The AR-15 is one of the few, if only, military pattern rifle which you could put into a configuration which a new shooter, within 2 hours of instruction, would be able to consistently hit a milk jug at 300 yards with.
I doubt you could do that on another platform.
The AR-15 can be accurate or accurized for a low cost. A Wilson barrel, freefloated with 69gr SMK's will shoot 1 moa. That is phenomenal for a military pattern rifle. With a premium barrel, it will shoot half that. A stock AR, will do 2moa. Again, some of the best military pattern rifle accuracy there is.
Getting an M1A to shoot that well costs 3x more. Russian weapons, even if you try, will not do that.
That same platform, can also be made into an ultra-lightweight, short, close quarters combat carbine designed for rapid fire on close targets while allowing you to stay on target due to little to no muzzle flip.
It can be a target rifle for shorter ranges or longer ranges, it can be a varmint rifle, it can be a SHTF rifle, it can be a LE rifle, it IS a combat rifle as an A2, A4 and M4. It can be a home defense rifle. You can put anything you want on it for virtually any conceivable need, or you can keep it dirt simple.
It is low recoil, very accurate, easy to shoot and ergonomic. It is reliable enough.
There's a reason it's been in service with the US military for over 40 years. That isn't a mistake or a giant blunder or a diabolical scheme to save money. It works.
