The Armalite AR-15 Rifle

From the July, 1959 issue of American Rifleman

The American Rifleman reported in July 1958 on this development, and described the Winchester .22 High-Velocity Lightweight Military Rifle and the T44E6 which is a lightweight version of the 7.62 mm. M14 rifle. The developer of another rifle in this field, the Armalite AR-15, has now consented to the publication of details on it, and the rifle has been made available for examination and firing.

The Armalite AR-15 was first in the field. It was developed by Armalite Division of Fairchild Engine and Airplane Corp. It fires, like the Winchester, a special high velocity .22 military cartridge originating in an Army contract development by Remington Arms Co., and later brought out in sporting form as the .222 Remington Magnum.

Firing trial by several members of The Rifleman staff showed the AR-15 to be easy, pleasant, and accurate to shoot. Functioning was very positive and regular. Cyclic rate in full-automatic fire was undesirably high, but the very straight stock made up for this and made good control possible. The fore-end, which surrounds the barrel, protected the forward hand well.

Colt’s Patent Fire Arms Mfg. Co. is now tooling-up to manufacture the AR-15 rifle.