AR15 History

The AR was a revolutionary design when it was first introduced. Originally designed by Eugene Stoner, chief engineer at ArmaLite (a division of Fairchild Engine and Airplane Corporation). The AR-10 was developed as a lighter weight alternative to the other 7.62×51 service weapons being tested in the mid 1950’s. The AR-10 was more than a pound lighter than the M14. It was a radical design for it’s time. It entered the competition late, and although it was passed over in favor of the M14, it left a good impression.

Being that Fairchild Engine and Airplane Corporation dealt in the manufacturing and development of aircraft, many materials being used in that industry were incorporated into the AR design such as: plastics, aircraft grade aluminum (anodized), and other alloys. These materials offered strength but were much lighter than conventional materials used in firearms at the time.

The locking lugs on the bolt and the fact that the bolt carrier moved in line with the barrel helped to increase the accuracy compared to many other service rifles out there.

Often dismissed by critics today for the gas-operated design, it’s advantages were that it saved on weight, it simplified the design (less parts to break) and helped to increase accuracy. It makes the BCG the piston so to speak. The drawback is that it dumps the carbon fouling into the chamber/breech. However, proper lubing and modern improvements (and correct gunpowder) have been found to make this a non-issue. The direct impingement gas system also enhances accuracy.

The plastic parts didn’t only save on weight but they also didn’t warp or splinter like wood.

The receivers and magazines were made of aluminum, which is light. However, aluminum is also much weaker than steel. In order to compensate for the weaker/lighter alloy, hard-coat anodizing the receiver(s) gave it a hard, durable outer shell.

The AR was designed to be shooter friendly. If you’ve ever handled and/or fired an AR, you probably noticed that the safety and magazine release (among other things) were easy to find and manipulate. It works with the shooter. It’s like an extension of the user.

An original AR10 rifle

The AR-10 was redesigned shortly after its introduction in 1955 because the military wanted them. The military was looking for a weapon in a smaller caliber that was easier to control in full-automatic fire and allowed troops to carry more ammunition. Studies from past wars had taught them that most kills from small arms were at fairly close range, typically less than 300 meters. Studies had also taught us that the side that shoots the most rounds tends to get the most kills. The smaller round allowed for more ammo to be carried.

For more on Project Salvo GO HERE.

The US military was not the only ones getting away from battle rifles and battle rifle cartridges. The Soviets as well as the British had looked extensively into developing a mid-range cartridge even smaller than the 7.62×51 NATO after WWII. The Soviets got it in their SKS and AK-47 assault rifles chambered for 7.62×39 in the 1940’s.

The 7.62×51 NATO (top) vs. the Soviet 7.62×39 (bottom)

The British had tried to get the US military to consider their .280 round for NATO standardization years earlier, but we had instead forced the 7.62×51 on them. Imagine their dismay when we finally recognized the need for a smaller cartridge.

5.56 55gr M193 loaded in a 30 round magazine

The AR-15 was designed to fit this exploration into a smaller caliber around 1958, which led to the development of the 5.56×45, commercially known as the .223Rem. ArmaLite sold the rights of the two designs to Colt in 1959. The USAF and US Army began seriously looking at the AR-15. The USAF adopted it shortly thereafter and it was made the primary infantry weapon for all of the branches of the US military a few years later in 1967, despite resistance by some in the higher ranks of the Army and USMC.

Dubbed, the “M16” (US Military designation), it replaced the M14 and M1 Carbine. An M16/M4 is an AR15, but an AR15 is not necessarily an M16 or M4.

Because of the sudden adoption of the M16, there were several bugs that needed to be worked out. We were in the beginning of the Vietnam war so the M16’s flaws were not only quickly discovered, but they were also a cause for concern and worry. The M16 was incorrectly labeled as “self cleaning” (so no cleaning kits were issued) and it lacked a chrome-plated chamber and barrel to protect against corrosion/pitting. Furthermore, the US military changed the “stick” powder (that the AR-15 was designed for) to “ball” powder in order to increase the velocity of the 5.56. This change of powder led to more fouling and build up due to it’s burning characteristics.

M16A1: The M16A1 was the same as the M16, except for the addition of the forward assist, “fence” around the magazine release, chromed bore/chamber, and new birdcage flash hider (which was closed on the ends to prevent it from catching or snagging things), and 1/12 twist rate for better stabilization of the M193 cartridge in colder weather. The chrome plated and slick-sided bolt carrier was replaced with a parkerized “notched” bolt carrier that worked with the forward assist. It was standard issue from about 1967 through 1985 or so.

