Ar-15 is history and modernity.
The original Ar-15 rifle was developed for the US Army in the second half of the 1950s by Armalite, a division of Fairchild Republic Aviation Corporation, and in 1959 it was acquired by Colt. More details about the appearance of this rifle and its transformation into an M16 rifle can be found in the corresponding article.
The first civilian versions of the Ar-15 rifle were released by Colt in 1963. The rifles were similar to the M16 rifle, except for the marking. The principal difference between the civilian and the army rifles was that the civilian variants were self-loading, i.e. they did not allow for automatic fire (queues). Up until the 1980s, these rifles were not very popular. The turning point came in the second half of the 1980s, after the adoption of the M16A2 rifle in the USA. The Colt company, followed by several other companies, began to produce civilian and police versions of this rifle, gradually expanding the range of models and variants. The Ar-15 type rifle can be produced by almost anyone, since the rights to the basic design and specifications of the rifle were purchased from the US government, and are freely available, outside the patent protection.
Early versions of the Ar-15 type civilian rifles differed little from the basic army system and usually had the same .223 / 5.56mm caliber. In the 1980s, the .22LR (5.6mm ring-type) caliber was introduced, and the .22LR (5.6mm ring-type) cartridge and magazine were fitted with special adapters, as well as 9mm and .45ACP pistol grip cartridges, for which separate upper receiver modules and magazine adapters were available. The Ar-15-type calibers were further enhanced by the addition of the Soviet 7.62x39 and its modern Western counterpart, the .300 AAC Blackout / .300 Whisper, the improved 6.8 Remington SPC and 6.5 Grendel intermediate cartridges, and a number of other more or less common calibers. In addition, as early as the late 1990s and early 21st century, this line of calibers included several specially designed large-caliber cartridges (over 11mm), such as the .450 Bushmaster, .458 SOCOM, .499 LWR or .50 Beowulf. These cartridges are designed to increase the stopping and killing effect of the rifle at short and medium ranges and are suitable for medium to large game hunting. This type of cartridge usually has bullets weighing 20-25 grams and sometimes even more, with a muzzle energy over 3,000 Joules.
Advantages and disadvantages of Ar-15 rifles
Like any other system, weapons like the Ar-15 have their advantages and disadvantages.
The advantages of this family of weapons include their modular design, which allows assembling rifles and carbines for almost any need and budget. The Ar-15 rifles can be configured in a variety of ways, from compact rifles for entertaining shooting, police needs or protection at home to high-precision hunting rifles with heavy long barrels, sniper rifles or tricked-out sports carbines for "practical" shooting.
Another advantage of these rifles is the good potential for achieving high accuracy of firing, which is built into the design and overall configuration of the rifle. The Ar-15 type rifles can have a stable accuracy of less than 1 MOA (MOA) with the right quality of workmanship and appropriate ammunition.
The Ar-15 rifles also have a good ergonomics (usually, the domestic rifle is disliked only by the cocking handle, which requires some addiction). In addition, ergonomics can be significantly improved by using available accessories, such as double-sided safety levers, handles, and buttstocks of more convenient shape and adjustable dimensions, etc.
Another advantage of the rifles of this family, at least in the basic 5.56mm / .223 caliber, is their insignificant recoil with minimal barrel thrust (due to the "linear" layout), which simplifies not only the initial training in the firing but also high-speed aiming.
The drawbacks of the "Ar-15" family weapons are also well known, although quite exaggerated by the domestic propaganda. The main claim to the Ar-15 rifles is the design of the gas-operated automatic rifle, where powder gases get inside the bolt group and out of it inside the receiver. When low-quality powders are used in combination with the refusal (for cheaper prices) to chrome the bolt group, the barrel channel and the bolt inside the bolt group, soot accumulates quickly, which in time leads to delays in the firing. In addition, even with quality cartridges and chrome-plated parts, the rifle is still somewhat more demanding to care for and clean than its main competitor, the Kalashnikov assault rifle and self-propelled rifles based on it. However, it is necessary to keep in mind that high-quality "Ar-15" rifles are capable of firing a thousand or more shots without cleaning, and cleaning such rifles is not much more difficult than cleaning a Kalashnikov rifle. But if you plan to shoot a lot of the cheapest cartridges and do not like to take care of your guns regularly - then the "Ar-15" rifle is probably not for you.
