I know what you’re thinking. “Anti-gun liberal idiot” or whatever. Yes, I’m a liberal. I like guns too. If you were smart enough to know the difference between a liberal and a leftist, you wouldn’t hate liberals, which are actually pretty conservative themselves.
An AR-15, or 5.56 semi auto platform, utilizes high velocity powerful rounds. I don’t consider an AR15 an assault rifle. It has a pistol grip, rail for a grenade launcher, and other qualifications, but no selector switch for automatic and burst fire. However, I do consider it an assault style weapon. Modern AR15s resemble the M4, not the M16. Main difference being an M4 is a carbine. An m4 is shorter than an m16, which allows for greater mobility of the shooter, with a slight deduction of range. The AR15, with a typical barrel of 16 inches, has an effective range of around 500 yards, or 1500 feet. In the military, where higher grade weaponry is used, most infantry fighting takes place below 300 meters. Snipers often use bolt actions at the distance of 500 meters, which are more precise.
Fun fact: Automatic fire isn’t meant to be accurate or kill. It’s to suppress. That means, the sheer volume of fire will force an enemy to take cover, not able to fire accurately in order to not get hit. Marines and soldiers use semi automatic, even up close, because semi auto is more accurate.
Now, the American citizen, even defending himself, isn’t at all likely to have to use a 5.56 or engage a target at that range. Using a 5.56 up close will cause the bullet to go through and through, and unintended damage is highly likely. Say a 5.56 is used on a home intruder. The bullet will go clear through, and continue to damage your home, or even strike others.
I’m not opposed to high magazines. Why not use a pistol such as the MPX? Almost as big as an AR, comes in 9 and 10 mm. It is compatible with Beta C hundred round mags so you still have quite a lot of rounds, and is highly capable of ranges you’re likely to face.
