An AR-15–style rifle is a lightweight semi-automatic rifle based on or similar to the Colt AR-15 design. The Colt model removed the selective fire feature of its predecessor, the original ArmaLite AR-15, itself a scaled-down derivative of the AR-10 design by Eugene Stoner. It is closely related to the military M16 rifle.
Rifles styled like the AR-15 come in many sizes and have many options, depending on the manufacturer. The lower receiver, without the receiver extension, rear takedown pin, and buttstock, is shown at bottom.
A stripped lower receiver, one that is lacking the additional parts included in a completed lower receiver, is the only part of an AR-15–style rifle that needs to be transferred through a federally licensed firearms dealer under United States federal law.
American Tactical OMNI AR-15–style rifle (lower in polymer), 5.56×45mm NATO caliber, with Millett DMS-1 scope and FAB Defense stock and grips
A semi-automatic rifle is an autoloading rifle that fires a single cartridge with each pull of the trigger and uses part of the fired cartridge's energy to eject the case and load another cartridge into the chamber. In contrast, a bolt-action rifle requires the user to cycle the bolt manually before they can fire a second time, and a fully automatic rifle fires continuously until the trigger is released.
SKS Type 56 - 7.62×39mm
Prague Castle Guard carrying the Czechoslovak vz. 52 rifle
The Fusil Automatique Modele 1917 was an early French semi-automatic rifle issued in limited number to the French Armed Forces during World War I.
The M1 Garand, designed by John Garand in 1936 and initially produced for the United States military.
