The ArmaLite Rifle-15, or more commonly known as the AR-15, was developed at the request of the United States Continental Army Command to replace the M1 Garand and other battle rifles. The gas-operated, magazine-fed rifle design was sold to Colt shortly after its inception due to financial troubles ArmaLite was facing. After a run of almost 20 years, Colt’s patent expired in 1977, and copies of the once-patented design began cropping up across the nation. Despite patent expiration, the Colt-designed M16, a revised select-fire variant of the original AR-15, remains the service rifle for the United States military today. As a result of the rifle’s military acceptance, Service Rifle matches across the country added slots for the AR-15/M16-style rifle. The subject of this week’s review is a hodgepodge of parts American Rifleman’s Mark Keefe requested to be assembled in order to meet Service Rifle match requirements. To learn more about the AR-15 rifle and the parts used in Keefe’s build, check out this week’s NRA Gun of the Week video.
Additional Reading:
Guns of the Tet Offensive
The First Colt AR-15 Rifle
The History of the M-16 Rifle: Stoner's Armalite
Rifleman Q&A: Why Have A Forward Assist?
Top 10 Infantry Rifles
A Look Back at the M1 Garand
NRA Gun of the Week: AR-15 Rifle
More like this from around the NRA
Latest
Gun Locker: TriStar APOC Pro
If you like Gen3 G19s and can’t resist a bargain, you’ll love TriStar’s take on this ubiquitous concealed-carry pistol.
Building an X-Card Gun for Turkey Shoots
Unofficially known as a “turkey shoot,” X-Card competition challenges shotgunners to place shot pellets as closely as possible to the center of a target. And some makers have perfected a way to fine-tune shotguns for this purpose.
Spanish National Police Adopt Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0FC
The Spanish National Police (Policia Nacional) has officially adopted the Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0FC 9mm pistol as the issue pistol for its uniformed officers.
NRA Launches New NRA.org Platform and Official App to Modernize and Enhance the Member Experience
The National Rifle Association today launched its new NRA.org website and continued enhancements to the official NRA App, marking a major step and significant investment to modernize the organization and better serve members.
Political Report | Federal Firearms Rights Restoration is Officially Back
Criminal-justice reform has been distorted to mean counterproductive policies like eliminating cash bail or politicized district attorneys exhibiting a determined indifference to violence, but there is a place for sensible reforms that allow genuinely rehabilitated offenders to reintegrate into the community of law-abiding citizens.
Stable Fun: The Taurus Brace-Ready TX22
Taurus USA first adopted the ideal of a brace-ready format for a traditional handgun in its GX4 Strike Bravo, and now, the company is extending that concept to its TX22 rimfire handgun.
Interests
SECTIONS
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
EXPLORE MORE NRA PUBLICATIONS
