Why millions of Americans own the AR-15

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Tuesday, June 21. 2016

Why millions of Americans own the AR-15

Stokes: Why millions of Americans — including me — own the AR-15

He does a good job explaining the appeal of the AR-15 - its versatility. Or, as some say, it's not a gun - it's a gadget.

Posted by The News Junkie in Hunting, Fishing, Dogs, Guns, etc. at 10:27 | Comments (15) | Trackbacks (0)

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the gun grabbers who get their panties a-twist about hi cap mags never seem to get the point that the difference between a 40rd mag and two 20rd mags is about two seconds.

#1 Donny "The Bear Jew" Donowitz on 2016-06-21 11:28 (Reply)

I'm not the biggest fan of the platform - some not so great experiences with the M16A2 in the field - but it is handy and easy to shoot accurately out to several hundred yards.

Certainly wouldn't be my choice for hunting large animals but a good varmint and self-defense gun.

#2 NJSoldier on 2016-06-21 11:33 (Reply)

For someone without a lot of gun training (me) it is easy to shoot and doesn't have the kickback of a shotgun (for a lady). So for that reason, it is a good self-defense weapon. More accurate than a pistol. And I'm scared of firing anything larger than a .38. Tried a 9 mil and a .45...very hard to handle for someone who doesn't shoot on a regular basis.

Anyway, just my opinion. Wish more of the idiots would realize that the reason you have different kinds of weapons, is that everyone has their preference. Some guns are too big for people to shoot. Some are so small as to be ineffective in self-defense (.22) most of the time.

This is coming from a gal who knew very little about guns until I was in my 40s.

#3 MissT on 2016-06-21 12:09 (Reply)

the problem with rifles as home defense weapons is over penetration. if you miss (and you inevitably will with some shots), the bullet will be punching holes in walls and possibly doing more damage than you want.

the best home defense weapon (unless you practice constantly with something else) is a basic Remington or Mossberg pump with 00 or 000 buck loads, or low recoil loads. but go to a trap range and look at the trap houses (where the birds are thrown from). these concrete bunkers will be scarred and chipped from hits at 16 yards with birdshot. at home defense ranges, say, 15 feet, an ounce and an eighth of birdshot is going to cause a gross wound.

personally, I don't think tricking out the gun with a short barrell, tac-lights, tac-lasers, tac-slings, tac-this and tac-that is worth the trouble and converts an all-purpose gun into a gun with very very limited use at best or objet-de-fetish at worst.

#3.1 Donny "The Bear Jew" Donowitz on 2016-06-21 12:38 (Reply)

I like pistol caliber carbines for home defense. If you are worried about over -penetration you can use Glaser Safety slugs.

#3.1.1 NJSoldier on 2016-06-21 15:26 (Reply)

A shotgun is a reasonable choice for home defense - but...

00 buck in low recoil loads is typicaly 8 pellets of .33 caliber 54 grain round ball that are traveling at 1,100 fps (or more).

They too will penitrate multiple layers of sheet rock.

Although they have significatly less penitration than a typical 55gr 5.56 bullet.

I don't know of a single firearms trainer who would recommend birdshot. It will be largely ineffective except at point blank ranges.

I agree that the low-velocity 00 buck is the way to go if you go shotgun. Keep in mind that the spread from a standard barrel at 12 feet is less than 4 inches. So the myth that you don't have to aim - is just that - a Myth. Even the short (18") riot gun barrels will just barely hit 4" at 12' and not much more than 15" at 20 yards.

The 9mm SBR is to my mind, the ideal choice. Higher capacity magazines. 147grain hollow point at better than 1,200 fps. Short, easy to manuver, minimal recoil, excellent shot to shot split times. And the ammo is cheap. The Best - MP5-SD (hard to get and stupid expensive). Need Fed Tax Stamp and I think a Class III license (not sure about that)

A very close second would be an AR lower with a 9mm upper, 11" barrel with an integrated supressor. - if the suppressor is welded on and the overall length is over 16 inches you can avoid the SBR tax stamp. But now you need the Tax Stamp for the supressor. Although I'd go with the .45acp if I could find the correct upper - you don't have to go with low powered (sub-sonic) ammo to maximize effectiveness of the supressor.

