Below is a great video clip about AR-15-pattern rifles, which is produced by the National Shooting Sports Foundation. The video clip does a nice job explaining how an AR-15 is properly called a “modern sporting rifle,” rather than an “assault weapon.”
GunBroker.com released the following text, which goes along quite well with the above video clip:
The National Shooting Sports Foundation is trying to rebuild the image of the AR-15 rifle and you can help. The NSSF has coined the term Modern Sporting Rifle to more accurately describe the AR-15 platform and is asking that shooters do the same. The NSSF asks you to be an informed gun owner and to use the following facts to correct misconceptions about these rifles.
- If AR-15-style modern sporting rifles are banned, your favorite traditional-looking hunting or target shooting semi-automatic firearm could be banned, too.
- AR-15-platform rifles are among the most popular firearms being sold. They are today’s modern sporting rifle.
- The AR in “AR-15” rifle stands for Armalite rifle, after the company that developed it in the 1950s. “AR” does NOT stand for “assault rifle” or “automatic rifle.”
- AR-15-style rifles are NOT “assault weapons” or “assault rifles.” An assault rifle is fully automatic — a machine gun. Automatic firearms have been severely restricted from civilian ownership since 1934.
- AR-15-style rifles look like military rifles, such as the M-16, but function like other semi-automatic civilian sporting firearms, firing only one round with each pull of the trigger.
- Versions of modern sporting rifles are legal to own in all 50 states, provided the purchaser passes the mandatory FBI background check required for all retail firearm purchasers.
- Since the 19th century, civilian sporting rifles have evolved from their military predecessors. The modern sporting rifle simply follows that tradition.
- AR-15-style rifles are no more powerful than other hunting rifles of the same caliber and in most cases are chambered in calibers less powerful than common big-game hunting cartridges like the 30-06 Springfield and .300 Win. Mag.
- And, they are a lot of fun to shoot!
My thanks to James for pointing out this video clip
This principle is similar to that of internal combustion engines, except that the bullet leaves the barrel, but the piston transfers its motion to other parts and returns down the cylinder. As in an internal combustion engine, the combustion propagates by deflagration rather than by detonation, and good gunpowder, like good motor fuel, is resistant to detonation.