Why did AR-15 become so popular?

MarkRohfrietsch · Aug 3, 2018

MarkRohfrietsch said:
Yes, the modulaity allows for it to be tailored to specific rolls in various calibers. The ultimate in convertibility.

MarkRohfrietsch · Aug 3, 2018

MarkRohfrietsch said:
Yes, the molecularity allows for it to be tailored to specific rolls in various calibers. The ultimate in convertibility.

Why will it not take " M o d u l a r i t y "????

The Gryphon · Nov 5, 2018

Beats me. I had my M14 taken and given the Black Mattel Toy (M16) back in 1971 and have never cared for it or the AR15 overgrown .22. Stoner originally made his rifle the AR10 as a 7.62x51mm. The propeller heads came up with the idea that wounding men was better than killing them which all sounds fine unless you are the guy those guys are trying to kill. It is why today the modern M4 only has semi-auto and a 3 round burst selector switch rather than the old full auto we had back in 1971. To many guys laying on their backs waving their 16s above them holding down on the triggers and burning through their mags shooting nothing but jungle until they were out of ammo. Anyone trained firing full auto aimed fire could fire three round controlled bursts. There was no since shooting unless you had a target to shoot at. Let the idiots blow off their ammo. Their was no reason giving them yours when you could hit what you aimed at. Me, I liked the M21 (7.62x51MM) with a Leatherwood Scope anyway. More power, distance, penetration, and put your target down with one round when you placed your round in the right place.

The Army had to learn the range limitation of the 5.56 all over again in Iraq and Afghanistan. That's why they are looking at the 6.5 Creedmoor for the future to replace the uppers. Doubles the range and knockdown when compared to the 5.56.

marineimaging · Nov 5, 2018

The Gryphon said:
Beats me. I had my M14 taken and given the Black Mattel Toy (M16) back in 1971 and have never cared for it or the AR15 overgrown .22. Stoner originally made his rifle the AR10 as a 7.62x51mm. The propeller heads came up with the idea that wounding men was better than killing them which all sounds fine unless you are the guy those guys are trying to kill. It is why today the modern M4 only has semi-auto and a 3 round burst selector switch rather than the old full auto we had back in 1971. To many guys laying on their backs waving their 16s above them holding down on the triggers and burning through their mags shooting nothing but jungle until they were out of ammo. Anyone trained firing full auto aimed fire could fire three round controlled bursts. There was no since shooting unless you had a target to shoot at. Let the idiots blow off their ammo. Their was no reason giving them yours when you could hit what you aimed at. Me, I liked the M21 (7.62x51MM) with a Leatherwood Scope anyway. More power, distance, penetration, and put your target down with one round when you placed your round in the right place.

The Army had to learn the range limitation of the 5.56 all over again in Iraq and Afghanistan. That's why they are looking at the 6.5 Creedmoor for the future to replace the uppers. Doubles the range and knockdown when compared to the 5.56.

I dare say wounding was an excuse. The bean counters were happy that they could get more rounds per crate to the front for less money and make themselves look good. That was just my opinion.

Aldebaran · Nov 6, 2018

The Gryphon said:
Beats me. I had my M14 taken and given the Black Mattel Toy (M16) back in 1971 and have never cared for it or the AR15 overgrown .22. Stoner originally made his rifle the AR10 as a 7.62x51mm. The propeller heads came up with the idea that wounding men was better than killing them which all sounds fine unless you are the guy those guys are trying to kill. It is why today the modern M4 only has semi-auto and a 3 round burst selector switch rather than the old full auto we had back in 1971. To many guys laying on their backs waving their 16s above them holding down on the triggers and burning through their mags shooting nothing but jungle until they were out of ammo. Anyone trained firing full auto aimed fire could fire three round controlled bursts. There was no since shooting unless you had a target to shoot at. Let the idiots blow off their ammo. Their was no reason giving them yours when you could hit what you aimed at. Me, I liked the M21 (7.62x51MM) with a Leatherwood Scope anyway. More power, distance, penetration, and put your target down with one round when you placed your round in the right place.

The Army had to learn the range limitation of the 5.56 all over again in Iraq and Afghanistan. That's why they are looking at the 6.5 Creedmoor for the future to replace the uppers. Doubles the range and knockdown when compared to the 5.56.

Couldn't the military just lengthen the barrels back to 20" to get better power and range from the ammo they're already using? 20" is what the 5.56 was made for.

The Gryphon · Nov 6, 2018

Aldebaran said:
Couldn't the military just lengthen the barrels back to 20" to get better power and range from the ammo they're already using? 20" is what the 5.56 was made for.

