What is the reason for making so many different AR style rifles in .223, or 5.56?
What is the source of their popularity? I know one guy who owns a gun chambered in .223, and from what he’s told me, the only advantage to the round is expense, a .222, 22-250, or 25-06 will outshoot it. Do these guns just trade on looks, or is there an inherent advantage to the AR platform and the .223 round? I have an SKS, not the greatest gun in the world, but the ammo is incredibly cheap, and it is about the most reliable semi-auto action available. I know some people call 7.62×39 underpowered, but to me the reliability and expense make up for any and all deficiencies, if there are any. So I’m not dumping on surplus or military style guns- I know that for a multi-purpose gun, you absolutely can’t beat surplus guns. But it seems as though a quarter to half of the new semi-auto rifles in catalogues are AR in .223. The rounds not underpowered, and I’m sure they’re very accurate, but why so many of the exact same design? Especially since the action isn’t the most reliable.
Posted in Military Rifles
April 9th, 2010 at 6:45 pm
You can’t beat the AR in terms of accessory-availability. Anything and everything is made for it. Different calibers exist to meet different demands. .223 is okay short range, on lightly clothed targets, but at distance, or for armored (or simply tough!) opponents, some more "juice" is needed, hence the .280, the 6.5 Grendel (yeah!), and others.
In terms of reliability, there are now gas-piston varieties of the AR available. Or, a person can keep immaculate care of his AR. They will actually perform pretty reliably, given a chrome chamber and good components. Many reports of poor reliability come from cheap, poorly maintained versions.
My own Bushmaster (heavy, free-floated 16" bbl, 2-7x scope, Sierra match ammo) shot a 1 1/2" group at 300 yards off a bench. Same size as my bull barrel Savage sniper rifle with the same ammo, and a higher power scope! Why not have semi-auto and lighter weight?!
Lot of guys I know in Iraq use the AK because if theirs fails, they can pick up what’s lying on the ground and continue… Most guys who are in fixed sites, or have good backup prefer the AR because of the accessory situation.
April 9th, 2010 at 6:45 pm
different models usualy are diff because of weight of gun. recoil. dampers. heat. blah blha blah there are so many reasons why.
April 9th, 2010 at 6:45 pm
You’ve basically answered your own question. These calibers were originally designed for military guns. And they originally come from countries with large militaries. So the lowest bidder gets to design the rifle, and their engineers also decide which ammo will perform best. Then they produce millions of these guns, and the ammo is made by the billions. Ammo sources are ever abundant, so other manufacturers create rifles that also use very cheap and very available ammo.
April 9th, 2010 at 6:45 pm
I agree with the avat. depends on if got fixed sights what your surroundings are distance, or up close heavy! gotta give it your best either wAY! #1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 9th, 2010 at 6:45 pm
Mostly due to the fact that the design itself is of military origin and 5.56 is a NATO standard. You can convert your AR15 to many different calibers, such as 7.62×39, 50 Beowolf, 9mm, etc. But for 90% of the rifle’s owners and users, 5.56 serves them well because the round is readily available, there’s an unending military surplus (which is what keeps the round cheap, just as the millions of SKS’s and AK’s keep 7.62×39 cheap).
Not to mention an unending supply of parts and modifications of the rifle since it’s been around some 30 years, used and new G.I. magazines for it are available only in 5.56 and are dirt cheap, etc., etc.
For what most people use the gun for (target shooting, varmit hunting, shooting competitions) the 5.56/.223 round is the way to go. It has outstanding accuracy, good balistics, and it’s easy on the pocketbook.
April 9th, 2010 at 6:45 pm
I have one AR lower and three uppers for it. One is a standard upper, with the carry handle, the other two are flattops. One is a heavy barrel for varmint hunting, another is a short barreled medium contour for three gun IPSC shoots. The rifle is reliable and accurate.
The versatility of the design is the reason for its popularity.
April 9th, 2010 at 6:45 pm
I believe two factors are in play that make the M16 and AK47 and their variants so popular.
1 = and the lest of the two factors is ammo, inexpensive and availability.
2 = First and foremost its appearance, the Fear Factor it looks intimidating and has so much controversy that the very controversy its self works as free publicity making them one of the most common house hold terms “Assault Rifle” when 90% of the public thank in that terms one of two weapons pop in to their head.
Then you must look at the role reverse psychology plays, when you try and ban something or tell some one you cant have it the more it’s wonted and that drives people get one before it’s banned again.
The Assault Rifle ban and bad publicity has played a role in selling more of these 2 styles of weapons then any other positive publicity campaigns launched by the dealers and or manufactures.
Before all the bad publicity on the M16 and the AK47 sells were not that good, but start a campaign to ban it and the demand for that weapon will jump just as it has.
I from the old school, when the M16 first came out, and was not impressed.
I hear it has improved, but in its evolution it cost the lives on too many good men.
I don’t have either style M16 or AK47 and have no desire for one.
That is my thoughts on the subject.
D58
April 9th, 2010 at 6:45 pm
The main factor is M*O*N*E*Y!
As long as there are so many out there who just HAVE to have a ‘poodle shooter’, there will be companies that will continue to crank ‘em out.
Not even considering that the original chambering: 5,56 NATO, or .223 Remington is ridiculously ineffective as a combat round, and illegal for hunting anything except varmints in almost all states. It’s only real saving factors are the cheap supply of surplus ammo,or the availability of components to convert the weapon to a more effective cartridge.
What other military weapon has had to be modified with a ‘forward assist’ control to close the bolt when the weapon malfunctions, as the ‘poodle shooter’ is STILL prone to do?
April 9th, 2010 at 6:45 pm
Have you priced 7.62×39 ammo lately? it is not exactly cheap anymore…
With that said, an AR lower with an add on .22LR upper is a good investment right now, and they are pretty easy to put together.