Reply #232: They were never "banned" (popular misconception), they just couldn't have

[benEzra]

adjustable stocks, threaded muzzles, or bayonet lugs if manufactured between 1994 and 2004, unless the protruding handgrip was eliminated (post-1994 rifles were limited to one "evil feature" only).

As to uses, they dominate competitive and recreational centerfire target shooting in the United States. They are functionally ordinary civilian rifles (non automatic, 1 shot per trigger pull) but generally use smaller calibers than traditional hunting style rifles and so are more pleasant to shoot due to less recoil.

Some target-shooting pics in this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3757507&mesg_id=3758687

I personally shoot competitively with a SAR-1 (non-automatic civilian AK derivative), in IPSC/USPSA style competition.

They also make excellent home-defense firearms (if you choose to own a gun for that purpose), as the smaller calibers make them less likely to penetrate exterior walls than full-power rifles would be. The .223 Remington/5.56mm rifles are particularly good for that purpose.