These mistakes forced the US military to look for the vital improvements that help make the AR-15/M16 what it is today. When the M16 got a chrome lined bore, the troops started getting cleaning kits and learned proper maintenance, the reliability issues started to vanish quickly. The AR-15 lacked in many areas during the early Vietnam era, so it earned itself a stigma that has stuck around long after the bugs were worked out.

M16A2: Introduced in 1983 and adopted by all branches a few years later, it featured a longer, stronger buttstock, round handguards, more complex rear sight with different sized apertures, brass deflector, a slightly different pistol grip, closed bottom birdcage flash hider to reduce dust signature and act as a compensator, heavier government profile barrel (light under the handguards) in 1-in-7 twist as a compromise of the best twist rate for the 62g M855 ammo (with a steel penetrator for better performance on Soviet helmets at 600 meters and light cover) and the M856 tracer round (which was much longer than the M855 round due it needing to store the tracer compound). Selector switch, safe, semi, and burst (3 round). Most changes were prompted by the USMC.

Nowadays the M16 and it’s shorter counterpart, the M4 (along with all of it’s variants), are highly regarded in general and heralded for their supreme accuracy, ergonomics, modularity, and proven service record throughout several wars and decades of service with the US military. Still in wide use with our military and others, including special forces units and LE agencies. It is the most commonly produced rifle chambered in 5.56 out there.

M4: Essentially an M16 with a shorter barrel (14.5” light under the handguards) that includes a “notch” in order to attach an M203 grenade launcher, adjustable stock, flat top upper, etc. Becoming much more popular in the US Army and USAF. The M4 selector switch is Safe, Semi, Burst. The M4A1 is Safe, Semi, Auto. Developed by Colt from the Commando/XM177 variants utilizing the newest developments with the M16 and the shortest barrel for optimum reliability determined by Colt.

Currently, the complete M16A4’s being made for the US military are being produced by FN and Colt holds the sole contract for the M4 Carbine.Around the world, the AR15 design is being used and employed by many of our allies and other nations, some made by Colt, FN, H&K, Bushmaster, etc…

The British SAS like it so much they have insisted on the M16/M4 over the UK standard military issue SA80.

Civilian AR15’s

Colt kept the trademarked AR15 name originally given to it by ArmaLite when they began marketing the semi-auto version of the rifle commercially to Law Enforcement and civilians. AR15 stands for the “Ar” in ArmaLite (model) 15.

Although trademarked by Colt, “AR15” is generally used by most gun enthusiasts (including myself) as a generic term that refers to all of the “clones” out there, and there are many.

Many companies use a slight variation on the term on their actual rifles to set them apart yet keep the general idea, e.g. Bushmaster as the XM15, Rock River Arms as the LAR-15, Stag as the Stag-15, etc… but they still usually get referred to generically as AR15’s.

Similarly, many people refer to semi auto civilian 14.5-16″ AR15’s as either an M4gery or simply “M4”.

Bushmaster started using the term “M4” in reference to many of it’s models and Colt eventually responded with a lawsuit, claiming that Bushmaster had attempted to copy the look and unlawfully steal the trademark. Bushmasters reasoning was that the term was a US military designation and to a large degree was a generic term. Bushmaster ended up winning the lawsuit.

The civilian AR15 has developed and benefited tremendously from lessons learned in the military and from the testing done by Colt and others in order to make as reliable and as desirable of a weapon as possible.

The Assault Weapons Ban and the AR15

AR15’s have seen an ever increasing amount of popularity in the past few years and have become what many would consider a mainstream rifle these days.In 1994, US Congress enacted the Assault Weapons Ban otherwise known as or referred to as “AWB”. It had a 10 year sunset provision (which meant that it would expire in 2004 and would need new legislation in order to keep the laws in effect past that time).

The AWB limited many of the “evil” features of the AR15 (as well as any other semi auto rifle with detachable mags), specifically making it illegal for any AR15 made after September 1994-2004 to have more than one of these features (with exceptions to military and LE weapons). They included flash hiders, pistol grips, collapsible stocks, and bayonet lugs. It also limited manufacturers from making any magazines that could hold 10 or more rounds and had several other ridiculous laws pertaining to features that weapons were not allowed to have.

