How long do AR15/M16 last?

[1lostinspace]

I see AK's rusted out that were made in the 50's carried in the horn of Africa, middle east, bye half naked men and they still function. How about AR/M16 from my experience they are far more reliable then given credit for but how long do they last before parts needs to be replaced?

[russ69]

ARs are like that old hammer that I have. It's had three new heads and 4 new handles. The gun is so modular, they can last until the receiver is just plain worn away from handling. Believe or not, the round count usually isn't very high so guns can last a long time.

[1lostinspace]

ARs are like that old hammer that I have. It's had three new heads and 4 new handles. The gun is so modular, they can last until the receiver is just plain worn away from handling. Believe or not, the round count usually isn't very high so guns can last a long time.

Having to replace stuff is not a good thing

[bigmike82]

He didn't say you had to. He said you could, up and until the receiver itself is cracked.

[tozan]

I see AK's rusted out that were made in the 50's carried in the horn of Africa, middle east, bye half naked men and they still function. How about AR/M16 from my experience they are far more reliable then given credit for but how long do they last before parts needs to be replaced?

Those half naked men can't afford to waste ammo so their guns most likely have a low round count, When I was in the military I had a 10 year old M-16 A1 with many thousands of rounds through it that still shot just fine.

[smle-man]

I know the Army National Guard used M16A1s with A2 uppers until recently. Those rifles are probably recycled to the Afghan army by now and in those weapons were most likely Vietnam war era receivers. Until the receiver fails from some sort of trauma I don't think they will wear out.

[unusedusername]

Read from the source as to how long (round counts) a AR type rifle lasts.

TECHNICAL MANUAL
UNIT AND DIRECT SUPPORT MAINTENANCE MANUAL

https://www.ar15armory.com/manuals/TM9-1005-319-23.pdf

If you don't shoot it then it lasts as long as you can keep the rust away.

[johnthomas]

Having to replace stuff is not a good thing

Really? When something breaks on your gun, you just throw it away?
I have fixed up a lot of older guns with replacement parts. I cannot afford to do otherwise.

[cannon]

Assuming regular care and maintenance.

The AR used for slow fire bulls eye will last several generations of your family.

The usual range and plinker AR will last your lifetime and then some.

The AR used in regular run and gun type computations will have it's hiccups.

How hard and often are really the factors you have to use to guesstimate an ARs lifespan.

[1lostinspace]

Really? When something breaks on your gun, you just throw it away?
I have fixed up a lot of older guns with replacement parts. I cannot afford to do otherwise.

Not what I men't

[vikingm03]

I see AK's rusted out that were made in the 50's carried in the horn of Africa, middle east, bye half naked men and they still function. How about AR/M16 from my experience they are far more reliable then given credit for but how long do they last before parts needs to be replaced?

That happens with ARs also:



As said before, those "half naked men" are not shooting off thousands of rounds weekly like some people on here, they dont have the money. Those guns will last until they rust apart, not until they wear out.

[dieselpower]

Not what I men't

Many of the old, rusted AKs you see are not functional. Its a bluff. I have even see pictures of fake AKs built with plumbing supplies on ARF.COM. The Warlords that are recruiting and equipping these half naked boys don't care about their lives.

Overall, with all things being equal, such as maintenance, round count, environment, the two firearms will last about the same amount of time. That's about 600 years +/- 10%.

You start adding in other factors such as the alloy used between various manufactures as it reacts to each other and improper corrosion control and you can half that lifespan. So even if that rusty AK is functional now, that cancer is going to continue to break it down and the AK will be useless in less than 50 years.

Pound for pound the AR (kept the same as an AK) will outlast that AK due to its advanced alloys. The higher quality 4140CM we use in our barrels as well as the 4150CM and 4150CMV used will provide a measurable difference in time in use. S&W, CMMG and JP are now using Melonite treatments on their uppers...you can add a few dozen years to the lifespan of those uppers over non-treated uppers kept in the same condition. I would say 100 more years or so, but my money is safe on saying 50+ years. Thats AR vs AR. The S&W Melonite treated upper will outlast the same AK (all things being equal) by 200+ years at a minimum.

On this same topic. I met a guy in who told me he buried an AK and AR for ten years in a Louisiana swamp. Both failed to fire once hosed off and both needed a complete internal rebuild due to dissimilar metal corrosion between the actions metals. The AKs wood was nearly gone...the ARs plastic was as new. Grain of salt with that story...as always from gun shop counters.

[chris]

Those half naked men can't afford to waste ammo so their guns most likely have a low round count, When I was in the military I had a 10 year old M-16 A1 with many thousands of rounds through it that still shot just fine.

when i first got in i has an old A1 and it was fine. and in basic it worked great. PLDC in 98 we had them too. no issues at all. it's all about care and maintenance in any weapons system. just because you can abuse and neglect a weapons system does'nt mean you should.

the .50 cals are pretty old and are still going strong as ever.

[chris]

I know the Army National Guard used M16A1s with A2 uppers until recently. Those rifles are probably recycled to the Afghan army by now and in those weapons were most likely Vietnam war era receivers. Until the receiver fails from some sort of trauma I don't think they will wear out.

hell we still have A2's from the early 80's as our issue weapon. we in the Reserves will never see IMO a new weapon like a M4 or A4 rifle. the Reserves don't really care about new weapons for the troops. the pre-war mentality is returning faster than Soldiers coming home from war.

[1lostinspace]

I have to say AR's are more reliable then given credit for and AK's are more accurate then given credit for especially in 5.56 and 5.45 the AR/M16 sure has proven it self it has been in service for 50+ years