Why an AR-15?

[jad0110]

The .223 is great but with today's engineering it's somewhat outdated.

Actually, with today's bullet options (modern design and construction), I'd say the exact opposite is true. Ask anyone who has hunted deer or hogs using .223 60 grain Nosler Partitions, various weights in the Barnes TSX line, 55 grain Federal bonded and Hornady TAP 75 grain.

 

[tahunua001]

why an AR-15?

Is it the fun factor?
I would say that this is a major factor in the purchase. I hate to say it but with video games in every home everyone sees a military style rifle every single day. this was not always the case. now that there is an xbox in every home now when dad asks his kid what he wants for his first deer rifle, before it was "I want what you shoot dad". now it has shifted to "I want what all the guys use on call of duty multiplayer". not that there is anything wrong with that.


Is the gas-piston and smaller caliber? very few of them actually have gas pistons. in fact I prefer them without, they are too much work to dial in.


Or is it the military look? I hit on this a little bit and I would have to say yes. 50 years ago what was the hunting rifle of choice? it was more
than likely a springfield, enfield, mauser, or mosin nagant. it seems so long ago now but 10 years ago I remember going camping with my family and a friend backpacked in and met us at camp with an AR15 over his shoulder, I remember thinking that he was such a badass..now AR15s are a dime a dozen and no one even bats an eye. it is still kindof funny to come home on leave and over the course of a conversation with your pastor trying to explain why your little brother is bragging to the church that his big brother is going to build him an M16(talk about awkward)


I happen to think they're fun to shoot but wonder what it is that makes them so popular these days.
they are fun to shoot, they are fairly cheap to shoot, they are effective general purpose rifles, you can pack them to camp for plinking, hunt up to deer sized game(depending on state laws), or be used for home defense.



now scary version:

however the biggest reason I've noticed is that over the course of my short lived life, I have noticed an ever increasing level of unrest brooding among the general public. riots, demonstrations, anger at a failing economy and a growing distrust for the people we have been electing to preserve our freedoms while they in fact, are stripping them away, a little bit at a time. I know far too many people that own, AR15s, AK47s, SKS, M14s and various other military pattern rifles simply because they believe that it is inevitable that another weapons ban is coming and this time it will stick for good and it is only a matter of time before these hippies occupying wallstreet start another london riot and it's not going to end well... no matter the outcome.

coming from an active duty member of the armed forces who loves his country, I am buying AR15s because sooner or later, there actually is going to be a change, and it's not going to come from a ballot box.

 

[RatherNotSay]

Actually, with today's bullet options (modern design and construction), I'd say the exact opposite is true. Ask anyone who has hunted deer or hogs using .223 60 grain Nosler Partitions, various weights in the Barnes TSX line, 55 grain Federal bonded and Hornady TAP 75 grain.

I think this is more shot placement than anything else. An ethical kill or even a practical hunting distance can be taken with a bow. They don't have velocity of a bullet but you are still effective. As stated above some parts of the country won't allow the .223 for hunting other than varmints. Plus you have to remember that that same modern design is going into other rounds, not just the .223. The 6.8spc was DESIGNED for the military to bridge the gap between the .223 and the 7.62NATO. I'm fairly certain in a few years rounds like the spc will be the standard issue. That means lower prices and better availability. Especially since our military is engaged largely in house to house patrol and rounds like the 6.8spc and 300blk will most likely be the future. I don't think the military is looking into them just cause.

All that said I still think the .223 is a man stopper...I know I would rather not get hit by one. But looking down the road I see a shift in ammo.

 

[snakeman]

They are accurate, cool, comfortable, adequately powerful, light, and modular.

 

[ugaarguy]

Got my first AR when I was 16 (convinced my dad a Pre-Ban Colt SP1 for $600 was a good investment during the AWB years - and it was). A former Marine we knew from church taught me how to maintain it. A few years later I was in the US Air Force, assigned to a rapidly field deployable unit. We carried M16s much more than we fired them, but we fired them often enough. I'm too familiar with M16s/AR-15s, and have too much formal training on them for it to make sense to use anything else.

That aside, I've also seen several new shooters take to them quickly & easily. Prices are getting down into Remchester turn bolt repeater territory, and an M4 style AR can be far more versatile for many users.

