Colt M16 (Series)

History of Colt M16 (Series)

During World War I (1914-1918), the standard US service rifle was the Springfield M1903 bolt-action rifle, which remained the status quo until World War II (1939-1945). In this conflict, the semi-auto form became popular and effective, so the semi-auto M1 Garand was adopted as the standard issue - with impressive repeat firepower and unmatched reliability.

The famous Garand was subsequently replaced by a related offshoot, the M14, which chambered the standard 7.62x51mm NATO rifle cartridge and was fed by a larger-capacity 20-round magazine. The weapon was widely used during the US involvement in the Vietnam War (1955-1975), and 1.5 million units were subsequently produced - ending in 1964.

The M14 replaced several key WWII-era small arms - the Garand rifle and M1 carbine, the M1918 BAR, and the M3 and Thompson submachine guns - that's how important they are in the U.S. inventory.

When the Vietnam War broke out, the Soviet AK-47 Kalashnikov submachine gun had taken root all over the world. Influenced by the German WWII-era MP44, this exquisite design has produced tens of millions of units by operators in all four corners of the world.

NATO, let alone the United States, cannot match this popular weapon and is forced to accept various designs, whether American or European.

Back in 1956, prolific firearms engineer Eugene Stoner was developing a new automatic rifle concept for the US military, equipped with a 7.62x51mm NATO caliber. This became the ArmaLite "AR-10" owned by parent company Fairchild Aircraft.

The weapon relies on a forward-looking "straightforward" internal design that helps improve accuracy and stability, especially during automatic fire. The use of forged alloy components meant the weapon proved to be lighter and easier to handle than its contemporary "battle rifles" such as the M14 and Belgian FN FAL.

However, fewer than 10,000 units were produced.

In 1957, the design became more compact and modified to fit the . 223 Remington cartridge - the birth of the "AR-15". It also features an ambidextrous charging handle in the integrated carry handle. There is no built-in flash suppressor.

Financial problems forced the sale of the ArmaLite AR-10 and AR-15 designs to Colt, which has a history and expertise in mass-producing quality firearms. The AR-15 is adopted by various operators around the world and forms the basis of the US military's "M16" - a weapon officially designated in the US inventory as "Rifle, 5.56mm Caliber, M16".

The M16 holds the 5.56x45mm medium rifle cartridge and is fed by a 20-round detachable magazine. Its general form and function remain the same as the original AR-15, with a pneumatic rotating bolt (direct impact) system. The gun weighs 7 pounds unloaded and measures 3.5 inches long with a barrel assembly of 20 inches. A carrying handle is integrated into the upper receiver, and the stock and handguard are rounded for ergonomic comfort. There is a slotted brake on the muzzle.

As usual, the magazine feed is located in front of the pistol grip, and the ejected cartridges emerge from the right port. The base weapon ultimately influenced many related products, including civilian semi-automatic forms, DMR (Designated Marksman Rifle) forms, sniper weapons, assault rifles, submachine gun variants, and more.

In 1963, the original M16 entered service for the first time with the US Armed Forces (actually the US Air Force - those with three-pin flash hiders). American elements have been active in Vietnam since the 1950s, and their presence only increased over the next decade.

The M16 proved to be a good fit for the mid-sized U.S. Infantry, being lightweight, compact and relatively easy to maneuver, while being touted as a low-maintenance product. The jungle borders of increasingly fierce warfare seem well suited to the capabilities of this weapon.

After a period of use in the field, the rifle started to have problems due to changes in US Army cartridge powder specifications. This resulted in excessive contamination of the gun's interior, including the precisely tuned gas system.

The low-maintenance selling point is another factor contributing to reliability issues on the battlefield. As such, the M16 rifle gained a reputation as a persistently destructive weapon during the Vietnam era.

This disclosure and subsequent feedback resulted in a revised, improved model that entered service in the "M16A1" in 1969. This form officially replaces the M14 series, with enhancements including bolt assist (to help prevent bullets from "jamming" when loaded), chrome holes and a larger-capacity 30-round detachable magazine.

As a result, both battlefield reliability and tactical flexibility are improved. The M16A1, the standard rifle for American combatants throughout the remainder of the Vietnam War, was itself replaced by an improved "M16A2" model in 1983.

The U.S. Marine Corps was the first to adopt the A2 model, followed by the Army in 1986. This model introduces a more efficient 5.56mm cartridge and adds a new adjustable rear sight. Other changes include a heavier barrel assembly, an improved pistol grip and stock assembly, and a receiver deflector placed near the ejection port.

Semi-automatic and triple-round burst capabilities are also part of this new variant, and the rifle has its own extensive combat service record, further cementing the M16 pedigree as a true front-line combat weapon.

"M16A3" is a limited edition based on the M16A2 with the trigger set of the M16A1. This model is primarily used by special forces including the U.S. Navy SEALs.

"M16A4" was introduced in 1998, the fourth and final incarnation of the now long-running M16 lineage. The iconic carry handle is removable, and part of the Picatinny rail can be mounted above the receiver - giving the weapon some customization by being able to implement different optics, sights, etc.

Despite the changes, the overall design line of the M16 remains the same.

There are many other derivatives of the M16 series: the Colt Model 655 and 656 rifles were dedicated sniper rifle versions used during the Vietnam War, and the XM177 was an early carbine model of the M16 that also debuted during the Vietnam conflict. The Model 733 continued Carbine approach, combined with the characteristics of the M16A2. The M231 "FPW" became a "fire port weapon" specifically for the crew of armored vehicles (mainly M2 Bradley IFVs).

The Mark 12 is a DMR model, while the C7 and C8 are offshoots of Colt Canada, serving the Canadian Army. The Model 635 is similar in scope to the Colt Commando, but accommodates the popular 9mm Parabellum pistol cartridge.

The La France M16K is a modification of the Special Forces M16 system, using the M16 with a recoil operating system.

More modern versions of the M16 include the M4 carbine and the Heckler & Koch HK416 (both detailed elsewhere on this page). After combat experience in Afghanistan and Iraq, the M4 largely inherited the M16A4 full-length rifle in Army and U.S. Marine Corps service. The M4 is more compact and lighter, but retains most of the features of its larger cousin.

It was launched in 1994 and has its own line of sub-variants.

German arms manufacturer Heckler & Koch's HK 416 is an evolution of the M4 series, using HK's proprietary short-stroke gas piston developed for the full-length HK G36 assault rifle. Introduced in 2004, the HK416 features multiple rail sections for tactical accessories, while retaining the 5.56x45mm NATO rifling.

It also retains its own collection of sub-variants, and has appeared in more modern American conflicts since its inception (it was said to be the weapon that killed Osama bin Laden).

In one form or another, the M16 will continue to exist on the modern battlefield for decades to come - rivaled only by the popularity and effectiveness of the AK-47 series Still in service today and spawned its own lineage with ranged weapon types - rifles, assault rifles, light machine guns, submachine guns, etc. In any case, the M16 design enjoys its own reputation as one of the most successful firearms of our time - since 1959, production has now exceeded 8 million.

Manufacturer names include Colt's Manufacturing Company, Daewoo Precision Industries (South Korea) and FN Herstal (Belgium), H&R Firearms, General Motors (Hydramat Division), Elisco, U.S. Ordnance, and more.

Specification

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Changes