10 Reasons Behind the AR 15’s Popularity

Are you curious about what makes the AR 15 so popular?

American gunmakers produce and import between 1-2 million rifles every year. Among the various types of rifles that get circulated in the country, the most prevalent one is the AR 15.

Through a confluence of circumstances, the AR 15 became a symbol. For many, it’s a testament to freedom. For others, it’s seen as a symbol of violence, yet the AR 15 remains at the forefront in their thoughts.

In this post, we’ll tell you about why people consider the AR 15 as “America’s Rifle”. Hint: the reasons go deeper than the National Rifle Association billing it as such. Keep reading for 10 reasons why this is so.

1. You Can DIY It

If it was a computer, the AR 15 is a Windows PC. You can build one from scratch and have fun doing so. This is one of the many reasons why AR 15 is so popular with many people.

We always have a deeper sense of reward when we get our hands dirty creating our things. That includes rifles like the AR 15. Plus, the fact that we created it to our tastes makes it as unique as us.

Building one takes a lot of time, research, and money. The first things you need to consider are the cost of parts, cost of tools, and time. These three things will determine what will make the build functional.

If you’re on a budget, research the price of the parts you need for your build. If you want to be frugal, you can use the tools you already have at home. However, it’s still important to buy tools for gun-making if you want to complete your AR 15.

You also need to have enough time to research and design the gun. Also, take note that you order accessories, tools, and parts like the AR 15 complete upper. Don’t forget that prepping a work area for building your gun counts in your total time.

2. Have Fun With Its Customizable Features

Let’s talk about the other reason why the AR 15 is the most popular rifle in America. That is the gun’s customizability. If you can build a gun from scratch, you can customize it along the way.

Modularity is also a big selling point of the AR 15. The AR 15 is easy to take apart to clean, swap out pieces, and replace parts. Even when it’s so versatile, it still functions well.

One of the most distinctive parts is the caliber of the AR 15. It’s unlike other weapons where the caliber is always constant and unchanging. With an AR 15, you can swap out the upper receiver and you’ve got the same gun with a different caliber.

Are you planning to use it for precision shooting? Replace your optic scope, trigger, and barrel. Don’t forget to get a free-float handguard and precision match ammunition too.

Do you want to try your hand at hunting? Setting up an AR 15 for that specific purpose is easy. Swap out your upper and lower receivers, barrel, and handguard for specific quarry.

Depending on its use, fix your AR 15 for accuracy or durability. You can even design an AR 15 for shooting competitions. Make sure to read and follow the guidelines for DIY AR 15 rifles.

3. This Semi-Automatic Rifle Is Easy to Fix by Yourself

This one goes in line with our previous point. If you know how the rifle works, you can get a gist of how to repair it if it breaks down. If you got it from an AR 15 sale without any deeper knowledge of the gun, you may need to get someone to guide you through the process.

The AR 15 is one of the easiest guns to maintain. It’s almost comparable with the Glock pistol. The Glock still holds that place as one easiest to maintain but the AR 15 rules the rifle department.

Also, remember that the AR 15 is a semi-automatic rifle. This semi-automatic feature is yet another reason why it’s so popular. You don’t have to do other movements or take extra steps when shooting with it.

That means you can keep your eyes on your target and steady your aim while it reloads by itself. You don’t have to go through the trouble of aim-shoot-reload-repeat. This and its low recoil result in better shooting and effective sniping.

4. AR 15 Is the Most Useful Firearm for Defense

If you do a quick research of the last notable shootings in the country, the AR 15 is likely to get mentioned in many of them. A lot of shooters use the AR 15. This is why the gun has such a bad rep.

However, if it was so bad, then there’d be no reason for it to be popular with the law. There’s a reason why the AR 15 is the patrol rifle of choice for many police departments. It’s not only because it’s so versatile and adaptable.

The AR 15 is great for self-defense. Right now, you may be wondering, “isn’t it an assault rifle, not a defense rifle?” Well, let us tell you right now that the AR 15 is only a tool.

The intent is what makes it good or bad.

5. Use It for Marksmanship Competitions

The National Shooting Sports Foundation labeled the AR 15 as the ‘modern sporting rifle’. If you watch shooting sports, you’ll notice many rifles participants use are AR 15s. Compared to the older semi-automatic rifles used in shooting sports, the AR 15 isn’t all that different other than an upgraded gun.

This is in part to its versatility and low recoil. The gun is also lightweight and easy to work with. These are also why more women shooters are inside and outside the sports shooting scene.

6. It Helps Prepare Young Americans for Service

There’s no better way to get into the service than prepared. If you know your child wants to get into the military one day, show your support by sharing your knowledge. It’s a deeper, more tangible way of showing your support to the troops.

Knowing how to handle a gun can be the key to their survival. Teach your children the safety procedures, cleaning process, and how to load and unload it. If you have great marksmanship, guide them so they can pick up your tricks too.

This can even earn them big points at the academy for already being so knowledgeable with the rifle. This way, your child can focus on other aspects of the basic training. He or she doesn’t have to stress over a rifle’s malfunction clearing process.

7. Law Enforcement and Military Use It

When it comes to rifles, the American gun culture often defaults to the AR 15. One reason for this is because it’s the default rifle in law enforcement and the military. While specialized forces work with other types of rifles, the AR 15 is their standard choice.

If you were to choose a gun, won’t you pick one that’s military-grade? Given how costly rifles and their accessories are, it’s better to invest in one that will last a long time.

8. Safe and Reliable

The most popular rifle won’t be where it is now if it wasn’t such a best seller. What made it a best-seller among rifles is its reliability. It also promotes safe and easy shooting, which is perfect for beginners and new shooters.

If you’re taking the AR 15 to hunt, you know it won’t malfunction under the rain or the sun. Under most weather conditions, you know you can count on the AR 15. Some even say that the AR 15 is more reliable than the AK47 and M1 Garand.

9. Accessible

Compared to other countries, guns are very accessible in the United States. Did you know that US citizens own almost 40% of the world’s guns? It’s not surprising given that you can buy a rifle before you can buy a beer.

You need to be 21 to buy a beer (and a handgun). If you want to buy a military-style rifle, you need to be at least 18. Granted, you’ll still have to pass a background check before you can get a gun of any sort.

This accessibility is often because you can enlist in the army once you’re 18. Thus, you can buy a military-style rifle at that same age as well.

Many gun owners often got started at a young age. Often, a father figure taught them how to handle and take care of one. As they grew older, they began to share the same love for guns.

10. The AR 15 Is a Historic Rifle

The AR 15 has a long history and has faced a lot of disputes. You might say that its history contributed to its popularity.

In the early 1960s, troops needed a gun that can adapt to the jungles of Vietnam. At the time, the Army got designated M14 guns, which were heavy and long-range. They worked well but not in jungles and close-range combat.

Thus, the Pentagon began to look at data and how they could transfer that into a weapon. Eugene Stoner came up with a bunch of cutting-edge designs. Its final prototype was the ArmaLite Rifle, which was to later become the famous AR 15.

Let’s fast-forward five decades later. During that time, the gun improved more and more. Now, it’s the most flexible semi-automatic rifles in history.

It’s safe to say that statistical data birthed the AR 15. The AR 15 got banned from 1994 until 2004. Ever since it re-entered the gun market, the AR 15 became a popular choice for many gun owners.

Learn About Other Types of Rifles Now!

That’s it for our guide on what makes the AR 15 rifles so popular. We hope you learned a lot from this post on the popularity of the AR 15.

Why stop here? If you want to see more content on the different types of rifles, read our other guides now. Continue reading more useful tips and tricks now!

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