 

[MistWolf]

...Is the gas-piston and smaller caliber? very few of them actually have gas pistons. in fact I prefer them without, they are too much work to dial in...

Actually, all gas operated ARs have a piston. Without it, they will not function.

Here it is- the gas piston of the AR as designed by Eugene Stoner
View attachment 584539
The bolt is the gas piston for the AR

 

[LongTimeGone]

is that shipped? isn't the tula like 17cents/round?

I meant Walmart and I buy it at the local store.
The Tula is cheaper and I have some but I forget the price
The both work fine in my Spike's.

 

[One-Time]

easy shooting, accurate, light, miriad accessories, outstanding ergonomics, ammo and mags everywhere, standard of LE and Military, huge availability of parts that are drop in, it pisses of liberals, tons of optics, miriad configurations, end user assembleable and customizable on and on

 

[SWSS]

just because

I work for S&W, so i get them at better than street price, I can shoot a .22LR, a 5.56, .223 and now a 458 SOCOM...because i "by the grace of GOD" can...

I love this country!

 

[shootinxd]

I can tell you never been to a 3 gun shoot.More fun than one can imagine!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[StrutStopper]

I liked the idea of buying the components I wanted on line and building an AR. With the exception of having the stripped lower I purchased shipped to my FFL dealer, everything else came via UPS or USPS and it was a fun project to build and even more fun to shoot. Not a bad thing to have on hand for when the SHTF either.

 

[reppans]

It is fun, for all the reasons mentioned above, but don't forget that as a long-time military platform, it is one of the most versatile defensives arms a civilian can own.

A shot gun maybe better up close and personal, but it sucks at distance. A scoped high-powered bolt rifle is better at distance, but sucks up close. Both have pretty limited capacity and lengthy reloading times, not to mention pricey ammo in defensive rounds. An AR seems to be the best compromise of all that.

One other thing I didn't see mentioned - my AR (new and first one) is just about the easiest firearm I own to be able to fully takedown and see/understand how it works.

 

[reppans]

Actually, all gas operated ARs have a piston. Without it, they will not function.

Here it is- the gas piston of the AR as designed by Eugene Stoner

The bolt is the gas piston for the AR

I think most people are referring to this when they say piston AR....

 

[Kendal Black]

Post #4 nailed it. It is easy to shoot. That is why it has served longer as a military pattern than any other. Training time and training results are lessened on the one hand and improved on the other.

Also, the AR-15/M16 type is one of those designs that just wants to shoot straight. It is quite accurate for a service rifle.

Several subsequent posts pointed out that service personnel already know all about it, sort of the same reason bolt actions became popular, in America, only after WWI.

 

[coondogger]

OK you've sold me. In fact I've started looking at a few rifles which means I have a few more questions.

I'm not going to war. So I looked at some inexpensive rifles such as the PSA and the dpsm. Then I looked at a slightly more expensive Bushmaster, which is used.
Question: Is it better to buy a used AR of higher quality from a trusted source or a new rifle that is of lesser quality?

Also, the Bushmaster I looked at has a 'permanent' carry handle and does not have a telescoping stock. How hard is it to replace the stock and carry handle for a 'flattop' on which I could mount an optic? I've seen optics that can mount to the carry handle as well. Is this a good idea?

 

[allaroundhunter]

Also, the Bushmaster I looked at has a 'permanent' carry handle and does not have a telescoping stock. How hard is it to replace the stock and carry handle for a 'flattop' on which I could mount an optic? I've seen optics that can mount to the carry handle as well. Is this a good idea?

If it has a fixed carry handle, then you would need to buy a new upper in order to have a flattop. But adding a telescoping stock would not be as much of a chore.

I would not buy a used Bushmaster over a new DPMS.When I decided to join the AR club, however, I didn't go with DPMS or Bushmaster; I went with a Doublestar. It cost about $650 at budsgunshop.com, and I couldn't be happier. No, the barrel isn't chrome lined, but for what I needed, it is perfect (and very accurate).

 

[NewFrontierArmory]

Easy to shoot, easy to maintain, fairly light, no recoil, easy to learn, easy to maintain, and the biggest reason I think.......customizable and adaptable like no other gun.

