What is an assault rifle and how does it differ from a regular rifle?
One is designed to kill 20 people in 10 seconds and the other one isn't.
One is designed for military use and warfare, the other one isn't.
Any other incredibly stupid questions?
You aren't going to kill 20 people in 10 second with a semi-automatic weapon, and we already prohibit full auto weapons in this country for civilian use. Got any other good exaggerations to impress the people that know nothing about weapons?
I keep showing the differences and the samilarities between the AR and the M-16 and why both can be used in a combat situation without any loss of performance.
They could both be used in combat, of course. You could use my 30/30 in combat. Big difference is that in combat, sometimes you want to put a lot of rounds down range quicker than you can keep your head up to zero on a specific target. High cyclic rate of fire on a lightweight frame is a big advantage. At the same time, it is a very accurate weapon at 200 to 400 meters if you can take a precision shot. Makes a good varmint rifle for day or night, good home defense, though I do not keep mine loaded with armor piercing green tip. That chassis if an all around good platform for a lot of uses and great fun to shoot on outdoor ranges. The question of whether I would want to take an AR-15 into combat is decidedly "NO". M-16s are selective single shot semi-automatic or full auto. M-4 can go single, auto 3 round bursts or full automatic. Combat situations are very fluid and dynamic, with every thing from fire fights, to kicking in doors and clearing rooms. There is also a great variance in the skill level and self-control of the users, also effecting utility choice of what makes a good combat weapon. I can tell you, (hands down) do not take an AR-15 into general extended period, variety mission combat, if you have a choice. It would be a bad decision. Despite the combat, bad- ass look. It is not a combat weapon.
This vindicates my thoughts. Whilst not disputing it's value in a combat situation, why would your average person want one other than a testosterone filled power play. Not a lot of combat situations on your average street. Certainly not the type to carry around for personal protection. It's bullshit. It's not needed.
It is a fine multipurpose weapon platform, great for reasonable distance target practice, varmint and small game up to and including deer, unless you are shooting from mountainside to mountain side. Far easier to disassemble, clean and maintain than most of what are thought of as hunting rifles, if putting the same number of rounds down range. It's commonality across the platform makes it ideal to accept a wide variety of customizations of different manufacture. I assembled my AR from 3 different manufacturers and 5 suppliers vying for my business with parts that were interchangeable, allowing me to pick and choose based on what I thought was most important in terms of manufacturer, quality, materials, rated reviews, and price, to put the best money on the most important components, or options. I use 20 and 30 round magazines for range work, as I don't hunt anymore, as long as Kroger stays open. Besides, I already know I can hit and kill anything I aim at, without having to drag it out of the woods, skin it, clean it and process it. The higher capacity magazines than on hunting rifles allow me to put more rounds downrange without having to stop, reload, reposition, leave the line in some cases, come back, set up and resume shooting. I call it range work, because that is what it is. I am serious about quality range time. The goal being to put as much lead on hard targets at various distance, from various shooting positions, various conditions as possible, in order to maintain a high level of proficiency, close to or actually exceeding my level back in the day, when I was regularly training myself and others, while running every type of weapons range imaginable.
It is not what I depend on for home defense, but there if I need it with multiple magazines loaded right above it. Somebody breaking in would be facing my 9 MM Walther PPQ or a shotgun, as all are loaded, all the time. On the other hand, though not expecting a drive-by in my neighborhood, their car would be facing armor piercing capability that their windshields certainly would not slow down or deflect, nor would the block of their engine. So, yes it is a viable addition to your home defense plan and equipment, in any event, as I do keep multiple magazines loaded, but only the ones with red tape around the bottom are armor piercing. Most ranges don't like the use of M855 ammo, as it is hard on the steel targets.
Again, the AR-15 is not a combat weapon. Great training for firing the combat arms version, but certainly nothing to carry into military style combat, if you have a choice.