Colt AR-15: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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[[File:Modified AR-15.jpeg|thumb|Modified AR-15]]

The AR-15 rifle was first built in 1958 by [[ArmaLite]] as a [[small arms]] [[selective fire]] weapon for military purposes. Since then, it has been produced in many different versions. The term ''AR-15" (''ArmaLitesignifies Rifle)"Armalite alsorifle, wasdesign chosen15", but is used in a number of ways. by Colt uses the label "AR-15" for the [[semi-automatic firearm|semiautomatic]] civilian models it produced after selling the rifle to the U.S. military as the [[M16 rifle]], and so many use this term only for civilian models. This article discusses the original design for military users and its major variants, however they are labelled.

AR-15 rifles are lightweight, [[gas-operated reloading|gas-operated]], [[magazine (firearms)|magazine]]-fed, and air-cooled. They fire an [[intermediate cartridge]], and are manufactured with extensive use of [[aluminum alloys]] and synthetic materials. The design splits the rifle into two major components: the lower half, containing the trigger and buttstock, and the upper half, which contains the bolt and barrel. This approach allows modular replacement of components.