<Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> ArmaLite AR - 15 </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> ArmaLite AR - 15 with 25 - round magazine </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Type </Th> <Td> Assault rifle </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Place of origin </Th> <Td> United States </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Service history </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> In service </Th> <Td> 1959--1990s </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Wars </Th> <Td> Vietnam War </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Production history </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Designer </Th> <Td> Eugene Stoner, Jim Sullivan and Bob Fremont </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Designed </Th> <Td> 1956 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Manufacturer </Th> <Td> <Ul> <Li> ArmaLite </Li> <Li> Colt's Manufacturing Company </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Produced </Th> <Td> 1959 - 1964 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Specifications </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Weight </Th> <Td> 6.55 lb (2.97 kg) with 20 round magazine </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Length </Th> <Td> 39 in (991 mm) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Barrel length </Th> <Td> 20 in (508 mm) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Cartridge </Th> <Td>. 223 Remington </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Action </Th> <Td> Gas - operated, rotating bolt (direct impingement) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Rate of fire </Th> <Td> full - auto 750 rounds / min cyclic </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Muzzle velocity </Th> <Td> 3,300 ft / s (1,006 m / s) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Effective firing range </Th> <Td> 500 yd (457 m) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Sights </Th> <Td> Iron sights </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> ArmaLite AR - 15 </Th> </Tr>

When did the ar-15 first go on sale