About AR-15 Rifles

During the 1950s, the United States military was looking to update their combat weapons and this lead to the birth of the AR15 rifle. The AR15 rifle, or Armalite model 15, was created by Eugene Stoner. He, along with a team of engineers, designed the AR15 specifically for the United States military. The United States military needed to replace the M-14, which used a 308 Winchester cartridge, and started their search with the AR10 and AR15 rifles.

While working for Armalite Arms, a division of the Fairchild Aircraft & Engine Corporation, Eugene Stoner developed several new rifles that utilized a non traditional material makeup. Using aluminum alloys and plastics to develop the lighter 5.56 mm version of the AR-10, this cut down on weight, as well as heat of the weapons system.

Originally the AR15 was built around the .222 Remington cartridge. The rifle went through changes per the request of the United States Army and Stoner re-chambered it in the .223 Remington cartridge. This is equivalent to a 5.56 NATO round that propels a 55-grain bullet at roughly 3000 ft per second, causing the projectile to tumble inside a target. Since the Hague Convention ruled hollow point ammunition to be against the rules of engagement, this projectile can cause the same amount of damage while complying with the rules of acceptable military ammunitions.

After various attempts to market the Armalite AR10 and AR15 rifles failed, Fairchild decided to dissolve ties to Armalite. This led to selling the rights of both rifles to Colt Arms. Colt successfully marketed these designs to the United States military under the military designation M16. The United States relied on the AR15 in the Vietnam conflict and other military procedures.

Currently, the AR15 has become one the most highly revered battle rifles of the modern era. It has since earned a reputation for being lightweight, reliable and highly accurate. Over the last few decades the "M16" has begun being phased out by the 14.5" M4 carbine. The United States Marine Corp uses a M16A4 20 variant in their operations and protocols as opposed to the Special Operations Command that now use the M4.

Now the AR15 rifle is a civilian “must have”, because of the reduced recoil and fast handling characteristics. There are several companies producing AR15 accessories (such as scopes and handguards), it is hard to imagine the world without this symbol of freedom. The AR15 design is also being rethought with a handful of companies now producing piston conversion kits, which have proven to severely reduce maintenance, and increase reliability. The AR-15 platform has been around for nearly a half century, and is sure to remain one of the most popular rifles for decades to come.