AR popularity

It's been on the rise in popularity ever since the end of the AWB. For one, I think the AWB was a huge reason that the AR15 has grown in popularity. Imagine if the laws restricting full auto were to all of a sudden be repealed somehow. Don't you think everyone and their dog would own a full auto? You betcha.

People can own AR15's now with all of the "EVIL" features (well, not ALL I guess...) that cause liberals to wet themselves.

Add in to it the fact that the AR15 is so modular, versatile, and affordable compared to other platforms, it's a no brainer. You can have a home defense carbine, a hunting/varminting rifle, a target gun, etc all in one platform. Mags are affordable as well as ammo (in comparison to other rifle calibers).

Omaha-BeenGlockin said:

2 years?? Try 10.

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Closer to 20 ...

However in the last 10 I've seen a lot more specialty parts coming to market ... also companies I never thought would jump into the AR market have obviously decided that "if you can't beat 'em ... join 'em" mentality ... HK, SiG, Ruger to name just a few

The AR is definitely a versatile platform. From "crew served" heavy barrel varminters to light short barrel carbines including the kitchen sink hung off the fore end for the "mall ninjas".

Something for everyone.

Fun!

Definitely for the many reasons listed above. But I think RockyMtnTactical hit it on the head with the AWB going bye bye and then to top it off 4 years later we had a rare occasion of a Democratic Congress (in 2008) and a Democratic President.
I'll be honest, I just bought my first AR and don't consider myself a bandwagon guy. I had wanted one for years but never had the money at the right time. I was an sks guy cause it was cheap compared to the AR. I found a good deal (Armalite M-15 never shot for $750) and I jumped on it. It's everything I had expected and then some. Love the gun, platform, Lego abilities, etc, etc.. I'm already saving for my next one!

It's been on the rise in popularity ever since the end of the AWB. For one, I think the AWB was a huge reason that the AR15 has grown in popularity. Imagine if the laws restricting full auto were to all of a sudden be repealed somehow. Don't you think everyone and their dog would own a full auto? You betcha.

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AR's were never banned, and the biggest jump in their popularity occurred 1994 and 2004. Having said that, the end of the AWB made the AR platform even more appealing, since new guns could have adjustable stocks and such again.

A few years ago, I did some digging in the BATFE production stats, and even at that time about 1 in 4 centerfire rifles sold annually in the USA was an AR-15, and around 30 manufacturers were making them.

Because there is no other rifle with the same tactical abilities available for such little cost. If you do it right, apparently, you can get/make a quality gun for little buck. It the day and age of decent AK's costing 500+ and SKS's costing over 200 dollars, a quality AR out of the box with a manufacturers warranty for 800 bucks is a steal! And it can be done cheaper apparently if you are willing to piece one together yourself.

That is why I am buying one ASAP.

I thought RockyMtnTactical meant to say that the demise of the AWB gave us back the "EVIL" features i.e. collapsible stock, flash hider/threaded barrel, more then 10 rds detachable mag etc, etc. That's the way I read it anyway, I could be wrong. I still think a little political panic/new AWB has had something to do with the latest surge in gun buying in general.

been alot of talk about another gun ban and after the other one lifted it seemed like everyone was making there brand of AR, i think its a "get em while you can " deal but who knows, all ya gotta do is shoot one once and your hooked, my first time was varment hunting and no recoil + the feeling of it in your hands + all the extras yoiu can put on them makes it a real fun toy to own

In agreeing 100% with Justin, try to imagine any other rifle my 60-something mother can pick up shoot a lot, and enjoy?

Buzzkill69 said:

I thought RockyMtnTactical meant to say that the demise of the AWB gave us back the "EVIL" features i.e. collapsible stock, flash hider/threaded barrel, more then 10 rds detachable mag etc, etc. That's the way I read it anyway, I could be wrong. I still think a little political panic/new AWB has had something to do with the latest surge in gun buying in general.

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I decided to buy a dedicated 22LR AR-15A2 to match my Service Rifle match rifle for cheap practice. This happened as the AWB expired. I could not get a post band model as the manufacturer was flooded with orders for pre-ban models. They did not know when they would have time to fill my original order for a post ban model.

