Assault Rifle

[Ameen]

Ok. These are a whole bunch of noob questions that i am going to ask:

1) What are all the types of M16's and M4's? (eg. M16A1, M16A2, M16A3?)

2) What is the difference between an M16/M4 vs an AR15?

3) What is a Carbine?

4) What do the numbers of the ammunution mean? eg. 7.62x39 mm?, 9mm?, .40S&W?

[TuNeRsHaRk]

CARBINE: A rifle of relatively short length and light weight originally designed for mounted troops

and i think AR15 is the civilian versions of the M16 isnt it?

[Frens]

1) main versions are M16,M16A1, M16A3, M16A4, M4 and M4A1. but there are many other versions like Colt Commando and some SAWs

HERE (http://biggerhammer.net/ar15/variants/) you will find all the military and civilian models

2) AR15 is the semi-auto version of the M16/M4 for civilian market

3)A carabine is a shorter version of a rifle: the M4 is the carabine version of the M16.

4)5.56 is the diameter (in mm) of the bullet/barrel and 45 is the lenght of the brass.
.223 is the equivalent in inches of 5.56x45mm

[Frens]

4)
7.62x54mm --> .308
10mm --> .40
12mm --> .45

...




;)

[D.Sigurdsson]

Ok. These are a whole bunch of noob questions that i am going to ask:

1) What are all the types of M16's and M4's? (eg. M16A1, M16A2, M16A3?)

2) What is the difference between an M16/M4 vs an AR15?

3) What is a Carbine?

4) What do the numbers of the ammunution mean? eg. 7.62x39 mm?, 9mm?, .40S&W?

Lets see if I can shed some light on this (please note this is done from memory so something could be wrong)

1) M16A1, M16A2, M16A3, M16A4
M4A1 & M4A2

2) M16/M4 .vs. AR-15 is just that the M-series are military weapons but the AR is used for the civilian version

4) 7.62x39 => 7.62 is the width of the bullet it self in mm (millimeter) and 39 is the length of the cartridge in mm.
9mm is used for the width of the bullet, often they dont say the length but most common if 9x19
.40S&W if a bullet is stated with a period in front then the measurement is in caliber which is just 0.<insertnumber> inches, so .40S&W is 0.4 inch width bullet and S&W (Smith&Wesson) developed the caliber.
You can often see like 7.62NATO which is the .308WIN the first two numbers say what caliber is used and the third digit is what cartridge is used.

Another example is the good old .30-06, .30 is the caliber and 06 is the year it was invented (1906)

.222
.223
.22 Hornet
.22 Magnet
.22LR
.22Short
All these rounds have a 5.56 wide bullets but they vary in the length of cartridge and type of the bullet itself.

http://files.bns-code.org/22lr-223.jpg
Here you can see a .22LR shot compared to a bullet from a .223 as you can see the width is the same but thats about it.

Hope this was able to answer some of your questions

[Frens]

Related to question one, what is the difference between the M16A2 and the A4?

the A2 has the fixed carry handle while the A4 has a removable carry handle.

[Frens]

Colt AR-15

The civilian version of the M-16, called the AR-15, is a single-shot weapon manufactured by Colt. The Colt AR-15 is used by private citizens for everything from deer hunting to plinking at cans.

Any weapon which shoots automatically, more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger, is a machinegun as defined in 26 U.S.C. 5845(b), the National Firearms Act (NFA). In addition, the definition of a machinegun also includes any combination of parts from which a machinegun may be assembled, if such parts are in possession or under the control of a person. An AR-15 type assault rifle which fires more than one shot by a single function of the trigger is a machinegun under the NFA. Any machinegun is subject to the NFA and the possession of an unregistered machinegun could subject the possessor to criminal prosecution. ATF has encountered various AR-15 type assault rifles such as those manufactured by Colt, E.A. Company, SGW, Sendra and others, which have been assembled with fire control components designed for use in M16 machineguns. The vast majority of these rifles which have been assembled with an M16 bolt carrier, hammer, trigger, disconnector and selector will fire automatically merely by manipulation of the selector or removal of the disconnector. Many of these rifles using less than these five M16 parts also will shoot automatically by manipulation of the selector or removal of the disconnector.

The Colt AR-15 is a semiautomatic assault weapon as defined in the Gun Control Act of 1968. 18 U.S.C. 921(a)(30). It is generally unlawful to possess or transfer these firearms. 18 U.S.C. 922(v)(1). This prohibition, however, does not apply to any AR-15 that was lawfully possessed on or before Sept. 13, 1994. 18 U.S.C. 921(v)(2).

M16A1 Semiautomatic Rifle

In 1967 the M16A1 was adopted by the US Army. It featured a positive forward assist to help close the bolt when dirty, chromium plated chamber and bore to resist corrosion and an improved gas system with a new bolt buffer designed to reduce the rate of fire on full auto. These improvements, together with a new field cleaning kit and better maintenance instruction, helped to get rid of the reliability problems.

