General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Reason people buy AR-15 type guns is similar to the reason why people buy Huge SUVs... [View all]krispos42
(49,445 posts)Compared to a typical minivan, an early-to-mid 90's SUV had slightly worse gas mileage, 4-wheel drive, superior towing ability, and plenty of room for kids and cargo.
Back when gas was $1.19 a gallon, people figured that paying a couple of hundred dollars a year extra was worth this hit for better mobility in the snow and the increased towing ability. A Ford Explorer would get maybe 16mpg, a minivan maybe 18. A large sedan would get maybe 20. And in the hilly, snowy parts of the country the 4wd helped quite a bit.
Of course, they looked cooler than a minivan, too, which certainly didn't hurt sales.
But the fact of people buying AR-15s is something a bit different. IF you've made the choice to own a gun to defend your home against an intruder(s), then picking the AR-15 or similar is a quite logical choice.
AR-15s and other rifles have superior power to handguns, and are easier to aim. Unlike shotguns, rifles intended for self-defense use offer more accuracy, much less recoil, and can hold more cartridges. And because they are semi-automatic, AR-15s and similar don't have any mechanical controls that require operation during a crisis situation.
AR-15s also have a boatload of accessories available from dozens of different makers.
People pick the AR-15 because it's a good choice. A name-brand AR-15 is a quality piece of machinery that does what it is intended to do quite well.