A "car rifle" most commonly refers to the CAR-15 Carbine, a compact firearm derived from the popular AR-15 platform.
According to the provided reference, the CAR-15 Carbine was developed as:
- An improved version of the AR-15 SBR (Colt Model 605).
- The AR-15 SBR was itself a shorter barrel version of the original Colt Armalite AR-15 rifle.
The primary change noted in the reference between the CAR-15 Carbine and the standard M16 rifle was a significant reduction in barrel length. The barrel was shortened to 15 inches (381 mm), positioned so that it concluded just forward of the front sight base. This shorter barrel length contributes to the CAR-15's classification as a carbine, offering a more maneuverable and less cumbersome profile compared to full-length rifles.
Think of the CAR-15 as a more compact relative in the AR-15 family, designed for situations where a shorter weapon is advantageous.
