The AR-15 rifle (AR-15) is an American-made semi-automatic rifle. It is a descendant of such weapons as the AR-10 and M-16. Details in the article.
A bit of history
The world famous rifle M-16 has become as popular as a Kalashnikov assault rifle. Meanwhile, in the fifties in the west, it was decided to switch to smaller cartridge sizes (from 7.62 to 5.56). Then Eugene Stoner took as a basis his AR-10 with a caliber of 7.62, and in 1958 saw the light of a new product from Armalite Division called AR-15. The AR-15 assault rifle had a caliber of 5.56 and was capable of breaking through a standard army helmet.
Stoner suggested using plastic and aluminum alloys to make the new product much easier compared to its predecessors. This was the AR-15 rifle. Magazine capacity (due to the reduction of cartridge caliber) has been increased.
Unusual design
The AR-15 rifle (photo below) was made of their ultralight alloys. A design feature was the presence of an “ear” for carrying weapons above the bolt mechanism. On it were located devices for aiming. Butt is located on the same line with the barrel.
In mid-1958, tests were conducted, during which errors were identified: low accuracy, as well as frequent misfires.
In the end, it was decided to send the sample for revision, but to another design bureau - Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company, which, in turn, completely crushed the aforementioned Armalite Division for itself in the future.
Vietnam
Small-caliber rifles AR-15 in the amount of thousands of copies were purchased from Colt and exported to the south of Vietnam in 1962. The purpose of the purchase was one: to test a new model in real combat conditions.
By the way, the same Eugene Stoner who left Armalite Division and went over to the "Colts" worked on the revision of the weapon.
The results were very deplorable. In a battle, the rifle was very picky. Poorly selected gunpowder emitted too many gases during combustion. They, in turn, formed a mass of burning material that accumulated inside, which led to the jamming of the sleeves in the chamber. They had to be removed using a ramrod. At the same time, the Vietnamese armed with "Kalash" did not experience such difficulties. A periodically failed AR-15 rifle led to rupture of the barrel and death on the battlefield.
Conclusions and improvements
After the unsuccessful experience of the Vietnam campaign, the designers revised the operating conditions of the new weapon. The AR-15 rifle began to be produced with the barrel surface chromed from the outside, which increased rust resistance, a different type of gunpowder was chosen for the production of ammunition, and standard gun grease guns were replaced with specially selected viscous oil designed for aggressive environmental conditions. In particular, for fighting in the tropical climate of Vietnam.
TTX AR-15
In 1958, weapons began to be reckoned in the United States as civilian. This is the status that the AR-15 rifle received. The characteristics were as follows:
- weight ranged from 2.27 to 3.9 kg, depending on the number of cartridges in the store;
- in length the product reached 991 mm;
- while the barrel length was 508 mm according to the standard;
- 5.56 mm cartridge or .338 Specter according to the NATO classification;
- the rate of assault rifle ranged from 700 to 950 rounds per minute;
- Muzzle velocity - 975 m / s;
- aiming range of weapons - 400-600 meters.
XM16E1, or the revival of the M-16
Further in the US arms industry there were all sorts of permutations from 1963 to 1967. At first, Colt received an order for a large batch of M-16 and small XM16E1, then they refused the XM-ok, conducting them according to technical documentation as a means to fill the gaps between the withdrawn weapons and not yet accepted new ones.
Technically, the XM16E1 model included positive qualities from both the M-16 and the AR-15. As a result, in 1967, this model of rifle was adopted, but under the marking M16A1 with a 5.56 caliber cartridge.
In addition, around the world began to mass-produce weapons samples based on the Eugene Stoner model under various names. Virtually all of them are clones of the AP-15.
Rifle "Hammer". Russia
Domestic hunting lovers have long preferred to use for their hobby not carbines of the Saiga type, but western models. They are based on the rifle AR-15. Russia produces carbines called Vepr-15, which are also called the Hammer in honor of the manufacturing plant in Vyatka.
The weapon gained popularity due to its low cost in comparison with the competitors. Nevertheless, thanks to a design similar to the AR-15, it is possible to install an additional body kit.
Domestic designers did not disclose the details of the ratio of foreign parts in Vepr to domestic ones, but it is known that the barrel is chrome-plated, as Colt originally installed after the “Vietnam tests”. On the one hand, this is good, on the other hand, it’s not very good, since it is problematic to replace such a part.
The sample also won the sympathy of hunters thanks to a more optimal balance and weight compared to models based on a Kalashnikov assault rifle. And the world market is simply overwhelmed with weapons kit based on AR-15.
Rifle AR-15 "Schmeiser." Germany.
The term "Schmeiser" is associated with many with the MP-40 submachine gun of the Second World War. But this weapon has its own history and its own design subtleties.
