Why is the AR so popular?

>>31438556
*purchase
t. OP

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>Low recoil
>Ergonomic
>Shoots a readily available, versatile, cheap round
>Absurdly customizable
>Easy to assemble
>Literally the single greatest aftermarket in the realm of firearms
>Has been riding a market glut since 2014 that made having a perfectly solid AR for $600 a very real thing
>Pisses off antis more than a room full of ventilated white elementary schoolers

Is there even a comparable 5.56/.223 platform with the same quality for about 800 dollars?

>>31438640
/thread

>>31438556
>can be pretty cheap while not being complete dogshit
>cheap, readily available ammo
>a lot are already familiar with the rifle from time in the military/police
>can play Barbie by accessorizing them
>low recoil
But probably most important...
>people think they might not have the ability to buy them in the future

>>31438674

not really no

>>31438674
>What is the Automat Klasnikov for 500, Alex?

https://www.atlanticfirearms.com/component/virtuemart/shipping-rifles/ddi-47s-rifle-bakelite-stock-set-detail.html?Itemid=0

Bakelite furniture is so aesthetic.

>>31438899
>5.56/.223

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man we've been having a lot of anti AR threads lately.

>Inexpensive (kinda)
>low recoil, readily available round
>reliable
>accurate
>simple
>ergonomic
>easy to work on
>parts everywhere
>easy to change caliber
>etc

>>31438556
Well a few reasons after you buy your first(or build one lower) you can have like 3-6 calibers all for one Lower so economy is a big one

Versatility and modularity. You can make an AR be more or less anything you want. You can have a home defense rifle, a long range target shooting rifle, a dangerous game rifle, a deer hunting rifle, and a cheap beater truck rifle that all use the same parts and have the same manual of arms.

I was gonna type out a greentext wall but >>31438640 happened.

the caliber conversions can't really be understated.
with just one lower receiver, you can have almost everything from a .22 up to a .50 BMG.

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>>31439009
>reliable

>>31439118
>a .50 BMG
lolwut

>>31438556
at this point the popularity is growing because theyre so common. they dont do anything any other 5.56 or similarly chambered round cant do except being modular and inexpensive in comparison. you can take any part off and replace it in 30 minutes if you have the tools. the fact that everyone and everyones mom is making parts which are almost all compatible makes the market great for the consumer because you can get great parts for a great price.

other than than, it performs pretty much the same as any modern autoloading intermediate caliber rifle.

>>31439143
>memes

>>31439171
they exist
http://www.safetyharborfirearms.com/products/shtf-uppers/product/43-shtf-50-mag-fed-upper-conversion

>>31438556
Basically a meme taken to its logical conclusion.
It's popular because it's very customizable and has been heavily refined, but it's only customizable and heavily refined because it's popular. It's basically snowballed from a rather meh US service rifle to the state it's in today.

>>31438674
There are some 5.56 AKs, Ruger Mini-14 is viable butnot quite as good for several reasons (unless you just really like it, in which case buy it anyway), Kel-Tec SU16 if you want a really light backpack rifle and not much else. Most AR alternatives are either rare or very expensive.

It's what happens when you have a colossal cottage industry making hundreds of variants of the same rifle. Loads of variety and the competition drives the prices down. It's almost impossible to manufacture and sell any 5.56 rifle for the US civilian market that's not an AR derivative. Therefore, almost no one bothers.

>>31438556
Because this is AMERICA

And the AR is the most AMERICAN gun EVER

5.56x45/.223 is also the most versatile round ever, if it exists then .223/5.56 can kill it

>>31439143
fudd detected

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>>31439227
aside from the meme they fed me in the army, i've never pulled my hair out when dealing with such a terrible platform other than the ar-15... you seriously cannot give me one for free -- i will just go and sell it. terrible, terrible, terrible, firearm! enjoy your new daddy.

>>31439241
is that 50 BMG or 50 Beowulf

>>31439143
nogunz, pls

>>31439251
this, completely
it's not bad but it's basically just the improvement of a really shitty design

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>>31439171
theyre single shot 50cal uppers that are bolted to a standard ar15 lower.

>>31439289
doesnt say, but id assume .50bmg based off the offered barrel lengths. ive never heard of a .50 beowulf rifle with a 29 inch barrel.

>>31439310
the m16 was never a shitty design. there were times when they were implemented shitty, but the design was always solid.

>>31439303
not him but I've had 2 jams with an AR, none with my Saiga AK

>>31439355
well the design itself wasn't terrible, but come on
as soon as it got made pretty much, it was deployed, and soldiers who had it had a weapon that jammed when they needed it to fire. even when it was clean, it obviously wasn't suited for the environment

>>31439325
if it was beowulf it wouldn't cost 2k or need that giant 5rd magazine sticking out of the side

>>31439288
42A detected

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The AR platform is admired by many people because it is easy to customize and 5.56 is everywhere.


Personally I like AR-10s more than standard AR-15s, however I have an AR, AK, and my favorite gun in my collection is still my Century C308.

Can't go wrong with a battle rifle.

>>31439404
it wasnt the design that caused the problems. it was the choice of powder and rifling twist rate that fucked accuracy and caused the rifles to malfunction. and the rifle still preformed better than its alternatives, the m14 and m1 carbine.

>>31439476
>42A
how the fuck you know? now i am spooked wild guess right???

>>31438556
>Aftermarket because popular
>Popular because aftermarket

>>31439371
Jokes on you, I've had none with mine.

>>31439143
this

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how much to build a real shorty?

>>31442204
around $700 depending on the sort of upper you want.

350 for a complete lower with SBR stamp, 300-400 for a "pistol" upper or something. nicer stuff gets pricier.

>>31439314
Well that changes my list considerably

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>>31442265

thanks for heads up

The only good looking AR is a Vietnam era clone. Everything else is literal trash

>>31438556
>educated purchase
pick one.

I'll just leave this here, OP

https://youtu.be/glk1qMbj7S0

>>31438556
If anyone hasn't already said it, it's all about OPTIONS. ARs are kinda like Android phones- you can tweak, fuck with and customize them to no fucking end until you get a rifle that's just right. You can get them in .22 long... Or .50 Beo. Barrels of all lengths and twists, all manner of stocks and grips, even custom firing selectors with humorous engravings. The name of the game with ARs is building it. It's custom gun, just for you, and you may not have made it but you at least put together most of the parts with your own hands. And even as a guy who loves Slavshit, that's fucking cool.