 How did this gun become so popular? AR-15s are lightweight. They're easy to use. The bullets that they fire tend to be very destructive. It's a miracle that former President Trump wasn't hurt more. So back in the day, the 80s and 90s, this gun was the outcast. Even in the gun world, we spoke with gun executives who would show their wares at NRA conventions. One told us that he got the middle finger.