The AR15 is, for all intents and purposes, an M16

Not according to the ATF, and not according to SCOTUS.

Legally, an AR-15 is closer to the Winchester M1907 than it is to an M16.

 

That seems like an odd comparison. The only difference I can see between an M-16 and an AR-15 is the ability to select full-auto fire . . . which isn't typically used in the military anyway.

 

Perhaps not, but the ability to fire in selective fire makes it a machine gun, which is treated much differently than any semiautomatic rifle that's not an SBR by both ATF and SCOTUS.

 

Many manufacturers of automatic weapons for the military have developed semi auto only versions for the civilian market, for instance you can buy semi auto versions of a Thompson, a Bren, and even belt fed variations of a semi auto mg34, and the 249s, among others…so what?

The primary difference between an AR15 and an M16 is a different Bolt design and a different fire control group, and a different isafety; parts that can be purchased legally, but if assembled the gun b e comes classified as an automatic, illegal to possess without being registered as a automatic weapon.
years ago you could buy what was called a lightning link for an AR 15 that would make it’s components ly operate in full auto, but that part, itself was classified by the ATF as a machine gun. You can make one ( the design can be found on the internet, but making the part and owning an AR15, you can be arrested by having the potential for making the AR into a automatic weapon.
Lots of guns can be converted to full auto and potential prison time.
hell, you can buy decommissioned grenades legally and find the parts to reactivate them, if you know what you are doing. A bit of knowledge and having the proper tools you can build lots of thing; in growing up, I had access to my uncle’s machine shop, and got the plans for a Sten Mk II which I built at age 14; it wasn’t terribly difficult, being a simple blowback design, but the Magazines would have been difficult had I not found a source for originals.
An AR 15 was originally designed to be a semi Auto for the civilian market, not unlike the semi auto M14m I used to own for long range competition.

 

I claim the Media and the left’s sensation i ing of mass shootings and the weapons used provides a template for morons seeking to inflict damage on society during their mission for suicide, including the weapon of choice. If a moron did his mission using bolt action Winchester model 70 ( used by many in the military and LE as a scopjed sniper rifle platform, there would be calls to ban scopes.

 

They started down this path already, with this most recent shooting

https://www.everytown.org/press/wha...pon-recovered-in-the-lewiston-mass-shootings/
https://themessenger.com/news/maine-mass-shooting-ruger-sfar-308-battle-rifle

 

And I get that. My point is that the way the weapon is used by civilians is virtually indistinguishable from how it is being used by the military: same ammo, same basic platform, same rate of fire.

 

yeah, and I can think of a dozed civilian weapons that can be used by depraved minds. And , it doesn’t have to be guns as we saw 9-11. In Vegas, that moron was a pilot who owned a plane. he could have used it to cause as many if not more deaths.

 

I absolutely agree. And most hunting rifles are going to be more potent than an AR-15. I'm just saying that it is silly at this point to say that an AR-15 isn't a military weapon when, 90% of the time, it operates just like one. For the record, I'm not advocating for any kind of "assault weapons ban" and think that those are mostly feel-good nonsense.

 

The ammo available to civilians differs greatly in type and caliber.

 

Currently military handgun and sniper platforms operate much the same as their civilian counterparts, including rate of fire, caliber, etc. You might as well say "nearly all weapons are military",

 

Heh.
Mauser G98. Bolt action rifle. Weapon of war.
Springfield M1903. Bolt action rifle. Weapon of war.
Every bolt action rifle in the world operates in essentially the same way as these rifles, with only detail differences.
Thus:
All bolt-action rifles are weapons of war.

 

Not really for an AR-15 vs an M-16. Isn't the caliber for both a .223? And isn't the military limited to full metal jacket rounds?

 

I doubt a rimfire bold-action rifle is really a weapon of war. Have they ever been used as weapons of war?

 

The AR-15 is available in about 60+ calibers. Even in .223 Remington/5.56mm NATO, there are so many more and more effective bullet types and sizes than the military uses. Here are some from just a single manufacturer:

https://www.hornady.com/bullets/rifle/#!/

 

From my examples it is pretty clear I am not talking about rim-fire rifles.

 

You said that ALL bolt-action rifles are weapons of war, hence my comment.

 

And I have explained myself.
Care to offer a meaningful response?

 

Nope. You've admitted your universal was false based on the counterexamples provided. Sounds like we are now on the same page.

 

As I expected.
Back on ignore.

 

The Legendary Marine Sniper, Carlos Hathcock's main weapon against the NVA was a Winchester 70 in 30-06 with a 8X Unertl external adjustment scope. It's the same rifle he won the national 1000 yard target championship with . He also used the used the M40 Remington 700 with a 3-9 Redfield scope in 308. BTW Those two rifles are the most popular (along with the Savage 110) bolt action hunting rifles in US history

 

I am sure they have but I also know for a fact that the Tunnel Rats of Vietnam often carried High Standard 22 semi auto target pistols for use in the tunnels because they made far less noise than the standard military issue 45 ACP or even the 38 Special revolver that was often carried by pilots

 

.22 rimfire pistols were some of the first cartridge pistols manufactured, and yes they were carried in the Civil War.
The Israeli military uses suppressed Ruger .22s. when you want quiet, can’t get much better tha a suppressed .22 rimfire.

 

my model pre 64 70 in 300winmag is an awesome long range tac driver. Funny thing did a lot long range target work with it, but never hunted with it; kind of strange that in retrospect.

 

300 mag supplanted the 30-06 as the top cartridge for the 1000 Yard or Meter events. it's hard on barrels though