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How to Use an AR-15: A Beginner’s Guide to Operation and Controls

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19 minute read

In less than a 20-minute read, this AR-15 Beginner’s Guide on how to use an AR-15 will cover all the critical buttons and levers that make your gun tick like a clock, as well as a few basics on safe handling, clearing jams, and of course a couple of juicy tips no one talks about.

No time-consuming technical manuals to interpret here, this is the info you need for today’s AR-15. Let’s get started. 

Whether it’s your first rodeo or you’ve been here before, we always recommend a quick brush-up on the. basic rules of gun safety before diving deeper. 

Table of Contents

Overview of Main AR-15 Parts

Alright, before we get into slinging lead, let’s go over the main parts of your AR-15 real quick. There’s a bunch of switches and buttons on that bad boy that control how it works. I’ll give you a fast rundown of the essentials so you don’t get lost – safety first!

Safety Selector

Found on the left side (sometimes the right also if you have a fancy ambidextrous setup) of the receiver, it rotates between “Safe” and “Fire”. Always keep it on “Safe” until you’re ready to shoot.

Some more fortunate individuals have “giggle switch” access to the third rotation which would be “Auto”…but that’s not available to just anyone without going through all the NFA hooflah.

Trigger

Seems pretty obvious but this is squeezed when ready to fire. The AR-15 is semiautomatic, so every trigger pull fires just one round.

Triggers vary in shape and configuration. Don’t sweat the details. Just know they come in different pull weights and stages. We’ve covered triggers in-depth elsewhere if you want suggestions.

Triggers can come curved or flat, adjustable or fixed, drop-in, or in several pieces. Do not worry if yours looks different from the one above.

Magazine Release

Push this button near the trigger guard on the right side of the receiver to eject an inserted magazine. This is the only function of this button. Simple as that.

Southpaws, no worries! Ambidextrous magazine releases exist. Or go for extended ones like Timber Creek for easier reach.

Bolt Catch

Your bolt catch is what is used to lock your AR-15 bolt to the rear. It resides on the left side of the receiver and when pressure is applied to the bolt catch it locks the bolt back and tells you you’re empty. 

If the bolt is already locked to the rear pushing the upper portion of the catch will send the BCG forward.

There are some bolt catches like Magpul’s BAD Lever that can be used through the trigger guard but that is for another time.

Charging Handle

The charging handle is usually a favorite to get swapped out for a more personalized touch but it’s so much more than a piece just for looks. Pull this back to chamber a round, clear jams, etc.

Charging handles come in many shapes and colors. They are offered in extended, ambidextrous, left-handed, right-handed, etc. 

Forward Assist

Arguably one of the biggest and most controversial buttons found on the AR15, the forward assist is used to assist the bolt fully into the chamber (otherwise referred to as fully into battery) in the event it does not get there on its own. Found on the upper portion of the right-hand side just before the ejection port. Some AR-15s do not have this button. 

It is widely agreed that this button has little real-world use for most folks. If your rifle has trouble going into battery and you are not in a high-stress situation it would be good to consider checking what the issue is before resorting to smacking the big button on the side of your gun. 

Fret not! We will dive deeper into common issues below.

Above we have an AR15 upper receiver with a forward assist (further picture) and one without it (closest).

Honorable Mention – Backup Iron Sights

Most off-the-shelf AR15 rifles come stock with a set of iron sights these days. They will either flip up by manually manipulating them upward or the most popular versions will have a spring-assisted button or latch in order to deploy them.

Here we have a Magpul MBUS rear sight folded down. The wings (seen on the left) on both the left and right side can be used individually to deploy the sight. 

That is all the AR-15 buttons and controls covered. Looking for the complete low-down on every little piece? Check out our Ultimate AR-15 Guide!

Loading and Making Ready To Fire

Let’s walk through loading and prepping to fire. Follow these steps exactly to avoid issues. Handling a ready-to-fire AR requires the same safe protocols that were mentioned earlier.

