Colt AR-15

{{about|the firearm produced by Colt|other firearms colloquially referred to as "AR-15"|AR-15 style rifle|the rifle of a similar name|ArmaLite AR-15|other uses|AR-15 (disambiguation)}}

{{Infobox weapon

| name = Colt AR-15

| image = Colt AR-15 Sporter Lightweight rifle - set (8378298853).jpg

| image_size = 300

| caption = Complete AR-15A2 rifle set with manual, 5.56 mm ammunition and magazines

| type = Semi-automatic rifle
Automatic rifle

| designer = Eugene Stoner, Jim Sullivan, Bob Fremont

| action = Gas-operated, closed rotating bolt, Stoner bolt and carrier piston

| is_ranged = yes

| origin = United States

| manufacturer = Colt

| design_date =

| cartridge = *.223 Remington

5.56×45mm NATO|

| rate =

| velocity =

| range = ~{{convert|550|m|yd|sp=us}}

| weight =

| part_length = * {{convert|20|in}} (standard)

{{convert|16|in}} (carbine)
{{convert|24|in}} (target)

| feed = Issued with 5-, 10-, 20- & 30-round STANAG magazines

| sights = *Fixed adjustable front and rear iron sights

Detachable carrying handle with adjustable rear iron sight assembly
Picatinny rails, which allows the use of various scopes and sighting devices

| variants = see List of Colt AR-15 & M16 rifle variants

| number = 2 million +

}}

The Colt AR-15 is a product line of magazine-fed, gas-operated, semi auto rifle manufactured by Colt's Manufacturing Company ("Colt") in many configurations.{{cite web |title=About Us - Armalite Rifles|date=April 23, 2024 |url=https://armalite.com/about-us/ |access-date=August 2, 2024}} The rifle is a derivative of its predecessor, the lightweight ArmaLite AR-15, a full auto rifle designed by Eugene Stoner and other engineers at ArmaLite in 1956.

Colt currently owns the AR-15 trademark and uses it for its line of semi-automatic AR-15 rifles.

History

{{for|a more detailed list of AR-15 models|List of Colt AR-15 & M16 rifle variants#Colt civilian models}}

File:1973 Colt AR15 SP1.jpg AR-15 SP1 rifle with "slab side" lower receiver (lacking raised boss around magazine release button) and original Colt 20-round box magazine]]

File:Colt AR-15 on display at the NFM.jpg

Due to financial problems, and limitations in terms of manpower and production capacity, ArmaLite sold the AR-15 design and the AR-15 trademark along with the ArmaLite AR-10 to Colt's Manufacturing Company in 1959.{{cite web|url=http://www.gundigest.com/article/the-ar-16m16-the-rifle-that-was-never-supposed-to-be |title=AR-15/M16: The Rifle That Was Never Supposed to Be |publisher=Gun Digest |last=Bartocci |first=Christopher R. |date=July 16, 2012 |access-date=June 28, 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20221019023055/https://gundigest.com/gun-reviews/the-ar-16m16-the-rifle-that-was-never-supposed-to-be|archive-date=October 19, 2022}} Some of the first sales were of fully automatic Colt AR-15s to the Federation of Malaya and the United Kingdoms in 1959.{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ek9aXR4Mkik | title=Why you're wrong about M16 and AR-15 nomenclature, with firearms expert Jonathan Ferguson | website=YouTube | date=August 21, 2024 }}https://smallwarsjournal.com/jrnl/art/the-complete-history-of-the-ar-15-rifle {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}} Colt started selling the semi-automatic version of the M16 rifle as the Colt AR-15 in 1964.{{cite web |last1=Zimba|first1=Jeff|title=The Evolution of the Black Rifle|url=http://www.smallarmsreview.com/display.article.cfm?idarticles=116 |website=Small Arms Review|access-date=14 November 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171111152345/https://smallarmsreview.com/display.article.cfm?idarticles=116|archive-date=November 11, 2017|quote=As early as 1963, Colt started manufacturing this "new" rifle in semiautomatic only with the civilian population and the law enforcement community in mind. Sold as the AR-15 Sporter Model SP1, it was nearly identical to the M16 with the exception of the fire control group.}}{{cite journal |author= Bob Hutton & Bob Forker |title= A Beautiful Marriage: .223 Remington and Colt's AR-15 'Sporter' |journal= Guns & Ammo |date= October 1964}}{{cite book|last=Mann|first=Richard A.|title=GunDigest Shooter's Guide to the AR-15|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MQw5AwAAQBAJ&pg=PA15|date=30 April 2014|publisher=Krause Publications|location=Iola, Wisconsin|isbn=978-1-4402-3847-5|pages=15–16}}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The first mass production version was the Colt AR-15 Sporter, in .223 Remington, with a 20-inch barrel, issued with 5-round magazines. Colt has since made many different models of AR-15 rifle and carbine models, including the AR-15, AR-15A2, AR-15A3, AR-15A4, and others.

