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I wouldn't want to catch a .32 ACP or even a .22 LR in the ass. That doesn't make either round "high powered" though. Calling an AR-15 a "high power rifle" is

• simonh 7y ago
  I think it depends on context. It's intended to kill people and clearly it's not a low power weapon. In the context of plinking and small game hunting versus military arms it's definitely on the serious end of the spectrum. However in the context of strictly military weapons, sure it's at the low to medium end of the range. Infantry weapons are 'small arms' in military terms. But if we're talking about civilian firearms, I think it's reasonable to put it, and anything else specifically designed to have the ability to reliably kill humans and bigger targets at long (rifle) range, up at the dangerous end of the spectrum.
  • javagram 7y ago
    > anything else specifically designed to have the ability to reliably kill humans and bigger targets at long (rifle) range, up at the dangerous end of the spectrum. So this would include all weapons intended for hunting anything bigger than a rabbit? Fair enough, but this isn’t typically the argument - usually it’s presented as the AR-15 being a “weapon of war” and not needed for hunting, eliding the fact that many common hunting rifles are more powerful.
    • simonh 7y ago
      No, as I said, human or larger. I think there's a fair argument that bolt action single shot is adequate for hunting.
      • javagram 7y ago
        Deer weigh 150 lbs or more, same as humans. Logically a rifle sized to kill a deer or larger animal will also be excellent at killing humans. Most proposals for banning assault weapons exempt “hunting rifles”, but if your proposal is to ban all semi auto rifles larger than .22 caliber, it’s consistent although not what politicians are currently pushing on any side in the USA.
      • kls 7y ago
        Not all hunting is the same, I would not use a bolt action single shot out duck hunting (I use a 10 gauge auto with 3 shot capacity) and I would not use an AR out hog hunting. But if my primary goal was vermin control like prairie dog hunting, Coyote hunting, etc. I would absolutely choose a AR (personally it would be an AK) with a high capacity mag. For hog hunting I use a Saga-12 with a 20 round drum with a mix of slug and buck shot, which is a hell of a lot of firepower far more than any of the school shooters has ever packed. A 3 inch 00 buck is 15 30 cal rounds in a single shot, that is 300 30 cal projectiles down range in 20 trigger pulls. This much firepower is absolutely necessary if you run into a pack of wild boar. All three of these are nuance species who populations have become out of control and need hunter eradication to keep them in check. In fact the only hunting I can think of where a bolt action suffices is stand hunting large herbivores such as deer, elk or moose. Which is exactly what most people think of when they think hunting. I certainly would not want to go into bear country with a single shot bolt action. Not that I would hunt bear, but I would certainly have a firearm for protection. I am not going to link to it as it may be sensitive viewing to some people but if you are not bothered by it, take a look at the YouTube videos, where ranchers are doing hog eradication via helicopter, they almost all exclusively use either the Saiga-12 or the AR-12 to do such eradication. It will give you a good perspective on how rapid the pace of eradication is and why such high capacity firepower is needed. Take a look at coyote and prairie dog eradication as well.
        • simonh 7y ago
          Ok, but you don't _need_ an AR or a semi-auto weapon for any of that.
          • kls 7y ago
            OK and how would you surmise that from my text. As I said take a look at the videos, packs of feral hogs, and prairie dogs can number in the 50's or more. You certainly need some form of high capacity gun that fires with every trigger pull, as after the first shot you have to make multiple quick follow up shots to eradicate the ones that are now fleeing. OK so I don't need an AR, but what would you suggest, I certainly need a rifle with a high capacity magazine, which can fire a shot with every trigger pull? Are we saying that it just needs to not look like an AR. Because it certainly has to perform like one, a Browning Automatic Rifle would suffice with a FAL high capacity magazine, but they are fairly expensive and actually do more damage than an AR (AR's are actually an under-powered gun for feral hog eradication and cause unneeded suffering), but they don't look like an AR, and look like a hunting gun. so we are back to wanting to ban cosmetics. Because there certainly is a legitimate use for high capacity magazines and semi-automatic rifles in nuance eradication. Many ranchers use an AR-10 or AK-12 for hog eradication, because they are the perfect tool. All of my firearms are semi-autos, all of them where purchased for a specific type of hunting that I do. I actually don't own or have a need for a bolt action single shot, as I do not hunt deer, elk any large herbivores. I would love to have a .338 Lapua bolt action, but the funny part is, it would be a vanity gun purchase, as I have absolutely no need for it other than plinking long range shots. the exact thing most people accuse AR owners of purchasing their AR for. On a personal note, I do not like the AR platform and personally think it is inferior to both the FAL and AK platforms.