Imagine a 2LR with a flash hider, a bayonet lug and a stainless steel barrel!. Well, at least it is easy to differentiate from my match rifle.

The various changes in political winds has spurred purchases of the AR-15, but it has also been developed where it is a good, accurate rifle platform for hunting a sport.

AR's were never banned, and the biggest jump in their popularity occurred 1994 and 2004.

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I thought RockyMtnTactical meant to say that the demise of the AWB gave us back the "EVIL" features i.e. collapsible stock, flash hider/threaded barrel, more then 10 rds detachable mag etc, etc. That's the way I read it anyway, I could be wrong.

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Exactly. I owned "post ban" AR15's before the expiration in '04. I admit that after the sunset of the AWB I was excited to have access to all of the "evil" features that we were previously denied.

Familiarity due to military training is a one big reason. You carry a weapon for a long time and grow very accustomed to it and want one of your own.

They are easy to learn to shoot. And most teenagers are drawn to them instead of the deluxe weatherby or m70 with fiddleback in the rack next to it.

Because, as others have said, the AR is an iconic symbol of American military (or the Planet of the Apes if you're that old to remember...).

And the lego factor is huge...especially since uppers can be purchased by mail order. It's very nice having the modular design without having the hassle to go to a store to see 'what's in stock' and bicker over prices and fill out paperwork. Instead one can surf the net and modify their AR legally with items that are easily installed by end users.

Most people who purchase them are nonhunters and are just going to plink with them, so hunting effect of the round isn't a big deal. Add to the fact that ammo is still relatively cheap (remember when 223/556 white box used to be 2.99?) and plentiful and you have a big seller.

Plus marketing is there too, the different logos on the lowers are 'cool' to some and that might inspire some to buy one vs another.

LW

henschman:
The nice guy by me at thr range days ago has the .22 conversion bolt in his standard length rifle.
It costs about $150?

It must be nice to do what-simply adjust the elevation for both different rounds? If so, that is lots of very cheap practice.

I could see maybe deviating from my milsurp disease one day.

1. familiarity from returning vets from the last 40 some years.
2. the adults of today grew up with them as the military/action hero/police movies of the past few decades so that naturally is the gun they iconicized (spelling?) as children, just as older generations idolized wheel guns and cowboy rifles.
3. Modularity as others have stated above makes it simple and easy to build/strip/modify by the average noobie to the seasoned gunsmith. It's less intimidating then building a highly accurate bolt action with $$$ precision scopes and expensive tinkering from experts. And there are those who criticize some for not having $6000 sticks.
4. easily understood weapon system, light recoil, accurate system which ranges in budget to highly custom rigs
5. widely available parts and uppers for an infinite variaty and variation changes.
6. and I think the average joe public wasn't aware you could purchase a civilian version of "M16 or M4" until the last several years.

Call of Duty.

Hi Yall, first post. From the Land of the South, currently in the Southwest part of the world.


Of all the reasons everyone has already said, I think popularity stems from that the AR platform is Highly Modular and Adaptabile and now that you have a million after market guys out there churning out more parts is only adding to it.

I think the military factor is a part, I am in the Army have never once considered buying. Why buy what i shoot for free?

Its adaptible, what other platform can you convert by popping out two pins to cover all your needs? Varmint to tacti-cool guy-to now big hunting is covered.

Its amazing to me that a rifle that was so dispised when it was introduced is now so popular.

Since it's introduction, there's been more than 20 million soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines taught to use one. That put more Americans out there with a base of knowledge on AR's than any other firearm in American history.

What they knew for a fact was that it disassembled easily, and the individual could work on one a lot more than any other gun they ever had. It's not uncommon in the military to see a lower with no LPK in it being cleaned. It's not user maintenance and prohibited, when did that ever stop everyone? Plus, you do specifically tear down the bolt, and get familiar with a lot of it.

When the A3 was introduced, it got my attention, most of us serving even part time recognized there would be a lot of versatility in the design. It would be possible to clamp any sight we wanted on it, and voila, the service immediately did start putting red dots there. No longer would long belled Fudd scopes be the only awkward solution.