You can have uppers in 20 different calibers all running off the same receiever, you can mix and match bbl lengths from 7" to 27" for any application, etc, etc.

 

[ugaarguy]

I'm not going to war. So I looked at some inexpensive rifles such as the PSA and the dpsm. Then I looked at a slightly more expensive Bushmaster, which is used. Question: Is it better to buy a used AR of higher quality from a trusted source or a new rifle that is of lesser quality?

PSA is higher quality on paper than Bushmaster or DPMS. S&W is known, real world, higher quality than Bushmaster & DPMS; The S&W M&P15 Sport is one of the highest quality new $600 range ARs you can get.

Also, the Bushmaster I looked at has a 'permanent' carry handle and does not have a telescoping stock. How hard is it to replace the stock and carry handle for a 'flattop' on which I could mount an optic? I've seen optics that can mount to the carry handle as well. Is this a good idea?

Swapping stocks is pretty easy, but you're going to spend $50 or more to get the tele-stock, buffer tube, buffer, buffer spring, and wrench.

Going from fixed carry handle to flat top is going to require buying a new stripped flat top upper, going to a gunsmith, or you buying several tools. Then, pulling everything off the fixed carry handle upper, and putting it onto the new flat top upper to complete the swap. It's a good bit of hassle unless you just get a screaming good deal on the rifle to make it worth the effort.

I really don't care for optics on top of the carry handle: They pull your cheek way off the stock, and aren't the easiest thing to use. For no magnification optics with unlimited eye relief a cantilever mount, which puts the optic in line with the iron sights, works well - http://www.midwestindustriesinc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=98 .

I hope that's been helpful.

 

[Davek1977]

Actually, with today's bullet options (modern design and construction), I'd say the exact opposite is true. Ask anyone who has hunted deer or hogs using .223 60 grain Nosler Partitions, various weights in the Barnes TSX line, 55 grain Federal bonded and Hornady TAP 75 grain.

agreed....and i'd add the 62 grain Fusion loading by Federal as well in that list. I used my AR this season just to change things up (and quite the change it was, as I've used my 7mm mag for the last decade) and took a nice South Dakota 5x5 whitetail with iit at about 75 yards. The fusion took out both lungs, nicked the heart, and exited the opposite side. I wouldn't hesitate to use it again (though, I have contemplated a 6.8 upper as well, as I love hunting, and it is a superior hunting round in regards to big game).

 

[JustinJ]

AR15s are cool, easily customized to user preference and what many of the pros use. Even though i'll probably never gun down an Al-queda terrorist its pretty cool knowing i have the same gun spec ops are using to do so. A large portion of the people i see buying and shooting them are 20s to 30s and i think this is largely in part to video games which is not a bad thing. Many of the younger owners are also Iraq/Afghan vets as well so want to shoot what they know. Some of them though are probably also influenced by video games to some degree as well. I wonder if this has anything to do with the increase of popularity of the M4 over the M16 in the military.

I also think many people have a preferential bias to the gun because it is American and therefor not always realistic when comparing the gun to other platforms.

Is the AR perfect? No, but i still love it. Just not as much as the AK74.

 

[Owen Sparks]

I never was interested in one until the 6.8 came on to the market. Now I have several.
AR's are accurate, reliable, modular and easy to work on and you can get parts everywhere. Thanks to the 6.8 they are now capable of taking deer, hogs and other "dangerous game" in the 200 pound class.

I'm sold.

 

[coondogger]

I notice the S&W MP 15 doesn't have a forward assist. How important is that in the event of a feed problem?

 

[allaroundhunter]

I notice the S&W MP 15 doesn't have a forward assist. How important is that in the event of a feed problem?

Their 'sport' model doesn't, and neither does DPMS's 'sportical'. No, they are not very important at all, and for your uses they really aren't even necessary.

 

[ugaarguy]

I notice the S&W MP 15 doesn't have a forward assist. How important is that in the event of a feed problem?

The forward assist is a good way to turn a minor feed problem into a major jam.

 

[Davek1977]

I remember reading somewhere that the primary use of the forward assist was maing a bad problem worse....take it for what you will.....