Manufacturers of weapons. From AR-10 to AR-15 and beyond
Firms that produce weapon. Today we are starting a new cycle of publications devoted to firms producing and producing small arms. Naturally, they will be told storyBut the main emphasis will be placed on what these firms are today. The individual samples that they produce will also be discussed, so that you, dear readers of “VO”, will not only get an idea of the “corporate writing” of one manufacturer or another, but also become acquainted with the best examples of what they offer to the market. ... But we will begin the story not with a particular firm, but with the history of the AR-15 rifle, which has become a kind of benchmark for the industrial production of arms firms in various countries of the world.
Today, the AR-15 / M16 family of rifles includes both army automatic assault rifles and self-loading civilian rifles, and its representatives of all types and calibers are by far the most common in the world. This is not surprising, because they are released in hundreds of different versions. The nomenclature of calibers of rifles AR-15 is so huge and totals tens of samples. At the same time, the design of the rifle is characterized by a high level of modularity, also embedded in it by a large margin of safety. This allows you to use it as a pistol cartridges, and powerful rifle. The largest producer of rifles of this family and, at the same time, their consumers are, of course, the USA. But rifles and carbines of the AR-15 type are produced by many other states. For example, their release is adjusted in Canada, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Turkey, the Czech Republic, China, Ukraine, and even here in Russia, where, it would seem, there is enough of their own weapons.
About the AR-10 automatic rifle - the immediate predecessor of the AR-15, the VO has already been told in the material “AR 10 ARMALIGHT Automatic Rifle, 7,62 caliber mm” from 30 January 2014, therefore it is hardly worth repeating everything that it reported . It is only necessary to emphasize that it “began” exactly like the rifle of the standard for the American army caliber 7,62 mm to replace the more traditional M-14 rifle.
But then it was decided to switch to the caliber of 5,56-mm and it was then that Eugene Stoner, who became the head of the development team of the firm "Armalight", just made AR-15. Moreover, he made from ... "cubes", borrowing "finished parts" from a variety of rifles and collecting all the best of them together.
AR-10 rifle: flue tube and barrel pads. By the way, it is this thin vapor pipe that is one of the highlights of the design and at the same time its plus and minus. Plus, because the piston is not needed, the extra spring is not needed, which simplifies the design. The downside is that during intense shooting it will become hot so that ... it literally glows in the dark. In this case, it can easily burst and then the rifle will fail. Yes, and clean it from soot is not easy!
In fact, the AR-15 rifle is the same AR-10 rifle, but with slight changes in design and adapted for 5,56 mm cartridges. Initially, the Amalight company created the AR-15 as its rifle for the US Army. Its development began in 1957 and with the adoption of the U.S. Army it was connected with a whole dramatic story, according to which you can even make a movie. Opponents of the rifle launched the most vile tricks, but, as it happens very often, the need that arose as a result of the war made them grind their teeth to agree that it would go into service. And first she went to Aviation, since, apparently, communication with sophisticated equipment makes people smarter, and then into field forces ... US allies of the South Vietnamese, whose low growth and weakness did not allow them to effectively control with the Garand and M-14 rifles. Well, and then that the rifle is good, came to all the other ranks of the American army. The unauthorized replacement of gunpowder in cartridges made by the manufacturers did not become an obstacle either. Yes, the rifle as a result began to become covered with soot, it began to seize, but there was no fault in this constructor - it was just necessary to use the appropriate gunpowder and equip it with cleaning devices. And measures were immediately taken. For three years, from 1967 to 1970, cheap and "dirty" gunpowder was replaced with more "clean"; urgently purchased cleaning kits; and the bore itself, the chamber and the bolt group began to chrome. Well, and the troops began to implement a program to train soldiers to care for the M16 rifle, and the instructions were issued in the form of vivid and memorable comics.
In short, over time, all the difficulties overcame, and the AR-15 rifle under the designation M-16 became the standard small arms of the US Army. At the same time the designation "AR-15" has been preserved. It is a trademark officially registered and owned by the American company Colt's Manufacturing Co, Inc. Only she can mark her rifles and carbines with them, but all other developed and produced samples based on her design should be called the “AR-15 type” or “AR-15 style”, that is, “AR-15 type” or “AR-15 style rifle”. There are also samples of the “AR-15 / M16 type” or the “M16 type”. Moreover, they may differ in some details, and otherwise correspond to the basic sample. The easiest way, for example, is to hang four Pikattini strips on the forearm and ... you will have your own AR-15 rifle, if you, of course, buy a license to manufacture it. And, on the contrary, it is possible to turn all plastic parts into wooden ones, from light wood, and sell them, advertising as the most “non-aggressive rifle in the world!”
