AR-15 - The Beginner's Guide - What to Know About the AR-15 

Being a Marine, I know this rifle like the back of my hand, but I never get tired of watching AR-15 informational videos made specifically for beginners. Great video, man!

10 years later and this video is still providing some great education for brand new AR-15 owners (like me). This is great, many thanks!

What a fantastic video. No extraneous talk. No attempt at funniness. No over explaining and no repeating yourself. Kudos to you. On top of all these, you actually did not assume the viewers knew the lingo nor did you treat the novices like children. Thank you thank you. I have many fire arms and recently added an AR-15 to my arsenal. I thought I knew enough but as it turns out I did not. RU-vid needs more content providers like you.

This guy explained everything so well and he was so informative he should be a professional teacher for firearms I commend him

AR rifles are light, accurate, easy to field strip and clean, fire relatively inexpensive ammo, can accept high-capacity magazines, and you can get one starting around $500. These are all good reasons for owning one.

"worried about gun bans" wow, 7 years ago

No matter how experienced you think you are, you can always learn something new. Appreciate this video

I just bought myself my first AR yesterday. I've been shooting and collecting guns for years, but I've never dealt with an AR until now. This video really helped learn how it functions. Thank you sir!

Very well done. Thank you. My father started his 3 sons out with a BB gun and taught us how to shoot safely. We graduated to .22, pistols, shotgun and deer rifles. I taught my 2 sons as well. My oldest is a Marine and has built up a few AR's. They are fun to shoot and we go to the range regularly as well as shoot while camping out in the boonies. This video was very helpful to understand how everything integrates together with proper nomenclature and operational characteristics. Keep up the great work! We need more education on firearms starting with Congress all the way down to grade school levels IMHO...

I grew up deer hunting with a Remington 750, small game hunting with a Mossberg 20 gauge and own several handguns. I’m comfortable with guns - But I’m an AR newb. Very new. This video is great. First step to teaching anything, be it firearms, changing a car battery or making a PB & J is to assume no prior knowledge. Well done, well done.

Well made. All informative from start to finish. No politics. No BS. Well done sir

Man I really want to thank you for this informative and helpful video. I just purchased my first AR from Palmetto State Armory and being new to AR ownership I wanted to know how to properly field strip it for maintenance purposes. Your video was spot on! On behalf of all of us newbs out here thank you!

I am retired Army. Before becoming a Warrant Officer and way back in the day I was the unit armorer, so I know these weapons like I know myself but I loved this video. I thought it was really well done and for those who are new this was fantastic. Great job and thanks.

I know this video has been out for a while but I wanted to let you know that I just picked up my first carbine and watched your video while reading the owner's manual. As someone who's not very experienced with guns, this was super informative. Thank you for making it.

Wow, this was really great information. After pondering over purchasing an AR15 for about a year I finally picked one up last week. This video was so informative, that I'm reading to go to the range and start using the Gun ASAP. I've been a Gun owner for about 40 years but was still a little intimidate when I opened the box at home. The video really provided the level of comfort I needed to start enjoying my new purchase. Will watch it again and share with others picking up their ARs. Much appreciated!

Just a sidenote, AMAZING video. Sent this to a buddy that's looking into the AR platform. Figured I'd watch it first and I swear you hit every point that needed to be hit (even proper loading of mags!). Keep it up, brother. Awesome job. Earned a sub!

10 years after the fact I know, but this video is great. Too many people cry about not enough citizens owning weapons but then laugh when a noob asks what the forward assist is for. Everyone starts somewhere. Thx for this

wow!!! This video is 10 years old and I just bought my 1st AR-15 and this video is still helping people like myself new to the hobby!! Thank you!!

13 years Army, great vid. My M-4 is helped me every step of the way. Simple, informative, and I love how straight to the point you are. Right on.

This was extremely helpful. I might have know 90% of it all, but it was so detailed and easy to follow that any beginner would absolutely love it!

10 years on and this is still good info. I have a PCC and pistol I enjoy, and have just ordered my first AR (of the budget variety, for learning both handling and how to tinker). I pick it up in a week (on order, no wait period stuff here). I have been watching all the instructional videos I can before I pick it up and head to the range, and this is easily one of the very best. There's a reason almost 4 million people have watched it.

