When it comes to firearms, you might have heard about the ArmaLite AR-15. Around millions of rifles are produced every year in the United States, and among those available in the market, the most popular choice is the AR-15. Throughout the years, the rifle has become a polarized symbol. While it may represent freedom for some, it’s also seen as a marker of violence for others. But regardless, it remains a very popular choice.
The semi-automatic AR-15 is a favored option since it has a variety of uses, such as for personal defense, marksmanship contests, defensive firearm training, hunting, and recreation, depending on the AR 15 accessories used.
If you’re planning on buying a firearm and the AR-15 is at the top of your list, it may be the best choice due to its versatile nature. As the firearm continues to gain fame, here are several reasons why the AR-15 is popular today.
1. Customizability
If you love working on do-it-yourself (DIY) projects with your rifle or customize it to your liking, the AR-15 is the ideal choice. The possibilities are endless when tinkering with this rifle. Its customizable feature makes it a favored choice among many gun owners.
You can build one from scratch and make unique customizations, especially by switching to a 80% lower receiver. One of the key features of the AR-15 is its modularity, meaning it’s easy to take apart, swap out, and replace any parts.
The caliber of the rifle is a distinctive component. By allowing you to swap the upper receiver readily, you’ll have the same gun but with a different caliber. You can also replace the trigger, optic scope, and barrel if you’ll be using your rifle for precision shooting. You can also switch the upper and lower receivers, handguards, and barrels for hunting.
Today, you can easily find upgrades and aftermarket components from various sources. The rifle’s operating system is easy to understand and handle. Additionally, there’s no hassle in installing new triggers, stocks, pistol grips, handguards, and other parts.
2. Hunting
The AR-15 and AR-10 are the ideal hunting rifles to bring along for hunting enthusiasts. You can use the AR-15 for predator hunting or deer hunting with the correct ammunition.
The compact design of the AR-15 makes it the best option. It has a vertical magazine and grip, allowing hassle-free handling and more comfort while shooting.
Another helpful feature is the rifle sling that allows hunters to go from sling to in-hand in one quick motion. Furthermore, it’ll enable hunters to travel long distances without worrying if the rifle is ready to use since it hangs from the shoulder at all times.
3. Protection And Self Defense
If you’re looking for the ideal home defense weapon, you might be choosing between a handgun or a shotgun. But you might want to add another option like the AR-15.
One of the best ways to defend yourself against potential threats is to get the AR-15 semi-automatic. The AR-15 is ideal for self-defense since it’s easy to learn how to use while also ensuring accuracy.
The rifle is a suitable choice for defending your home for various reasons. One is the stopping power which can thwart any intruder in their tracks. Unlike a shotgun that scatters miniature metal balls, the AR-15 fires single bullets in the direction you’re pointing at. With this type of firing, you’ll worry less about shooting a family member or causing damage to your home.
The rifle is also lightweight, usually around seven pounds. You can quickly move around and have minimal recoil, making it an excellent choice to train and fire repeatedly. Due to the minimal recoil, you can maintain accuracy whether at the shooting range or when defending your home.
4. Easy Maintenance
Once you know how the AR-15 rifle works, you’ll have an understanding of how to fix it if it breaks down.
Among the various rifles on the market, the AR-15 is the easiest to maintain. You can easily take apart the rifle with minimal chances of losing any components. When it comes to maintenance, a thorough inspection of all the movable parts is essential, especially the gas tube and the barrel. Make sure to also look out for signs of excessive wear.
5. Competitive Shooting
The AR-15 is a great option for competitive shooting sports. If you love to watch shooting events, most participants use this particular gun. With its versatility, low recoil, and easy-to-use interface, there’s definitely a lot of reasons to back up its popularity.
6. Historical Firearm
The long history and controversy of the AR-15 might be another reason for its notoriety among gun users.
Back in the 1960s, a weapon that could adapt to the tropical landscape in Vietnam was crucial. At that time, the M14 was used which was a heavy and long-range weapon. After years of creating innovative configurations based on the M14, the final prototype was the ArmaLite Rifle that later became the popular AR-15. Over the years, the weapon went through improvements and is now one of the most highly versatile semi-automatic rifles to date. It was banned from 1994 up to 2004, but once it resurfaced in the gun market, it became a popular choice for many gun owners.
Final Thoughts
There are several reasons why the ArmaLite AR-15 is currently very well-known. If you’re planning on investing in a firearm soon, whether for home defense, hunting, or recreation, consider getting the AR-15 for the many advantages it has over other gun models like its versatility and user-friendly properties.
