Best Selling Rifle in America

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Cee Zee said:
It's not nearly as true of a shotgun outdoors. Yes a shotgun will penetrate walls but it will dissipate energy very quickly after the shot disperses. You won't be able to kill someone at 100 yards with a shotgun unless you're using slugs. You most certainly can do that with a .223.
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What makes you think that buckshot, let's say the most popular one (00), will be unable to kill somebody at 100 yards?

And why would you only worry about "killing" an innocent bystander? Wounding them is still a very serious problem.

100 yards...when I picture "in the city" I don't picture, in my mind's eye, 100 yard empty spaces behind your attacker(s). I mean, if there's nothing and nobody for 100 yards are you even in a city?

I still seriously question this theory that an AR15 is a poor home defense gun in the city, but good in the country, because of range.
 
The AR-15 platform has been the top selling centerfire rifle in the United States for years. Several years ago I added up the numbers from the BATFE production stats, and I believe even back then that around one in four centerfire rifles sold in the United States was an AR.

Unlike many other rifles, the AR is a generic platform made by dozens of manufacturers in many different calibers, not a specific model made by only one company, so to get the totals you have to add up the production from 30, 40, or 50 different companies or whatever. But the data is there in the BATFE manufacturer's stats; when I combed through several years ago, I counted 33 makers right off the top, some with multiple production facilities.

F But I don't think most people buy them to be used as defense weapons because most people live in cities where firing a weapon like that is subject to kill people a long distance away from where you intended to shoot.
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People (including me) use them in the HD role for the same reason that urban PD's and SWAT have been ditching their 9mm carbines and SMG's in favor of .223's, i.e. they overpenetrate less in building materials than most handgun calibers or effective shotgun rounds, and for a lot of us they are easier to shoot well than other choices. Suitable .223 JHP *does* penetrate more than birdshot, but way less than 00 buckshot.
 
AR is the new code-talk for Mosin Nagant, riiight?
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:D:D:D

No. Not true. We now are now enlightened that the AK is a "man's rifle" and a AR-15 sounds like a "pogo stick". :eek::rolleyes::D Regardless if it's firing .50 Beowulf, .458SOCOM or 6.8SPC, so you must have your code-talk mixed up.:neener:

I have seen no statistics, but in my small world sampling I see WAY more AR's at my 4 ranges than I've ever seen - just in the last 1-2 years - prior to that, it was just the occasional AR, especially indoors. I don't don't mean I rarely saw them - I mean now every time I'm at the range there are at least 2-3 folks with an AR.
 
OilyPablo said:
:D:D:D

No. Not true. We now are now enlightened that the AK is a "man's rifle" and a AR-15 sounds like a "pogo stick". :eek::rolleyes::D Regardless if it's firing .50 Beowulf, .458SOCOM or 6.8SPC, so you must have your code-talk mixed up.:neener:

I have seen no statistics, but in my small world sampling I see WAY more AR's at my 4 ranges than I've ever seen - just in the last 1-2 years - prior to that, it was just the occasional AR, especially indoors. I don't don't mean I rarely saw them - I mean now every time I'm at the range there are at least 2-3 folks with an AR.
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Did I hurt your feelings? If I did, let me know, but until then personal jabs are noted.
 
Did I hurt your feelings? If I did, let me know, but until then personal jabs are noted.
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No feelings hurt here. But man you sure have thin skin if you think my comments are "personal jabs". "Noted" Wow. What is THAT supposed to mean? I don't even know you. I just know what I read and some of your recent comment are just silly. Nothing personal. My opinion. We all know you prefer the AK platform and I duly note that and you take it personally. You call the AK a "man's gun" and make some goofy comment about the AR sounding like a "pogo stick" and tell ME to take the High Road. Again - Please.
 
OilyPablo said:
No feelings hurt here. But man you sure have thin skin if you think my comments are "personal jabs". "Noted" Wow. What is THAT supposed to mean? I don't even know you. I just know what I read and some of your recent comment are just silly. Nothing personal. My opinion. We all know you prefer the AK platform and I duly note that and you take it personally. You call the AK a "man's gun" and make some goofy comment about the AR sounding like a "pogo stick" and tell ME to take the High Road. Again - Please.
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Those statements are generalized, not meant to ruffle feathers or intended for any one member. Those are my personal observations; one rifle that is unapologetically rougher to hold, shoot, and is ready for battle in any condition with nary a falter. The other is a "Barbie doll", modular and excepting of any and all modifications and equally as formidable but designed by an engineer and not a soldier. You attack the poster, not what's posted. Notice I never said the AK was a better seller than an AR, I own ARs, and I'm sure they are selling better now than ever. Calling my comments "silly" or "goofy" , whether I'm thin skinned as so uneloquently informed, is a smidge déclassé.

If I remember correctly, I wasn't even the one who brought up an AKM to begin with. Read post 52, making your own observation, then me mine, and watch the degradation from there on.
 
Now its 1 in 4?
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No, that was several years ago (it's been a while, but I'm thinking around 2007), and was only a rough comparison of production numbers of 33 AR manufacturers compared to the total production of centerfire rifles that year. That was from the BATFE annual production statistics, I just added up the numbers in Excel.
 
benEzra said:
No, that was several years ago (it's been a while, but I'm thinking around 2007), and was only a rough comparison of production numbers of 33 AR manufacturers compared to the total production of centerfire rifles that year. That was from the BATFE annual production statistics, I just added up the numbers in Excel.
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There are 33 makers cutting lowers these days?
 
henschman said:
The production stats wouldn't reflect importation of surplus rifles, like the Mosin-Nagant.
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Correct.

Not that the Nagant could compete, on a sales volume level, with ARs, but imports would add to the total centerfire rifle total
 
Warp said:
Correct.

Not that the Nagant could compete, on a sales volume level, with ARs, but imports would add to the total centerfire rifle total
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Yeah because they only made 37,000,000 nagant rifles. We make that many ARs in a day. Sarc
 
I never liked the rifle.....until it became available in a alternate caliber, then I really started looking into it.

I was convinced it was a major POS. But after much research and hands-on experience I changed my perception and bought one in 6.8spc.

Now....I could get rid of every other rifle I have and be totally content with my 6.8 AR for every conceivable situation.

I've stocked up on 6.8 ammo having a couple thousand rounds and should be good for awhile.
 
Why do you think is it a hot seller?

It has been previously banned and the current political climate since 2008 has concerned many that high capacity semi-auto rifles may fall under similar legislation in the future.


Why did you choose the AR-15 platform?

Too good of a deal at the time not to pass up. (That was before all this present craziness.)

What is it's primary use? - not originally asked (but should have been IMHO)

Range toy.


How much ammo do you keep on hand and why?

Thirteen thousand rounds in 30 round clips placed in ammo cans and stashed in my storage unit JIC the gov't bans 5.56 one day. I also keep my tactical wheelbarrow, ballistic vest, fatigues, two years worth of MRE's, and my "Yes, I am an operator" t-shirt there...

Seriously though, enough to go plinking but not enough to be considered a hoarder.
 
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they build and sell rifles under their name, just like a ton of others.

what exactly is your point, provided that you actually have one?
 
If all ARs, of all makes and calibers, count together as a singular sales number, wouldn't that be true of bolt action rifles? There's a lot of those sold too.
 
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