Help understand AR-15s

Innercity said:
So like Gi Joe!
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i wasn't totally convinced myself at first, i considered mine a glorified high power loud 22 that i can only take to the range.......however after i took it out to the range and seriously started enjoying it for what it really is, incredibly versatile, a ton of fun and dead nuts accurate i was sold and now love it. plus the look of them is a bonus. downside to them....plowing through the ammo can be hard on the wallet and their unwarranted ridiculous restricted status making it impossible for me to enjoy up at camp.
 
A large part of it to is that people like to as closely as possible replicate the gear they see thier heros use. Mechanically the closest one can get to what our troops and brothers south of the border use is the AR varients. Its the idea of what that particular tool is capable of defending with the right training and the sense of pride and freedom that accompanies it.

It is symbolic of freedom for the wester world just like the AK is symbolic of terrorism.
 
RobertMcC said:
Stocks, barrel lengths, handguards, rails, accessories, triggers, calibers. List goes on to what you can do to them.

If you want 22LR, 9mm, 45, 223/556, 762x39, 300 Blkout. I dunno of any other gun that so diverse.
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Would like one of those in 22 but wait till ammo is not in such short supply...
 
okshooter said:
I noticed that owning an AR-15 of some sort is almost a rite of passage for gun enthusiasts in Canada. I understand that they look cool, and that you can easily customize them.

I wonder however what are the technical advantages of the platform over other non restricted semi-automatic rifles (tactical or hunting ones, even SKS).

My understanding is that the restricted status is simply there due to the way that they look (they look scary, so they are "assault rifles").
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Actually, their restricted status is due to some intense, last minute lobbying by the Dominion of Canada Rifle Association, with some support from the Canadian Armed Forces. This, I think is the context you are missing. You see, back in 1994, EVERY CENTREFIRE, SEMIAUTOMATIC RIFLE WITH A PISTOL GRIP WAS DECLARED PROHIBITED, EXCEPT THE AR-15.

Think of that. Pretend that all the AR180Bs, and Tavors, RFBs and XCRs and all the other plastic wonders that are available on the shelf today didn't exist.

EVERY CENTREFIRE, SEMIAUTOMATIC RIFLE WITH A PISTOL GRIP WAS DECLARED PROHIBITED, EXCEPT THE AR-15.

The fact that this rifle, and only this rifle, is restricted, is something of a blessing. Every other rifle of actual tested, proven military heritage was taken away. We had the AR-15, and that was all we had. Everything else was gone. It was that way for close to twenty years. That's a hell of head start on market share.
 
TRaTSeRiF said:
Light weight, low recoil, decently accurate out of the box, a blank canvas that you can build anything out of - PDW, DMR, hunting rifle, IPSC race gun, the sky's the limit... Like Honda Civic of semiauto centerfire rifles but the kind that you can also convert into a truck or a 4x4 :cool: Quick-change uppers also make those conversions very fast and easy, so you can have one lower and just match the right upper for the application.
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I'd prefer to think of them as a Jeep (if using a vehicle for comparison) because not only like a Jeep are they capable of getting the job done in any environment (and getting it done well), but just like a Jeep they Just Empty Every Pocket with all the endless accessories available to make them as custom and unique as you like...

If you guys think AR's and their modifications are expensive, steer clear of the serious Jeep'in hobby that is out there waiting to bite. It's significantly more expensive, but at least for now we can still use a Jeep in the woods unlike an AR; however I worry that 4x4's may become restricted to only certain ranges/parks one day...


As the OP asked what's the difference or the appeal to AR's?
For me it's knowing I have a reliable, accurate and capable rifle that in my mind is second to none as an all purpose rifle that will work competently for any shooting demand (particularly in an AR-10/.308 platform). Also that endless upgrades are available allowing the customization to fit ones exact needs and their pedigree or history allows AR's a certain quality not available by any other rifle available to us in Canada (this is especially true when considering Colt Canada C7/C8 rifles). Their only disadvantage to any other multi purpose rifle available in Canada is the fact they are Restricted.

Cheers D
 
silverfoxdj said:
Would like one of those in 22 but wait till ammo is not in such short supply...
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Yeah, I use a friends 10.5" with a CMMG Kit.

Also failed to add the different uppers people use AR15 lowers. Theres 50 BMG uppers, MG34 Uppers in 8mm, there 22LR Belt Fed Uppers. 5.7x28mm Uppers.

So there is lots, If you just shoot at ranges like I do, restricted doesn't bother me.
 
I didn't see the point of owning an AR-15 either. I don't like the idea of registering any of my firearms with the government. That being said, this attitude is the equivalent of giving into the antis. If we don't own firearms because of the regulations the antis impose on us then they win. They'll keep imposing those rules knowing full well we will give up the firearms.