Snap caps (dummy rounds) are great for practice. Just keep live ammo far away from your snap cap stash!

Let’s break things down by bolt position!

AR-15 Bolt Closed Operation

Most of the time your AR-15 will have its bolt fully into battery. The proper operation regarding a rifle with a bolt that is in the forward (closed) goes as such:

  1. Place a magazine (loaded with snap caps) into the magazine well.
Magazine wells will have built-in flats to assist with insertion while the magazines themselves have a ridge at the rear to help guide things the whole way in.
  1. Grasp the charging handle and pull it back until it stops. Releasing it will launch the charging handle (and internally attached BCG) forward and load a cartridge.

AR-15 Bolt Open Operation

In the event your AR-15 is already locked open the steps alter slightly. The proper process regarding a rifle with a bolt that is in the rearward position (open) goes as such:

  1. Place a magazine (loaded with snap caps) into the magazine well.
  1. Press the topmost portion of the bolt catch in order to release the bolt.

Alternatively, you can pull the charging handle rearward and slingshot it just like in the bolt-closed operation.

AR15 Unloading & Jam Clearing

Just like any machine out there, the AR15 can have a jam or two. Besides that, there may come a situation where unloading and clearing a rifle is necessary. Both situations can go as follows:

  1. Place the firearm on safe and keep things pointed in a safe direction.
  1. Remove the magazine by pressing the magazine release button on the right-hand side of the receiver.
  1. Pull back on the charging handle and eject any live or spent cases. If there is a jam then the rifle can be tilted to the side to allow any stovepipes or loose cartridges to fall free.
It is not a bad practice to pull back the charging handle multiple times. Sometimes cases can slip off of the extractor and remain in the chamber.

4. To lock the bolt rearwards, yank that charging handle all the way back while pressing the bolt catch paddle until it clicks into place. You’ll feel the charging handle go slack once it’s properly locked.

Note: The idle charging handle can be pushed back into the upper receiver. No biggie!

how to use an ar-15

5. At this point the bolt should be locked open and the chamber and the space between the magazine well and the chamber can be inspected for any ammunition.

how to use an ar-15

Common Malfunctions

Alright, listen up. There are four typical jams that can happen with your AR. Here’s the lowdown so you can get back to pew pewing quickly.

  1. First, failure to feed. This is when a fresh round gets stuck trying to enter the chamber from the magazine. No bueno. Just eject the magazine, tilt the rifle to the side, and rip back on the charging handle a couple of times to dislodge that stubborn brass nugget.

Why this can happen: Faulty/damaged magazines, buffer system is too heavy, or gas system is not getting enough, well, gas.

how to use an ar-15
What a failure to feed could look like.
  1. Next up is failure to eject. This is when a spent round doesn’t want to leave the ejection port after you fire. The magazine release and/or charging handle again to the rescue. Crank that sucker back tilt the rifle to the side and shake so the loose piece of brass can escape the ejection port or magazine well.

Why this can happen: This can happen because of a busted or missing ejector (little spring loaded nub on the bolt face), gas system issues causing the bolt not to fully go back (short stroke), or ammunition-related issues producing the same short stroke problem.

how to use an ar-15
Failures to eject usually result in what is commonly referred to as a “stovepipe” as shown above.
  1. Then there is failure to extract. This happens when a cartridge casing refuses to leave the chamber whether it be during the course of fire or manually manipulating the charging handle. If the bolt won’t grab it, a clearing/cleaning rod may need to persuade it out of the chamber.

Why this can happen: Mainly one of three reasons. One, the gun is dirty (more specifically the chamber). Two, the gun is new or has been abused and there is a metal burr in the chamber. Three, the cartridge (whether it be brand new or reloaded) has cracked/ruptured in such a way that it is now stuck.

how to use an ar-15
Here we see a cartridge (dummy round) still in the chamber after the bolt has been brought to the rear.
  1. Lastly, the dreaded double feed. Two rounds crammed into the chamber together. Not good at all. Lock the bolt back, rip out the mag, and dislodge the second offending round if possible. 