Rifles and magazines made prior to September 1994 were grandfathered in. This created an artificially limited supply, which spiked the prices of weapons and mags that were grandfathered in (similarly to how there is a growing demand yet a limited supply of full autos).

“Assault Rifles” (technically an incorrect term for semi auto AR15’s, AK’s, etc…) that were grandfathered in and were exempt from the ban were often referred to as “pre-ban” and the neutered rifles made after Sept. 1994 were often referred to as “post-ban”.

Well, luckily for us, when 2004 rolled around Congress re-enacted no new legislation (they tried, but it failed) and in September of that year it became completely legal to own an AR15 with all of the evil features outlawed by the AWB. However, some states, counties, cities, etc… have their own regulations on these types of weapons.

Sales of AR15’s and related rifles, as well as “high capacity” magazines went through the roof shortly thereafter.

The AWB appears to have backfired. What was suppose to keep these weapons off the streets now appears to have fueled a desire to buy that which not too long ago was illegal and could get you serious jail time in a Federal prison.

The amount of AR15 manufacturers out there has sky rocketed since the end of the AWB. For the first year after the AWB expired, many manufacturers had 6-8 month waiting periods on new rifles and/or parts.

New magazines in full capacity can now be had plentifully and readily as well as inexpensively.

The AR15 is mainstream now. It is not only extremely popular amongst Law Enforcement, but many people seek to build or buy AR15’s for their own personal home defense, hunting, emergency preparedness (and protection), target shooting, plinking, and even zombie and alien invasions (not my personal style, but you never know…). Many of our troops have returned from war and decided to build a rifle/carbine similar to the rifle they carried in the Service.

You could easily call it America’s rifle.

Although the vast majority tend to be chambered in 5.56 NATO, many other calibers are making their way into the AR15 world. They include but are not limited to .22LR, 9mm, .204 Ruger, 5.45×39, .223Rem (yes, there is a difference between .223 and 5.56), 6.5 Grendel, 6.8 SPC, 7.62×39, .450 Bushmaster, .458 SOCOM, .50 Beowulf, and .50 BMG.

There are an incredible amount of manufacturers out there as well. Although many of them do little “manufacturing” and most are more like “assemblers” who do a little finishing and inspecting to varying degrees. Only a few forges are producing the receivers, barrels, and other parts for all of the variety of companies out there.

Some of the more popular companies out there are Colt, Bushmaster, LMT, Stag Arms (the house brand of CMT), Rock River Arms, DPMS, Olympic Arms, ArmaLite (not the original company), Cavalry Arms, CMMG, Charles Daly, Noveske, Smith and Wesson, Double Star, Wilson Combat, Lauer, DSA, BCM, and even Remington (yes, Remington) just to name a few.

Law Enforcement and the AR15

The AR15 is seeing more and more action in law enforcement. High profile gun battles like the North Hollywood shootout, the Miami Shootout, and other not so high profile shootouts have prompted police departments and other law enforcement agencies like the FBI to rethink their caliber and weapons philosophies.

In both of the scenarios mentioned above, officers/agents armed with handguns and shotguns proved ineffective vs. a smaller number of enemies with rifles.

In the case of the N. Hollywood shootout, the suspects had body armor and officers finally got their hands on AR15’s and ended the 44 minute fight. Luckily, no officers or civilians were killed, however, 17 people were wounded.

In the aftermath, the Los Angeles Police Department was quick to adopt M16’s for patrol officers. Had officers had AR15’s when the fight began, it would have likely ended MUCH sooner.

In the case of the Miami shootout one suspect took 6 rounds and another took 12 rounds before succumbing to wounds. In the end, the 2 suspects were dead and so were 2 agents. 5 other agents were wounded.

In the wake of the Miami shootout, the FBI initially looked to upgrade the handgun rounds that their agents carried. After 15 years or so of their love affair with the 10mm (MP5’s) they discovered through testing that the 5.56 round was not only more effective against suspects with body armor, but that over penetration at CQB ranges was greatly exaggerated and 5.56 penetrates less in human tissue than most common pistol rounds (including JHP’s) on average.

They are not purchasing any more MP5’s. The FBI is acquiring and training their agents with LAR-15’s made by Rock River Arms, as is the DEA.

A LE agent trains with his AR15

This is a trend that is not going to go away and it is not unique to the agencies I have mentioned.