SHOT Show 2019: Brownells BRN-PROTO Retro Rifle—The Father of All AR-15s

by
posted on February 1, 2019
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
brownells_white_prototype.jpg
Last year Brownells shook up the AR market with the release of its Retro Series of rifles with no less that four historically significant AR-15 models and two of the early AR-10 models. For 2019, Brownells has gone all the way back to the very beginning with the new  BRN-PROTO, a rifle based as closely as possible on the prototype AR-15 Serial No. 1 as adapted from Eugene Stoner’s original AR-10 by L. James Sullivan.

This rifle sports a round, brown polymer handguard and grip designed to mimic the appearance of the protoype’s fiberglass furniture. The 20" 5.56 NATO Barrel features a 1:12" rifling twist rate, a chromed bore and a duckbill style three prong flash hider. Other features include a top-mounted charging handle, a prototype-style front sight and Brownells' reproduction of the the straight profile 25-round magazine.

I was lucky enough to get to shoot the BRN-PROTO during the SHOT Show's media day at the range. What I noticed right off the bat is how light and handy the rifle is. It also sounds a little different and I'm interested in finding out why. The BRN-PROTO is listed as #078-000-468 at Brownells.com and retails for $1,299.99.

Latest

Taurus GX2
Taurus GX2

Review: Taurus GX2

From cars to cellphones, as a product gets more sophisticated, it usually also gets more expensive. And, as modern handguns get more modular and optic-ready, their prices tend to go up.

Rifleman Q&A: A Garand Puzzlement

"We are a father-and-son NRA member tandem in search of an answer regarding the branding of an M1 Garand rifle. We own an M1 rifle that has markings indicating it was a “lend lease to England,” and it also has a .308 barrel/sleeve."

$160K Raised For HAVA At SIG Sauer Event

SIG Sauer hosted its 9th Annual Honored American Veterans Afield (HAVA) Charity Golf event early last month and raised more than $160,000 to support disabled veterans.

Scout The Trail To A General Purpose Rifle

The search for a universal longarm—one suitable for both hunting and defensive scenarios—is a trek that involves a bit of doubling back.

Trijicon Releases Green-Dot RMR

For the first time, the Trijicon RMR will now be available with a green aiming dot, providing some benefits to shooters with astigmatism and red-green color blindness.

The Armed Citizen® Sept. 15, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.