When the chambered round is the only one left rack the charging handle a couple of times in order to extract and eject. Once clear, slap in a fresh mag and rack it again to get back in business.

Why this can happen: These suck. The main contributor to this is unfortunately user error. Sometimes (rarely) if you were to manually cycle the bolt in order to rack a round into the chamber when there was already one in there AND it had a failure to extract the one that was already there, then a double feed would happen. Alternatively, another problem would be a faulty/damaged magazine.

how to use an ar-15
Take things nice and slow when it comes to clearing this one.

There ya go, amigo! Just remember, always keep that muzzle pointed downrange when clearing jams and you’ll be blasting again in no time. Ready to put some rounds downrange? 

AR-15 Shooting Fundamentals

Eyes and Ears! 

Yeah, Yeah, we know it’s such a cliche but ALWAYS have your eyes and ears on a range session. Throw on your tactical shades and earmuffs and look as prepared as you do cool. Because these days eyes & ears are actually very comfortable and stylish!

how to use an ar-15
Walker’s Razor Electronic Earmuffs are some of the most popular since they are offered in a bunch of different colors. Alternatively, the Howard Leight Impact Sport Earmuffs go toe to toe when it comes to performance!

Proper Shooting Stance

To shoot accurately, proper shooting stance and grip are key. There are many different “types of stance”  but as far as shooting the AR-15 goes the following is widely fielded:

  • Feet shoulder width apart.
  • Non-dominant foot forward(we are pivoting our body not doing lunges). 
  • Slight lean forward (stick dat butt out!).
  • Grip the handguard/forward grip firmly with your support hand (non-dominant) to decrease muzzle movement.
  • Your dominant hand should be at the pistol grip keeping you level and steady.
how to use an ar-15

Firing The AR-15

Squeezing the trigger is tricky for new AR users. Don’t yank it! That’ll send your shots wild. Instead, slowly press straight back until the gun fires. Let the trigger surprise you when it goes bang. 

Pro tip: Resting your finger pad on the trigger guard until ready helps avoid any jerking. We were all newbies once. With time and practice, that squeeze will start feeling natural. (dry fire sometimes…)

how to use an ar-15

After you fire, go ahead and slowly release the trigger. Feel that sweet click of it resetting that we mentioned earlier? That’s your cue the rifle is ready to rock again. Don’t just let the trigger slam forward – control it on the way out. 

how to use an ar-15

With a little practice, you’ll get the trigger timing down for quick accurate follow-up shots. The goal is to minimize the travel between shots. I know it feels funny at first, but it’ll start becoming second nature after some reps. Before you know it, you’ll have mastered that smooth trigger squeeze and reset like a pro!

Practice your trigger pull at home! Dry fire drills are an extremely common practice. If you want to simulate the full function and manipulation of your AR-15 try it with snap caps. The biggest message is do not have live ammunition nearby. 

General AR-15 Terms & Definitions

Let’s quickly cover some key AR-15 terminology. Understanding these basic terms will help you master the platform.

  • Semi-automatic – Fires one round per trigger pull. Ammo automatically chambers the next cartridge after each shot.
  • Caliber – The diameter of a given bullet. In the case of most AR-15s it would be .223” for .223 Remington/5.56x45mm NATO
  • Cartridge – The ammunition that the firearm is chambered for. 223 Remington/5.56x45mm NATO are the most common AR-15 chamberings but there is an almost never-ending and ever-expanding list of others.
  • Chamber – Rear portion of the barrel that holds a single round ready to fire.
  • Magazine – Not “clip”. Holds cartridges ready to feed into the rifle. 30-round mags are the most common. 
  • Muzzle – Front end (“business end”) of the barrel where the bullet exits. 
  • Bolt – Slides back and forth to load/eject rounds. Has the firing pin and extractor.
  • Charging Handle – Tool to manually cycle the bolt to chamber a round or clear jams.