Military interest in 6.5 Creedmoor.
6.5 Creedmoor Military Interest Rumors Continue | 308 AR
https://www.pewpewtactical.com/6-5-creedmoor-guide/
Military Gets 6.5 Creedmoor

goldenboy · Jul 2, 2019

Aldebaran said:
The AR15 was first put into service by the military in 1963, but it was only within the last 10 years or so that it has exploded in popularity. It's still pretty much the same as it was when it first came on the scene, except for maybe more parts options available for it.

Perhaps it has something to do with politicians trying to ban it, but that happened (temporarily) back in 1994 when the AWB happened and lasted for 10 years. But still, it wasn't until well after that when it became much more popular. What was the cause?

I actually have one, and now realized I paid way too much for it, so now selling it would result in a big loss.

I think that the Internet has a lot to do with it. Same as just about anything! You don't have salesmen to pressure you, you can do research, you can compare prices. Further, competition from sites. Also, prices came down, and, people can see just how cheaply they can be had. Further, Youtube gives good information on them.

Also, the Obama Panics (idea that guns would be outlawed by Obama {not saying good or bad about O, just pointing out how people thought about gun availability at the time}), tied in with publicized mass shootings, increased public distrust of LEOs, which made them understand that self-defense was more of a personal, rather than civil, responsibility.

SJP51 · Sep 3, 2019

I'm a little late to this discussion. But a few comments:

I don't think the AR-15 was ever a military arm. It is a semi-auto. The M-16 and varoius variants thru to the M4 are full auto.

Why so popular? Cheap to shoot, light weight, manuverable, very effective against people, and so many folks like to be all "Rambo" like.

I bought one a few years ago and never shoot it. Rather a waste of money.

marineimaging · Sep 7, 2019

SJP51 said:
I'm a little late to this discussion. But a few comments:

I don't think the AR-15 was ever a military arm. It is a semi-auto. The M-16 and varoius variants thru to the M4 are full auto.

Why so popular? Cheap to shoot, light weight, manuverable, very effective against people, and so many folks like to be all "Rambo" like.

I bought one a few years ago and never shoot it. Rather a waste of money.

Allow me to add if you don't mind, those of us who served and were familiar with them feel a certain amount of affection for them (if I can use that word) as we know them well enough that if we had a major catastrophe where we needed to police our own communities, we would already be trained and ready. We know their abilities and their shortcomings as well. As for never shooting it..., that is your choice but personally, I don't have a gun I haven't shot. I consider it a duty to know how they handle and if they are going to do the job as intended.

MarkRohfrietsch · Sep 8, 2019

SJP51 said:
I'm a little late to this discussion. But a few comments:

I don't think the AR-15 was ever a military arm. It is a semi-auto. The M-16 and varoius variants thru to the M4 are full auto.

Why so popular? Cheap to shoot, light weight, manuverable, very effective against people, and so many folks like to be all "Rambo" like.

I bought one a few years ago and never shoot it. Rather a waste of money.

I had mine out at our club last week, I let a new member who was a long time shooter, but had never shot an AR before give it a try. He told me it was the coolest gun he had ever shot. Not just becuase it is fun to shoot, but the design is such a departure from the norm. He is a Millwright, and appreciates mechanical stuff.

His student · Sep 16, 2019

Aldebaran said:
The AR15 was first put into service by the military in 1963, but it was only within the last 10 years or so that it has exploded in popularity.....................What was the cause?QUOTE]

The advent of the election of a communist influenced leftist leaning president was a catalyst if not the only one.

Conservatives who had carried the AR15 in the Viet Nam years and beyond began to fear the government and it's possible turn against the constitutional rights of Americans.

Given the unwieldy nature of Howitzers and the indiscriminate nature of hand grenades - the AR15 represented (along with more personal carry arms like high capacity autos) the natural choice for Americans to arm themselves against possible government tyranny - the very reason for the 2nd amendment in the first place (with my apologies to hunters and those who just want to protect their homes).

A populace armed with handguns and AR15's of various types is exactly the kind of thing the framers of the constitution had in mind for days like today.

The AR15 allows for relatively long range action while remaining light weight and compact with light weight ammo in reserve.

Top all that off with it being a mighty fine target and coyote rifle with fairly low priced ammo that is easy to reload - and it's a natural.

Besides that, being black and aggressive looking it scares the heck out of wimpy white guilt liberals and I like that.

