Technical Description 
Zane Weigman
April 1st
English 212
Intended Audience: AR15 owners and people interested in learning about them
AR15 Style Rifles: How Gas Operated Rifles Work
Since its invention during the Vietnam War, the AR15 platform has remained the most popular semi-automatic rifle for military personnel, state police, and civilian enthusiasts alike. What many people may not know is an AR15 is actually not a specific rifle, it is a class of civilian rifle modeled after the original M16 service rifle used by American soldiers in Vietnam. There are many different variations of the rifle, made by several different companies, but all of them use the same basic platform.
The example used in this description is the Panther Arms DPMS rifle.
What Is A Gas Operated Rifle?
Many people who are new to firearms, or those who want to learn more about them, would benefit from learning about how a semi-automatic rifle works. Semi-automatic rifles, such as the Panther Arms DPMS, typically function using the same gas operated system. Gas operated systems are considered by many in the world of firearms to be the best system for these types of rifles.
All gas operated rifles have the same basic process, the force of the bullet exiting the barrel is used to cycle the rifle and chamber another round.
Components Of The Rifle
Before operating a firearm such as the DPMS, it is important to understand its main components and how the function. Below is an exploded view of the rifle’s components.
A DPMS AR15 is composed of 6 primary parts, the barrel, bolt, magazine, trigger, hammer, and the gas piston. Each part relies on one another for proper function.
Operating The Rifle: How The System Works
To begin, a magazine is loaded with cartridges and inserted into the rifle. With the magazine snapped into place, the user manually chambers the first round using the charging handle, which engages the bolt and locks a round into the chamber. When a round is chambered, the user pulls the trigger, which
April 1st
English 212
Intended Audience: AR15 owners and people interested in learning about them
AR15 Style Rifles: How Gas Operated Rifles Work
Since its invention during the Vietnam War, the AR15 platform has remained the most popular semi-automatic rifle for military personnel, state police, and civilian enthusiasts alike. What many people may not know is an AR15 is actually not a specific rifle, it is a class of civilian rifle modeled after the original M16 service rifle used by American soldiers in Vietnam. There are many different variations of the rifle, made by several different companies, but all of them use the same basic platform.
The example used in this description is the Panther Arms DPMS rifle.
What Is A Gas Operated Rifle?
Many people who are new to firearms, or those who want to learn more about them, would benefit from learning about how a semi-automatic rifle works. Semi-automatic rifles, such as the Panther Arms DPMS, typically function using the same gas operated system. Gas operated systems are considered by many in the world of firearms to be the best system for these types of rifles.
All gas operated rifles have the same basic process, the force of the bullet exiting the barrel is used to cycle the rifle and chamber another round.
Components Of The Rifle
Before operating a firearm such as the DPMS, it is important to understand its main components and how the function. Below is an exploded view of the rifle’s components.
A DPMS AR15 is composed of 6 primary parts, the barrel, bolt, magazine, trigger, hammer, and the gas piston. Each part relies on one another for proper function.
Operating The Rifle: How The System Works
To begin, a magazine is loaded with cartridges and inserted into the rifle. With the magazine snapped into place, the user manually chambers the first round using the charging handle, which engages the bolt and locks a round into the chamber. When a round is chambered, the user pulls the trigger, which