Brief History of The AR-15

The AR-15 has been around for decades, but it didn’t start out looking like the slick rifles we know today. Back in 1955, an engineer named Eugene Stoner first whipped up a clunky prototype called the AR-10. It had a steampunk vibe with wood furniture and vents everywhere. Just two years later, Stoner downsized his design into the more recognizable AR-15 chambered for .223 ammo. The new rifle caught the military’s eye, kickstarting mass production. And the rest is history! Pretty crazy how far the platform has come.

Hankering for a more in-depth analysis of the wonderful history and lineage of the AR-15? If you are a history buff like me you will love this chunk in our Ultimate AR-15 Guide. If you want to know all the little developmental differences and collect them all we have dissected all of them in our M4 vs AR-15 vs M16 – The Ultimate Guide.

Unloading Some Key Takeaways

After reading this beginner’s guide, you should have a solid grasp of the essentials to safely and effectively operate an AR-15 rifle. The biggest takeaways would be getting to know your AR-15s parts and how they work, like the safety and mag release. Make sure you’re loading and clearing it safely, always pointing the muzzle in a secure direction. Practice a smooth trigger press for better accuracy, work on fundamentals like stance and grip, and don’t panic when there’s a problem. You got this and we are always here to help!

Parting Beginner Tips & Reminders:

  • Start slow and focus on proper form before building speed. Don’t rush your shots.
  • Use only quality brass ammunition to avoid malfunctions. No reloads or junky steel-cased ammo.
  • Expect some jams and misfeeds when starting out. New guns can induce some break-in pains. Keep muzzle downrange and engage the safety if it happens.
  • Consider taking professional training courses to build your AR skills faster.
  • Bring along a range bag with ammo, mags, eyes/ears, tools, cleaning kit, etc. Stay organized.
  • Maintain your rifle after every session. Keep it clean, lubed, and properly assembled (we have covered this in-depth)
  • Invest in a bunch of spare magazines – reloading is faster with pre-loaded 30-round mags!

FAQs

Where should I practice shooting an AR-15?

This is really up to you. When choosing a range for your AR-15, consider the type of facility and experience it offers. Indoor ranges provide amenities and help but cost more. Outdoor ranges may be cheaper yet potentially lack assistance. Prioritize finding knowledgeable staff dedicated to improving your skills over facilities alone. Seek out patient, experienced shooters who can provide instruction and feedback as you progress. The right range with supportive regulars will accelerate your AR-15 proficiency.

What kind of magazine does an AR-15 use?

The AR-15 uses “STANAG” magazines. In short, they are a standardized type of magazine so any magazine advertised as an “AR-15 Magazine” will interchange with no issues.

How accurate are AR-15 rifles?

AR-15 rifles can be extremely accurate and obviously, the chambering can come into play. Let’s say we have a standard AR-15 with a 16″ barrel chambered in 5.56. Most would say that it can shoot accurately out to 500-600 yards. There are a lot of variables but to summarize with the right mix of things like ammo, optics, barrel length, weather conditions, etc. the AR-15 is suitable for most accuracy needs.

Are AR-15s semi or fully automatic?

Commercial off-the-shelf AR-15s will be semi-automatic. This means that with one pull of the trigger, one round will be fired. Without getting too into the NFA weeds fully automatic rifles are obtainable but it is a lengthy and costly process. The average Joe will never own a fully automatic weapon.

What caliber is best for an AR-15?

A very relative question. 5.56 NATO is the most common and in many ways, it can be a do-all cartridge. This of course means it does most jobs well enough but not great. 300 BLK may be better for home defense, suppression, deer hunting, etc. 22LR may be better for fun and practice. The list goes on and there will always be a cartridge that does one thing fantastically and most other things alright.

One Last Tip

If there’s anyone that knows the AR-15 platform, it’s the US military. As a special offer for our readers, you can get the Official US Army Manual for AR-15/M4/M16 right now – for free. Click here to snag a copy.

