Trigger Talk: AR style rifles.
AR style rifles are loved and scorned by many people. The AR10 was designed in 1955 as a replacement for the military’s M1 Garand. 56 years later the AR has become one of the most popular firearms available today.
Much of this popularity is due to the versatility of the platform. Originally the AR15 was only available in 5.56 NATO (.223 Rem). Recoil is minimal, it is extremely accurate and very effective for varmint shooting. Today in larger calibers such as .308 Win. , 6.5 Grendel, and 6.8SPC,AR’s can be used for medium and large game hunting. A recent trend includes lighter versions designed to fire the .22LR round, allowing low cost practice and plinking.
The level of customization available to the gun owner is amazing with easy to change stocks, upper receivers, barrels, sighting systems, hand guards. An entire parts manufacturing industry has grown supplying the latest “Tactical” equipment.
Detractors of the AR rifles are divided into two groups: Traditional firearm enthusiasts and Anti-Gun groups. A departure from traditional firearm construction, the AR was built from aluminum and polymers instead of blued steel and walnut and did not look and feel like a traditional sporting rifle. Initially available only in .223 Rem. the AR15 was considered too light of caliber and prohibited from deer hunting in some states.
Anti-gun groups don’t like the way AR’s looked, based on a military design they tried to label it a “Machine Gun” despite firing only one shot for each pull of the trigger. Through-out history civilian firearms have been based on military designs, from the flintlocks, bolt actions based on a 1898 Mauser design, to today’s AR style rifles. In fact, semi-automatic rifles have been available to the general public since Remington introduced the Model 8 in 1906.
Bill Clinton’s 1994 Assault Weapons Ban, outlawed many guns based on cosmetic features such as pistol grips, folding stocks, detachable magazines and bayonet mounts. These attributes became know as “Evil features” and were banned ostensibly to lower crime. When was the last time you heard of a crime committed with a bayonet? Today many of us affectionately refer to this style of gun as an EBR (short for Evil Black Rifle).
AR style rifles can be purchased from around $600 up through $2-3000 and are manufactured by many companies including: Colt, DPMS, Rock River Arms, Remington, Ruger, Sig-Sauer, Bushmaster, and Smith and Wesson.
Next month we’ll talk about the pro and cons of “Open Carry”.
Until then …….Safe Shooting!
Dick Cupka is an NRA Certified Pistol, Personal Defense in the Home and Concealed Pistol License Instructor. You can reach him by e-mail at….. triggertalk.dc@gmail.com