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What is your opinion on the AR15?

After a long discussion on the 2nd Amendment which was our most heated I guess you could say.

Let’s narrow it down.

The most ostracized firearm on the market is the AR15.

What are your opinions on this rifle?

Discuss and be civil.

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BizSuitStacy · M

It is a relatively light caliber, semi-automatic rifle. It's been available to the public since 1964. Uses technology that's more than 100 years old. It's light weight, and easy to operate with minimal recoil. Excellent firearm for home defense, as the .223/5.56 mm rounds tend not to over penetrate.

It is not a(n):
Assault rifle
Weapon of war
Weapon of mass destruction
Killing machine

LeopoldBloom · M

@BizSuitStacy A shotgun is far better for home defense.

BizSuitStacy · M

@LeopoldBloom we will have to agree to disagree on that. While I would agree that a shotgun is excellent for home defense, my opinion is the AR-15 is superior.

LeopoldBloom · M

@BizSuitStacy Unless in the heat of the moment, you miss the attacker and the round goes through the wall into the next room where your kid is sleeping. Most people are not capable of reacting calmly and carefully when someone breaks into their house.

QuixoticSoul · 41-45, M

It's a nice weapon, with a lot of destructive potential. IMO people should be allowed to own it and its ilk, but not nearly as willy-nilly as current US laws allow.

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QuixoticSoul · 41-45, M

@badminton It also says "shall not be infringed". Militias, btw, need more than just small arms to actually be effective - especially if we're talking about maintaining a credible deterrent to the Federal government, so I'm not even sure how useful that criteria is.

QuixoticSoul · 41-45, M

@Texasgurl That doesn't sound legal 🤔 - but 2nd amendment-approved in any case.

Texasgurl

🤣@QuixoticSoul

badminton · 61-69, MVIP

This from [i][sep]Dailyshooting.com:[/i]

"The differences between the two are extremely small. The M4 has a 14.5 inch barrel, while the AR-15 generally has a 16 inch barrel, although multiple sizes are available.

The primary reason for this is the law in the United States about short-barreled rifles. This law requires that rifles have at least a 16 inch barrel.

As a result of this shorter barrel, the M4 has a shorter gas tube. To deal with the decreased pressure as a result of this shorter gas tube, the M4 also has more pronounced feed ramps to ensure that the next round is seated properly each time.

The barrel of an M4 has an hourglass shape cut into it, which allows for military members to mount a grenade launcher to it. The last big difference between the two is that the M4 has either a three round burst or fully automatic firing option."

No civilian has any need for an AR-15, not for home defense or any other legitimate reason. For years I had a .38 revolver and a pump shotgun for home defense. I felt fully confident in those weapons for any home defense need. The AR-15 should be banned for civilian sale.

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MasterLee · 56-60, M

@badminton the whiners about any restrictions should be banned from public office. No civilian should be denied access to this defensive weapon.

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sunrisehawk · 61-69, M

The AR-15 in 556 is a very light round and is such an easy gun to shoot. It is great for varmints and home protection. It has such a bad rep simple because it is "scary" to those who know next to nothing about guns but what they've seen in the movies.

I've got several hunting rifles that are far better for reaching out and touching something, but they are more awkward in close quarters and/or have a heavy recoil.

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TakingBackMidgard · 31-35, M

@SW-User honestly any round could potentially hit a neighbor. That’s why situational awareness is stressed on the range.

But I get where your concerns come from

sunrisehawk · 61-69, M

@SW-User Any fire arm, including a .22, has the potential for hitting neighbors. Drywall, insulation, and siding isn't a sufficient barrier to stop any bullet. If you hit a stud, that will stop or slow many rounds.

If you are in a life and death situation, it is a calculation of risk if you pull the trigger. If you think that risk to your neighbors outweighs the risk to you and your family, don't pull the trigger.

BizSuitStacy · M

@SW-User the typical rounds for an AR-15 are the .223 cal and 5.56 mm. The bullets fragment when hitting a solid object at 2500 ft/sec or greater. The bullets are actually less likely to over penetrate walls than rounds from many handguns or shotguns.

SW-User

Well, it's prohibited here so I don't have much of an opinion one way or another, it's just another carbine with a big magazine.

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MethDozer · M

@SW-User I think it was in the 80s and early 90s. It's restricted so from what I remember being told, it can only be taken out if the safe going directly to, at, and directly from a licensed shooting range. No hunting or shooting cans off the farm fence post. I believe it also has to be in approved locked cases during transport. Keep in mind this is all passed down and repeated so might a little off.

SW-User

@TakingBackMidgard Yeah, there was a horrendous massacre here in 1989 and I think that's when they added that magazine restriction.

@MethDozer I seem to recall at least some .50 calibre rifles are unrestricted here so you can have fun blasting holes in brick walls on your property

MethDozer · M

@SW-User Certainly.