3 THOUGHTS ON "How to Use an AR-15: A Beginner’s Guide to Operation and Controls"

  1. Mary Kelly
    May 7, 2024

    When using snap caps in a magazine, does the trigger need to be pulled each time before pulling the charging handle back in order for ejection to take place?

    1. Sam S
      May 8, 2024

      Hello!

      No. Not necessarily. The charging handle can be pulled back while a snap cap is in the chamber and by doing this it will be extracted and ejected. The only thing the trigger will do is help you practice your trigger pull and get used to the feel. Regardless your order of operations, you will always end up pulling the charging handle back in order to extract and eject the snap cap.

  2. Jack Toffmore
    April 1, 2024

    Great guide for newbie AR owners. It’s a wonderful platform to introduce oneself to firearms ownership.

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AT3 WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU UNDER ANY LEGAL THEORY, WHETHER IN WARRANTY, CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, TORT, PERSONAL INJURY, OR NEGLIGENCE, FOR ANY DAMAGES, CLAIMS, INJURIES, JUDGMENTS, COSTS, OR LIABILITIES OF ANY KIND ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO YOUR USE OR MISUSE OF PRODUCTS PURCHASED THROUGH THE WEBSITE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PERSONAL INJURY, DAMAGE TO PROPERTY, DEATH, LOSS OF BUSINESS, LOSS OF INCOME, SPECIAL DAMAGES, INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, PUNATIVE DAMAGES, OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES, WHETHER FORESEEABLE OR UNFORESEEABLE. YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOUR USE OF PRODUCTS PURCHASED THROUGH THE WEBSITE IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK AND THAT AT3’s LIABILITY IS LIMITED TO THE AMOUNT THAT YOU PAID FOR THE PRODUCTS OR $1000, WHICHEVER IS LESS.

k. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless AT3, its officers, shareholders, directors, employees, subsidiaries, affiliates, and representatives from any and all losses, including, but not limited to, costs and attorneys’ fees, arising out of or related to (i) your use of the Website, (ii) your purchase of products through the Website; (iii) your use or misuse of products obtained through the Website; (iv) your violation of any term or condition of this Agreement; (v) your violation of the rights of third parties, including, but not limited to, intellectual property rights or other personal or proprietary rights; and (vi) your violation of any law, statute, ordinance, regulation, or treaty, whether local, state, provincial, national or international. Your obligation to defend AT3 will not provide you with the ability to control AT3’s defense, and AT3 reserves the right to control its defense, including its choice of counsel and whether to litigate or settle a claim subject to indemnification.

l. Choice of Law and Stipulation to Jurisdiction

You and AT3 agree that any dispute arising out of or related to this Agreement or your use of the Website, including, but not limited to, your purchase or use of products from or through the Website, will be governed by the laws of the State of Minnesota, without regard to its conflict of laws rules. Specifically, the validity, interpretation, and performance of this Agreement will not be governed by the United Nations Convention on the International Sale of Goods. Except for claims for injunctive relief by either party, you and AT3 agree that any dispute or controversy arising out of, in relation to, or in connection with this Agreement or your use of the Website including, without limitation, any and all disputes, claims (whether in tort, contract, statutory, or otherwise) or disagreements concerning the existence, breach, interpretation, application or termination of this Agreement, will be resolved by final and binding arbitration pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act in Hanover, Minnesota or, at the option of the party seeking relief, by telephone, online, or via written submissions alone, and be administered by the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) under the then in force Commercial Arbitration Rules by one arbitrator appointed in accordance with such rules. Such arbitration will be independent and impartial. If the parties fail to agree on the arbitrator within twenty (20) calendar days after the initiation of the arbitration hereunder, AAA will appoint the arbitrator.

