AR-15 VS ASSAULT RIFLE

There is a lot of confusion and misinformation surrounding the terms "AR-15" and "Assault Rifle", they are often used interchangeably even though they are two completely different things.

The AR-15 was developed by a ArmaLite Inc. in 1956, The "AR" in "AR-15" stands for "ArmaLite Rifle" not "Assault Rifle". Due to money issues, ArmaLite sold the rights to the production of AR-15s to Colt's Manufacturing Company in 1959. In 1963, the modern version of AR-15s, the Colt AR-15, began production. The Colt AR-15 was the civilian version of the M-16, which is also produced by Colt. The patent for the design of the AR-15 expired in 1977, but the term "AR-15" is trademarked by Colt. This is why even though there are very many rifles that are modeled after the AR-15, none of them have "AR-15" in their name.

"Assault Rifle" is a term that doesn't refer to any specific gun model or manufacturer. The term "Assault Rifle" is actually a reference to any gun that has a specific set of characteristics: 1) more power than a pistol, but less power than a standard rifle or battle rifle, 2) selective fire (the ability to switch between semi-automatic fire and automatic fire or three round bursts, 3) detachable box magazines, and 4) effective capabilities at at least 300 meters. The first true "Assault Rifle" was the StG 44, which was produced in Nazi Germany. The most popular "Assault Rifle" in the world is the AK-47. he most popular "Assault Rifle" in the United States is the M-16.

The AR-15 does not meet the qualifications of being Assault Rifle because AR-15s are manufactured as semi-automatic only. There are no AR-15s that are manufactured with automatic firing. The M-16 is the military version of the AR-15, and it manufactured with selective fire, therefore, it is an Assault Rifle. The AK-47 are sometimes manufactured with selective fire depending on the country and if it military or civilian models, so even though AK-47s can be Assault Rifles, they are not necessarily Assault Rifles.

"AR-15" and "Assault Rifle" are not the same thing, and they have never been.

#AR15 #AssaultRifle #AK47