The AWB only added fuel to the fire. You can't tell American's they can't have something for no good reason. And there was no good reason. Chafing under the restriction accomplished exactly the opposite of what gun banners wanted. Once hi cap mags and pistol grip mags were made proper again, folks who wanted one because they had reasoned they wouldn't be told different bought them. And they were getting good ones, too, largely milspec quality with few corners cut, by and large. No cheap imports, and the low quality players were instantly revealed through a new phenomenon - the Internet.

A lot of AR growth is directly tied to the rise in use of the Internet. People who had no idea, or who had been fed a lot of wrong ones, even total BS, could surf around and find their curiousity either satisfied, or worse, piqued by the contrasting opinion. And rather than be stuck with Elmer's opinion at a gunshop, they could get straight, factual data from knowledgeable, experienced users.

They discovered the design wasn't the maniacally evil stepchild of crazed survivalists being carried broken down in M60 barrel bags. It was actually nice to shoot, and their fragile manhood wouldn't be dissed by the looks. It was certified mankilling military issue.

There was still the caliber question, Americans tend to think ammo should anchor any target or opponent DRT. And in the early 00's, new calibers kept coming out. Those made it legal to use hunting, which is real shooting at live targets, not paper punching on some Range Nazi's home turf. American's like to go out in the woods totally unsupervised and blast away at things, destroying them. Can't do that on ranges that don't allow full magazines, don't offer 180* downrange facilities, require structured rules like leave it on the table or mat and NEVER touch it, much less OMG, shoot while actually MOVING! (The horror, the horror.)

BUT, you sure have to do that on a three gun match. Once the 5.56 was accepted there, it showed what most knew - the AR15 got the job done better than the C&R's everyone was restricted to use at the First SOF in Columbia.

Since the decentralizing of American manufacturing to smaller shops, many more suppliers saw market niches they could fill. They did, bidding for smaller lots of government contracts, and selling direct on the Internet. Again, the typical B&M storefront with increasingly hidebound liberal management who wouldn't go further than sell traditional firearms fell out of favor. People bought over the net and shipped to their own door. Bluntly, screw them, we are not going to wait for Elmer to get around to carrying a low demand specialty part, especially when he's been obvious about disliking the design, and will only order from mainstream distributors. Not even going to push that with him, a few keystrokes and it's here THIS WEEK, not next month.

I've had one - 1 - transaction for a part in a storefront in my build, the lower, as required, thru the FFL. Every other piece, literally, lock, stock, and barrel, has been delivered by a parcel service to my front door. What's not to like about assembling an AR EXACTLY the way I want (and can afford) on my budget and terms? I can research, question, get answers, find out what works vs. what's hypemarketed, and think at a pace that becomes increasingly knowledgeable - rather than hustled in a Boxmart or gunshop that structures the discussion and impending sale with only what they want you to know?

Darned AR's are selling like hotcakes because the Fudds can't stop it. Jim Zumbo and the gunwriter bolt gunners are getting left in the dust of yesteryear because they are all part of the traditionalist pro/anti gunner syndrome, and won't overcome their bias against them. They no longer control the flow of information, forums and blogs do - the Internet again. If anything, read the American Rifle articles on the 6.8SPC - Bryce Townsley con, as any old bolt gunner would be, churning over dated facts and a clueless mindset, and Bill Wilson, who actually hunts with what he sells, leading edge participant and knowledgeable in actual market trends, business, and (wait for it) real gun knowledge of shooting live targets.

The huge increase in the AR is directly tied to the A3 upper and the Internet - the shooter benefits with both, and gets straight facts that see through the manipulation and marketing controlled by the status quo. It's affected more than newspaper sales. We're quietly having our own revolution here, shaking off the chains of distribution systems and controlled information. That really has some old school money makers concerned. They very well would make a deal with the devil to preserve the status quo they favor, don't trust them one bit.

Magog said:

Call of Duty.

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Nice sarcastic and inacurate statement.

Magog said:

Call of Duty.