Thanks for making this, I was far too embarrassed to ask any of these questions to my family that shoots because I got into them as a near adult. This answered pretty much everything I wanted to know

Shot my first AR-15 a few weeks ago and I’m hooked. Thank you for making the “for dummies” video for newbies like me. Great content!!

For various reasons, I’ve not had my AR-15 at the range for almost a decade. This re-introduction helped reacquaint me with the weapon BEFORE I take it out, so I can be as safe as possible at the range. Yes, I’ll be stripping it down and doing a clean and check before using it. You can never be too safe! Thanks for the video!

Good Stuff !!! " It's an AR-15, use it like one" .... great slogan for T-shirts !! Peace out.... Tucson Jack

I’m 18 enlisting in the army and practicing shooting before basic. Thank you for the vid

“Your magazine release is what releases your magazine” 😮

i came to this video looking for more than the basics but i have to say you did a great job for those who have never used a firearm.

Just purchased my first AR, this video was extremely helpful and I’m truly surprised how easy it was to bring apart! Thank you so much!

This was a great video. I just recently bought my first AR. Its an M&P15 sport 2. They explained things very well when I purchased the rifle. There are a few variations from mine to yours but its basically the same. Great stuff. This was very helpful. I plan to build a new AR just so I can call it my own and after watching this I feel more confident in doing so.

THANKS. I'm in that group...I decided to buy one a week after ORLANDO because they made it sound like you'll not be able to buy one...so that's what I did . Now, I need to know how to clean it. I did fire one in the Air Force before going overseas but that was 25 years ago. Thanks. This is the best video I've seen out of 7 so far. Very good explainations

I just bought my first ar the other day, I thought I knew things about it, then I watched your video lol. Thank you! Very informative. Keep up the great work, man!

Thanks man this was very helpful. Just picked up an M&P Sport II my first gun and I feel way more informed about what I have

6 years old but relevant to me being a first time AR-15 owner. Thanks for the video!

Got my first AR today! Thanks for the video! It answered a lot a questions I had about it. I was an AK guy before being an AR guy too!

YOU JUST BLEW MY MIND WITH LOADING THAT MAGAZINE. For years I've been loading them like a handgun magazine. Very informative with everything else as well. Great video.

Got my AR15 a couple of weeks ago but due to work haven't been able to keep training myself with it. I'm glad I found this video for now I kmow a bit more and feel that much more confident that I will be a good gun owner.

Good video! The simplicity makes your videos very helpful for people like me who is now in the process to build one from scratch. Thank you!

I found this information 10 years after you posted and I love it ❤just getting into my build. Hope all is still well

Thank you so much for this video. I just bought my first AR and am still figuring it out. I have classes/training lined up, but this video was super helpful. Thanks again!

Thanks for the video. I too am an "AK guy" and I just purchased a lower for an AR build so this video helped a lot. I will definitely watch your other videos. Thanks for the help.

First time AR15 owner. I really appreciated this. Now going to watch the cleaning vid.

You have one of the best channels on the AR-15! Period!

Thank you so much for this, I’ve never owned an AR before and have sadly inherited 2, thus was great for me. I shoot handguns and long rifles, so I really appreciate the breakdown!

Beginner here. Thanks so much for the video. Very informative. Last week, my coworker to me to the gun club and we shot his Colt AR-15 heavy barrell. Shooting targets at 25 yards wit standard sites. I was surprised at how accurate it was with using standards sites. I was hooked after that. My only experience before that was firing my Daisy Bee Bee rifle. Today, I just bought a Smith & Wesson M&P 15 Sport II today at my local gun club. My first firearm! After purchasing it, I took it in the firing range with one of the shooting club employees and he showed me some basics. I was surprised at how accurate it was on the first go around. I didn't have to make any adjustments to the sites. I am loving this platform.

Fantastic video! Just bought my first one and am waiting for it to come in! Love these beginner videos cause some of us no nothing but are doing our homework to be responsible gun owners!

Great decision to make this video. I've been wanting to get into the AR-15 category of weapons, but had no clue where to start, what various parts were called, etc. This also is very helpful as many people have told me to just build my own rather than buying at full price, but again I had no clue about all of the individual parts. Great beginner, introductory video!

