Contrary to popular belief, the "AR" in AR15 does not stand for "Assault Rifle", it actually means "ArmaLite Rifle." The AR15 roots go all the way back to post WWII when the U.S. military was looking to replace their standard military issue rifles, like the M1 Garand and Thompson. The initial answer was introduced by ArmaLite. The AR10 was definitely a step in the right direction, but was consistently outclassed by the Russian AK47 developed by Mikhail Kalashnikov. In terms of power, fire rate, and the ability to control it in full-auto, the AK47 was the better weapon. After a multiyear search and prior iterations, like the AR10, and rigorous trials, the scaled-down AR15 came to be. In 1959, ArmaLite was facing financial difficulties and sold the AR10 & AR15 to Colt. Today, great manufacturers like Stag Arms and Radical Firearms lead the way and continue to provide stellar quality AR's to the market.
The AR15 is exceptionally modular. You can switch out the stock, handguards, upper & lower receivers, grips, etc. It really is a dream gun for anyone looking for customization options. Commonly, the AR15 rifle & AR15 pistol platforms are calibered for 5.56x45mm NATO rounds OR .223 Remington ammo. Don't forget to check out our fantastic selection of 5.56 ammo.
The AR15 is durable, reliable, and accurate when it's made to the right standard by skilled technicians. The AR-15, which has been used as the military's M16/M4 for many decades, is considered American Standard. Parts, magazines, and ammunition are easily available almost anywhere in America. The AR-15 is a popular choice due to its outstanding performance, light recoil, ergonomic adaptability and remarkable popularity.
When it's time to give your rifle some TLC, the modular nature of the platform makes it simple and easy to break down and clean. It doesn't take much, just a little oil through the bolt carrier ports will keep you firing until you can give it a good and thorough cleaning.
ARs are great for beginning shooters for a multitude of reasons. The average AR15 is lightweight & has an intuitive layout for its controls. As we stated before, it is easily modifiable, so you can adjust it to your liking and comfortability. It plays nice with slings, a wide variety of magazines, scopes, lights, etc. etc.
That's just a VERY quick rundown of the AR15 platform. If you have any other questions, reach out to us at sales@atlanticfirearms.com and we'd love to lend you a hand!