrytown]

I’m in one of those 22-caliber not allowed for deer states, and that includes any 22 caliber cartridge (223, 22-250, 220 Swift, etc). Silly in most cases, but whatever.

One of the reasons for the popularity of the platform is the ability to use a variety of different cartridges (albeit limited) in the AR15 platform. Only need to swap the upper, and the magazine.

Have a 6.5 Grendel for medium+ distances, and looking at 350 Legend for thick forest.

[Bon of Babble]

That is a beautiful gun and I would be happy to add it to my collection.

[SkyDancer]

Well when you have gun trained people like these ladies, no worries.

So there ya go ...

[SkyDancer]

[rickomatic]

I’m in the same boat as you. Currently have a couple 5.56 AR’s, a 300 Blackout, a couple 9mm’s, and the most fun, a dedicated .22lr SBR with a suppressor. Also have parts ready for a 7.62x39 build and an AR10. They are the Lego set for adults. On my radar is a 450 Bushmaster build, and one of the 6.5. Current mission is aquiring “standard capacity” magazines for the ones I already have, and one’s on my radar, since WA state’s “hi cap” ban goes into effect July 1.

[Who is John Galt?]

Mark Westrom at ArmaLite had a great sense of humor. When everybody from 'operators' to 'mall ninjas' decided they NEEDED rails on their ARs, ArmaLite added their "ALOSTYR" line of railed forends, etc., to satisfy market demand. For years, I assumed that "ALOSTYR" was some hi-tech engineering acronym; when I finally learned the truth ("ALOSTYR" meant "add lots of stuff to your rifle"), I nearly busted my gut laughing!

;>)

[Who is John Galt?]

ALOSTYR!

;>)

[T.B. Yoits]

Nice!

I've seen that look...

[DeplorablePaul]

Heh heh. They are in a dark room.

Actually I bought the second AR with my Covid check and 1000 rounds of 5.56. It filled my need for spare parts as well.

[DeplorablePaul]

It’s a good time to buy an AR The price has dropped around here (SC) to pre Covid prices. The AR is a dirty rifle and needs cleaning often. It’s pretty easy to clean, however, you might want someone to help you reassemble the bolt group and how to slide it back into the receiver a few times. It’s a little tricky.

[JimRed]

There’s an Irish rebel song from the time of “the Troubles” called “My Little Armalite”.

And it’s down along the bog road, that’s where I long to be
Lyin’ in the dark with a Provo company
A comrade on me left and another one on me right
A clip of ammunition for me little Armalite

I was stopped by a soldier, he said, “You are a swine”
He hit me with his rifle and he kicked me in the groin
I begged and I pleaded, oh my manners were polite
But all the time I’m thinkin’ of me little Armalite

And it’s down in the bogside, that’s where I long to be
Lyin’ in the dark with a Provo company
A comrade on me left and another one on me right
And a clip of ammunition for me little Armalite

Well this brave R.U.C. man came marchin’ up our street
600 British soldiers he had lined up at his feet
“Come out ye cowardly Fenians, come on out and fight”
He cried “I’m only jokin’!”, when he heard the Armalite

And it’s down in Mullahy, that’s where I long to be
Lyin’ in the dark with a Provo company
A comrade on me left and another one on me right
A clip of ammunition for me little Armalite

Well, the army came to visit me, ‘twas in the early hours
With Saracens, and Saladins, and Ferret armoured cars
They thought they had me cornered, but I gave them all a fright
With the armour-piercin’ bullets of me little Armalite

And it’s down in the New Lodge, that’s where I long to be
Lyin’ in the dark with a Provo company
A comrade on me left and another one on me right
A clip of ammunition for me little Armalite

Well, when Prior came to Belfast, to see the battles won
The generals they had told him, “We’ve got them on the run”
But corporals and privates, while on patrol at night
Say, “Remember Narrow Water and the bloody Armalite”

And it’s down in Crossmaglen, that’s where I long to be
Lyin’ in the dark with a Provo company
A comrade on me left and another one on me right
And a clip of ammunition for me little Armalite

[Pennsyltucky Boy]

You should try one of the S&W EZ series pistols. They truly are light on the slide rack… particularly the 380. They also have a grip safety. Not perfect, but reliable, conveniently sized and easy to operate.

[Who is John Galt?]

There’s an Irish rebel song from the time of “the Troubles” called “My Little Armalite”...

The IRA reportedly had a certain appreciation for the AR-18 and/or AR-180...