Another weakness of the Ar-15 rifles is the design of the magazines. Early aluminum magazines were rather fragile and easily damaged, and even low-quality or damaged magazines are one of the most common reasons for delays in firing Ar-15 rifles. Again, if you have chosen this type of rifle, take care not only of the good ammunition but also of the quality of the magazines and keep an eye on it.
In terms of ergonomics, Ar-15 rifles are usually criticized for the position of the bolt handle. However, you should keep in mind that during normal firing you will have to reach for this handle only twice: before the first shot for sending the cartridge and after the last one - to make sure that the cartridge is empty. You will not have to pull the bolt handle after each change of the magazine during the shooting process due to the delay in the bolt. Another constructive disadvantage of these rifles is the bolt carrier tube, which protrudes back out of the receiver and makes it impossible (at least without major modifications) to use a full-fledged folding buttstock.
Weapons and firms. In the world of technology, including the military, it often happens that there is no time for a novelty to get on the conveyor belt, as there are people who see how to improve it. Nothing can be improved, because all contracts are signed, money is allocated and any change in production will inevitably cause a delay in its release.
Or, on the contrary, the new product seems to satisfy everyone at first, but now it has been put into operation and it turned out that "we thought one thing, but it turned out to be quite different". And sometimes it happens that years pass between the beginning of production and the appearance of new construction materials and technologies, but then it turns out that their use in this old model can improve its performance is very significant.
The market is head over heels!
This is where the market, or rather the relatively private companies operating on it, helps to avoid the extremes of mass production. They are not connected with the government by large volumes of serial deliveries and can improve serial samples in any way they like. The military also wins: they can always compare them with the novelties of these companies and finally choose the best one.
M6 of 5.56 mm NATO caliber from LWRC International. Speed of fire is 700-900 shots per minute. The initial velocity of the bullet is 850 m/sec. Weight without cartridges 2.83 kg
LWRC International (Land Warfare Resources Corporation) was founded to improve the AR15 / M16 / M4 automatic rifle family. Experience has allowed us to identify all their strengths and weaknesses, and the new technologies to further strengthen the former and level the latter. As a result of the company's work, another family of M6 gas piston rifles and carbines was created, replacing the direct powder gas supply from the barrel to the receiver and to the bolt with a much more reliable short-stroke piston mechanism.
The equipment is the most modern!
The company is headquartered in Cambridge, Maryland, and has three production facilities with a total area of over 8,300 square meters. Fifty modern CNC machines, laser cutting machines, screw-cutting machines, robotic welding and painting machines, and fully compliant with all modern industrial standards are located in the workshops. LWRCI is also registered with Lloyd's Quality Registrar and fully complies with the international standard ISO-9001.
Not to the direct venting, not to the pusher!
In order to improve the M16 / AR15 / M4 family, the company's engineers have developed a patented, self-regulating short-stroke gas piston system. It completely eliminates the emission of hot, oxidized carbon gases into the receiver and eliminates their impact on the bolt. The springs there are also not burned, which is one of the main causes of failure, as well as breakdowns of various small parts. As a result, the new rifles and carbines on the market have proven to be much more reliable than their immediate predecessors.
The LWRC REPR MKII piston and bolt action. Unlike our AK, the piston is a separate spring-loaded part. The unscrewed screws on the top of the fore-end are clearly visible.
Another advantage of the piston circuit is the lower recoil force as well as the barrel toss. Surprisingly, this is achieved with the same AR-15 rifle, which is ergonomically identical to the standard rifle, weighs almost as much and has 80% interchangeable parts.
New technologies - in life!