For the civilian weapons market, Colt rifles AR-15 / M16 exhibited in 1963 year. They differ from army МNNUMX only in marking and inability to shoot the queue. However, only after the appearance of the M16X16 modification did this weapon become popular in the USA. We emphasize that any manufacturer can produce AR-2 / M15 rifles, because the US government has bought the rights to their design from the Colt company and they are not protected by any patents, unlike the brand.
There are a lot of civil versions of the M16 rifles. These rifles and army caliber chambered for 5,56х45 (.223 Remington). Then rifles under the 5,6-mm .22LR cartridge with ring ignition. Moreover, the design of the rifle does not change completely, just to the gate and the barrel special adapters are purchased. The rifles 9x19 and 11,43x23 are produced, that is, in fact, they are not even rifles, but machine pistols lacking the automatic fire function, as well as versions for FN 5,728 cartridges and our Soviet cartridge 7,6225 TT TTs - TT, but our Soviet cartridge XNUMXXNUMX TTs are TT, but they are our Soviet cartridge XNUMXXNUMX TT; happen in the world!
However, manufacturers and this seemed not enough. There were rifles chambered for 6.8 Remington SPC (6,8 x43) and 6.5 Grendel (6,5x38), then under the old Soviet 7,62x39 cartridges for Kalashnikov assault rifle and .300 Whisper cartridges (7,8x34) and Finally, a version appeared under the old American rifle cartridge 7,62х51, that is, it became a return to the AR-10 model. And now there are rifles for large-caliber cartridges, which are designed specifically for this weapon: .450 Bushmaster (11,4х43), .458 SOCOM (11,6x40) .499 LWR (12,5x44) and even .50 Beowulf (12,7XXXXUMXXXX42) and even .406 Beowulf (600XXXXXXNUMX) and even .XNUMX Beowulf (XNUMXXXXXXXNUMX). The bullets of these cartridges have a phenomenal stopping effect at small and medium shooting distances, so they can be used to hunt medium game and even certain species of large game. There is also a huge selection of barrels for these rifles, which can be from XNUMX to XNUMX mm in length.
In addition, trunks can have a standard, lightweight and heavy profile. Accordingly, the receiver can be equipped with "Picatinny plates", and not have them. Also available a large number of options for AR-15 butts of all kinds, not only adjustable in length, but with adjustable cheeks and butt plates, and even with built-in batteries for electronic sights and flashlights.
To be continued ...
Modern AR-10 rifle
Modern AR-10 rifle
Today, the AR-15 / M16 family of rifles includes both army automatic assault rifles and self-loading civilian rifles, and its representatives of all types and calibers are by far the most common in the world. This is not surprising, because they are released in hundreds of different versions. The nomenclature of calibers of rifles AR-15 is so huge and totals tens of samples. At the same time, the design of the rifle is characterized by a high level of modularity, also embedded in it by a large margin of safety. This allows you to use it as a pistol cartridges, and powerful rifle. The largest producer of rifles of this family and, at the same time, their consumers are, of course, the USA. But rifles and carbines of the AR-15 type are produced by many other states. For example, their release is adjusted in Canada, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Turkey, the Czech Republic, China, Ukraine, and even here in Russia, where, it would seem, there is enough of their own weapons.
The Z-15 is a self-loading rifle based on AR-10 Kiev company Zbroyar LLC.
AR-10T Indonesian Police, 2016
About the AR-10 automatic rifle - the immediate predecessor of the AR-15, the VO has already been told in the material “AR 10 ARMALIGHT Automatic Rifle, 7,62 caliber mm” from 30 January 2014, therefore it is hardly worth repeating everything that it reported . It is only necessary to emphasize that it “began” exactly like the rifle of the standard for the American army caliber 7,62 mm to replace the more traditional M-14 rifle.
M-14 rifle.
But then it was decided to switch to the caliber of 5,56-mm and it was then that Eugene Stoner, who became the head of the development team of the firm "Armalight", just made AR-15. Moreover, he made from ... "cubes", borrowing "finished parts" from a variety of rifles and collecting all the best of them together.
AR-10 rifle with plastic forearm, bayonet and ammunition.
AR-10 rifle: bolt and magazine for 20 rounds.
AR-10 rifle: flue tube and barrel pads. By the way, it is this thin vapor pipe that is one of the highlights of the design and at the same time its plus and minus. Plus, because the piston is not needed, the extra spring is not needed, which simplifies the design. The downside is that during intense shooting it will become hot so that ... it literally glows in the dark. In this case, it can easily burst and then the rifle will fail. Yes, and clean it from soot is not easy!
Rifle AR-10: shutter.
