premmington
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AR15 derivatives are probably the most refined small arm out there today or maybe in the history of mankind. That's due to the Yanks and many others having it as their service rifle as well as the enormous industry of aftermarket parts.Some of which have been adopted by the military like ambidextrous charging handles and vertical foregrips.
AR-15 type rifles have been in continuous use in the British Army since Malaya ,so that's going on 70 years.The direct impingement operating system that they use has been around for nearly 100 years. Its a good reliable system that has had the bugs worked out of it.
AR15s are modular and easy to work on/ customise to mission specific roles. Easy to shoot ,accurate and cheap to produce.You can mount optics,torches,IR illuminators,bipods,suppressors in minutes.The 5.56X45 works well enough for what is asked of it ,it does another more damage to tissue than you might believe. Plus it's easier to hit things with so a strike from a 5.56 is infinitely better than a miss from 7.62.
AR15s are filling every role from a designated marksmanship rifle all the way to being incorporated into the survival kit contained in a Jet fighters ejection seat.
How is that for versatility.

The USAF Created a Mini Rifle That Fits in Its Ejection Seats
This compact M4 carbine helps aircrews stay alive until rescue.