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Birddog1911 said:

Nice sarcastic and inacurate statement.

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Not necessarily. Video games are most definitely a contributing factor to firearm sales. Can it be quantified? No, probably not.

I'm a prime example. I never owned, nor wanted to own a Makarov. I never liked them even though I knew of them. I'm currently looking for one while I'm cruising the local pawn shops. I played a video game where it was primary side arm. I never owned a british enfield, nor did I ever want one. Yet I used one in a video game and I owned one a couple of years later.

While the video games aren't the primary factor in my decision purposes, they without a doubt contributed to my desire to own something. To say video games haven't contribitued to AR popularity is inaccurate. I think video games have contributed, but it is a contribution that we can't put hard numbers on. If video games didn't have an impact on markets; firearm manufacturers wouldn't be paying for advertising in video games that feature licensed models of their products, would they?

I do want one, mostly because I know it, am proficient with it, and I like to personalize things. It was the first semi-auto rifle I fired that was greater than .22lr. Familiarity with the weapon goes a long way. Having used it when it counts makes it even more desireable for me. And, as a kid, I loved Lego's, so the modular ability of the AR-15 family is appealing. Ammo is cheap, I love the smell of cordite. All of the other reasons listed above.

My sons learned more about the looks and nomenclature of military weapons from games than ever cracking the binding on my copies of Jane's or a mil weapons book. At the least, they became intellectually aware of sight picture, action, and operation of a much wider range of firearms at an earlier age, all due to games. Was that my experience, no. I got to watch John Wayne in the Pacific Theater, or Clint Eastwood fighting in the snowy Alps in a psuedo war movie. We all know those guns never run out of ammo or ever jam unless it's a plot device. Friendly fire isn't much depicted, either.

It's the internet age, games and youtube are very much part of the new information explosion.

Magog said:

Call of Duty.

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I thought that was a Movie? Its a video game? I doubt many middle-aged AR shooters were influenced by it, or have even heard of it.

Funny about the Vet thing. When I was in the Army I ddin't think highly of the gun at all. Primarly because they were wore out and had been inproperly maintained. Plus there were always function problems because bad magazines were never thrown away. I don't recall anyone really holding the gun in high esteem.

When I got out I wasn't wanting to buy an AR at all. In fact I had bought one (a Colt AR15A2 carbine) in about '85 before I went on active duty, and sold it several years later after losing interest in the gun. That is how impressed I was with the platform, back then. I was always a gun enthusiasts but my AR interest didn't develop until I tried a Rock River just 4 or 5 years ago.

The gun had a great trigger, and I soon learned it was rediculously accurate. Plus it didn't suffer from the short sight radius of a carbine length gas system gun. That is when I was bit. It was due to experiencing the shootability of a new commerical AR as opposed to using a clapped out milspec one.

Similar deal with the M14. Back before going on active duty I was in college and in ROTC. We trained with fiberglass stocked M14s. At the time I wasn't too impressed, though they were a hoot on auto. Just like with the AR, I got interested in the M1A only several years ago after trying a new one with a walnut stock and excellent 2-stage trigger. Now I really like them.

I hope today's soldiers are getting guns and magazines that are in better shape than what we got. If they are, I can see how they would be favorably impressed and then want to get their own.

Many excellent points above that I agree with. But the AK and others also have enjoyed a surge over the last few years so there is more to it. No doubt when the AWB sunset in 2004, interest in "evil" rifles began to rise, especially the AR. The advantages of the AR were coming to the forefront while the problems were being corrected in the '70s and '80s but then came 1994 and it was all but forcibly supressed to the average person. Ten years later you could buy one again in the configurations you wanted or you could upgrade your neutered AR so sales rose and the aftermarket options began to explode.

Then the 2008 election scared us, we might lose the right to buy these rifles and never have it again. We all know what happened then and ARs began appearing everywhere. Even after the panic buying subsided, people every day are discovering the AR and the aftermarket add-ons today are amazing. So there're really few reasons NOT to have an AR and all the reasons listed in this thread. Other rifles are benefitting from this perfect storm but the AR is at the crest, deservedly so.