A friend recently asked me an interesting question... why an AR? Why do so many people feel the need to own an AR over other choices. Now before people get defensive or offensive, is an AR an unreliable platform? do most of us who own them do so because of the AR's history in combat? I guess what I'm asking is where do you the AR owner rank it in reliability over the other top choices? We all know about the universal knowledge that AK' an other Euro guns are reliable in all conditions but would you trust your life on AR reliability? I personally love the platform and have no regrets for buying one but I also have very little experiance with them as I have only had mine for 2 months so I couldnt really answer that question without personal bias. Again where do you rank them and why?
Why an AR?.....
- Thread starter beachead
- Start date
I own a Benelli MR-1 as well as an AR-180B......
....the (latter's) provision to operate both the safety and mag-release [edit: not to mention the trigger, too ! 
] with (just) the (right) shooting hand - all while grasping the pistol grip - is not to be taken lightly ! 
First off the AR15 is a truly modular platform where many others are not.
The only other firearm out there that is really in the same league is the AK47 and it's variants.
The AR is extremely reliable, and has the combat history to back it up. The same can be said for the AK, and there are pros and cons on both sides. We have far more options in Canada to build, customize, and accessorize the AR15 then we do with the AK variants (not to mention the laws restricting the purchase and ownership of most AK variants). As far as tactical firearms go, most of the other options aside from the AR are usually limited in availability, more expensive, or just not as easy to get parts and accessories for. But by no means is the AR the most popular rifle in Canada, just ask the majority of hunters on this site. But if I had to pick one firearm if there was ever a SHTF scenario, it would be one of my AR's. I think anyone else who has ever spent time in a real combat situation ( at least from Canada), would pick the AR over anything else that we can get are hands on here...
The only other firearm out there that is really in the same league is the AK47 and it's variants.
The AR is extremely reliable, and has the combat history to back it up. The same can be said for the AK, and there are pros and cons on both sides. We have far more options in Canada to build, customize, and accessorize the AR15 then we do with the AK variants (not to mention the laws restricting the purchase and ownership of most AK variants). As far as tactical firearms go, most of the other options aside from the AR are usually limited in availability, more expensive, or just not as easy to get parts and accessories for. But by no means is the AR the most popular rifle in Canada, just ask the majority of hunters on this site. But if I had to pick one firearm if there was ever a SHTF scenario, it would be one of my AR's. I think anyone else who has ever spent time in a real combat situation ( at least from Canada), would pick the AR over anything else that we can get are hands on here...
When you have more manufacture and more custom parts available, there's a reason why.
And AR unreliability is mostly due to...
1) Lack of care by the owner/user
2) Lower Tolerance (parts are closer together)
The piston AR isn't a whole lot better, it's true it keeps the bolt carrier cold, and reduce carbon in chamber, however, Piston system has it's problem from using a piston on a gas design.
And AR unreliability is mostly due to...
1) Lack of care by the owner/user
2) Lower Tolerance (parts are closer together)
The piston AR isn't a whole lot better, it's true it keeps the bolt carrier cold, and reduce carbon in chamber, however, Piston system has it's problem from using a piston on a gas design.
10 round pistol mags only reason I had one.. I ended up selling it because haveing to take it to the range only and the transportation of it locked case.. ect with other firearms going to the range its just way to much hassle.. now I only buy non restricted rifles because restricted is a pain to transport.. pistols.. are also a hassle but at least they are smaller..
I must be the odd man out, because I prefer the mini 14 over the AR.
The two main reasons, is that it feels like a smaller M14 and I tend to prefer elegance over tacticool.
I am a fan of older, wood-stocked battle rifles, and I consider the Mini 14 a modern version of them.
The three ARs I prefer are the M16A1 configuration, the M16A2 configuration and the original AR 18 configuration.
The two main reasons, is that it feels like a smaller M14 and I tend to prefer elegance over tacticool.
I am a fan of older, wood-stocked battle rifles, and I consider the Mini 14 a modern version of them.
The three ARs I prefer are the M16A1 configuration, the M16A2 configuration and the original AR 18 configuration.
TheGamerXxX
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- North of the 49, Manitoba
I always say
"because an AR is like a house... you can change everything to suit your needs[in a rifle], swapping things in and out is as simple as opening it up, and parts are everywhere.
Fairly cheap to shoot, it's a "Tacticool" good guy gun, It's black so the Antis hate it.
Luke
"because an AR is like a house... you can change everything to suit your needs[in a rifle], swapping things in and out is as simple as opening it up, and parts are everywhere.
Fairly cheap to shoot, it's a "Tacticool" good guy gun, It's black so the Antis hate it.
Luke
Gunnerlove
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Vancouver Island
Yeah, take the hand guards off.
Why AR?
Lets see:
-Its reliable... When cleaned often and lubed properly.
-Its accurate at distances that assault rifles are rarely used at.
-The 5.56 round retains more energy at distances beyond the typical engagement distance for assault rifles.
-5.56 round has a good chance to fragment and do decent damage to a target within this range ( <300 m)... IF fired from a full length M16 barrel.
-Direct impingment design is the best. Its so good, that almost no other rifle designers were smart enough to come up with this idea. It was so advanced, that Mr. Stoner himself dumped the idea and never used it again in any of his designs subsequent to AR15.
-Designed in USA. This alone should be a good enough reason for anyone to buy an AR.
-You can get a collapsible stock for it. Everyone knows that collapsible > folder > collapsible folder
-Lots of mags available. Some actually work reliably!
-You can get many different railed handguards and flash hiders for it. More than any other rifle. You can even get stocks that are more collapsible than others.
-Proven track record. It's actually used by some countries that have a choice which weapon system to use (not 100% sure, don't quote me on this one)
Lets see:
-Its reliable... When cleaned often and lubed properly.
-Its accurate at distances that assault rifles are rarely used at.
-The 5.56 round retains more energy at distances beyond the typical engagement distance for assault rifles.
-5.56 round has a good chance to fragment and do decent damage to a target within this range ( <300 m)... IF fired from a full length M16 barrel.
-Direct impingment design is the best. Its so good, that almost no other rifle designers were smart enough to come up with this idea. It was so advanced, that Mr. Stoner himself dumped the idea and never used it again in any of his designs subsequent to AR15.
-Designed in USA. This alone should be a good enough reason for anyone to buy an AR.
-You can get a collapsible stock for it. Everyone knows that collapsible > folder > collapsible folder
-Lots of mags available. Some actually work reliably!
-You can get many different railed handguards and flash hiders for it. More than any other rifle. You can even get stocks that are more collapsible than others.
-Proven track record. It's actually used by some countries that have a choice which weapon system to use (not 100% sure, don't quote me on this one)
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When did the AR become unreliable? With good quality mags, decent ammo and a decent quality owner (gun clean and damp) the AR is as reliable as any other rifle I've owned - including the AK (Type 56 and Type 84) and the FAL. They're popular because they're our service rifle and they have an interesting history, - oh yes and they shoot well, - and they do look cool, and they drive the Antis nuts. In short, what's not to like?