Another "unnoticeable" novelty (or almost imperceptible) is the forged barrels made of 41B45 alloy steel by cold forging and processed by NiCorr surface hardening technology. When forging is cold, an oversized billet is taken and then compacted with high-pressure presses while wearing a mandrel. This makes it possible to obtain a perfect cut inside the barrel without any tool marks. This technology also seals the molecular structure of the metal, making it denser and more durable. These barrels can last much longer than standard barrels, without compromising accuracy or losing bullet speed. Moreover, the uniqueness of many of the rifles' barrels is immediately striking. The fact is that they are... not smooth, but spiral-corrugated, and they are 20% lighter than cylindrical rifles of the same diameter. The increased surface area accelerates cooling, and such barrels are certainly stronger than a conventional smooth barrel. Although the company has rifles with smooth barrels. They are cheaper. By the way, NiCorr surface treatment is also advantageous because it makes the barrel more wear-resistant, more heat-resistant and corrosion-resistant than with conventional chrome plating. These barrels can withstand up to 20,000 rounds, compared to 6,000 to 10,000 rounds for a standard army M4.
The twisted barrel, the gas regulator and one of the top panel screws
All rubbing parts of all M6 rifles now have a patented nickel coating, which almost eliminates corrosion and at the same time ensures constant lubrication of moving parts without oil! This nickel coating is similar to that used by the U.S. Army Research Laboratory to extend the life of existing weapon systems.
Ceramic rifle
Another innovation of the company was the Cerakote ceramic coating, which was developed as an alternative to traditional black anodizing. Cerakote is one of the types of thermally hardened coating for firearms and it is undoubtedly one of the most successful and promising developments. It is applied on top of a standard anodized coating and provides unsurpassed resistance to abrasion and corrosion. All the advantages of Teflon without sacrificing durability. This is also a self-lubricating coating, which means that these rifles can work with less lubrication, and this is especially valuable in the desert or other "dusty places". The rifles are now available in the colors of Flat Dark Earth, Olive Drab and Patriot Brown. However, all Cerakote rifles are 150 US dollars more expensive than standard black rifles, but they are worth it.
The first in the line will be the short IC-PSD rifle, which combines the firepower of the rifle cartridge with the dimensions more typical of submachine guns. Due to its size and low weight, it is easy to carry and use in a variety of conditions. It has a 177mm Picatinny bar, which allows the shooter to mount a variety of devices on his weapon. Access to the gas piston system is quite simple: you only need to loosen the two screws on the fore-end.
The barrel is 210 mm long. The bolt frame and the bolt itself have a nickel-boron coating, which gives unprecedented wear resistance, corrosion resistance and... constant lubrication.
The kit includes the LWRCI Skirmish sights, double-sided charging handle, the LWRCI compact adjustable handle, the Magpul handle and the high-performance 4-pin flash toggle switch.
The SIX8-SPR is a 6.8mm x 43mm Remington SPC II rifle. This rifle has more power than 5.56mm but is lighter than 7.62mm. The rifle uses the most commonly used alloys in the aerospace industry, which increases the quality and price of the rifle! The ejection window is enlarged, and so it is virtually identical to standard caliber weapons. The extractor spring is also reinforced
Same rifle, but with standard NATO 5.56mm ammunition - LWRC IC SPR
The LWRC REPR "Sniper Model" sniper rifle is also available with a 508 mm barrel length; the LWRC REPR "Designated Marksman Rifle" (DMR) is a precision rifle with a 457 mm barrel length; the LWRC REPR "Standard Model" (standard) with a 408 mm barrel length; and the LWRC REPR "Standard Model" with a 322 mm barrel length. By the way, the abbreviation "REPR" (Rapid Engagement Precision Rifle) can be translated into Russian as "an accurate rifle for quick target destruction", which once again emphasizes its high quality.
They have one reload handle and are moved to the left side.
The LWRC REPR-308-AR15-6 sniper rifle is an interesting feature of the LWRC REPR-308-AR15-6 sniper rifle.
LWRCI-DI 224 "Valkyrie". Another rifle for very precise firing at 1000 yards (900 m) under 6.8 x 43 mm cartridge with 30 loader
Very compact... "carbine" of 6.8-mm caliber, in which all other qualities are sacrificed for compactness, even the buttstock. However, with the AR-15 system with a buttstock, you will not be able to run away. The return spring tube, which is its basis, will still stick back!
But the company also has a real submachine gun for .45 ACP. It has a side-folding buttstock, which is more convenient than the samples that lead their ancestry directly from the AR-15. Weight without cartridges is only 1.5 kg. Chrome-nickel steel barrel 220 mm long
By the way, you can make a rifle even with a pure white coating if you wish: any whim for your money!
