Colt AR-15

The Colt AR-15 is a lightweight, magazine-fed, gas-operated semi-automatic rifle. It is a semi-automatic version of the M16 rifle sold for the civilian and law enforcement markets in the United States. The AR in AR-15 stands for ArmaLite rifle, after the company that developed it in the 1950s. Colt's Manufacturing Company currently owns the AR-15 trademark, which is used exclusively for its line of semi-automatic AR-15 rifles.

This article is about the firearm produced by Colt. For other firearms colloquially referred to as "AR-15", see AR-15 style rifle. For the rifle of a similar name, see ArmaLite AR-15. For other uses, see AR-15 (disambiguation).

Colt AR-15
Complete AR-15A2 rifle set with manual, 5.56 mm ammunition and magazines
TypeSemi-automatic rifle
Place of originUnited States
Production history
DesignerEugene Stoner, Jim Sullivan, Bob Fremont
ManufacturerColt
No. built2 million +
Variantssee List of Colt AR-15 & M16 rifle variants
Specifications
Barrel length
  • 20 inches (510 mm) (standard)
  • 16 inches (410 mm) (carbine)
  • 24 inches (610 mm) (target)
Cartridge
ActionDirect impingement
Effective firing range~550 meters (600 yd)
Feed systemIssued with 5-, 10-, 20- & 30-round STANAG magazines
Sights
  • Fixed adjustable front and rear iron sights
  • Detachable carrying handle with adjustable rear iron sight assembly
  • Picatinny rails, which allows the use of various scopes and sighting devices
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