Sale of new AR-15s in the US was banned by the Federal Assault Weapons Ban from 1994 to 2004. Colt and others continued to sell legally compliant versions during that period.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/04/13/nyregion/shooting-holes-in-the-assault-weapons-ban-one-rifle-at-a-time.html|title=Shooting Holes in the Assault-Weapons Ban, One Rifle at a Time|last=Roane|first=Kit R.|date=1997-04-13|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-04-10|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} On September 20, 2019, Colt announced that it would no longer produce the AR-15 for private use, due to market saturation. It would still produce the AR-15 for police and military units.{{Cite news|url=https://www.faz.net/1.6394901|title="Markt übersättigt": Colt beendet Produktion von Sportgewehren|last=Heil|first=Christiane|journal=Frankfurter Allgemeine Magazin|access-date=2019-09-21|language=de|issn=0174-4909|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406100300/https://www.faz.net/aktuell/gesellschaft/kriminalitaet/colt-beendet-produktion-von-sportgewehren-16394901.html|archive-date=April 6, 2023|trans-title=Market saturated: Colt ends production of sporting guns}} By May 2020, changed market conditions encouraged Colt to resume production for sales to private users.{{Cite web|title=The Keefe Report: Colt Now Shipping AR-15s|url=https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2020/6/26/the-keefe-report-colt-now-shipping-ar-15s/|access-date=2020-11-08|website=www.americanrifleman.org|language=en|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405105238/https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2020/6/26/the-keefe-report-colt-now-shipping-ar-15s/|archive-date=April 5, 2023}}

Operating mechanism

File:M16 rifle Firing FM 23-9 Fig 2-7.png, firing]]

The 1956 {{US Patent|2951424}} by Eugene Stoner describes the cycling mechanism used in the Armalite AR-10 rifle that is common with rifles that use the Stoner "Direct Impingement" gas operated bolt and carrier system including Colt AR-15s. The bolt carrier acts as a movable cylinder and the bolt itself acts as a piston. This mechanism is often called "direct gas impingement", although that is now considered to be a misconception.{{cite book|author=Kevin Muramatsu|title=Gun Digest Guide to Customizing Your AR-15|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lGSYCAAAQBAJ&pg=PA8|year=2014|publisher=Krause Publications|isbn=978-1-4402-4279-3|page=8}}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The mechanism is now referred to as an "internal gas piston operating system".

Gas is tapped from the barrel as the bullet moves past a gas port located above the rifle's front sight base. The gas expands into the port and down a gas tube, located above the barrel that runs from the front sight base into the AR-15's upper receiver. Here, the gas tube protrudes into a "gas key" (bolt carrier key), which accepts the gas and funnels it into the bolt carrier.{{Cite web|last=Turner|first=Norman|date=2023-01-08|title=▷Best AR-15 Buyer's Guide 2023 - Steps to Choose Your First AR15|url=https://thegunzone.com/best-ar-15-buyers-guide/|access-date=2023-03-14|website=TheGunZone|language=en-US|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406191900/https://thegunzone.com/best-ar-15-buyers-guide/|archive-date=April 6, 2023}}

At this point, the bolt is locked into the barrel extension by locking lugs, so the expanding gas forces the bolt carrier backward a short distance. As the bolt carrier moves toward the butt of the gun, the bolt cam pin, riding in a slot on the bolt carrier, forces the bolt to rotate and thus unlocks it from the barrel extension. Once the bolt is fully unlocked, it begins its rearward movement along with the bolt carrier. The bolt's rearward motion extracts the empty cartridge case from the chamber. As soon as the neck of the case clears the barrel extension, the bolt's spring-loaded ejector forces it out the ejection port in the side of the upper receiver.