M14 - American automatic rifle, which was in service with the U.S. Army in 1950-1960.
Although the M14 was largely replaced by the M16 rifle, it remains in service with the U.S. Marine Corps and Navy as a Marxman rifle, and as a standard rifle in service with the armies of several other countries.
History
World War II experience has shown that the M1 Garand rifle, although it has all its advantages, needs to be seriously upgraded. The M1 Garand's power supply system was the most criticized for its 8-round power supply system, which did not allow the M1 Garand to reload a semi-empty magazine. In addition, the long gas engine with a large length and weight of moving parts caused a reduction in the firing rate.
Experiences with the M1 Garand rifle began during the war. In 1944, the Americans created a prototype of the T20 rifle, equipping the M1 with a detachable magazine for 20 rounds from the M1918 Browning automatic rifle, as well as introducing the possibility of firing queues.
After the end of the war, the Americans began work on the development of a new cartridge, which would retain the ballistic characteristics of the 7.62×63 mm cartridge with smaller dimensions. The new 7.62x51mm cartridge was developed by the early 1950s, adopted by the U.S. Army in 1952 and standardized as a standard NATO cartridge in 1954.
The next prototype, the T37, was developed for this cartridge and differed by the fact that the gas chamber was moved a little backward from the muzzle cut. Further development and testing led to the development of the T44 prototype, which differed from the T37 mainly by a modified gas engine system, in which the long-stroke circuit was replaced by a short-stroke circuit (about 37 mm).
In general, the M14 rifle satisfied the U.S. military at the time of its introduction. It was lightweight enough to have a long effective range, good accuracy, and a good killing rate.
The Cleveland Electromechanical Plant TRW was hastily converted from rocket parts to rifles. The first rifles came from the TRW factory in October 1962, one month earlier than the delivery schedule, and by the summer of 1963 the average monthly production reached 24,000 rifles per month (288,000 per year), with the price of the rifles being much lower than the competitors' (31.5% cheaper than Winchester's and almost twice cheaper than H&R). Production of trunks was organized according to the German technology of cold forging of the trunk channel and cut fields. The production line for the M14 rifle was developed at the Maremont Corp.'s automotive silencer factory in Saco, Maine, but Maremont was not awarded a contract and the line had to be reoriented to the production of M60 machine guns.
Related products
Together with the M-14, they were developed and adopted by the U.S. Army:
Store equipment (M14 Magazine Loader)
A new M76 rifle grenade launcher (which was mounted on the rifle) and a 66mm M31 shaped rifle grenade.
Night sights - several lightweight night sights of different magnitudes, diameters and lens thicknesses were developed, working in passive mode, to enhance the reflected light of celestial objects (moon and starry sky), in addition to already existing active thermal (infrared) sights.
However, the M14 proved unsuitable for the new war conditions, which quickly revealed the U.S. military action in Vietnam. The M14 was too long for jungle combat, with a large mass of each cartridge reducing its carrying capacity to unacceptably low, and it was only possible to fire in lines from the rifle from the bipods or stops and then at short ranges. Most of the rifles were given to soldiers with the fire mode translator removed, because in most cases the queueing was nothing more than a waste of ammunition - according to M14 shooters, the 3rd bullet in the queue went 10 meters above the initial point of sight at a range of 100 meters. If necessary, the interpreter could be installed back on the rifle in the field.
The design of the rifle
The M14 rifle is an automatic weapon with a magazine-powered and gas-fired automatic engine. The gas-operated unit is mounted under the barrel, and the gas piston is made in the form of a glass and has a short stroke. The gases inside the gas piston are fed through a hole in the barrel and a hole in the piston wall, and after the piston retreats back a few millimeters, the gas supply to the inside of the piston is blocked automatically, thus cutting off the "extra" gases and softening the work of automation. The gas piston does not have its own return spring. It acts on the bolt frame under the barrel, which is connected to the rotary bolt by a long lever. The bolt is similar in design to the M1 Garand and locks the barrel by turning to the right on 2 locking lugs in the cut-outs of the receiver.
