AR-15 opinions

Mine is 100%, no failures of any kind.

AR, no question

I just watched a report on the AR15 on the Mclerr news hour :banghead: (or whatever his name is on PBS) they did their best to make the rifle look like junk. I was laughing the whole time. There had no stats, interviewed only one soldier who had used it, and a minor figure who worked on the original AR10 with Stoner. This is typical of those who attack the rifle, they bring up 40 year old data and don't want to look at how things have changed. The fact is, the Army's own data shows that 89% of users have never experienced a weapons failure, thats as good a rate as any rifle today, especially considering what they are put through in Iraq and Afganistan.

IMHO, the AR15 is one of the best combat rifles in the world, I have a CMMG AR15 M4 with an Eotech 557.x4fts and I wouldn't trade it for any tactical rifle in the world. What the critics miss is this, the AR15 is alot like the Chevy 350, they are the most upgradeble rifle in the world, there are an almost an unlimited amount of options available for it.

If you want more knockdown power, you can upgrade it to a .308 or 6.8mm SPC, if you want longer range, add a 24" bull barrel and some 79gr rounds and knock stuff over at 600 yrds+. You want a piston weapon so it performs like the AK, no problem buy one with a piston kit off the shelf from Ruger or H&K, or, upgrade your existing rifle with kits from AA or CMMG. Want an advanced tactical weapon? Add any number of optics like Eotech, Aimpoint, or ACOG and you have any combat option available, want accessories, add a quad rail front grip and put literally ANYTHING you want on the front of your rifle. In addition to all that, even in the 16" barreled M4 version I have, its accuracy is far superior to most other combat platforms, most notable the AK which is notoriously in accurate, and it’s light weight and easy to lug around all day if you have to.

What it comes down to is, some people just look for things to complain about. Yes, the AR does have its issues, but so does EVERY combat weapon on the planet. The Pentagon is now toying with the idea of upgrading to the 6.8 SPC upper (84% more ballistic energy at the muzzle) and a piston driven system (cleaner longer running rifle), with those upgrades, the AR15 would be, hands down, the best combat weapon in the world

Just my .02!
For the record, I have both an AR and an AK, if the SHTF or I have an home invasion, it’s the AR coming out, no question about it.

Should have proof read that, whole lot of stuff about "The World" but oh well, you get the point!

With full auto capability as the military uses it, I think it's a pretty good jack-of-all trades rifle.

As a civilian, I don't see much use for the rifle unless I could procure a full auto version, which I don't have the money for.

With that said, I'll take an M14/M1A if I'm limited to semi-auto.

The AR shines as a compromise between a sub machine gun and a battle rifle. Take full auto out of the equation and it's just more of an underpowered battle rifle. The Short barrled semi-auto versions might have merit as CQB weapons, but I'd rather have a short barreled shotgun for those purposes personally.

I dunno how my insurgents got hit center of mass with one of our soldier's 5.56 round and stayed in the fight but I'm pretty sure that for it's lack of firepower it's a fine compromise when you can carry more rounds and acquire targets quicker and more accurately, especially at burst and full auto.

I dunno how my insurgents got hit center of mass with one of our soldier's 5.56 round and stayed in the fight

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Over stabilized FMJ bullets.

Change the twist rate and use HP's or SP's and I bet one shot will suffice, providing no cover had to be penetrated.

As a civilian, I can use HP's and SP's !

shephard19 said:

The AR-15 is one of the most famous guns in the world, but it is still a somewhat controversial rifle, given its poor performance when first introduced during the Vietnam war(due to poor ammunition at least in part) and the percieved to some dubious stopping power of 5.56 NATO. How do you think it compares to other weapons made for similar uses such as the AK-47, FN FAL, and Ruger Mini 14? As a battle rifle and/or house defense gun would it be your first choice? For AR-15 owners how reliable is it generally?

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Here we go again!
Yawn.......how many threads are there already on this? 50....100...more?:banghead:

I don't own an AR, but eventually I will simply because I'm a gun enthusiest. I some close Marine friends. For home defense, well they use the AR for QCB so I'm going to going ahead and concur the AR is solid option. As far as reliability, that all depends as it does for any firearm. You get what you pay for..simple! As far as knock down power...well what range are we talking here and what is the target? Lots of different angles on the question. The AR really has it's own world with all the different options and attachments. Simply put, a solid AR is a very versitile, dependable, and accurate firearm.

My AR15s are my favorite rifles and I shoot them the most. I have like 7 of them. I have never had a reliability issue with any. But then again, I keep them well lubed, only use good condition USGI mags and I never shot Wolf ammo through them. I have never had any parts break so far.

I like the light weight, good sights, good accuracy and how easy they are to clean.

My other semi-auto rifles include a Garand, two FALs, and AK and a number of SKS, but I still pick an AR15 to shoot at the range most of the time.

Cost is an issue for some, but ARs aren't any more expensive than most other semi rifles and about the same price range as a Garand, FAL, M1A, etc.

I have had good and bad with ARs. Some Bushmasters and DPMS rifles in the past have been real pains in my rear, and I don't even want to talk about the Olympic Arms Gun I had at one point. However my current upgraded Bushmaster and my Colt 6940 have both run 100%.

The M16 platform is very reliable in the current M4 configuration. And AR15s from good companies will be just as reliable.

Over stabilized FMJ bullets. Change the twist rate

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You can change the twist rate to whatever you want; but it will not significantly effect how an FMJ bullet upsets in a mostly liquid medium like tissue.

In order to have an FMJ bullet "over stabilized" to the point it would not upset in tissue, you would need a twist rate like a machine screw. This thread explains it in detail.