Thanks for posting this video. I've had an AR for years but have never really gotten to "know" it thoroughly. I want to get better at field stripping and cleaning it. Every time I do this I'm fumbling around trying to remember what goes where. This video's a big help for me.

Thank You for the video, being brought up with shotguns and owning many of them I never really had the reason to own a rifle sense my area was shotgun only for hunting. Now that has change and your video has taught me a lot about the AR and can't wait to purchase or build my first one. Thanks Again

New shooter and made my first AR Purchase. Great video! Subscribed!

Best video that displays how an AR works and how to handle it for beginners. Great video. Simple.

So much simpler than I originally thought! ready to get my M&P

New to the AR platform and your video is very informative. Thank you for thinking about the newbies. Great video and keep them coming.

i just bought my first two AR's yesterday...I am a SKS/AK/SVT 40 guy and I got an education watching this video...I'm 74 years young and I had no problem understanding this descriptive account of understanding the AR..thanks.

Perfect & informative video for everyone :) thank you. Just bought my first one and reading the manual (without pictures) couldn't figure out proper usage and how to do everything I needed to for safety. This is VERY different from all my other guns 🙌 Your video answered all my initial questions THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Very clear and understandable video for the beginner. I've been shooting since 1973 and prior to now, have never had an AR-15 or the need to know how to work it. Excellent video!

I honestly don't know why I just watched this video, since I'm already very familiar with the parts and operation of the AR-15, but this was a great introduction for beginners and you explained everything well. Well done! I would just suggest to anyone new to the AR-15, or really any firearm, go even deeper than this, and learn every part. It's not really necessary, but if you're going to own one of these, it's worth understanding each piece of it, know what a healthy working firearm looks like, and how all the pieces work together to make a bullet come out when you pull the trigger. Do a full build from the bare receiver up, or completely disassemble and reassemble your firearms to learn as much as possible about them, and do so periodically to clean and inspect them. Most firearms today are quite reliable, but you're still dealing with some high pressures and fast moving parts, and it's good to detect and identify any potential problems before they become dangerous.

This video was very helpful to understand the AR platform. I am thinking about buying an AR before they become illegal. Hopefully they won't make it retroactive.

I'm a first time AR owner and know nothing about these guns. The guy at the gunshop just rattled off all the parts in about 10 seconds. Your video is VERY GOOD!!! Thankyou!

Good video. I just bought my first AR. This was very informative.

Recently got one myself, amazing rifle. Awesome video, answered a lot of questions I had. Thanks!

Thank you, I am a relatively new shooter. I went through all the classes and got my cpl. I'm comfortable with my carry firearm. However I just picked up my first AR-15 (Smith and Wesson M&P) I appreciate videos like this because most new shooters get laughed at for asking basic questions. We should be welcoming all new shooters with open arms.

Thanks for the video. I've been a 2A guy for a few years but just got my first AR style so this helped. Grabbed a WC-15-P from Westcoast Weapon Works (yup, I'm in California). If anyone's got advice or tips, even shooting ranges around the SoCal area let me know.

This is probably one of the best videos I’ve seen on RU-vid. Simple, to the point, yet informative. I felt like my friend of 50 years was teaching me . Great video!

I come back to this video every now and then. It was what originally sparked my interest in getting my first AR. Excellent resource.

Great video. Helps many unfamiliar with the AR platform. To improve your instruction however, I wouldn't assume any prior knowledge given the audience you are seeking to reach in this video. For example, in reviewing the parts, you listed several parts by term and never defined them. I had to look them up. Love your pace and presentation, just be sure to more fully bring us along. lol.

Everyone asks where I find AR-15 stuff in stock or where I order from, so here you are: goo.gl/GKqpCC

Terrific video. Born and raised in California, just moved out of state and am exercising my 2nd to the fullest. Loving the community.

"Give it a good whack" T-Shirt slogan right there!!!

First time I haven’t heard heard the battery assist called the “bad lever”. Either way, great video, my friend. Shoot ‘em straight

You’re the man. I’ve been searching for hours and this is the first video that clearly and adequately explained this to me. Thanks so much!!

That was perfect, I'm trying to build my first one and that laid everything out perfectly

this is the best introductory video on the internet for a 15.

