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
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