Nevertheless, the arms innovator Hugo Schmeisser earned the title of one of the most brilliant weapons designers of the twentieth century. The company that bears his name produces semi-automatic rifles marked AR-15 for sports purposes, as well as for hunting.
The company is famous for the fact that all components are manufactured exclusively in Germany, which guarantees the glorified German quality of products. And our own quality assessment system contributes to the speedy interaction with a potential buyer.
Heckler & koch
Another arms company in Germany, which is based on the AR-15 rifle. The model is marked HK416. The title reflects the transitional principle of compatibility with NATO standards such as M-16 and M-14. The assault rifle is similar to the AR-15 only in appearance. Functionally, it is closer to German models such as G36.
The undoubted advantages of the product are:
- Universality: there are many options for attaching the body kit, which allows you to adapt the weapon to any conditions of warfare.
- High firing accuracy, as well as accuracy - thanks to these indicators, you can use it as a sniper rifle, the main thing is to install an optical sight.
- Soft recoil - thanks to the design of the stock borrowed from the M-16, a convenient handle that allows the weapon to comfortably "sit" on the hand.
- High corrosion resistance.
Disadvantages:
- the rifle has an excessive rate of fire (850 rounds per minute), because of this ammunition runs out very quickly (which forces the soldier to carry their large stock), it quickly overheats, shooting in bursts is difficult - the barrel is pulled to the side (especially for short-barrel samples).
"Orsis"
Another domestic weapon model, which is based on the western AR-15, is the ORSIS AS-15 self-loading hunting carbine .
First of all, it is worth noting that initially J. Stouner himself did not pay due attention to the removal of gases. They were thrown only through the hole in the trunk. Such measures led to the formation of a burnt powder and jamming of the sleeve in the chamber.
Therefore, many companies that have decided to clone the AR-15, produce products with a gas piston, due to the fact that this method of removal of powder gases is more reliable and cost-effective.
The Moscow company Promtekhnologiya developed this carbine on the same basis using a 5.56 caliber. It is noteworthy that the barrel of the weapon is manufactured by the company itself, and is not supplied from abroad.
In addition, cutting the barrel with a pitch of 203 mm is used, which allows the use of heavy bullets. The design provides for the use of a standard telescopic stock by modern standards, in order to adapt the weapon based on the hunter's complexion.
The length of the weapon is 870 mm, and the weight is almost 4 kg (3.95, to be exact).
Due to the presence of Picattini straps, the installation of a tactical body kit and optical sights of various types is provided.
Clone attack
It should be noted that the AR-15 rifle has a common fate with a Kalashnikov assault rifle. In many countries of the world, weapons are produced based on the principle of work invented by Eugene Stoner:
- In Georgia, the STC Delta company produces a model called G5;
- Israel produces semi-automatic rifles Gilboa 14.5 (Silver Shadow company);
- Colt's Canada subsidiary produces a deadweight version called Diemaco C7 / C8 - apparently they love the classics or have found a way to deal with burns from gunpowder;
- Norinco China Corporation followed the same path with the Norinco CQ 5.56;
- United Arab Emirates produce weapons, which were given the name of a wild cat - Caracal CAR 816;
- even the Korean company Daewoo, a well-known automobile manufacturer, has in its assortment a sample of Daewoo K2;
- in Russia, in addition to the Orsys and the Boar, there is also the Skat GM-15;
- designers from Taiwan completely christened their creation T65 / T86 / T91 - it is not clear whether the cannon, or the tank, or the plane;
- Ukraine - a product called Zbroyar Z-15;
- but in the Philippines there are as many as two designers and, accordingly, two samples - UDMC F5-PVAR and Ferfrans SOAR P;
- Montenegro - Tara TM4;
- Czech Republic - LUVO LA-16 from the company LUVO Arms;
- and completes the list Switzerland with their Astra StG4.
Conclusion
As the long history shows, technological progress does not stand still. This also applies to weapons. Every year its new species are invented. One product overshadows its performance with another. Errors are taken into account, corrected. And the positive aspects are being finalized, so that in the end, a perfect quality model can be developed that can pass all the tests and be accepted for service.
Once, Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov came up with a system that formed the basis of the world famous line of automata. Eugene Stoner came up with his own, which also became legendary and spawned a whole weapons line.
Perhaps now, somewhere, someone will come up with something unique, something unimaginable before. After all, technological progress does not stand still. And the new time creates new technologies and gives rise to new ideas.
In mass culture, to this day, disputes regarding what is cooler: the AK-74 or still the M-16, do not subside. Some put forward the argument that “Kalash rails the rail”, while others retorted “yeah, and the aircraft carrier drowns”. Few people think that the M-16 will also break the rail, even less - that these disputes are meaningless.
Just two world-class geniuses made their fundamental contribution to the arms industry by immortalizing their names.