The ArmaLite division of the Fairchild Engine and Airplane Corporation, Costa Mesa, CA was established in 1954 for the sole purpose of developing military firearms using the latest in plastics and non-ferrous materials. The AR-15, designed around a slightly enlarged version of the .222 case firing a 55gr projectile at 3300fps, weighing in at 6.7 lbs was accurate and effective to 350 yards..
Project SALVO, a number of studies conducted by the Operations Research Office at John Hopkins University and supported by several contractors, chose the AR-15 as the best small caliber weapon and it was adopted as the M16.
Colt’s retained the AR-15. To this day Colt’s has a model designation with the letters AR, which stands for “ArmaLite”.
Last modified: 4/20/10 Kawika