9 AR-15 Facts You Probably Didn't Know
Posted by Doug Shoemaker on May 17th 2022
You probably already know that the AR-15 is America's gun, but here are some AR-15 facts you may not have known!
5.56mm Bullets are the Same Diameter as .22
Most AR-15s fire 5.56mm, which happens to be the same diameter as .22 LR. However, 5.56mm is significantly more effective.
M16 and M4 Rifles are Modeled After the AR-15 Design
Eugene Stoner first developed his design for Armalite; however, Armalite sold the patent to Colt. Colt Then used the design to model their full-auto military weapons. AR-15s are not automatic, or burst fire as the media and liberal politicians would lead people to believe.
Fun fact about M16s: They were sent to Vietnam with no cleaning kit when produced.
AR-15 is a Class of Rifle and a Model
Although AR-15 originally referred to the rifle model, multiple manufacturers now produce rifles of this class. However, Colt still holds the registered trademark on "AR-15," which is why different manufacturers give them other model designations.
AR-15s Range From .22 LR up to .50 Beowulf
Originally AR-15s were chambered for 5.56x45mm NATO rounds. However, versions now range from .22 LR all the way up to .450 Bushmaster and .50 Beowulf.
You can Fire Standard .223 Remington Ammo in AR-15s Chambered in 5.56mm
You cannot do the reverse! Most ARs are designed to handle higher pressures generated by 5.56mm. However, some are not! Therefore, we still only recommend that you only load what your rifle is stamped for.
AR-15s Can Accept Mags From 5-100 Rounds
Although most AR-15s have a 30-round mag, they can accept detachable magazines all the way up to 100 rounds.
ArmaLite Sold the Design to Colt Because of Financial Difficulties
In 1959 ArmaLite sold its rights to the AR-15 due to financial issues and limited production ability.
The 15 Refers to the Model Number
Hopefully, you already know that AR stands for ArmaLite Rifle. Still, you may not have known that the 15 is simply the gun's model number.
About 10% of Competitive Rifle Shooters are now Women
You may be wondering what this has to do with AR-15s. However, this is primarily attributed to the ARs being light and having little recoil, opening the sport up better to women.
Did You Find These AR-15 Facts Interesting?
Did you gain any new knowledge from this list of facts, or was it all old news? If you liked the article, don't forget to drop your email below to see more articles like it as well as deals, sales, and events!