Complete AR-15/M16 Sourcebook: What Every Shooter Needs to Know (Paperback)

~ Duncan Long (Author) "Because of its checkered past, as well as a design very different from what Americans had carried in the past, the AR-15 sparked more controversy..." (more)
Key Phrases: United States, Springfield Armory, Fabrique Nationale (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This carefully researched revised and updated edition of The AR-15/M16 Sourcebook offers fresh insight into why the AR-15/M16 rifle remains a favorite of soldiers, law enforcement officials, civilian shooters and self-defense experts. In it, Duncan Long takes another look at the history of the "black-rifle" from the bureaucratic blunders and military infighting that ruined its reliability during the Vietnam War to the modifications that transformed it into the most reliable weapon in the world. He also examines the many military and custom spinoffs of the firearm, including an invaluable listing of its various models, supplemented by an impressive collection of photos and illustrations. In addition, he covers grenade launchers, SAW versions, and experimental weapons systems and even gives a detailed assessment of the OICW and other firearms now being tested as replacements for the U.S. military's M16 and M4 carbine. An entire section of the book is devoted to the very newest accessories for the AR-15, with a hard look at which ones will enhance its capabilities-and which could get the shooter killed. In addition to offering advice on improving an AR-15 rifle, picking the best ammunition for it, and ensuring its reliability, Long presents simple techniques for creating a one-of-a-kind exotic weapon built around this rifle through the selection of parts and accessories now on the market (and where to get them). Finally, the book provides complete instructions on how to field-strip, detail strip, troubleshoot, and assemble an AR-15. Whether you want a weapon you can rely on to get you out of a tight spot or wish to build a super accurate target version of the AR-15, this is the most complete and up-to-date resource available on what many consider to be the best rifle ever made.

About the Author

Duncan Long is an internationally recognized nonfiction and fiction writer of countless books and magazine articles on weapons and warfare. He is a best-selling Paladin author, with more than 20 firearms manuals in print.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Paladin Press; Revised and Updated edition (January 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0873646878
• ISBN-13: 978-0873646871
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #248,662 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Complete Guide, but needs work, March 3, 2002

By A Customer

For a single author this book is incredibly thorough, but the book occasionally seems like it was rushed to press. Some statements drift off and are never completed after making a note in parenthesis, among other things. Many of the pictures are cut and pasted to assemble likenesses of the many hundred versions of the AR-15 that exist instead of using pictures of the real thing (though this is understandable). Despite these pitfalls it does remain a very complete volume, though the operation and maintenance chapters left something to be desired. The book also dedicates alot of space to the M203 and the grenades that can be used in it, even though civilians have nearly zero chance of ever using one. If you're looking for the history of and a good overview of the AR-15 makes and models that exist this is an excellent resource. If you want to know how the gun works and how best to keep it working, you might want to look elsewhere.

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It keeps with its name., April 10, 2003

By	Guillermo Walls (Laredo, TX United States) - See all my reviews

The Complete AR-15/M16 Sourcebook: What Every Shooter Needs to Know keeps with its title. Well, somewhat. The book is a very detailed SOURCEBOOK. Do not buy this book to find out what you can do to accessorize your rifle. This book goes into detail about the origins of the AR-15/M16 beginning with the early years and including some photos and text on early models and models that did not make it. The book talks about some of the larger companies that make the AR-15/M16, and has pictures of most of the variants by company. It is a worthwhile read if you desire to learn about the history of the rifle, but is by no means what every reader needs to know.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why own an AR-15, September 14, 1999

By	D. H. Mclean "McLean, CPA" (North Carolina) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was trying to decide whether or not I should own an AR-15 and if so what brand to buy. After reading this book, I not only knew I wanted to own at least one AR-15, but also how to evaluate the various brands on the market.