This arbitration will be conducted in the English language. The decision of the arbitrator will be final and binding on the parties and judgment on any award(s) rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. Nothing in this section will prevent either party from seeking immediate injunctive relief from any court of competent jurisdiction, and any such request shall not be deemed incompatible with the agreement to arbitrate or a waiver of the right to arbitrate. The parties undertake to keep confidential all awards in their arbitration, together with all confidential information, all materials in the proceedings created for the purpose of the arbitration and all other documents produced by the other party in the proceedings and not otherwise in the public domain, save and to the extent that disclosure may be required of a party by legal duty, to protect or pursue a legal right or to enforce or challenge an award in legal proceedings before a court or other judicial authority. The arbitrator shall award all fees and expenses, including reasonable attorney’s fees, to the prevailing party. Any judgment rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction.
ANY DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE PURCHASE OR USE OF PRODUCTS FROM OR THROUGH THE WEBSITE, WHETHER IN ARBITRATION OR OTHERWISE, SHALL BE CONDUCTED ONLY ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS AND NOT IN A CLASS, CONSOLIDATED OR REPRESENTATIVE ACTION, AND YOU AND AT3 EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT CLASS ACTION AND REPRESENTATIVE ACTION PROCEDURES SHALL NOT BE ASSERTED IN NOR APPLY TO ANY ARBITRATION PURSUANT TO THESE TERMS.
Any claims must be brought within one year of each applicable invoice or will otherwise be barred.
m. Force Majeure

AT3 will not be responsible for any delay or failure in performance of the Website or its associated products arising out of any cause beyond AT3’s control, such as acts of God, war, riots, fire, terrorist attacks, pandemics, power outages, severe weather, or other accidents.

n. Survivability

The representations, warranties, duties, and covenants made by you under this Agreement will survive the termination of this Agreement, your Account, or the Website, including, but not limited to, your duty to indemnify and defend AT3.

o. Interpretation

This Agreement will be deemed to have been drafted by both parties, and the terms and conditions of this Agreement will not be interpreted against its drafter.

p. Assignment

You are expressly prohibited from assigning your rights and duties under this Agreement. AT3 reserves the right to assign its rights and duties under this Agreement, including in a sale of AT3 or its Website.

q. Waiver and Integration

No term or condition of this Agreement or breach of this Agreement will be deemed to have been waived or consented to unless said waiver is writing and signed by the party to be charged. This Agreement is the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes all previous agreements or representations between the parties.

One Last Tip

If there’s anyone that knows the AR-15 platform, it’s the US military. As a special offer for our readers, you can get the Official US Army Manual for AR-15/M4/M16 right now – for free. Click here to snag a copy.

AT3 Tactical, LLC Privacy Policy

AT3 Tactical Privacy Policy

Last Updated: October 11, 2024

AT3 Tactical, LLC (“AT3”) values the privacy of its users and believes that you should know what kind of data we collect from you, how we use it, and how you can have control over, and stop the collection of it. We make every attempt to be transparent in our data collection efforts and to provide you with information that you need to make decisions about our collection of data from you.

When you use the AT3 Website, even if you are just browsing, we may collect some basic data from you such as the type of device that you are using, your geographical location, and your IP address. If you choose to complete a purchase through the Website, you share additional data with us, which is outlined below. We also provide you with the ability to limit the data that we collect from you and how we use it. We also may use your interactions with the AT3 Website to show you more relevant content.
If you have any questions about our privacy policy, how we collect data from you, how we use your data, or how you can control your privacy settings, you can contact us at any time at support@at3tactical.com.

Data You Share with Us
We may collect data from you when you voluntarily share it with us. This may include the following data:
Transaction Data. When you purchase a product through the Website, you provide us information needed to complete your purchase, such as your name, phone number, address, billing address, email address, city, state, zip code, and any notes you provide to AT3. This data is used to help us contact you, complete your purchase, and ship products to you that you have purchased through the website.
Public Data. Some of the activity on the Website is public. We may use this public data to provide you with the services requested, to provide you with more relevant content, to tailor content to your preferences, to keep records of communications between us and you, and to defend against legal claims.
Private Communication Data. We may use your contact data, such as any data that you voluntarily provide to us like your phone number, address, and email address, to authenticate your purchase, to communicate with you, to respond to communications sent to you by us, to keep records of our communication, to fulfill your orders, or to pursue or defend against legal claims. We may store and process your private communications with us and data related to them to scan for malicious content, to review content for violations of our terms of use agreement, or to respond to legal process or law enforcement inquiries.

