It has become popular in recent years to refer to the iconic AR-15 by a new acronym. That acronym is MSR. MSR stands for Modern Sporting Rifle. But why call the epitome of semi-auto evolution by some newly hatched name? Let’s look at why the M of MSR matters. And perhaps you will understand the reason people are using the acronym.
As our country grows older and politics grow more invasive, the labels or names used to intentionally paint a topic in a certain light can take hold and entrench themselves – even if they are a poor fit, even if they stretch the truth, or are an outright lie. What is the lie in regard to AR-15s? It is that the AR in AR-15 stands for “assault rifle” or “automatic rifle.”
In truth, AR-15 is the designation of the first rifle of this style, the Armalite Rifle. The civilian version of the Armalite Rifle, the patent and all the history can be summed up here: ARs are the commercially available, semi-auto version of the original design by Eugene Stoner. You may read part 1 of our series here at The WON: “All about ARs as well, All About ARs: What in the Wide World of Firearms is an AR?”
Some people in media and marketing have used this adage: “If you repeat something often enough, it becomes the truth.” They use it to shape the perception of not just firearms, but AR-15s specifically. Many times, the lie that AR stands for “assault rifle” or “automatic rifle” is repeated out of ignorance. Media are given talking points and they puppet them. If you consume social media at all, you will have seen the compilations in recent years of a whole host of sources parroting the same talking points. The intentionality of this tactic cannot be swept under the rug any longer. Because of social media, Americans are now able to choose the information they consume and get answers from credible sources versus talking heads parroting a narrative.
Sadly, many Americans are too distracted or busy with other things to notice the lies that pervade modern life. Instead of trying to force someone to recant a lie they’ve been taught, newsmakers and influencers change the name of something to give it a better image or force individuals to shut off noncognitive skills and utter a recitation of the lie. In order to stop Ms. Gungrabber from saying, ”AR-15s are weapons of war!” by referring to any AR-style rifle as an MSR, it highlights that she’s ill-informed and doesn’t know what she’s talking about. Again, social media forces people to stop and think: what is the firearm and why does she not know how it works?
The firearms community could have stopped calling AR-15s ARs and decided to call them “Modern Muskets” or “Civilian Militia Rifles,” or you-name-it, but that would just rile the people who hate your right to protect yourself with the same grade of weapon as the military. These people don’t care that Americans have always had military grade guns. Not at all. It’s less work to chant slogans than it is to argue based on facts. So instead of arguing with irrational people, we can just call the AR-style firearms MSRs and move on. As a result, we hopefully leave those people clinging to untruths behind, arguing about ARs and see how long it takes for them to catch up to the rest of us.
But the truth is that there should be a distinction between ARs of the past and the modern AR-style rifles available currently. Modern sporting rifles are much more advanced than the what we had just 20-to-30 years ago. And although Americans have always had access to “military grade” firearms, that wasn’t a concern in past generations, nor was it painted as a negative. The muskets used at the Battle of Lexington, in the Civil War, the lever actions of the old West – they were all “military grade.” Citizens should want their fellow countrymen to be armed with the same grade of weapons as the military; it helps ensure that no tyrant or invading army can conquer them.
But the modern aspects of what AR-style rifles are capable of go far beyond just their place on the evolutionary ladder of firearms. They really are a multi-tasking, multi-purpose marvel.
Some aspects of MSRs make them better than what your grandpa had in Vietnam when Eugene Stoner’s ideas took root. Here are a few reasons:
If all of these modern advancements aren’t argument enough to own at least a few ARs, add in that pretty much anyone can find an affordable optic capable of getting hits out to 400+ yards.
Modern sporting rifles come in many calibers and are often used to hunt, due partly to the caliber offerings and partly to the available accessories. Mounting a rifle on a tripod for hunting is easier when there are so many options to attach the handguard to the tripod, and the mounting slots are already present. Compare this to having to disassemble your rifle and drill holes in a stock to add mounting hardware, because then it’s permanent.
The beauty of the MSR is that it can evolve, just like the acronym we used to describe it. Do you want a light and laser for predator hunting? No problem, attach them. Want to change it out your competition set-up for a tripod mounted on Arca rail for elk hunting? You can do that! MSRs also allow you to switch out barrels. So, your rifle for hunting could also be the same one you take to competitions with a barrel swap. And maybe your rifle for home defense is a shorter barrel and lighter configuration, but in the fall you swap barrels and accessories for hunting. This is another facet of AR ownership made better by modern advancement; we have more and better options for barrels and parts. More modularity. This is another modern advancement. Modularity and adaptability are facets of gun ownership our ancestors with muzzle-loaders would have been astounded by.
And while you can customize your MSR to your heart’s content, you can also buy an “out of the box” MSR that needs nothing but sights or an optic and your time enjoying it on the range.
To me, what matters is that you understand this: modern-day sporting rifles that we Americans own are the envy of the world – both for our access to firearms as well as the protection and enjoyment they afford us.
Find your next MSF at Stag Arms.
Becky Yackley primarily competes in 3 Gun, USPSA, Bianchi pistol, but has competed in shooting since 1989 in disciplines from service-rifle, to NCAA Air Rifle and Smallbore, air pistol and a little bit of long range rifle. She shoots guns and cameras at competitions around the country, and writes in her fictional spare time. View all posts by Becky Yackley
[…] let’s be clear that we’re talking about AR-style rifles or MSRs (Modern Sporting Rifles), for those new to the acronym. One of the great things about this genre of firearm is that it […]