The normal bolt lip interacting with the bolt frame is replaced by a roller in M14 to reduce wear and tear. The recoil spring is located under the barrel and acts on the bolt frame. The trigger mechanism is an M1 Garand-type trigger, but with the addition of a queue-fire mechanism and a fire mode selector on the right side of the receiver, above the trigger. The bolt has a delay on the left side of the receiver, which stops the bolt in the open position after all the rounds in the magazine have been consumed. Box magazines, detachable magazines, double row magazines for 20 cartridges. The rifles can be loaded without unhitching by means of standard 5-round magazines, and the upper part of the receiver is equipped with a magazine guide. The fuse lever is located in the front of the trigger guard. The sights are an adjustable diopter rear sight on the rear of the receiver and a front sight in the headband on the muzzle of the barrel.
The barrel is equipped with a slot flame arrester and bayonet mount. The stock is made of wood, with a semi-pistol grip and a metal top cover on the barrel. The M14A1 rifles have a different stock design, which is made of wood with a pistol grip and buttstock raised on the barrel line. M14A1 has a front folding handle on the forend, light bipods on the gas chamber, and a special removable muzzle brake-compensator on the flame arrester.
In the 1970s and 1980s, a large number of M14 rifles were donated to other countries as part of the allied aid. These weapons were given to Turkey, the Philippines, South Korea, and Taiwan. In the 90s, the M14 rifles were transferred to the Baltic States.
M14 was practically not used by the American army during the Desert Storm operation in 1990. However, after the beginning of active ground campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq at the beginning of this century, the U.S. Army felt an acute need for more powerful and long-range rifles than the standard 5.56 mm caliber.
The Americans followed the path of least resistance: they returned to the old and proven M14. Of course, the rifles had undergone a serious upgrade before that and were equipped with new mountings and sights, adjustable plastic buttstocks, bipods, and silencers.
Now the improved modifications of M14 with pleasure are used by fighters of various American special units.
M14 is an automatic rifle, its automatic rifle works due to the removal of powder gases from the barrel. The gas tube is located under the barrel, and the gas piston has a short stroke. The bolt is rotated to lock the barrel, and the bolt is locked with two locking lugs in the grooves of the receiver.
- The recoil spring is located under the barrel and is connected to the bolt carrier. The trigger mechanism is of the trigger type and allows for automatic firing.
- The bolt delay is mounted on the left side of the receiver, and the bolt remains in the open position after the cartridges have been used up.
- The sights consist of a diopter-type rear sight, mounted on the rear of the receiver, and a front sight in the headband. The rifle has a wooden stock with a semi-pistol grip and a metal top cover on the barrel. The barrel is equipped with a flame-thrower and bayonet mount.
- The gun is powered from box magazines with twenty rounds of ammunition.
Weapons modifications
The M14 rifle has been extensively modified over the years, only a few of which are listed below:
- M14A1. Modification of the rifle, released in 1963. It was supposed to be used as a light machine gun. The rifle was equipped with bipods and front handle.
- M14M. Commercial modification of the weapon, capable of firing only single fire.
- M21. Sniper rifle, based on the M14 version.
- M25 Sniper Weapon System. This is another sniper modification of the M14, developed for the U.S. Army's special forces in the early 90s.
- Mk 14 Mod 0 Enhanced Battle Rifle. The rifle, released in 2004 for the U.S. Navy's special forces. It has a new barrel, adjustable buttstock, bipod, pistol grip and Picatinny rail.
- M39 Enhanced Marksman Rifle. A rifle developed in 2008 for the American Marine Corps. It is equipped with Picatinny barrel, bipods and telescope sight.
- And the 7.62 mm cartridges themselves had large dimensions, which significantly reduced the number of carried ammunition.
In 1966-1967, the U.S. Army began to receive a large number of new M16 automatic rifles with a low-pulse cartridge of 5.56 x 45 mm. The M14 was still in service with the parts located in Europe, but it was soon replaced with the M16.
The M14 rifle was converted into a sniper weapon, given its powerful ammunition and good single-fire accuracy. It is still used in this capacity today.
Take care of yourself and your loved ones...