The AR-15 is the most popular platform in the United States. Thanks to the gun’s versatility, customizability, and overall performance, there’s quite literally an AR-15 style out there for everyone. In fact, according to Business Insider, there are around 20 million AR-15s in America. But did you know there were other AR platforms than the AR-15? We’re not talking about the AR-10, either, although it’s always worth a mention. Yes, Eugene Stoner, the father of the AR-15, created other guns in his lifetime. Read on to learn more about Stoner’s AR-related work.
What was the first AR?
Odds are you think you know the answer to this question because there are countless articles about how the AR-10 came before the AR-15. However, the earliest AR design that is a bit more similar to the modern platforms that are credited to Eugene Stoner was the AR-3. Was that the very first Stoner rifle? No, but bear with us.
Historical records of Stoner’s other AR designs aren’t as comprehensive as we’d like, but what we do know is the AR-3 was designed sometime in the late 1940s. Stoner invented it before working for ArmaLite, but when he went to ArmaLite, his design went with him. The AR-3 was a gas-operated carbine chambered in 7.62x51mm. It was designed to be lighter weight than other rifles of the era and had a forward locking bolt.
What happened to the AR-3? Well, it was submitted to the United States Army for consideration as a service weapon, but nothing came of it. In the end, the AR-3 was a prototype-only gun that never went into production.
What was the first ArmaLite Rifle?
This is where things get interesting, but also confusing. There was an AR-1 rifle designed by Eugene Stoner, but it wasn’t a semi-auto, it was a bolt-action. What it was, was Stoner’s first rifle. Because of that, it’s often left out of AR discussions. However, it was a Eugene Stoner creation, and it was also the first gun ever made by ArmaLite.
The AR-1 was chambered in 7.62x51mm, just like the AR-3, and had a steel barrel liner. It had a Mauser-style action, a fiberglass stock, and a rather unique foam filling. As a result, it weighed in at about five pounds, which was incredibly light for the time. Unfortunately, attempts to market it failed, so only 25 prototypes were made before the company decided not to pursue producing the gun.
What was the most successful AR?
Aside from the obvious success of the AR-15 and AR-10, the AR rifle that probably saw the greatest success was the AR-5. It was a survival rifle designed by Stoner in 1955 for the United States Air Force.
The AR-5 was a bolt-action chambered in 22 Hornet and was created more for portability than overall effectiveness. Its stock was fiberglass, but hollow, so the receiver and barrel could be stowed inside the stock to save space. The gun had a four-round detachable magazine, so capacity wasn’t its strong suit, and it had a 14.0 inch barrel. Although it was likely the most well-liked AR platform outside of the AR-15 and AR-10, it still didn’t do well. Eventually, ArmaLite tried to recoup its losses by creating the AR-7, which was a civilian version.
What is the largest caliber AR?
The AR boasting the biggest chambering is the AR-50. As you might have guessed, it is chambered in 50 BMG. The AR-50 is a bolt-action rifle and is not a Stoner-designed gun. It was invented in 1997 and has been in production since 1999. This is a hefty model that weighs in at 34 pounds and has a handful of different configurations.
What was the AR-15 replacement from ArmaLite?
There came a point in time when ArmaLite decided to sell the rights to the AR-15 to Colt, and afterward, they might have experienced some regret. Interested in coming up with the Next Big Gun Thing, ArmaLite—and Eugene Stoner—created the AR-18. It had a different operating platform than the AR-15 because it was important for the company not to blatantly infringe on the AR-15, and while it was well-intentioned, it didn’t go well in the long run.
The AR-18 was made using stamped metal. Its purpose was to provide an easier to make rifle for countries that couldn’t afford the AR-15, and in that way, it did succeed…sort of. The rifle was a select-fire model—this was made specifically for military use, not the civilian market—and chambered in 5.56 NATO. It had a short-stroke gas piston system, a right-sided charging handle, and ambidextrous safety. Unfortunately for ArmaLite, it ended up being cheaper for the military to stick to the M16s.
Which AR blew up?
Yes, there was an AR platform rifle that experienced a kaboom during testing that resulted in its being permanently shelved. The gun was created by other designers, but it was during Eugene Stoner’s time with ArmaLite, and he oversaw projects. That rifle was the AR-11, another gun invented to be lighter-weight, portable, and, they hoped, ground-breaking. It had a fiberglass stock filled with foam, just like the AR-1, and a direct impingement system
Although it was loosely based on the AR-3, its different operating system and size made it unique. The AR-11 was chambered in 222 Remington but someone felt it wasn’t powerful enough to do what the military required, so the prototype was loaded with extra-hot, overpressure rounds. That’s when the kaboom happened and the entire project was done away with.
What ARs are Eugene Stoner credited with?
The guns typically credited to Eugene Stoner include:
- AR-1
- AR-3
- AR-5
- AR-9
- AR-10
- AR-11
- AR-12
- AR-15
- AR-16
- AR-17
- AR-18
This is by no means a precise or comprehensive list. There are a lot of holes in gun history related to Stoner’s AR designs, which is a little frustrating at times. What we do know is he had his hand in a number of gun model designs, and he’s certainly the father of the AR-15.
What’s your favorite AR platform rifle? Tell us in the comments below.
