M16

M16A4 (Assault rifle)

In service: 1962-present

Designer: Eugene Stoner and L. James Sullivan

Designed: 1956

Manufacturer:

Colt Defense;

Daewoo Precision Industries;

FN Herstal;

H & R Firearms;

General Motors Hydramatic Division;

Elisco;

U.S. Ordnance

Produced: 1959-present

Number built: ~8 million

Specifications

Weight:

3.26 kg (unloaded);

4.0 kg (loaded)

Length: 1,000 mm

Barrel length: 508 mm

Cartridge: 5.56×45 mm NATO

Action: Gas-operated, rotating bolt (direct impingement)

Rate of fire:

12-15 rounds/min sustained;

45-60 rounds/min semi-automatic;

700-950 rounds/min cyclic

Muzzle velocity: 948 m/s

Effective firing range:

600 meters (point target);

800 meters (area target)

Feed system

20-round box magazine: 95 g empty / 335 g full

30-round box magazine: 117 g empty / 483 g full

Beta C-Mag 100-round double-lobed drum: 1 kg empty / 2.19 kg full

M16A3

The M16A3 is a select-fire variant of the M16A2 adopted in small numbers around the time of the introduction of the M16A2, primarily by the U.S. Navy for use by SEAL, Seabee, and Security units. It features the M16A1 trigger group providing «safe», «semi-automatic», and «fully automatic» modes.

M16A4

United States Marine Corps M16A4 rifle with Picatinny rail and foregrip.

The M16A4 is the fourth generation of the M16 series. It is equipped with a removable carrying handle and a full length quad Picatinny rail for mounting optics and other ancillary devices. The FN M16A4, using safe/semi/burst selective fire, is now the standard issue for all U.S. Marine Corps and is the current issue to Marine Corps' recruits in both MCRD San Diego and MCRD Parris Island.

Military issue rifles are also equipped with a Knight's Armament Company M5 RAS hand guard, allowing vertical grips, lasers, tactical lights, and other accessories to be attached, coining the designation M16A4 MWS (or Modular Weapon System) in U.S. Army field manuals.

Colt also produces M16A4 models for international purchases, with specifics selective fire:

R0901 / NSN 1005-01-383-2872 (Safe/Semi/Auto)

R0905 (Safe/Semi/Burst)

The Marine Corps is considering a Product Improvement Program (PIP) for their M16A4 MWS rifles. Potential features include a modular and adjustable stock, ambidextrous fire selector, heavier barrel, improved trigger, free-floating rail system, and an adjustable gas block and gas regulator to give all rifles a suppression capability.