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Originally Posted by oldschoolcalgary
i don't know if i agree - people freak out with respect to the shooting first and foremost; whether or not its an AR-15 type rifle is happenstance. People expect it to be an AR-15 type rifle as that seems to be the weapon used in most of the mass shootings of late.
IIRC, you have some expertise in weapons, so i am wondering what distinguishes the civilian version AR-15 from the military version like the M-16? is it purely the ability to go full automatic with the military weapon?
based on the articles quoting the medical personnel who have seen these injuries up close, the AR-15 does significantly more damage due to the velocity of the bullet than compared to a pistol for example. So, the choice of an AR could be based on how lethal it is compared to something like a shotgun for example
the ARs have a special place in people's minds because they have been the weapon of choice in the majority of the mass shootings that have resulted in double digit casualties...otherwise, most ppl here would have no idea of the difference in the weapons in your image.
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The AR-15 actually pre-dates the M16. The AR-15 was a smaller round version of the AR-10. The former being a 7.62x51 round (.308) versus the smaller 7.62x45 (.223). Captain identifies some good differences between the AR-15 and the M-16, but you can build an AR-15 capable of similar range with the addition of a heavier barrel. The M-16 was designed for the higher pressure 7.62x45 round, providing for longer range and as a result more durability. If you're building or buying an AR-15, buy one that is designed for the higher pressure round. You can shoot the lower pressure round through your 7.62x45 certified rifle, but should not shoot the hotter round through your .223. The additional pressure will wear on your rifle and could result in a catastrophic failure. A heavy barrel is always a good addition if you're going to put lots of rounds down range in one session, which is the real strength of the M-16.
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Originally Posted by afc wimbledon
AR stands for the ArmaLite rifle, the company that designed it, not assault, they designed it for the US army in the 50's, ironically its early history as the M16 it was considered a dog, the FN was considered a way better gun (third one down in your picture I believe), the trouble is most of these wack jobs train for their wackery, they are pretty damn good at killing herds of people, they join a range and train on line for thousands of hours
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Completely aware of what AR stands for, hence the [sic] following assault rifle. These are just narratives you hear about the rifle itself. I don't mind people criticizing guns and gun ownership, but at least have an idea what you're talking about.
The FN was a better weapon, but the Americans were pumping those M-16s out like crazy and managed to create versions that corrected the problems and would ultimately surpass the FN as a weapon (IMO).
The point of the image was to point out that the gun you sometimes think is the most dangerous is the one that isn't. The guns in that image are all .308 variants. The top one being the venerable, and completely awesome, Springfield M1A, the civilian version of the M14. Arguably the best and most dangerous of the guns in this image. Incredibly accurate but kicks like an army mule. The second is the Century Arms C308 Sporter, a nice inexpensive .308 that doesn't leave you black and blue after a day of shooting. The third from the top does look like a FN FAL, but I'm not 100% on it. There's a couple things that make me unsure, but it does have the right silhouette of the FN. The bottom is the straight AR-10 carbine - can't make out the manufacturer - which is probably the easiest of the bunch to shoot, but also the worst of the bunch IMO.