Behind the bolt carrier is a plastic or metal buffer, which rests in line with a return spring. The buffer spring begins to push the bolt carrier and bolt back toward the chamber once it is compressed sufficiently. A groove machined into the upper receiver guides the bolt cam pin and prevents it and the bolt from rotating into a closed position. The bolt's locking lugs push a fresh round from the magazine as the bolt moves forward. The round is guided by feed ramps into the chamber. As the bolt's locking lugs move past the barrel extension, the cam pin twists into a pocket milled into the upper receiver. This twisting action follows the groove cut into the carrier and forces the bolt to twist and "lock" into the barrel extension.

Features

File:Colt AR-15 Sporter Lightweight rifle - upper lower break (8378298627).jpg

File:Colt AR-15 Sporter Lightweight rifle - upper handle (8378298701).jpg

=Upper receivers=

The upper receiver incorporates the hand guard, the charging handle, the forward assist, the gas operating system, the barrel, the bolt and bolt carrier assembly. AR-15s employ a modular design. Thus one upper receiver can quickly and easily be substituted for another. Upper receivers are available with barrels of different weights, lengths, calibers, and rail systems with various sights and accessories. The standard AR-15 rifle uses a {{convert|20|in|adj=on}} barrel. Although, both shorter {{convert|16|in|adj=on}} carbine barrels and longer {{convert|24|in|adj=on}} target barrels are also available.

Early models had barrels with a 1:12 rate of twist for the original .223 Remington, {{convert|55|gr|adj=on}} bullets. Current models have barrels with a 1:9 or 1:7 twist rate for the 5.56×45mm NATO, {{convert|62|gr|adj=on}} bullets.

=Lower receivers=

The lower receiver incorporates the magazine well, the pistol grip, the buttstock, the buffer and the buffer spring. The lower receiver also contains the trigger, disconnector, hammer and fire selector (collectively known as the fire control group). Full-sized rifles use a fixed buttstock, while carbines generally use an adjustable telescoping buttstock.

The early commercial SP-1 AR-15s used a pair of {{convert|0.250|in|adj=on}} diameter receiver push pins, identical to those found on the military rifles. In 1966 the company replaced the front pin with a paired nut and screw hinge using a {{convert|0.315|in|mm|adj=mid|-diameter}} pin to prevent shooters from being able to change receivers with military rifles or competitor rifles without the use of an adapter. They resumed production with the smaller and standardized 0.250-inch pin in the mid-1990s.{{cite book|last=Sweeney|first=Patrick|title=Gunsmithing - Rifles|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Eul8bA4KSCcC&pg=PA290|date=1 October 1999|publisher=Gun Digest Books|location=Iola, Wisconsin|isbn=0-87341-665-1|page=290}}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

