Armalite M-15

Armalite 3-Gun Rifle Review- M153GN18

By:University of Florida 3-Gun Team

Due to financial difficulties, Armalite sold the AR-15 to Colt in 1959. Later, as the AR series became popular in the civilian market, every factory wanted to produce AR for sale, so Armalite decided to re-enter the market. However, since they no longer had the ownership of the AR-15 name, they slightly modified the original design and launched this civilian semi-automatic rifle under the name of M15.

M15A2

Total length: 1003mm Barrel length: 508mm Gun weight: 3.72kg

M15A2 Carbine

Total length: 904mm Barrel length: 406mm Gun weight: 3.17kg

M15A2 National Competition

M15A4

Total length: 1003mm Barrel length: 508mm Gun weight: 3.54kg

M15A4 Carbine

Total length: 904mm Barrel length: 406mm Gun weight: 3.17kg

M15A4 with telescopic stock after AWB94 failed

15A4CBA2

M15A4 NM

The LEC15A4CB is a 16-inch product for law enforcement agencies

M15A4（T）

Competition-level rifle, featuring a cylindrical floating handguard, total length: 1077mm, barrel length: 610mm, gun weight: 4.17kg

M15A4(T) Carbine

Competition-level carbine, equipped with a shorter barrel floating handguard, total length: 902mm, barrel length: 406mm, gun weight: 3.45kg

M15 photographed by SMGLee at SHOTSHOW2009

From top to bottom: KAC SR-25 RAS handguard, Armalite M15 cylindrical handguard, Armalite AR10 cylindrical handguard

Although the Armalite M15 did not receive military orders, the floating cylindrical carbon fiber handguard on the Armalite M15 was well received by the Delta Special Forces, and a number of OD-colored versions were purchased from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s to be modified for use on CAR-15 or M4A1. In fact, this handguard was originally designed by KAC for the SR-25 , but it was finally produced by Armalite. As shown in the picture above, this cylindrical floating handguard originally had two versions, one long and one short. The handguard was used for carbines, but the Delta gunsmith bought a long handguard, cut a square notch in the middle to pass through the triangular front sight, and then processed a row of screw holes at the 12 o'clock, 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions of the handguard for mounting accessories. There is news that this modification was first used for homemade reconnaissance rifles . The snipers of Delta Force were attracted by the floating handguard itself, which helped improve shooting accuracy. At the same time, the longer cylindrical handguard provided more space for installing accessories such as gun lights and laser indicators. Therefore, similar modifications became popular in the Delta Force at the time and were no longer limited to reconnaissance rifles. Later, SEAL Six also had a similar modification method. Later, KAC's design of the MRE handguard may have been inspired by this. The VTAC Delta handguard designed by retired Delta Force members should also be a continuation of this experience.

However, since this information was only revealed on social media after many veterans retired, some members of the Delta Force said that the gunsmith removed it from the SR-25 and used it. Maybe they later found that this modification was effective, so they bought the parts directly, and some people bought the shorter version. The short barrel handguard not only does not need to make a hole to make room for the triangular front sight, but can also be used for some short barrel models. It is said that the initial practice was to use this barrel handguard to modify the M4A1 into a floating barrel, and adding accessories to it is said to be started by the famous former Delta Force member Kyle Lamb. With the exposure of this news, in recent years, some civilian players have begun to buy OD-colored Armalite handguards (so Armalite OD FF Tube has become a special term) to perform the same modification and restore the rifle of that year.

Delta Force members using CAR-15s in Bosnia in the mid-1990s. These CAR-15s were modified with Armalite's OD-colored carbon fiber handguards.

The sniper squad of the Delta Force, earlier than 2002, these RECCE rifles also used Armalite 's cylindrical carbon fiber handguard

Retired Delta Force operator Daryl Holland with his Recce rifle

A Delta Force member in the Iraq War in 2003, he still uses Armalite's barrel handguard on the flat-top receiver M4A1

The two people on the left are also Delta members using the Arlette cylindrical floating handguard.

Installation of KAC MRE RAS handguard on M4

The situation of installing TAC Delta handguard on M4, this is also a cylindrical handguard

In the Afghan Delta, the middle man's M4A1 is equipped with a short-barreled handguard

In 1993, SEAL Team 6 Black Team snipers in Somalia used the shorter Armalite cylindrical floating handguard RECCE rifle.

In the 1990s, DEVGRU members used the Armalite short-barrel handguard

This is also a DEVGRU from the 1990s with a short barrel handguard. What is more rare is that the barrel of the gun on the right is 11.5 inches.

The FF cylindrical handguard modification of the Delta Commando restored by civilian players

According to the information provided by retired Delta Force members, civilian players processed the cylindrical handguard with screw holes for installing accessories or rails.