Hey - I can dream can't I?

#3.1.2 Vince on 2016-06-21 16:43 (Reply)

taken as a guideline, the FBI and International Wound Ballistics Association penetration standards call for something over 12 inch penetration of ballistics gel which is attainable by at least a 9mm and with some .380 loads. any penetration over that (18 inches for the FBI) is considered adequate but not optimal.

the .223 falls within these guidelines.

no self defense instructors would recommend birdshot. but a trap target load is still over an ounce of lead moving at 1,200fps (muzzle velocity). while not optimum, its going to mess someone up at HD distances.

#3.1.2.1 Donny "The Bear Jew" Donowitz on 2016-06-21 18:13 (Reply)

I'm rather a fan of #6 or 7 1/2 shot. As my father was fond of pointing out, at household ranges, that has just about the punch of a slug, maybe more if it's a duck and goose load, and it'll be a hell of a lot more painful for the doctor to pick out if the guy survives, plus it likely won't hurt anybody in the next room. Even if it doesn't put the malefactor down instantly, the transfer of energy will slow him enough to buy time to put another round on target.

I know. It's so not-tacticool. Maybe you can weld a bayonet lug onto the Mossberg, and a Picatinny rail. Would that make it better?

#3.1.2.2 Jablonski on 2016-06-22 15:22 (Reply)

When I was a young kid, I wanted a plastic toy rifle that looked like an "army" weapon. After many, many years in the Canadian Army, I've pretty much outlived any great fascination with weaponry.

Let's face it: the AR-15 - and those semi-automatic "AK" knock-offs - are just grown-up toys for the boys. They are decidedly not assault rifles, just jazzed up rifles. The effect of owning one would seem to be the adult version of the plastic James Bond 007 "sniper rifle" I had as a boy: "Ooh! Cool! It looks just like what the special forces and SWAT guys use!"

I doubt most of the politicians and gun-control advocates who rattle on about "assault rifles":

a. know what a real assault rifle is;
b. know what "semi-automatic" actually means; or
c. know that "AR" simply means Armalite Rifle.

#4 JJM on 2016-06-21 12:17 (Reply)

I shoot Civilian Marksmanship Program Service Rifle class matches with an AR-15 modified as allowed by CMP rules. not exactly a toy.

you were issued rifles in the Canadian Army? didn't know that.

Go Navy!

#4.1 Donny "The Bear Jew" Donowitz on 2016-06-21 12:53 (Reply)

I'd call them jazzed down. I'd much rather have a nice rifle that not only is functional in the field, but a real piece of craftsmanship. I don't understand the fascination with the AR.

I'd take a Savage 99 in 30 30 Winchester over an AR any day.

#4.2 Jack Walter on 2016-06-21 23:21 (Reply)

if you don't think a match grade AR-15 is a fine piece of craftsmanship then you don't know much about rifles.

no offense intended, you made a really dumb comment.

#4.2.1 Donny "The Bear Jew" Donowitz on 2016-06-22 04:41 (Reply)

No engraving, no checkering, no maple stock with woodwork. It's a stripped-down metal skeleton. It's not meant to look nice.

Typical argument from you. You don't like a comment, therefor the person is dumb. It is possible for you to have a genuine opinion on a subject without everyone agreeing with it. Just give it some effort.

#4.2.1.1 Jack Walter on 2016-06-22 09:54 (Reply)

you can cover your fetish in hello kitty tape but that doesn't mean much to someone who actually uses rifles. does checkering make it shoot better than glass bedding?

I'm just calling you out for your dumb as shit comment.

accept the correction and learn, kid.

#4.2.1.1.1 Donny "The Bear Jew" Donowitz on 2016-06-22 14:38 (Reply)

"Or, as some say, it's not a gun - it's a gadget."

I've heard the AR-15 described as a Barbie Doll for guys – it can be customized and accessorized in a mind boggling number of ways.

#5 Cletus the Slack-Jawed Yokel on 2016-06-21 13:26 (Reply)

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Tuesday, June 21. 2016

Why millions of Americans own the AR-15