=Sights=

The AR-15's most distinctive ergonomic feature is the carrying handle and rear sight assembly on top of the receiver. This is a by-product of the original ArmaLite design, where the carry handle served to protect the charging handle.{{Cite book |last=Ezell |first=Edward Clinton |title= Small Arms of the World |year= 1983 |publisher= Stackpole Books |location=New York |isbn=978-0-88029-601-4 |pages=746–762|url=https://archive.org/details/smallarmsofworld0000ezel_12ed}} As the line of sight is {{cvt|2.5|in|1}} over the bore, the AR-15 has an inherent parallax problem. At closer ranges (typically inside 15–20 meters), the shooter must compensate by aiming high to place shots where desired. The standard AR-15 rifle has a {{convert|500|mm|adj=on|2|abbr=in}} sight radius.{{cite web |url=http://www.colt.com/mil/M16_2.asp |title=M16 5.56mm Rifle |access-date=2012-10-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616211557/http://www.colt.com/mil/M16_2.asp |archive-date=June 16, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}. colt.com. Retrieved on 8 October 2011. The AR-15 uses an L-type flip, aperture rear sight and it is adjustable with two settings, 0 to 300 meters and 300 to 400 meters.{{Cite book|last=United States Government (ARMY)|url=http://archive.org/details/OperatorsManualForM16M16a1|title=Operator's Manual For M16, M16A1|language=English}} The front sight is a post adjustable for elevation. The rear sight can be adjusted for windage. The sights can be adjusted with a bullet tip or pointed tool. The AR-15 can also mount a scope on the carrying handle. With the advent of the AR-15A2, a new fully adjustable rear sight was added, allowing the rear sight to be dialed in for specific range settings between 300 and 800 meters and to allow windage adjustments without the need of a tool or cartridge.Venola, Richard (2005). "What a Long Strange Trip It's Been". Book of the AR-15 1 (2): 6–18. Current versions such as AR-15A4 have a detachable carrying handle and use Picatinny rails, which allows for the use of various scopes and sighting devices.

=Muzzle devices=

Colt AR-15 rifles most often have a barrel threaded in {{frac|1|2}}″-28 threads to incorporate the use of a muzzle device such as a flash suppressor, sound suppressor or muzzle brake. The initial design, the "duckbill," had three tines or prongs and was prone to breakage and getting entangled in vegetation. The design was later changed to close the end to avoid this problem. Eventually, on the A2 version of the rifle, the bottom port was closed to reduce muzzle climb and prevent dust from rising when the rifle was fired in the prone position.{{cite book|last=Wieland|first=Terry |title=Gun Digest Book of Classic American Combat Rifles|date=November 22, 2011|publisher=Krause Publications|location=Iola, Wisconsin|isbn=978-1-4402-3017-2|page=100}} For these reasons, the US military declared this muzzle device a compensator, but it is more commonly known as the "GI", "A2", or "Birdcage" muzzle device.{{cite book|author=Steve Crawford|title=Twenty First Century Small Arms: The World's Great Infantry Weapons|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z7nW8LpDOBoC&pg=PA85|access-date=May 28, 2013|year=2003|publisher=Zenith Imprint|isbn=978-0-7603-1503-3|pages=85–86}} The standard AR15 muzzle device conforms to the STANAG dimensional requirements for firing 22 mm rifle grenades.

=Magazines=

The Colt AR-15 uses 20- or 30-round staggered-column detachable box magazines. Low-capacity 5- or 10-round magazines are also available to comply with legal restrictions, for hunting, for benchrest shooting or where a larger magazine can be inconvenient.

= Comparison to military versions =

The primary distinction between civilian semi-automatic rifles and military models is select fire. Military rifles were produced with firing modes, semi-automatic fire and either fully automatic fire mode or burst fire mode, in which the rifle fires three rounds in succession when the trigger is depressed. Most components are interchangeable between semi-auto and select fire rifles including magazines, sights, upper receiver, barrels and accessories.{{cite book|last1=Zimba|first1=Jeff|title=The Evolution of the Black Rifle|date=2014|publisher=Prepper Press|isbn=978-0692317266}} The military M4 carbine typically uses a {{convert|14.5|in|adj=on}} barrel. Civilian rifles commonly have 16-inch or longer barrels to comply with the National Firearms Act.{{cite book|last1=Muramatsu|first1=Kevin|title=Gun Digest Guide to Customizing Your AR-15|date=2014|publisher=F+W Media, Inc|isbn=978-1440242793}}

