| The AR15 is one of the most celebrated | | | | weapon a while ago. Needless to say, |
| lightweight rifles in the history of | | | | this caused renewed interest in the |
| firearms. The US military named it the | | | | AR15. In fact, the latest figures |
| M16 when it first adopted it shortly | | | | indicate that something like 10,000 |
| after its manufacturers, ArmaLite, | | | | units are legally owned in the state |
| developed it through their Fairchild | | | | today. |
| Division in 1959. The original patents | | | | Despite its popularity and widespread |
| is accredited to their designer Eugene | | | | use, the AR15 is subject to much debate |
| Stoner. It is a little known fact that | | | | on its safety and technological |
| the rifle’s name derives simply from | | | | soundness. The main issue seems to be |
| the company ArmaLite’s name. There is | | | | the potentially hazardous firing pin |
| a common misconception that it actually | | | | mechanism, which is said to be too light |
| stands for ‘ArmaLite Rifle’. | | | | for military purposes and can cause what |
| The AR15 is an extremely wieldy, | | | | is known as the ‘slamfire’ effect |
| lightweight small caliber rifle that | | | | while a round is being loaded. In simple |
| features a magazine and has auto-loading | | | | terms, slamfiring is what happens when |
| capabilities. One of its distinctive | | | | the firing pin jams on its way back into |
| features is ‘barrel lapping’, which | | | | the bolt after the most recent pull of |
| is a means of smoothing the bore of the | | | | the trigger. When this occurs, there is |
| rifle’s barrel and making its bore as | | | | an uncontrolled burst of fire that does |
| consistently uniform as possible by | | | | not stop until the magazine is empty. |
| means of extensive polishing. It comes | | | | Such a situation obviously raises issues |
| in two basic models – the one for | | | | of wastefulness as well as safety. The |
| civilians comes in .223 Remington | | | | slamfire effect usually occurs in cases |
| configuration (this is generally held to | | | | where the firing pin is not cleaned |
| be the more accurate version). For NATO | | | | properly, has not been correctly |
| purposes, the 5.56 mm model is used. The | | | | integrated into the bolt mechanism, or |
| AR15 operates on the principle of gas | | | | has bent with repeated use. |
| impingement, which means that the power | | | | Yet another hazard said to be associated |
| of the expanding gas caused by firing a | | | | with the A15 is the possibility of a |
| cartridge is optimized and channeled in | | | | ruptured barrel if the bore has been |
| such a way that the bullet attains | | | | subjected to too much moisture. The |
| maximum possible velocity. It features a | | | | dangers of an exploding barrel, |
| highly adaptable design and is suitable | | | | especially in a semi-automatic or fully |
| for a number of add-on accessories. It | | | | automatic rifle, cannot be emphasized |
| is also extremely easy to disassemble | | | | too much. However, whether or not the |
| for repair. | | | | AR15 has the inherent design drawbacks, |
| While it comes with attached front and | | | | the fact remains that it has a very high |
| rear sights, these can be supplemented | | | | opinion poll rating. In fact, there are |
| by a variety of telescopic and | | | | fan websites dedicated to this highly |
| night-sights to increase accuracy over | | | | versatile rifle and others like it – |
| longer ranges. The entire unit usually | | | | some examples are www.ar15.com, |
| weighs only 3.4 kilograms and a standard | | | | www.ammo-oracle.com (which consistently |
| magazine can hold either 20 or 30 | | | | seeks to set the record straight about |
| rounds. However, there are magazines | | | | ammunition-related myths surrounding the |
| that can accommodate up to a 100 rounds. | | | | AR15) and www.theboxotruth.com. |
| Purists argue that a lightweight rifle | | | | The AR15 comes in many different models |
| like the AR15 is not suited for extended | | | | and variations, each adapted for a |
| fire and that larger-capacity magazines | | | | particular situation by its respective |
| should be avoided. Apart from that, | | | | manufacturer. However, it proves |
| there are other points of controversy | | | | consistently more cost effective to |
| about this famous rifle, too. | | | | obtain a unit from ArmaLite Company |
| The American Violent Crime Control and | | | | itself. Replacement parts are readily |
| Law Enforcement Act of 1994 restricted | | | | and cheaply available at this source, |
| its sale to and use by civilians for | | | | and this also reduces the chance of |
| almost a decade in the early 1990s. This | | | | buying a spurious and potentially unsafe |
| was in connection with the Assault | | | | AR15. The company has its own website - |
| Weapons Ban, which later lapsed, but | | | | www.armalite.com |
| California renewed the ban on this | | | | |