As for ARs, mine run fine and do everything I ask them to do. When they don't, I'll switch to something else; but so far that hasn't happened in 15+ years.

LoneStarWings: With full auto capability as the military uses it, I think it's a pretty good jack-of-all trades rifle.

As a civilian, I don't see much use for the rifle unless I could procure a full auto version, which I don't have the money for.

With that said, I'll take an M14/M1A if I'm limited to semi-auto.

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Common sense prevails!!!

Testosterone prevails!!!

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Fixed it for ya.


Just curious. What does that thing weigh?

personally, i think the ar-15 is a decent little rifle. i think it is probably overpriced, at least for the civilian market. i do not own one, but looked into it really heaviliy several months ago. if i were to buy a rifle of this type, i would buy the ar-10 (or variant) instead. the .223 round does have some signifigant power, especialy for humans. but it is not even close to the .308 IMHO. most animals do not die as easily as humans do. and the vast majority of my shooting will not be at humans! the biggest reason i did not buy a rifle of this type is the stinking laws in y state. it limits the amount of rounds to five, includeing one in the chamber for use on any land but my own. and i can not shoot where i live, so it just isnt worth it to me.

Here we go again!
Yawn.......how many threads are there already on this? 50....100...more?

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Well the title made it pretty clear what the thread would be about so just skip it geesh! My AR has been 100% for 3K rounds so far and more accurate than any AK I ave ever shot. I wouldn't have a problem using it as an HD gun.

First choice for HD? Not for me. But I tell people, "go ahead and use it for HD, just don't use steel-core M-855 ammo. Use a dedicated load like the Hornady TAP."

It's fine. It's certainly not going anywhere soon. When I have to train soldiers of many shapes, sizes, and genders how to use a rifle, there is no other system I would rather use. (And keep your comments about training women in the military to yourself. My females are among the best in the world at their job.) As for needing a full-auto capability to make it worthwhile.....kind of. As a weapon to support the SAW, I want auto or burst capability. As an individual rifle, I want my soldiers to be proficient in semi-auto fire, I'm not too concerned about burst or auto. I will further add that I think that the M-4 configuration makes the most sense, a mid-size rifle for a mid-size cartridge.

I have never had a failure of any kind (asterisk) when I am using good magazines, and I'm NOT using blanks. Keep it clean, keep the dust cover shut. The rifle will work. When Jessica Lynch got captured and said hew weapon jammed, I'm going to PROMISE you she hadn't cleaned it in a couple of days.

As a battle rifle and/or house defense gun would it be your first choice?

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Yup, my first choice.

For AR-15 owners how reliable is it generally?

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A well made rifle should be perfectly reliable.

The AR-15 is one of the most famous guns in the world, but it is still a somewhat controversial rifle, given its poor performance when first introduced during the Vietnam war(due to poor ammunition at least in part)

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The main issue was that the troops were told that it was 'self-cleaning'. It wasn't.

and the percieved to some dubious stopping power of 5.56 NATO.

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there is perceived penetration issue, but a 5.56 will still go through a few inches of concrete, and is more than enough to drop someone. It hits at 1300 ft-lbs. It is not underpowered.

How do you think it compares to other weapons made for similar uses such as the AK-47, FN FAL, and Ruger Mini 14?

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AK-47: whatever I can hit with my AK, I can hit with mr AR...but with way more tightness and consistency, and with more speed

FN FAL: two completely different rifles, but it is just as logistically effective and just as accurate.

Mini-14: I would put the Ruger below the AK-47

As a battle rifle and/or house defense gun would it be your first choice? For AR-15 owners how reliable is it generally?

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yes, yes, and reliable enough that I would trust my life to it, especially in a non-desert environment where it encounters its main problem: ultra-fine dust. Mine has worked 100%. The only time I had problems was with my Del-Ton and a bad lot of Wolf that could not cycle properly. Basically, cheap ammo is to blame for any problem I've had with any gun.

The AR-15 / M-16 will function just fine provided that it is kept scrupulously clean. Of course, that is not always possible in a combat environment.

The 5.56 / .223 is a very good round for plinking and hunting groundhog-sized animals.

That is funny Reid, I and many other people run our ARs dirty with no problem whatsoever. And the 5.56 has a really good history of taking down man sized targets. Don't buy into the FUD.

The lowly .22lr and .25 ACP have both killed many men too ... but that doesn't mean that either is a good chambering in a combat firearm.

I suspect that your definition of dirty is probably not as filthy as mine. Of course, I am not suggesting that guns should not be kept clean; problem is, that is not alway possible.

Not a single hiccup from my Olympic or S&W.

As a battle rifle and/or house defense gun would it be your first choice? For AR-15 owners how reliable is it generally

As a general isssue battle rifle it would be my first choice.

For HD, I wouldn't pick any rifle unless there were very specialized circumstances.

I've used M16s, M4s, and ARs for over 40 years in the jungle, in the desert, and just about every environment possible and have used them in social situations. To my experience they are about as relaible as any other rifle given routine maintenance.

3pairs12 said:

Well the title made it pretty clear what the thread would be about so just skip it geesh!

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Maybe you didn't catch the little :banghead: at the end of my comment, it was mean to be humorous.

I mean really....THR is full of threads debating whether the AR/AK/Mini is better....do we really need another?

And then you tell me to skip it when you just as easily could have done the same about my original comment. Now that is ironic

BTW just to keep to the topic- I have 2 AR15s, 2 Minis, 3 shotguns and 1 AK, they all have their pluses and minuses and it has been debated endlessly which is best.....
Tastes great/less filling - coke/pepsi - Ford/Chevy - there is NO answer