Additional Data We Receive From You
We may also collect data from you automatically when you use the Website. This may include the following data:
Location Data. We may collect data about your location by collecting and processing your IP address and device settings. We may use this data to tailor our offerings to your geographic location, respond to law enforcement requests, or to provide you with content that is relevant to your geographic location.
Technical Data. We may collect technical data about your use of the Website, such as your IP address, your device IDs, your phone number, pages visited, referring web page, your mobile phone model, mobile charrier, search terms, cookie data, your operating system, your geolocation, and your time zone. We may use this data to analyze your use of the Website, to administer and secure our services, to determine how we should allocate resources to our Website, and to understand the technical load on our servers.
Marketing Data. We may collect your IP address, your device IDs, your geographical location, your phone numbers, pages visited, referring web page, mobile phone model, search terms, cookie data, Google Advertising IDs, and Apple Advertising IDs to provide advertisements to you through third-party ad networks. We may use your data to provide advertisements to you, to provide remarketing advertisements to you after you previously visited the Website, to determine the relevance of advertisements, to measure the effectiveness of advertisements, and to help make those advertisements more relevant to your preferences.

Use of Cookies
We may also collect data from you through the use of cookies and other technologies. This helps us understand how you use the Website and to understand any patterns that may be associated with your use of our services. This aids us in developing or improving our services in response to your needs or wants.
We may use session or persistent cookies. Session cookies are only stored on your computer or mobile device during your use of the Website and are automatically deleted when you close your web browser. Persistent cookies are stored as a file on your computer or mobile device that remain on your computer or mobile device even after you close your web browser. Persistent cookies can be read by the website that created the cookie when you revisit it again. We may use persistent cookies when we utilize Google Analytics or other analytics providers, which are intended to track the origin and behavior of traffic to the Website. We may also, from time to time, receive data from third parties including analytics providers or advertising networks such as Google, Facebook, or Apple.

Marketing Communications
We may send you marketing communications if you have asked us for information concerning our services or if you have agreed to, and have not opted out from receiving marketing communications from us. You may ask us to stop sending you marketing messages at any time by following the opt-out link in any marketing message sent to you.

Disclosure of Personal Data
We only share your personal data in limited circumstances.
We may share or disclose your personal data with your consent or at your direction.
We may also share your data with certain third parties to aid us in operating the Website. For example, we may share your personal data with third parties, such as analytics providers, to utilize their software tools and measure the effectiveness of our Website or advertisements. We may also share personal data, such as device IDs, with third party advertisers to help them determine whether they should serve an ad to you. The data that we share with these third parties does not include your email address, name, phone number, or username, but it may include your geographical location.

We may also share your personal data with our accountants, auditors, insurers, or attorneys where doing so is necessary to protect the interests of AT3 or to comply with any law or regulation.

We may also share your personal data with government or law enforcement agencies when we are required to report our data processing activities, upon receipt of an exigent circumstances request, upon receipt of a duly authorized subpoena or court order, to comply with any law or legal process, to comply with government or regulatory requests, or where doing so is necessary to protect our users, our employees, our contractors, third parties, or property.

Finally, we may share your personal data to a third party if we sell, transfer, or merge any part of our business or assets. In the event that we share your personal data in the sale, transfer, or merger of any part of our business or assets, this Privacy Policy will continue to apply to your personal data when transferred to the new entity.

Management, Protection, and Retention of Your Personal Data
To stop our collection and use of your data, you need only cease using Website and clear your web browser’s cookies and cache.