In fact, the AR-15 rifle is the same AR-10 rifle, but with slight changes in design and adapted for 5,56 mm cartridges. Initially, the Amalight company created the AR-15 as its rifle for the US Army. Its development began in 1957 and with the adoption of the U.S. Army it was connected with a whole dramatic story, according to which you can even make a movie. Opponents of the rifle launched the most vile tricks, but, as it happens very often, the need that arose as a result of the war made them grind their teeth to agree that it would go into service. And first she went to Aviation, since, apparently, communication with sophisticated equipment makes people smarter, and then into field forces ... US allies of the South Vietnamese, whose low growth and weakness did not allow them to effectively control with the Garand and M-14 rifles. Well, and then that the rifle is good, came to all the other ranks of the American army. The unauthorized replacement of gunpowder in cartridges made by the manufacturers did not become an obstacle either. Yes, the rifle as a result began to become covered with soot, it began to seize, but there was no fault in this constructor - it was just necessary to use the appropriate gunpowder and equip it with cleaning devices. And measures were immediately taken. For three years, from 1967 to 1970, cheap and "dirty" gunpowder was replaced with more "clean"; urgently purchased cleaning kits; and the bore itself, the chamber and the bolt group began to chrome. Well, and the troops began to implement a program to train soldiers to care for the M16 rifle, and the instructions were issued in the form of vivid and memorable comics.
In the American Army, the M16 is used in various configurations, including the barrel-mounted 40-mm grenade launcher. Model M16A4.
In short, over time, all the difficulties overcame, and the AR-15 rifle under the designation M-16 became the standard small arms of the US Army. At the same time the designation "AR-15" has been preserved. It is a trademark officially registered and owned by the American company Colt's Manufacturing Co, Inc. Only she can mark her rifles and carbines with them, but all other developed and produced samples based on her design should be called the “AR-15 type” or “AR-15 style”, that is, “AR-15 type” or “AR-15 style rifle”. There are also samples of the “AR-15 / M16 type” or the “M16 type”. Moreover, they may differ in some details, and otherwise correspond to the basic sample. The easiest way, for example, is to hang four Pikattini strips on the forearm and ... you will have your own AR-15 rifle, if you, of course, buy a license to manufacture it. And, on the contrary, it is possible to turn all plastic parts into wooden ones, from light wood, and sell them, advertising as the most “non-aggressive rifle in the world!”
For the civilian weapons market, Colt rifles AR-15 / M16 exhibited in 1963 year. They differ from army МNNUMX only in marking and inability to shoot the queue. However, only after the appearance of the M16X16 modification did this weapon become popular in the USA. We emphasize that any manufacturer can produce AR-2 / M15 rifles, because the US government has bought the rights to their design from the Colt company and they are not protected by any patents, unlike the brand.
AR-15 in the version of the shortened M4 carbine.
There are a lot of civil versions of the M16 rifles. These rifles and army caliber chambered for 5,56х45 (.223 Remington). Then rifles under the 5,6-mm .22LR cartridge with ring ignition. Moreover, the design of the rifle does not change completely, just to the gate and the barrel special adapters are purchased. The rifles 9x19 and 11,43x23 are produced, that is, in fact, they are not even rifles, but machine pistols lacking the automatic fire function, as well as versions for FN 5,728 cartridges and our Soviet cartridge 7,6225 TT TTs - TT, but our Soviet cartridge XNUMXXNUMX TTs are TT, but they are our Soviet cartridge XNUMXXNUMX TT; happen in the world!
And this is also AR-15. Produced by Daniel Diften's Marty Daniel in Savannah, Georgia, which was founded in 2002 year. After rapid growth in 2009, the company moved to a new venture in Black Creek.
However, manufacturers and this seemed not enough. There were rifles chambered for 6.8 Remington SPC (6,8 x43) and 6.5 Grendel (6,5x38), then under the old Soviet 7,62x39 cartridges for Kalashnikov assault rifle and .300 Whisper cartridges (7,8x34) and Finally, a version appeared under the old American rifle cartridge 7,62х51, that is, it became a return to the AR-10 model. And now there are rifles for large-caliber cartridges, which are designed specifically for this weapon: .450 Bushmaster (11,4х43), .458 SOCOM (11,6x40) .499 LWR (12,5x44) and even .50 Beowulf (12,7XXXXUMXXXX42) and even .406 Beowulf (600XXXXXXNUMX) and even .XNUMX Beowulf (XNUMXXXXXXXNUMX). The bullets of these cartridges have a phenomenal stopping effect at small and medium shooting distances, so they can be used to hunt medium game and even certain species of large game. There is also a huge selection of barrels for these rifles, which can be from XNUMX to XNUMX mm in length.
Another development of the AR-15 company "Daniel Defense" in camouflage coloring, with four Picatinny slats and a leather podshchechnik on the butt. Today, a rifle can have the most varied coverage - to be black, sandy, green, “divorced”, have a variety of barrels, and even vary the automation used on them.
In addition, trunks can have a standard, lightweight and heavy profile. Accordingly, the receiver can be equipped with "Picatinny plates", and not have them. Also available a large number of options for AR-15 butts of all kinds, not only adjustable in length, but with adjustable cheeks and butt plates, and even with built-in batteries for electronic sights and flashlights.
To be continued ...
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