HisGraceAbounds · Sep 16, 2019

...seems like my ARs are going to be worth their weight in gold pretty soon. I figured when I built them that they were going to be a wise investment. Having them built around 80% receivers (and as such NO serial numbers), makes them all the more valuable since the gov. has no mechanism to track them.

Copperhead · Jan 9, 2020

Well, getting worth their weight in gold is like anything else... depends on what one can get for one. If someone was trying to sell me a new AR, I probably wouldn't give more than $100 for it.

I am one of those that got my taste of the early M16 and didn't like it. Of course there were different things going on like poor selection of propellants the other issues with the 5.56 that made, for me, a terrible combination of plastic rifle and effectiveness. Just wasn't reliable in a fight. Both rifle and cartridge have come a long way and things are different, but early impressions die hard. My youngest son bought some third party made AR a few years ago, not sure which brand, and I have had no desire to shoot it.

I always seem to get emails and such from various groups and even local folks running for various offices that are having an AR giveaway for campaign fund raising. I just ignore them. No interest in having one. Now if they had a Henry centerfire lever gun giveaway, I might consider that. I suppose it might be silly to ignore the AR giveaways. I might win one and then I can turn around and sell it since so many seem to be enamored with the platform.

marineimaging · Jan 9, 2020

Copperhead said:
Well, getting worth their weight in gold is like anything else... depends on what one can get for one. If someone was trying to sell me a new AR, I probably wouldn't give more than $100 for it.

I am one of those that got my taste of the early M16 and didn't like it. Of course there were different things going on like poor selection of propellants the other issues with the 5.56 that made, for me, a terrible combination of plastic rifle and effectiveness. Just wasn't reliable in a fight. Both rifle and cartridge have come a long way and things are different, but early impressions die hard. My youngest son bought some third party made AR a few years ago, not sure which brand, and I have had no desire to shoot it.

I always seem to get emails and such from various groups and even local folks running for various offices that are having an AR giveaway for campaign fund raising. I just ignore them. No interest in having one. Now if they had a Henry centerfire lever gun giveaway, I might consider that. I suppose it might be silly to ignore the AR giveaways. I might win one and then I can turn around and sell it since so many seem to be enamored with the platform.

Hang on a bit and you will be able to buy one for about 100.00.

marineimaging · Jan 9, 2020

HisGraceAbounds said:
...seems like my ARs are going to be worth their weight in gold pretty soon. I figured when I built them that they were going to be a wise investment. Having them built around 80% receivers (and as such NO serial numbers), makes them all the more valuable since the gov. has no mechanism to track them.

And while we know they are legal as long as you don't sell or transfer them across state lines, their only value is to someone who wants them for nefarious reasons. By having no record they are only valuable to you. Sell them without a serial number and you are inviting serious trouble. Check with BATFE before you do.

HisGraceAbounds · Jan 10, 2020

marineimaging said:
And while we know they are legal as long as you don't sell or transfer them across state lines, their only value is to someone who wants them for nefarious reasons. By having no record they are only valuable to you. Sell them without a serial number and you are inviting serious trouble. Check with BATFE before you do.

No worries on my end. I'd never sell mine. I just like owning weapons the Gov doesn't have records about. My own little protest. Other folks though, I can't speak to their morals or ethics.

Darkhorse · Jan 10, 2020

You're following one of my favorite sayings:

What they don't know won't hurt you.

Hiep · Jan 25, 2020

Aldebaran said:
The AR15 was first put into service by the military in 1963, but it was only within the last 10 years or so that it has exploded in popularity. It's still pretty much the same as it was when it first came on the scene, except for maybe more parts options available for it.

Perhaps it has something to do with politicians trying to ban it, but that happened (temporarily) back in 1994 when the AWB happened and lasted for 10 years. But still, it wasn't until well after that when it became much more popular. What was the cause?

I actually have one, and now realized I paid way too much for it, so now selling it would result in a big loss.

There was a guy Who started a company to 3D print guns. It was kinda cool.

ruthiesea · Feb 22, 2020

I have 3 ARs and, among others, a Garand. I load up the magazines (clips for the Garand) for them at home and can put holes in paper all day without having to reload them at the range. It’s more fun that way.

chilehed · Apr 6, 2020

MarkRohfrietsch said:
Around 1983. First shot, right on the bullseye; consecutive shots always got wider and wider. 5 shots, about 10"; 10 shots, about 20" at 100. Home loads, factory, light bullets, heavy bullets, it did not matter.

I was not the only one; and from what I'm hearing most shoot about the same to this day.

Interesting. I was able to hit a 6" plate every time at 100 yards with my buddy's Mini.

Why did AR-15 become so popular?

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