We put data security measures into place to protect your personal data. We allow access to your personal data only by employees and service providers who have a need to know or access your personal data on our instructions. We will notify you and any regulatory body of any breach of your personal data or our security measures if and when we are legally required to do so.

We will only retain your personal data for so long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it is collected under this Privacy Policy or for the purposes of satisfying any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements.

Third Party Links
Our services may include links to third party websites and applications. By clicking on third party links, you may allow third parties to collect or share data about you. We do not control these third-party links and you are advised their respective privacy policies.

Responding to Do Not Track Signals
You can generally opt-out of receiving personalized ads from third party advertisers and ad networks, such as Google and Facebook, who are members of the Network Advertising Initiative (NAI) or who follow the Digital Advertising Alliance’s Self-Regulatory Principles for Online Behavioral Advertising by visiting the opt-out pages on the NAI website and DAA website. Our websites are not currently set up to respond to browser do-not-track signals, but you can configure your browser settings to reject all cookies or prompt you before a cookie is set.

California Privacy Rights
California residents have a right to request that we disclose what personal information we collect from you and whether, and how, we disclose or sell that personal information. California residents may also request that we delete any personal information collected or maintained by us from you.

AT3 collects personal and personally identifiable information from you when you visit the Website. AT3 may provide this personal and personally identifiable information to third parties to deliver ads tailored to your interests.

California residents may also have the right to opt out of the sale of their personal information by clicking a link or icon associated with an advertisement. Specifically, this link or icon may state “Do Not Sell My Personal Information” or “Do Not Sell My Info.” By selecting this link or icon, you “Opt Out,” which means that you have opted out of the sale of your personal information as set forth in the California Consumer Privacy Act. However, even though you may have opted out, you may still see interest-based advertisements. To learn more about interest-based advertising across websites and additional opt-out choices, you can visit http://optout.aboutads.info. If you opt-out of the sale of your personal information but do not opt out of interest-based advertising more generally, you may still receive ads tailored to your interests based on personal information that was not sold by us, personal information that was sold to downstream participants at least 90 days before you opted out, or personal information that was sold by other sources from which you have not opted out.

To submit a request for a list of the categories of personal information collected from you or to request that AT3 delete your personal information, please email us at support@at3tactical.com, or send a letter to our US-based legal counsel at the following address:
AT3 Tactical, LLC Privacy Request
c/o Revision Legal, PLLC
444 Cass St., Suite D
Traverse City, MI 49684
United States of America

To verify your request, we may request certain information from you to confirm that you are an AT3 user, such as your phone number, username, email address, city, state, or geographic location. You may also designate an authorized agent to make a request to AT3 to disclose or delete your personal information. To do so, you must provide AT3 with proof that the individual or business has been appointed as your agent, such by providing a a signed power of attorney form, and provide accurate responses to any information requested by AT3 that may be necessary to confirm that you are an AT3 user, such as your phone number, username, email address, city, state, or geographic location. California residents have a right not to receive discriminatory treatment by AT3 for their exercise of these rights conferred under California law.

10DLC Compliance and Privacy

  1. Collection of Personal Information
  1. Use of Personal Information
  1. Privacy and 10DLC
    As a 10DLC service provider, we adhere to the following principles:
  1. Opting Out
  1. Disclosure of Personal Information

Notification of Changes
Whenever we change our Privacy Policy, we will post those changes to this Privacy Policy and other places that we deem appropriate. Your use of the Website following these changes indicates your consent to the practices described in the revised Privacy Policy.

Contact Information
If you have any questions or suggestions regarding our Privacy Policy, or if your personal information is not accurate or complete, please contact our Data Protection Officer at:
Zachary Plansky, support@at3tactical.com

One Last Tip

If there’s anyone that knows the AR-15 platform, it’s the US military. As a special offer for our readers, you can get the Official US Army Manual for AR-15/M4/M16 right now – for free. Click here to snag a copy.

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