When I inherited my great-grandfathers police service pistol I figured that since I had the RPAL I might as well get an AR-15. Shooting it is an eye opener. It's a light rifle with great ergonomics. Quite accurate out of the box and a pleasure to shoot. If the AR-15 wasn't restricted it would quickly become the coyote hunting rifle of choice in Canada. AR-10's would likewise become the deer/moose/elk rifle of choice. They are firearms of excellent design.
 
okshooter said:
I'm just trying to understand the appeal as I'm very ignorant about the subject.
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What appeals to me is the accuracy, accessories, and abundance of spare parts. I also find it more aesthetically pleasing than any other semi auto available, and I would consider it to be far superior to an SKS. Like its the real deal, where an SKS, to me anyway, is old beaten up junk. The SKS, though reliable, is something I would never own.
The one and only thing that I do not like about the AR15 is that it is restricted. Only being able to use it at the range makes it almost not worth having. What good is a car if you can drive it on the road? What good is a rifle if you cant take it in the field? Why do I care about its accuracy, if I will never be able to try and hit a coyote with it?
The money spent on my AR could have gone to another really good Bolt gun that could be of much more practical use to me.

On another note, I cant recall that an AR15 was ever used in this country in a shooting. You see that once in a while one is seized in some drug or gang related raid; but I cant recall it being the firearm used in a shooting, robbery or other way that actually made it a threat to anyone other than it being a gun. I find it so curious how the Mini14 has been used in a mass shooting, and yet it remains non restricted. I guess if the First Nations people used the AR15 for seal hunting or sustenance hunting the AR would have remained non restricted.
 
It was suggested to me once that every gun owner should buy an AR. Even if it is the cheapest one on the shelf..even if you never shoot it..put it in the safe.

The powers that be hate civilian ownership of ARs..so put as many as possible in circulation..on the books. The AR is like a litmus test for firearm 'allowablility'..it is symbolic to me that while it is restricted...it isn't prohibited, and only large numbers of owners supporting that right will keep it so. If it was rare..and no one cared..it would quietly get regulated to death. To me losing the AR is the beginning of the end of all semi auto centerfire rifles..and must never get further regulated.

Plus, if history is any indicator..if the status of the AR does change you want one on the books so you get grandfathered into continued possession and purchase rights.

Its a sad way to look at it..the optimistic side of me says one day we will see in go non restricted and gloriously sporting 30 rnds like it was in the good old days.

Hoochie I agree there is very little actual evidence to support the AR's contribution to mayhem in this country..of course there is even less to support the AK47's demise. And I agree as well that the Polytechnique shooting had an odd effect in that nearly every centerfire rifle was affected by the forthcoming legislation but the actual rifle that was used. But in support of the above comments..Mini 14 owners had superior numbers to AR and AK owners..and thus presented a bigger adversary to legislative changes. The smaller numbers of those 2 platforms owners couldn't withstand the onslaught..that a united shooting culture could have!! I can't support those numbers it has always been my understanding however.
 
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I cant understand why they don't treat it like any other rifle. If the barrel length is the indication of restricted or not. I would love it if they grabbed a clue and said "any AR15 with a barrel length of more than 18.5" would then be non restricted". we could all have 20" uppers and go tag coyotes
 
The modularity of the platform is what makes it so appealing.
Don't like a fixed stock, swap it for a collapsible. Don't like collapsible swap it out for a folding stock.
Don't like a 16" barrel swap it out for whatever length suits you.
Don't like .223/5.56 swap the upper for one of the many other calibers.
AR-15, without bolt modification
.17 Remington
.17/223
.20 Tactical
.20 Practical
.20 Vartag
.204 Ruger
.221 Fireball
.222 Remington
.222 Remington Magnum
.223 Remington (5.56x45mm)
.223 Remington Ackley Improved
6x45mm
6mm TCU
6x47mm
6mm Whisper
.25x45mm
6.5mm Whisper
7mm Whisper
7mm TCU
.300 Whisper (.300/221, .300 Fireball)
.338 Whisper

AR-15, with bolt modification
223 WSSM
5.45x39mm (.21 Genghis)
243 WSSM
6mm PPC
6mm WOA
6mm BR Remington
6mm Hagar
6.5mm PPC
6.5 WSSM
6.5 WOA
6.5mm Grendel
25 WSSM
6.8x43mm SPC
.30 Herrett Rimless Tactical (6.8x43mm case trimmed to 41mm and necked up to .308; the 6.8mm version of the .300 Whisper)
7.62x25
7.62x39mm
.30 RAR
300 OSSM
.357 Auto
.35 Gremlin (necked up 6.5 Grendel to 358)
.358 WSSM (various names, but all are some form of a WSSM necked up to 35 caliber, some are shortened to make them big game legal in Indiana)
.458 SOCOM
.50 Action Express
.50 Beowulf

AR-15 using a simple blowback operation
.17 HMR
.22 LR
.22 WMR
9x19mm
9x21
9x23
30 Carbine
357 Sig
40S&W
400 Cor-Bon
41 Action Express
10mm Auto
45 GAP
45ACP
45 Super
45 Win Mag
 
okshooter said:
I noticed that owning an AR-15 of some sort is almost a rite of passage for gun enthusiasts in Canada. I understand that they look cool, and that you can easily customize them.

I wonder however what are the technical advantages of the platform over other non restricted semi-automatic rifles (tactical or hunting ones, even SKS).

My understanding is that the restricted status is simply there due to the way that they look (they look scary, so they are "assault rifles"). But, especially with magazines limited to 5 rounds, are there any practical advantages to AR-15s?

I'm just trying to understand the appeal as I'm very ignorant about the subject.
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15 rounds in a magazine is a very nice thing, makes it halfway to normal and 3 times more than retarded. I own 6 of those AA magazines, worth every penny.
You need to do a little more research.
 
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