Helped a lot actually. Knew little to nothing about AR15’s. Just got into airsoft. And very informational. Thank you

Thank you for this video. I'm a noob when it comes to guns, but I've had an AR-15 gifted to me a long while back, I just never touch it. However, I decided I'm going to finally learn about it, understand the basics and cleaning, etc. This video was super helpful in understanding some of the basic parts. I have shot an AR15 before (and several other guns), but it's nice to see the basics explains so well.

wow this video was awesome after I watched it I took apart my ar for the first time and cleaned it my self successfully

There’s a reason why the AR-15 is the most popular sporting rifle in the America. It’s a solid, accurate rifle that’s relatively easy to maintain. It doesn’t hurt that they’re a lot of fun to shoot too !

Very nice. Some know-it-alls may not appreciate this sort for thing but I just ordered my first AR last Friday and as a teacher I try to learn everyday and so, with your help and other great videos, I'm literally absorbing any and all info on this piece before it arrives! Love your channel, keep up the great work!! Happy Thanksgiving 2017!

Honestly, I’m sure you’ve got a thousand of these comments but thank you for passing on your experience. I’m an ace when it comes to wheel guns but I just picked up my first rifle and was looking for some schooling. Your video was dang near perfect on instruction. Thank you for your time and I look forward to your other videos 👍🏻

Still relevant in 2020. Just got my first AR15 a couple days ago. Watched bunch of videos about cleaning etc... wish I had seen this one first. Would have saved me a small amount of frustration. :)

Awesome ! Nice "down to earth" explanation of key components/operations, minus the pomp.

I've always been a pistol guy, and I'm just now getting on the AR-15 bandwagon. Thanks for the great video.

You’re the first to actually explain it in a simple and straight forward way, much appreciated!! Got a PSA AR Pistal and this vid answers my questions! Thanks

Cannot express my appreciation for this video! New to the AR and was a bit intimidated to break it down but with your assistance that is no longer a problem. Until you do it a few times it becomes very easy. Subscribed and will follow your channel on anything AR related. One question: the diagram on your table of the AR, probably a dime a dozen to get (maybe not and therefore asking) where do I get that? Thank you!

Interesting. I have not used my AR 15 in a number of years. Mine looks more like the M 16 I used in Vietnam. Works the same but with the carrying handle. Also, as the M 16 jammed so much, I got that I could strip it I the dark. May get my AR out and shoot it before winter. 1st Cav Air Assault

Just got my first AR today! This video was super helpful

Thanks for the info buying my first AR-15 this weekend

Thank you so much for going step by step explaining the AR-15. This was so refreshing and gave me more confidence to handle my new rifle. I appreciate the handle and comfort feel of the rifle. Ready to visit the gun range again to try my new purchase. 👍👍 #Gr8Tutorial

Being clueless. This excellent video answered all the mysterious questions I had about an AR-15. Now I know what it is and how it works!!

Brand new to gun ownership in general and somewhat intimidated by the AR-15. I'm a second Amendment rights advocate and very conservative, so I'm purchasing a few fire arms for personal protection and concerns of availability in the future. Video is exactly what I needed. Thank you so much🙋‍♂️🇺🇸

Very informative , great vid for us new to the field of AR 15's , thank you !!!

I am only half way through and I am finding this so helpful....my first AR is ordered and on the way

Very nice video... thanks for sharing your knowledge. I just bought an AR 15 because I live in the Left Coast, and soon everything will be prohibited by the Bolsheviks who run the State I reside in; I think you know who I'm referring to. So, now I have to learn as much as possible about my AR and how to operate it as well as maintain it. Your videos go a long way in this regard and I appreciate it very much!

Whew! Thanks for the vid I thought I was actually about to take a math test tomorrow 😅🙌

Thank you so much for you video I just got my AR15 . I am 58 year old women who didn’t know much about it and you video was simple into the point and where I could understand it. I watched a few videos, and nothing was as clear as your video. 👍💪

pull the bolt carrier back before inserting a full mag. it will insert just like an empty one.

Very informative. Thank you. I just picked up a DDM4V11 as my first AR.

Thank you for saying don't be gentle! My boys drilled that into me when I was learning. Great detailed video and explanation. Clear and quick!

What a great video. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you very much for sharing.

03:45 wish i knew this, spent a whole lot of extra time trying to load a 30 round mag but the rounds kept protruding forward