In order to prevent a civilian semi-automatic AR-15 from being readily converted for use with the select fire components, Colt changed a number of features. Parts changed include the lower receiver, bolt carrier, hammer, trigger, disconnector, and safety/mode selector. The semi-automatic bolt carrier has a longer lightening slot to prevent the bolt's engagement with an automatic sear. Due to a decrease in mass the buffer spring is heavier. On the select fire version, the hammer has an extra spur which interacts with the additional auto-sear that holds it back until the bolt carrier group is fully in battery, when automatic fire is selected.{{cite book|last1=Hanks|first1=D. A.|title=Workbench AR-15 Project|date=2004|publisher=Paladin Press|isbn=1610048466}} Using a portion of the select fire parts in a semi-automatic rifle will not enable a select fire option.{{cite web|last1=Leghorn|first1=Nick|title=Ask Foghorn: What's the Difference Between a Full Auto and Semi-Auto Only AR-15 Bolt Carrier?|url=http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2012/06/foghorn/ask-foghorn-whats-difference-between-full-auto-semi-auto-only-ar-15-bolt-carrier/|website=The Truth About Guns|date=June 27, 2012|publisher=THETRUTHABOUTGUNS.COM|access-date=March 6, 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170711032652/http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2012/06/foghorn/ask-foghorn-whats-difference-between-full-auto-semi-auto-only-ar-15-bolt-carrier|archive-date=July 11, 2017}}{{Better source needed|date=October 2024}} As designed by Colt the pins supporting the semi-auto trigger and hammer in the lower receiver are larger than those used in the military rifle to prevent interchangeability between semi-automatic and select fire components.{{cite book|last1=Sweeney|first1=Patrick|title=Gunsmithing the Ar-15, the Bench Manual|date=2016|publisher=F+W Media, Inc|isbn=978-1440246609}}

AR-15 style rifle

After Colt's patents expired in 1977,{{cite book|last=Zimba|first=Jeff|title=The Evolution of the Black Rifle: 20 Years of Upgrades, Options, and Accessories|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bCFjCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT10|year=2014|publisher=Prepper Press|isbn=978-0-692-31726-6|page=10}} other manufacturers began to copy the design of the Colt AR-15. The term "AR-15" is a Colt registered trademark which it uses only to refer to its line of semi-automatic rifles. Other manufacturers marketed generic AR-15s under other designations, frequently referred to as AR-15s, as are some rifles and carbines not based on the AR-15 design.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-year-in-nine-objects|title=The Year in Nine Objects|last=Walker|first=Rob|author-link=Rob Walker (journalist)|date=2016-12-30|magazine=The New Yorker|access-date=2017-11-06|issn=0028-792X|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406100351/https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-year-in-nine-objects|archive-date=April 6, 2023}}

AR-15 style rifles are available in a wide range of configurations and calibers from a large number of manufacturers. These configurations range from standard full-size rifles with 20-inch barrels, to short carbine-length models with 16-inch barrels, adjustable length stocks and optical sights, to long range target models with 24-inch barrels, bipods and high-powered scopes. These rifles may also have short-stroke gas piston system, forgoing the direct gas system standard in AR-15 rifles. These calibers include 5.56×45mm NATO, 5.7×28mm, 6.8mm Remington SPC, .300 Blackout, 9×19mm Parabellum and .458 SOCOM to name a few.U.S. Military Small Arms Ammunition Failures and Solutions, GK Roberts, NDIA Dallas, TX, May 21, 2008 {{cite web |url=http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/2008Intl/Roberts.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2011-02-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628234759/http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/2008Intl/Roberts.pdf |archive-date=June 28, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}[http://archives.gunsandammo.com/content/evolution-ar Evolution of an AR | Gear | Guns & Ammo] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110915075030/http://archives.gunsandammo.com/content/evolution-ar |date=September 15, 2011 }}. Archives.gunsandammo.com (August 29, 2011). Retrieved on 2011-09-27.

