I need an AR-15

[lostcreekranch]

The AR15 is a civilian, semi automatic version of the M-16. One reason why some guys get so stuck on "mil spec" per building their own AR rifles, thinking "mil spec" in some way means quality.

I never once thought "AR" stood for assault rifle.

Actually ...... the M16 is the military version of the Armalite AR15. The AR came first.

 

[bcp]

And the AR15 is a scaled down AR10, which came first.

And on different branches of the family tree are the AR5 and AR7.

Makes me wonder what the missing number designs were.

Bruce

 

[lostcreekranch]

And the AR15 is a scaled down AR10, which came first.

And on different branches of the family tree are the AR5 and AR7.

Makes me wonder what the missing number designs were.

Bruce

AR5 and AR7 were USAF Air crew survival rifles. One shot 22 Hornet rounds and other used 22 LR.

 

[dragoneggs]

The AR15 is a civilian, semi automatic version of the M-16. One reason why some guys get so stuck on "mil spec" per building their own AR rifles, thinking "mil spec" in some way means quality.

Just to be a little more 'specific'. MIL-SPEC DOES mean quality. That's the point. It means it is built to a specification and can be inspected to that specification. However it doesn't mean their could be higher or lower quality (grade) versions out there, and it doesn't mean the spec could have flaws. It is just a standard so you know what you are getting because there is a way of checking and controlling.

 

[Sigarms]

Actually ...... the M16 is the military version of the Armalite AR15. The AR came first.

Agreed. However, mention AR "in todays times", and the connotation relates to the semi auto civilian version.

Personally, I like the "AR" system below…field stripped in less than 60 seconds.

 

[kenmac]

Just to be a little more 'specific'. MIL-SPEC DOES mean quality. That's the point. It means it is built to a specification and can be inspected to that specification. However it doesn't mean their could be higher or lower quality (grade) versions out there, and it doesn't mean the spec could have flaws. It is just a standard so you know what you are getting because there is a way of checking and controlling.

Agreed.. Not just a gun cobbled together from parts here and there.. Every part is milled to a specific spec. and is inspected to met those specs

 

[lostcreekranch]

Agreed. However, mention AR "in todays times", and the connotation relates to the semi auto civilian version.

Personally, I like the "AR" system below…field stripped in less than 60 seconds.

View attachment 463001

I wouldn't trade either of my present AR15's for 20 copies of the M16's (my original was still labeled an AR15) that I carried around for 3+ years in USAF in late 1960's.

 

[k0ua]

I wouldn't trade either of my present AR15's for 20 copies of the M16's (my original was still labeled an AR15) that I carried around for 3+ years in USAF in late 1960's.

You must of had one of the originals purchased by the Air Force after General Lemay shot up the watermelons. That firearm would be worth some money from a collector.


The Coconut Rifle: Colt ArmaLite AR-15 Rifle #6

 

[RoyJackson]

Agreed.. Not just a gun cobbled together from parts here and there.. Every part is milled to a specific spec. and is inspected to met those specs

I don't know if you guys have ever actually worked with MIL-SPECS, but they aren't any more stringent then most commercial specs. In fact, many MIL-SPECS has been superseded by commercial specs.

As far as "Every part is milled to a specific spec", all machined parts are milled to a specification (called tolerances). MIL-SPECS aren't necessarily a tighter spec as tighter specs can lead to less reliability.

Colt manufactured to a mil-spec in some components since those components were shared with the firearms sold to the military.

I was in the military for about a decade...worked in more then one DoD supplier (mostly QA in machine shops). MIL-SPECS aren't some holy grail...they're just specs.

Now, when NASA was involved, different story..and after the USS Thresher incident (in 1962), zero defects in submarine building meant zero-defects....but all in all, MIL-SPECS weren't really that stringent.

But, use of the term "MIL-SPEC" in advertising sure sold some Colt AR-15 rifles!

 

[k0ua]

As an aside General Lemay was and amateur radio operator (like myself) and was instrumental in getting the SSB technology integrated into the USAF.


LeMay was a Heathkit customer and active amateur radio operator and held a succession of call signs; K0GRL, K4FRA, and W6EZV. He held these calls respectively while stationed at Offutt AFB, Washington, D.C. and when he retired in California. K0GRL is still the call sign of the Strategic Air Command Memorial Amateur Radio Club. He was famous for being on the air on amateur bands while flying on board SAC bombers. LeMay became aware that the new single sideband (SSB) technology offered a big advantage over amplitude modulation (AM) for SAC aircraft operating long distances from their bases. In conjunction with Heath engineers and Art Collins (W0CXX) of Collins Radio, he established SSB as the radio standard for SAC bombers in 1957