Thread: Any AR-15 owners in here?

I watched a very interesting Modern Marvels show on the History Channel about the M-16 and how its predecessor is (was?) the AR-15. I thought it was the other way round.

I hope I get this right....anyway my understanding:

The ar-15 stands for Armalight Rifle model 15. They company that designed and originally presented the rifle for military consideration. After testing the bureaucrats decided to buy the Ar-15 for military use. The military then designated it as the M16 or machine gun model 16. The civilian versions have chosen to stick with the original "name' of the weapon unless it is actually military surplus.

I've got a Colt 16" HBAR AR15 with a 1-9 twist rate and a flat-top upper. Nice little gun. However...if I were going to pick a 5.56MM rifle for the "cool" factor, I'd have to pick my HK93 over the AR15. The HK is quite simply in a whole other class.

The real predecessor of the M16/AR15 was the M-14. Military version of the Springfield Armory M1A. I would love to have a national match but they are a bit out of my price range for a paper puncher.

Some of the guys in my outfit carry M-14's to this day in Iraq. I carried one for awhile my last stint over there. Not the lightest weapon to carry around, but it has some authority.
I think the AR15/M16 rifle was a whole other tangent. Originally I think the Air Force adopted it, after it was designed for indigenous troops of smaller stature (an M14 is a beast of a rifle) but caught on. The rest is history I guess.
The new ones are a lot more reliable, accurate, and perhaps with the new round and rate of twist, even more deadly. They still don't match the M14 for reach and penetration by a long shot.

I'd still love to have my own, though. They are light, handy, and dare I say, fun.
John P.

Originally Posted by cannonfodder

The real predecessor of the M16/AR15 was the M-14. Military version of the Springfield Armory M1A. I would love to have a national match but they are a bit out of my price range for a paper puncher.

That is true when discussing the list of weapons carried by U.S. Military personnel. However the AR-15 developmentally preceded the M-16. Similarly, the AR-15 was preceded by the AR-5.

Originally Posted by crichton

Bushmaster here.....with some mods done by myself. Changed things around last winter and am very happy with the results. Shown here with my USP.

Hey Eric, I love those optics. I have AR-AD and have 7. One AR is not enough. My favorite for looks and fun to shoot is this home built American Spirit Arms receiver with other parts that I can't remember where I got them with a Pro-Point red dot scope.

bj

Originally Posted by 2Sharp

Hey Eric, I love those optics. I have AR-AD and have 7. One AR is not enough. My favorite for looks and fun to shoot is this home built American Spirit Arms receiver with other parts that I can't remember where I got them with a Pro-Point red dot scope.

bj

Thanks!!

7???!!! You're as bad as I am with straight razors...lol....

If I ever make it back down south we'll have to get together and do a little shooting!

I use a Rock River Arms A4 for 3-gun, tricked out with the national match trigger group, an RRA Dominator irons and a nice EoTech512 on top of those. I despise collapsible stocks and keep the long stock and 20" barrel on it for the longer 3-gun stages. (which is why I prefer the EoTech to the Aimpoint.)

One of these days I'll get around to refinishing it with some Norrell's Moly Resin like my other match guns.

Wanted to get some pictures of my AR up. It's not very good looking, but I put it all together myself, and she shoots pretty nice.




I painted in the white and red stuff using enamel paint...just thought it would be something a little different...