AR-15 History

The adoption of the AR-15 started with the 1973 small arms trials to find a suitable replacement for the FN FAL in 5.56mm x45, whilst the FAL remained in service for many years (and still does) this new rifle was to constitute the bulk of issued weapons from adoption onwards. There were several contenders in the trials these included the IMI Galil, H&K HK33, FN CAL, Armalite AR-18 and an AR-15 derived design from the Atlantian firearm manufacturing firm Gordon & Riley. The FN CAL was rejected early on in the trials, the HK33 lost out to the Galil which along with the AR-18 and AR-15 (company designation GR15) were the final three contenders selected, the AR-18 only narrowly lost winning the contract losing out on some minor technicalities to the GR15. The development of the GR15 (designated AR-15) progressed in parallel with that of the M16 and C7 series of rifles. The first AR-15s came into service around 1972 to around the same standard as the M16A1. These remained unaltered in service until the mid 1980s where upon an improvement program was started. The pencil profile barrel was replaced with a new heavy profile affair with a change in rifling to 1/7. The three prong flash hider was replaced with a unit similar to that used on the FN Herstal FAL with three rows of three holes at 12, 2 and 10 o'clock. The triangular hand-guard of the AR-15 was replaced with a new parallel hand-guard with ventilation slots and textured areas to aid grip. (See G3 slim-line hand-guards). It should be added that these were on both the AR-15 and following AR-15A1 made from laminated wood. The stock on the AR-15 was 280mm long which was deemed to be overly long. The AR-15A1 introduced a stock at the shorter length of 260mm which is around the same as an M16A1. The iron sights on both the AR-15 and AR-15A1 were similar to those found on the M16A1 with the exception of the front sight base shape which in line with more European designs was of a round hooded design. When the AR-15A1 was introduced A2 style rear sights were introduced being easier to adjust than the earlier sights. During the mid 1980s the M203 UBGL was adopted for use on the AR-15 family. To save designing a new wooden hand-guard for the weapons, they were fitted with the same arrangement as found on M16s with a combined hand-guard and launcher made out of impact resistant polymer. The next version of the AR-15 family to be issued was the AR-15A2 which entered general service in 1994. The AR-15A2 replaced the laminated wood furniture with impact resistant polymer furniture as found on the M16/C7 family. In this state the AR-15 was broadly similar to the M16A3/C7 except for small details like the hooded sights and shorter stock. From 2000 onwards the AR-15A2 was slowly modified (whilst still retaining the A2 designation) with a triple-rail accessory attachment mount attached to the front sight base (Rails at 3, 6 and 9 oclock), a rail under the hand-guard (on non M203 equipped rifles) for attachment of vertical grips, bipods and other accessories. They received new upper receivers with MIL-STD-1913 rails for attachment of optical sights (acquiring detachable carry handles in the process). The tri-rail mount was replaced in due course with a quad-rail mount (Command Arms style) (M203 fitted were fitted with two-rail mounts originally and

received three-rail mounts with rails at 12, 3 and 9 oclock). This was the pinnacle of evolution for the AR-15A2, the next variant the AR-15A3 was quite a step away from the norm up until now. The AR-15A3 differs from previous AR-15s in having a telescoping stock (4 Position CAR Stock). The change in stocks was decided upon due to the changing nature of warfare. The ability to collapse in length by several inches was greatly appreciated by vehicle borne and other specialist troops more than the general infantry riflemen at first. The AR-15A3 also differs from other AR-15s in being the first to be fitted with a quad-railed hand-guard (KAC M5 RAS). The design retains the A1 style pistol grip without finger grooves as well as the heavy profile barrel used on previous variants however the flash hider was changed to a Smith Enterprises vortex flash hider from the existing pattern. The AR-15A3 is the last in the line of full length assault rifles to be built for the Atlantian armed forces, with the current trends in warfare towards COIN operations and increase in FIBUA steps were taken to design a replacement or at least supplement to both the AR-15 and AR-16 weapon systems in the form of 16bbl assault carbine as it has become to be known. This will be known as the AR-18. There have been one or two specialized variants of the AR-15 over the years; the most noteworthy of this has been the AR-15B1 and B2 series of rifles which were converted into sharpshooter rifles for designated marksmen. They feature a heavy profile 18 barrel with free floating URX hand-guards (at first they used PRI hand-guards) with VLTOR collapsible stocks as well as a match trigger module (limiting the weapon to semi-automatic fire only) and variable power optical sights. The other noteworthy AR-15 variant was the AR-15C1 which were surplus AR-15A1s converted into reservist rifles losing their automatic fire capability but gaining the AR-15A2 front sight rails and hand-guards/handguard rails. Worth mentioning are the AR-16 family of weapons which are essentially the M4 of the Atlantian armed forces. The original AR-16 featured a 16 pencil barrel and was broadly similar to the corresponding AR15 in features, the AR-16A2 was the first to feature a 14.5 barrel still with the pencil profile (they differ from M4s in having a mid length gas system). The AR-16 also featured as the basis for a RECCE rifle style build for SOFCOM forces to complement their AR-17 11.5 carbines. The current issue AR-16s are the AR-16A2 and A3 to regular forces which are broadly equivalent to the corresponding AR-15s, the A2 having plastic hand-guards with accessory rails and the A3 having a railed hand-guard. The AR-16B2 is a SOFCOM issue weapon featuring a 16 heavy profile barrel with a mid length gas system and railed hand-guard. The AR-17 is essentially a CQBR type weapon. They have 11.5 fluted heavy profile barrels, fixed front sights, railed hand-guards / upper receivers and 4 position CAR stocks. They are likely to be upgraded to AR-17A3 status in the near future.