The AR-15 design uses a very common type of ammo (.223/5.56), it's light-weight with low recoil, it's fairly ergonomic and compact, and it's accurate. All of th

The AR-15 design uses a very common type of ammo (.223/5.56), it's light-weight with low recoil, it's fairly ergonomic and compact, and it's accurate. All of those things are factors that make it desirable for civilian uses ranging from recreational range shooting to home defense. The "tacticool" factor is probably responsible for only a tiny fraction of all AR-15 sales.