AR-15
- Category
- Rifle
- Barrel
- 508 mm
- Weight, empty
- 2.89 kg
- Introduced
- 1963
About
What it is, and why it matters
The AR-15 is a semi-automatic rifle chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO, produced by Colt's Manufacturing Company since 1963. This American-manufactured firearm reflects the engineering traditions and quality standards of its country of origin, designed to meet the demands of both civilian and professional users in a competitive global marketplace. Featuring a 30-round magazine capacity, this rifle offers generous firepower for duty use and home defense. The 20.0-inch barrel maximizes accuracy potential and ballistic performance, making this an excellent choice for target shooting, competition, or field use. At 2890g (101.9 oz), this is a substantial firearm whose weight contributes to reduced felt recoil and enhanced stability during precision shooting. The aluminum alloy frame achieves a notable weight reduction compared to all-steel construction while maintaining the structural rigidity required for safe, reliable operation. This firearm represents its manufacturer's commitment to delivering a well-engineered, reliable product that serves the needs of discerning shooters seeking quality, accuracy, and dependable performance from a proven platform.
The 'AR' in AR-15 stands for 'ArmaLite Rifle' after the company that originally designed it, not 'assault rifle' as commonly believed. Eugene Stoner's revolutionary design used aerospace-grade aluminum and synthetic materials at a time when military rifles were expected to be made of wood and steel.
The civilian AR-15 is semi-automatic only and should not be confused with the military M16 or M4 which are select-fire. The 5.56 NATO chamber can safely fire both 5.56x45mm NATO and .223 Remington ammunition, but firing 5.56 NATO in a .223 Remington-only chamber can produce dangerously high pressures. Standard barrel twist rate for modern AR-15s is 1:7 inches (178mm), optimized for the 62-grain M855/SS109 NATO projectile. An estimated 20+ million AR-15 pattern rifles are in civilian ownership in the United States.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Colt's Manufacturing Company LLC
- Category
- Rifle
- Country
- United States
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 1963
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 508 mm
- Overall length
- 991 mm
- Height
- 248 mm
- Width
- 64 mm
- Sight radius
- 501 mm
- Weight, empty
- 2.89 kg
- Weight, loaded
- 3.40 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Gas operated short stroke
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer fired
- Trigger
- Single stage
- Trigger pull
- 24.0 N
- Capacity
- 30
- Magazine
- Detachable box
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Aluminum
- Barrel
- Steel
- Stock
- Polymer
- Finish
- Anodized
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 948 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 1796 J
- Effective range
- 503 m
- Maximum range
- 3600 m
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Direct impingement gas system
Rotating bolt
Modular upper lower receiver
Inline stock
Pistol grip
Picatinny rail
Forward assist
Brass deflector
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 84 5.56x45mm NATO rifles | 2.89 kg | 3.08 kg | Lighter than about 80% |
| Overall lengthAmong 77 5.56x45mm NATO rifles | 991 mm | 900 mm | Longer than about 90% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 98 5.56x45mm NATO rifles | 508 mm | 406 mm | Among the longest tenth |
| Magazine capacityAmong 98 5.56x45mm NATO rifles | 30 | 30 | Near the median |
Answers
Questions about the AR-15
How much does the AR-15 weigh?
The AR-15 weighs 2.89 kg (6.37 lb) empty and 3.40 kg (7.50 lb) loaded.
What caliber is the AR-15?
The AR-15 is chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO and .223 Remington.
How many rounds does the AR-15 hold?
The AR-15 holds 30 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the AR-15?
The AR-15 is 991 mm (39.0 in) long overall, with a 508 mm (20.0 in) barrel.
Who makes the AR-15?
The AR-15 is made by Colt's Manufacturing Company LLC (United States). It was designed by Eugene Stoner.
When was the AR-15 introduced?
The AR-15 was introduced in 1963.
How does the AR-15 operate?
The AR-15 uses a gas operated short stroke action, and its firing mechanism is hammer fired.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
In service
- United States Civilian Market
- 1963
- United States Law Enforcement
- 1964
Provenance
Confidence in this record
88%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/ar-15' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "ar-15", "name": "AR-15", "manufacturer": { "id": "colt", "name": "Colt's Manufacturing Company LLC", "countryCode": "US", "foundedYear": 1855, "website": "https://www.colt.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": "American firearms manufacturer headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut. Founded in 1855 and now a subsidiary of Colt CZ Group, continuing production of iconic firearms including the 1911 pistol.", "status": "active", "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-11 23:44:38", "updatedAt": "2026-02-18 03:43:38", "version": "7143c7ff3f7e156063a240f2df7b4746ee1c0394d7cd5f592d05bac43233d637" }, "category": { "id": "rifle", "name": "Rifle", "description": "Long-barreled firearms designed for accurate shooting" }, "country_of_origin": "US", "year_introduced": 1963, "barrel_length_mm": 508, "weight_empty_g": 2890, "action_type": "gas_operated_short_stroke"}