What is your AR15 for?

[William B.]

For my fellow AR15 owners: what made you decide to buy one and what role does it fill in your tool kit? Some of us view it as something that is fun to have and fire at the range, while others of us have a serious purpose behind putting this weapon in our safe or patrol car. What do you use yours for? Let's hear it!

[William B.]

I depend on my Colt 6920 as a home-defense weapon. I know this may not be everybody's first choice, but I have become very familiar with this type of firearm over the last 6 years or so, and its manual-of-arms has become muscle-memory to me. I also appreciate the wide-spread availability of replacement parts, accessories, and ammunition. It's a very versatile platform and I know that if my needs ever change I will likely be able to reconfigure my AR to meet these new needs.

I have also depended on a Colt M4 overseas as my issued weapon. It's performance dispelled all reservations that I had about the M16 family or the direct impingement gas system and it proved itself reliable everyday.

[tmd17]

I have also found the platform to be very reliable when properly lubed. I plink short range (200 yards) steel, targets out to 300 yards, and will have small friendly competitions with mine. I do not shoot it much as I am more of a handgun shooter than anything, but I keep my AR against the day that things go crazy. Home defense is my every day carry 1911 or my "slightly" modified Remington 870.

[William B.]

I have also found the platform to be very reliable when properly lubed.

Thanks, tmd 17. It seems like there are a lot of misperceptions regarding the reliability of the M16 family. Would anybody else who voted in the pole like to discuss how you use your AR?

[Gibson]

LE6920:

I voted as you did.

I kinda have mine "paired" with a Mossberg 590 SP trench gun- awaiting the colt M7 bayo to complete the trench gun, as I type this- just want to be prepared in case the Zombies come in waves

My LE6920 is just as I purchased it and will remain so. Admittedly, I like the idea of having the "trench gun" but it just a cheap black sling, heat shield, (soon to be) bayo, bead site, plain black synthetic stock and nine rounds of 2 2/3" 00 buck. . . old school military style. All of tacti-cool stuff is not my style. I like my guns to resemble the way I have lived, viz., plain, hard-nosed, gritty, and a straight shooter.

God bless

[Abe Anglin]

Poodles!

I hate poodles ...

[big_gus]

Mine are for target practice and plinking. Plus I feel alot better having one (among others) with a bunch of ammo and mags in case the S*** Ever Hits The Fan!

[dandak]

Bought mine (hbar) used back in 1989 for fun. I put over 6000 thru it so far and my records indicate only 1 failure to eject at 4722 and 2 feeding failures at 2061 and 4717. In all 3 instances it was my reloads that were shot and I can trace the feeding failures to my reloads but not necessarily the ejecting failure. Not really bad. The round count may be off a bit. Sometimes it is hard to keep track but basically I know how much ammo I take out and how much I bring back, I simply write the number down and keep track in my reloading book.

[William B.]

... I feel alot better having one (among others) with a bunch of ammo and mags in case the S*** Ever Hits The Fan!

That's a good point, Gus. Some people would say that's crazy talk, but when you look at events like the Rodney King riots, the Hurricane Katrina aftermath, events surrounding the G20 Summit in PA, etc., it really doesn't seem too far-fetched.

How about those of you who put "other"? (Well, besides you, Abe Anglin ) Any chance you all could expound on your AR use? Maybe it's a collector's item...

And whoever put "patrol/duty" use: I'm interested in what you have to say as well. Were you able to purchase your own carbine or was it issued to you?

[tac803]

My decision to return to the AR platform as a primary defensive weapon was based on several reasons. 1- Adequate ballistics and firepower 2- Readily available spare parts and armorer available through the dept. 3- Reliability and proven track record 4- Variety of loads available to handle different situations. I wanted one rifle as a primary weapon, and the above factors made it, for me, an obvious choice over other available options.