" AR " WEAPONRY

**Arrie** · 23-12-2009, 17:09

Hi all,

Please tell me what is this AR rifles I see so widely advertized and the big "who ha" about it ?
I see espesially the AR15 is very popular.

**Thorkind** · 23-12-2009, 17:15

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AR_15

**Saff** · 23-12-2009, 17:18

The AR-15 is basically a civilian version of the M16... ie. semi-auto only, firing the .223 Remington or 5.56 NATO cartridge.

The "who ha"? I guess basically having an M16 is pretty cool...

**Arrie** · 23-12-2009, 18:12

Thanks,I just thought I missed something.

This is opviously not available in SA.

Regards

**ikor** · 23-12-2009, 18:25

While a bit of a chore to find, and expensive if found in the newer flat top receiver versions, there are, indeed, AR15's here in SA and some are available from time to time for sale, Arrie. One recently sold on this board for a very good price, in fact.

**Cerberus** · 31-12-2009, 12:04

I read somewhere that the M16 was a f-up and got allot of soldiers killed during Nam due to malfunctions... Is this fact or fiction?

Does anyone know if they fixed the problem (if there was one)?
As i believe reliability is real important :)

D

**Analyst** · 31-12-2009, 13:43

Cerberus, I think you'll find your answer under the "Gas piston rifles" thread. The M-16 was issued as "self-cleaning", ie without cleaning kits, which did indeed cause fatalities. Note that the present incarnation of the system is substantially different to that early model, and is not expected to clean itself.

**Khumba** · 29-01-2010, 08:54

Originally Posted by Cerberus

I read somewhere that the M16 was a f-up and got allot of soldiers killed during Nam due to malfunctions... Is this fact or fiction?

Does anyone know if they fixed the problem (if there was one)?
As i believe reliability is real important :)

D

As Analyst said and also that the M16 was pushed in to the hands of the soldiers before the ammo was sorted out - the original design was based on a different caliber than 5,56. The ammo was still undergoing tests with different types of powder and was not reliable in the rifle when it was fielded. The soldiers in Vietnam were seriously misguided by rumors that the rifles did not need cleaning and sufficient lubrication.

The AR platform has gone through serious advancements in the last 10 years or so and for the last couple of years some further development in the gas operating system by replacing the direct impingement system with a piston system.

There are supporters for both systems and good rifles are built on both.

The AR platform is NOT synonomous with cheap - building cheap guns with cheap parts also adds to the reliability issues. The other problem is that there are a lot people in the US that build their own rifles from new and used parts and that also lead to reliability problems.

The top tier rifles are very good.

There are thousands of AR's sold in the US yearly to Mil and LE.

I have a Colt with which I have fired around 3500 rounds and I only once had a problem with a double due to a new magazine I bought that was faulty.

AR'S are quality magazine and extractor and lube dependent. The Short gas system more so than the mid length and full length DI (direct impingement) systems.

The are serious trainers in the US that fire thousands of rounds through AR's yearly and see thousands of rounds being fired by students and they still choose AR's as their fighting rifles. If you follow simple lube and maintenance schedules and use good quality mags with good quality AR's you will not have problems.

There are thousands of M16/M4 rifles in daily use by the IDF.

It is not a rifle I will advise for the SADF.