The New AR-15 Complete Owner’s Guide – Table of Contents
If you’re wondering whether this book has the information your looking for on owning an AR-15, then look no further. This is the Table of Contents from Scott Duff’s The AR-15 Complete Assembly Guide – which you can purchase on our site, along with the AR-15 Bundle.
We Were Not Alone v
Please Help Support vi
CHAPTER 1:
Introduction 1
WHY A “NEW” AR-15 COMPLETE OWNER’S GUIDE? 1
PURPOSE 2
CHAPTER 2:
History 5
Introduction 5
Gene Stoner 5
Birth of the AR-15: ArmaLite and the Stoner Years 7
Colt Buys in and the Vietnam Era 13
Grenada to Desert Storm 19
THE CARBINE ERA 27
THE FUTURE BECKONS 39
ArmaLite’s Later Years 39
AN INTERLUDE 45
SULLIVAN’S SURPRISE 45
STONER’S SECRET 51
Gene Stoner’s Patent Claims 56
JOHNSON’S JEREMIAD 61
Technical Note 54: Direct Impingement versus Piston Drive 58
Back to Colt and the AR-15: the M16 for the Civilian Market 65
Others Enter the Market; Lots and Lots of Others! 71
The AR-15: an Engineering Perspective 71
A Sidebar on Legislation 72
Some Comments on the “Flat Top” 77
In Conclusion 77
CHAPTER 3:
Selecting 79
The Infinitely Variable AR-15 79
Defining Your Purpose 81
Defensive Rifle: Close Quarters 81
Defensive Rifle: Long Range 87
Hunting Rifle: Varmint 89
Hunting Rifle: Small Game 91
Hunting Rifle: Deer-Size Game 91
Target Rifle: CMP/NRA Service Rifle Competition 93
A Sidebar on Why the M16/AR-15 superseded the M14/M1A 93
Returning to the CMP/NRA Service Rifle 95
Target Rifle: NRA Match Rifle Competition 95
Action Shooting/Three Gun/IPSC Competition 95
Fun Shooting 95
Understanding, Evaluating, and Selecting Your AR-15 97
Conclusions 97
CHAPTER 4:
Details 99
The Barrel 99
Muzzle Devices 109
Handguards and Float Tubes 109
Float Tubes: First, “DCM/CMP Legal”; Then, The Dam Broke 113
The Upper Receiver 117
Sight Options 121
The Lower Receiver 125
Triggers 127
Pistol Grips and Trigger Guards 131
Butt Stocks 135
CHAPTER 5:
The Rifle Complete 139
So… You want A Carbine? 139
TECHNICAL NOTE 104: 140
The Benchmark Carbine: Colt LE6920 149
Colt LE6920 Gallery 150
ArmaLite’s Solution to the Carbine “Problem”: 153
THE EXTERNAL PISTON AR: 157
Introduction 157
OK, So All External Piston Systems are the Same, Right? 159
Ruger’s SR-556: Our External Piston Exemplar 159
But…do we really need an external piston system in our AR? 161
CHAPTER 6:
Chamberings and Cartridges 165
The AR: Flexible Launch Platform 165
Military 5.56-MM Cartridges 167
.223 Remington: Most Versatile Cartridge of All Time? 169
Deja Vu All Over Again: The .308 AR 173
Genesis of the “Big Block” Ars 173
Knight and Stoner Lead the Way 175
ArmaLite Recreates the AR-10 177
Bushmaster has a FAL Moment, Rock River Steps In 181
DPMS Goes Back to Basics 183
Fulton Armory Wades In 185
Ruger Combines Paradigms 185
Closing Thoughts 187
CHAPTER 7:
Accessories and Accoutrements 189
Introduction 189
Magazines 193
ArmaLite’s Recommended Magazine Evaluation Protocol 198
INSPECTION 198
TESTING THE MAGAZINE 198
MONITORING AFTER THE TEST 198
Slings 199
Lights and Lasers 201
Other Neat Stuff 205
CHAPTER 8:
Operating 207
Principles of Operation 207
Normal Operation 209
Preventive Maintenance Checks and Services 210
Operation: Loading and Chambering a Round 211
Immediate Action 214
Remedial Action 215
Bullet Stuck in Bore 215
Troubleshooting 216
If All Else Fails 217
Clear Your Rifle 222
Disassembly 223
The “Buddy System” 224
Reassembly 227
Magazine Disassembly and Reassembly 229
GI-Pattern Magazine 230
Polymer Magazine (Magpul PMag) 232
CHAPTER 9:
Maintenance 235
Cool Tools 235
Cleaning 235
Out in the Field 237
In the Shop 239
Lubrication 247
CHAPTER 10:
Forbidden Fruit 249
Why Can’t You Have a Suppressed Full Auto Shorty? 249
Silencers/Sound Suppressors 251
Short Barreled Rifles/SBRS 251
Select Fire and Full Auto 253
CHAPTER 11:
Interesting Stuff Not Elsewhere Classified 259
Old School Optics 259
Old School Night Vision 260
Charging Handle Variations 261
Potpourri 262
Magazine Loading Made Easy 263
Chinese Copies 264
Disappearing Act 265
20th Century Mag Change 266
21st Century Mag Change 266
Paradigm Shift! 267
NEVER HAVE AN EMPTY GUN! 267
No More Just Hangin’ Around 268
OUCH!! 268
From Russia with Love 268
A Promising Second Act 269
Double Your Pleasure, Double Your Fun! 269
Get a Grip 270
Cool to the Touch 271
The “Last AR” 272
CHAPTER 12:
The Future 275
The Last of the Line? 275
We’ve Never had it Better 275
What We Can Look Forward To 275
The Future is Up to You 275