Use in mass shootings

{{For|the usage of AR-15 style rifles in general in mass shootings|AR-15 style rifle#Crime and mass shootings}}

From April 28 to 29, 1996, Martin Bryant killed 35 and injured 23 in the Port Arthur massacre, during which he used a Colt AR-15 and a L1A1 SLR chambered in .308 Winchester . It was the worst mass shooting in modern Australian history and resulted in the 1996 National Firearms Agreement.{{cite web |url=http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/BN/0708/FirearmsAustralia |title=Firearms in Australia: a guide to electronic resources |date=9 August 2007 |website=aph.gov.au |publisher=Commonwealth of Australia |access-date=4 April 2015}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/australia/2017-10-13/how-australia-passed-gun-control |title=How Australia Passed Gun Control: The Port Arthur Massacre and Beyond |date=October 13, 2017 |website=Foreign Affairs |access-date=18 February 2018|last1=Breiding |first1=R. James |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230323120352/https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/australia/2017-10-13/how-australia-passed-gun-control|archive-date=March 23, 2023}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/15/it-took-one-massacre-how-australia-made-gun-control-happen-after-port-arthur|title=It took one massacre: how Australia embraced gun control after Port Arthur|first1= Calla |last1=Wahlquist |date=14 March 2016 |work=The Guardian|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230511234035/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/15/it-took-one-massacre-how-australia-made-gun-control-happen-after-port-arthur|archive-date=May 11, 2023}}

Legality

The Colt AR-15 is banned by name in California with a list of additional AR-style and AK-style firearms in the Kasler v. Lockyer Assault Weapons List. This list deems the Colt AR-15, as well as the Armalite AR-15, Bushmaster XM-15, DPMS Panther, and many other AR-pattern rifles as assault weapons by name, thus illegal to own/possess in the state of California.[https://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/firearms/infobuls/kaslist.pdf Kasler v. Lockyer Assault Weapon List] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20230325133454/https://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/firearms/infobuls/kaslist.pdf Archive])

New Jersey passed its own assault weapon ban in 1990, becoming the second state to ban the firearm by name after California. New Jersey's ban also included any firearm with similar functional or cosmetic features, and many toys and imitations that are aesthetically similar.{{cite act |url = https://repo.njstatelib.org/bitstream/handle/10929.1/10175/L1990c32.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |url-status=live |title = New Jersey Assault Weapon Ban of 1990 (state archive) |language = en |date = {{date|1990-05-30|mdy}} ||access-date= 2023-03-27|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327051535/https://repo.njstatelib.org/bitstream/handle/10929.1/10175/L1990c32.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y|archive-date=March 27, 2023}} This legislation is still standing as of March 2023 (with additions to the ban over time).

Connecticut passed its original assault weapon ban in 1993, becoming the third state to ban the firearm by name.https://www.cga.ct.gov/2013/rpt/2013-R-0241.htm

The Federal Assault Weapons Ban was passed by Congress on August 25, 1994, largely mirroring the more restrictive aspects of the legislation found in the three preceding state-level bans. This was a 10-year ban on many firearms by name, including the Colt AR-15. The ban expired on September 13, 2004, in accordance with its sunset clause (which required satisfactory evidence of a positive impact on crime for renewal of the ban).

While the aforementioned federal ban was still active, four states followed suit with assault weapon bans of their own (including Maryland).{{cite web |title=Regulated Firearms |url=https://mdsp.maryland.gov/Documents/Regulated%20Firearms.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150726143030/http://mdsp.maryland.gov/Documents/Regulated%20Firearms.pdf |archive-date=2015-07-26 |access-date=April 21, 2022 |publisher=Maryland State Police}} One state enacted this legislation after the federal ban's expiry. Two states have also enacted restrictions on ownership without specific bans thereof.

Washington, D.C., also has an effective ban on the ownership and possession of the Colt AR-15.{{Cite web |title=General Requirements for Firearms Registration {{!}} mpdc |url=https://mpdc.dc.gov/page/general-requirements-firearms-registration |access-date=2025-01-02 |website=mpdc.dc.gov}}

References

Bibliography

Stevens, R. Blake and Edward C. Ezell. The Black Rifle M16 Retrospective. Enhanced second printing. Cobourg, Ontario, Canada: Collector Grade Publications Incorporated, 1994. {{ISBN|0-88935-115-5}}.
Bartocci, Christopher R. Black Rifle II The M16 Into the 21st Century. Cobourg, Ontario, Canada: Collector Grade Publications Incorporated, 2004. {{ISBN|0-88935-348-4}}.