The brainchild of Eugene Stoner, the AR-15 we know today actually springs from his AR-10 design chambered for 7.62 NATO dating back to the late 1950s. That original rifle saw limited service with countries such as Portugal, but the later ArmaLite AR-15 and its many kin that were scaled down and chambered for the smaller .223 Remington and 5.56 NATO rounds eventually gained adoption by the U.S. military and many other nations.
ArmaLite, which is where the “AR” is derived from and not the term “assault rifle”, also hints at one of the firearm’s key features – its light weight. This was done both by the design and Stoner's embrace of modern, lighter materials. Part of the brilliance of the design was a newly patented gas and bolt system that allowed the “bolt and carrier to perform a double function,” namely locking and unlocking the breach while simultaneously acting as a piston that operates the internal system.
Unfortunately, ArmaLite ran into some financial troubles and eventually sold its design to Colt, which wound up essentially coining it as the M16. Colt’s rifle started gaining U.S. military attention in the early 1960s, and by 1963 it was being issued to our troops in Vietnam. Let’s just say it didn’t make the first impression you’d expect, but after some quick changes and improvements, it became the U.S. military service rifle after the Vietnam war.
The civilian market demand for the AR-15 wasn’t always as high as it is today, and the gun hosts significant differences from its military roots as a semi-auto-only rifle. However, its light weight, intuitive controls, shootability, and modularity have made it a long-term success.
Once service members returned from Vietnam, the platform also made it easy for them to transition to civilian marksmanship. The popularity continued to increase, despite attempts to restrict the firearm and label it as an “assault weapon.”
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So, why has the AR-15 remained so popular despite decades of political and media attempts to make it go away? There are many reasons, but here are my top picks.
Versatility & Modularity
Whether you need to hunt, defend your home, or just want to have some fun at the range, the AR-15 will have you covered. They can be found chambered in several different calibers ranging from .22 LR and 9mm to 5.56, .308, 6.5 Creedmoor, and many more. Fjestad's Blue Book on ARs lists more than 50 commercial calibers these guns have been chambered in over the years.
If you’re like me, though, and prefer having a one-stop-shop rifle, grab an AR chambered for 5.56/.223 and then a .22 LR conversion kit. The .22 conversion kit will allow you to plink all day without breaking the bank. It will also give you another option if you need to expand your ammo options.
The modularity of the AR is another great aspect to keep in mind. You can easily build one from the ground up or modify a pre-built one. The market for accessories and spare parts is massive. Having all of these parts at your fingertips also helps increase the longevity of your rifle, since you can repair it yourself if the need arises.
As far as accessories go, I almost always add a hand stop or foregrip for added control of the rifle and an optic up top. Lately, I’ve been finding low-power variable optics, or LVPOs, to be the most versatile, giving you short, medium, and long-range support. Even small parts like take-down pins can be upgraded and swapped out, so your imagination can really run wild.
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Regardless of which caliber you choose and the accessories you add or don’t add, the potential is always there for you to expand your AR-15 for all sorts of uses.
Defensive Capabilities
Unless you reside in one of the less-free states that have magazine capacity bans, you really can’t beat the capacity that an AR-15 brings to the table. The standard 30-round magazines ensure you’re able to handle most situations and are great for range trips or competition, but you can even find 50 and 60-round drum magazines to add a little extra.
Especially for home defense, the balance of stopping power and penetration with the appropriate rounds makes the AR-15 a great option. I find the 16-inch barrel length to be a nice common ground. It’s still easy to maneuver in close quarters but also adequate for shooting at longer distances. At the end of the day, having an AR-15 to defend yourself and your loved ones is a great asset.
Availability
Despite efforts to ban the AR-15 every couple of years, they remain accessible. In fact, it seems that when efforts arise to ban them, they become even more popular. Price points vary tremendously, but you can almost always find a quality entry-level AR for at a reasonable price. Or you can jump on a custom rifle built for competition speed and precision.
There is no true “best” AR-15, and everyone will value certain things differently, but here are three I suggest taking a look at that cover a wide range of budgets and features.
- Budget Pick: Smith & Wesson M&P15 Sport II
- Intermediate Pick: Sig Sauer M400
- Advanced Shooter Pick: Daniel Defense M4A1
Does the AR-15 Deserve the Top Spot?
In my opinion, yes. There are a ton of fantastic firearms out there for nearly every purpose, but the AR platform has proven it is flexible, reliable, and an American favorite. For all of the reasons above and more, I see the AR-15 remaining in that top spot for the foreseeable future. It is time-tested and versatile enough to cover almost all of your potential needs.
Plus, the design has endured even after decades. While the military doesn't use the same rifle that you can buy at your local gun shop, Stoner's design has gone on to create countless variations that still persist in the U.S. military as one of the longest-serving rifle designs of all time. While it has recently met it's new replacement in the XM5, there's little sign the military is ready to part ways entirely with it's now generations-old rifles.
Cover image: “PFC Michael J. Mendoza (Piedmont, CA) uses his M16 rifle to recon by fire.” (National Archives)