MarineBob · 56-60, M

Have you even fired one

TakingBackMidgard · 31-35, M

@MarineBob I have a Windham AR15. Windham bought Bushmaster. I love mine. I’m was raised old school with firearms and I don’t have the fancy scopes and stuff. I do like Magpul though. But I like to keep things iron sights except for any rifle I use for hunting

Sunshine04 · F

i dont know anything about this gun... but the institution who i would trust to make the decision is the police.

if they consider that gun more dangerous then other guns in the hand of criminals then it shouldnt be allowed in the hands of civilians. if police says its no more dangerous then a normal handgun or a hunting rifle then its fine.

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QuixoticSoul · 41-45, M

@IstillmissEP The "varmint caliber" thing is just silliness. It's not like wolves and wild boars are dramatically less durable than humans, especially the latter. In practical terms, anything that's useful for killing them, is also great for killing humans.

As for lethality, long experience with the matter resulted in our dedicated human-killing professionals switching over to intermediate rounds, except in specialized circumstances. On balance, our soldiers are far more lethal with them than they used to be with full-power cartridges.

MasterLee · 56-60, M

Great choice to own. Affordable, versatile, and excellent at home defense.

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MasterLee · 56-60, M

@grayhalo Why have a gunfight INSIDE when you can stop them in the yard. Why let them get that close?

TakingBackMidgard · 31-35, M

@MasterLee legalize claymore mines

MasterLee · 56-60, M

@TakingBackMidgard ok

Northwest · M

In your scenario, of the little old lad, I don't imagine a scenario, where she could be walking around, with an AR-15, slung over her shoulder.

Even miniaturized versions, will be hard to handle (or handle the kick). In this case, a handgun, if it comes to it, would be more appropriate for self-defense.

But I know some love their guns, including members of my family, and just like collecting cars, it's not about the "utility", it's about the desire to collect, and what one gets out of it (whatever that is).

TakingBackMidgard · 31-35, M

That was more so owning a firearm entirely. As for kick. The AR15 has very little if any it’s compared to the .22.

My Glock 19 has more kick than my Windham.

I find the AR perfect for property defense because there’s no way to determine what the future holds but I see only in defense never offense @Northwest

SwampFlower · 31-35, F

They're fun as hell to shoot but a bit overkill for my purposes.

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TakingBackMidgard · 31-35, M

@IstillmissEP it is semi automatic though. And the common AK you see is the AKM but I get where you come from.

grayhalo · 41-45, M

@IstillmissEP The AR might be more accurate, but you are correct about the AK being more reliable and having larger rounds. Though the 5.56 are designed to tumble upon entry and can cause more tissue damage. But it probably depends on where the round makes impact.

TakingBackMidgard · 31-35, M

Honestly if it came to an AK style I’d love to have a VZ. 58

It’s interesting how some folks consider the AR10 the same as the AR15 merely from look.

@grayhalo

grayhalo · 41-45, M

Have only fired the M16, but basically they are the same thing. No one ever talks about how those things are a pain in the ass to clean. Which you have to do after every time you fire the thing if you want it to keep working correctly. You should also clean any gun after it is fired.

MasterLee · 56-60, M

@grayhalo they look similar but that is where the similarities end.

MsAnnThropy

I don’t know. It’s a gun. I don’t need one. In fact nobody needs one. People should separate needs and wants. People want an ar-15 but they don’t need one.

TakingBackMidgard · 31-35, M

@MsAnnThropy is it that it is it simply you don’t need it? This isn’t an attack but a simple question.

MsAnnThropy

@TakingBackMidgard Yes, I simply don’t need one. I need food, oxygen and water of some sort. If I had a gun and I lost that gun, I’d be ok. People do not need guns they want guns. There’s nothing wrong with that either. But they should stop pretending that it’s a need.

TakingBackMidgard · 31-35, M

@MsAnnThropy I find it situational. The city I live in is riddled with crime and my neighborhood is supposedly the better of them all to live in. Well my neighbor was walking her dog in day light and was robbed at gun point.

Luckily she wasn’t hurt but the man was eventually caught and already had 3 counts of armed robbery. He was using a snub nose .38 that wasn’t registered nor did he have a permit to carry.

My biggest issue is restricting the defensive capabilities to law abiding citizens frI’m the action of those who do harm to others without regards to the law.

I care specifically for the reason of defense because I refuse to be a victim which that comes down to mentality.

But I absolutely get where you’re coming from though

Thespis · M

I'm not sure an AR-15 is any more dangerous than a semiautomatic of equivalent capacity. I don't think we should go about regulating firearms based on their appearance, but rather their capabilities.

AnarchoMetalchic · 36-40

AR stands for Armalite. It's nothing more than a brand of gun. I rather like them.

MethDozer · M

It's a semi-auto .223. It's fun to shoot and makes a great target rifle if set up for accuracy.
I'd rather have a mini-14 but outside of vermin and coyote I don't find much use for the .223 round.

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