Lightweight, nimble, low recoil, big firepower in a small package…
The AR-15 was designed in the mid 1950s by Eugene Stoner at the ArmaLite Division of the Fairchild Engine and Airplane Corporation, located then at Costa Mesa, CA [right up the road from the current location of the Bikernet World Headquarters]. I’m not going to get into the history or politics involved in the evolution of this rifle – surf the net and visit the library and you can consume years ingesting all the words written about it and arguing with everyone about the issues. Just contemplate the fact that 2009 will mark the 50th anniversary of the sale by Armalite of the manufacturing and marketing rights of the rifle to Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company of Hartford, CT.
Colt became the original producers of the military full-auto M-16 and the first semi-auto commercial AR-15’s. Who knows how many have been built by Colt and other contractors? Some say approx 8 million standard 20” barrel M-16’s alone. Long barrels, short barrels, mid-length barrels, different rifling twists, fixed handles, flat-tops, fixed stocks, retracting stocks, … the numbers of variations out there, and corresponding names for them, boggle the mind. The 16” retractable stocked carbine became an early favorite of both law enforcement and military personnel due to its light weight, nimbleness, low recoil, and big firepower in a small package. The most prolific commercial black rifle being sold in America today is a semi-automatic version of the M-4 carbine our troops are currently using, with the 1:7 twist 16” barrel for stabilizing the heavier 77 grain rounds, retractable 6-position stock, and removable carry handle mounted on a Picatinny rail. Most manufacturers make a similar clone. Aficionados argue that this version represents the epitome of the genre.
If you’re like most red-blooded American gun nuts [and most bikers are], you want one of these. I’m not making this up. This gun is being sold in amazing numbers all over America. Even Remington, Smith & Wesson, and good old names like Charles Daly and High Standard are selling versions. So, let’s cut through the crap and pick one.
First, like everything else in this capitalistic country, there are top, middle, and lower “tier” versions of this gun. Hey, if you appreciate the finer things in life and can afford it, then pick a Barrett REC7 in 6.8 SPC and revel in its splendor. I like Colt first, Lewis Machine & Tool second, and Bushmaster third. You can spend a lot more or a lot less; all will spit lead down range in an aggressive manner. Pick the one you like and can afford and accessorize it all you want, but please try and avoid becoming one of the “tacti-cool” gadget snobs that crowd the ranges these days with carbines covered with gewgaws like a Christmas tree. Learn to use your iron sights first and they won’t let you down. Save that gadget money and put it in good magazines and ammo for practice.