Despite the problems encountered during initial fielding, better training, preventive maintenance, and several design changes, resulted in the weapon that has become the standard issue rifle of the US Army, with some 3,690,000 having been manufactured. The weapon, chambered for 5.56x45mm NATO caliber, has been a mainstay of the U.S. military ever since, and gradually replaced the M14 in U.S. service through the 1960’s.

M16A2 Semiautomatic Rifle

The M16A2 semiautomatic rifle is the standard by which all military rifles of the future will be judged. This variant of the M16 fires a three-round burst in semiautomatic operation. The system incorporates an adjustable rear sight which corrects for both wind and elevation, a heavier barrel with 1-in-7 rifling, and a muzzle compensator to prevent muzzle climb during semiautomatic operation. The M16A2 is capable of firing all NATO standard 5.56mm ammunition and can fire 40mm grenades when equipped with the M203 Grenade Launcher.

The M16A2 replaced the M16A1 in U.S. Army service in 1983. It is essentially an improved M16A1. Major changes include: a switch from full automatic to 3-round burst capability; a heavier barrel; improved sights; new, stronger plastic buttstock, handguard, and pistol grip.The M16A2 has some practical features missing from the M16A1, found on the M4A1 -- the prime examples being the ability to rapidly breakdown the gun and fieldstrip, as well as the high metal parts content.

The M16A2 5.56mm rifle is a lightweight, air-cooled, gas-operated, magazine-fed, shoulder- or hip-fired weapon designed for either automatic fire (3-round bursts) or semiautomatic fire (single shot) through the use of a selector lever. The weapon has a fully adjustable rear sight. The bottom of the trigger guard opens to provide access to the trigger while wearing winter mittens. The upper receiver/barrel assembly has a fully adjustable rear sight and a compensator which helps keep the muzzle down during firing. The steel bolt group and barrel extension are designed with locking lugs which lock the bolt group to the barrel extension allowing the rifle to have a lightweight aluminum receiver.

The M16A2 rifle is a product improvement of the M16A1 rifle. The improvements are:

* a heavier, stiffer barrel than the barrel of the M16A1;
* a redesigned handguard, using two identical halves, with a round contour which is sturdier and provides a better grip when holding the rifle;
* a new buttstock and pistol grip made of a tougher injection moldable plastic that provides much greater resistance to breakage;
* an improved rear sight which can be easily adjusted for windage and range;
* a modified upper receiver design to deflect ejected cartridges, and preclude the possibility of the ejected cartridges hitting the face of a left-handed firer;
* a burst control device, that limits the number of rounds fired in the automatic mode to three per trigger pull, which increases accuracy while reducing ammunition expenditure;
* a muzzle compensator, designed to reduce position disclosure and improve controllability and accuracy in both burst and rapid semi-automatic fire;
* a heavier barrel with a 1 in 7 twist to fire NATO standard SS 109 type (M855) ammunition which is also fired from the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW). This further increases the effective range and penetration of the rifle cartridge. The M16A2 will also shoot the older M193 ammunition designed for a 1 in 12 twist.


Primary function: Infantry weapon
Manufacturer: Colt Manufacturing and Fabrique Nationale Manufacturing Inc.
Length: 39.63 inches (100.66 centimeters)
Weight, with 30 round magazine: 8.79 pounds (3.99 kilograms)
Bore diameter: 5.56mm (.233 inches)
Maximum range :3,600 meters Maximum effective range:
Area target: 2,624.8 feet (800 meters)
Point target: 1,804.5 feet (550 meters)
Muzzle velocity: 2,800 feet (853 meters) per second
Rate of fire:
Cyclic: 800 rounds per minute
Sustained: 12-15 rounds per minute
Semiautomatic: 45 rounds per minute
Burst: 90 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity: 30 rounds
Unit Replacement Cost: $586

M16A2 Squad Advanced Marksman Rifle [SAMR]

The Squad Advanced Marksman Rifle [SAMR] consists of the Trijicon Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight mounted on top of a M-16A2 with a match-grade heavy barrel and Harris bipod. It is an interim solution. Currently, Marine rifle squads have two sets of distinct weapons: three grenade launchers and three squad automatic weapons. If the experiment proves successful, they could get three SAMs as well. Some squads used SAMs for effective long-range shots against single targets. Others put SAMs in over-watch positions to cover a squad’s movement to an objective, while some used them to scour avenues of approach, gathering on-scene intelligence. The scope, which has a unique reticle pattern with a red chevron for a 300-meter aiming point, also improved the ability to range targets at unknown distances. The chevron’s upside-down V fits squarely over the shoulders of a man-sized target at 300 meters. The 400-, 500- and 600-meter bars just below the chevron also fits within the outer limits of a man’s shoulders at that distance. Marines, shooting the M-16A2 with iron sights, had a first-shot hit rate of 45 percent on targets between 137 and 432 meters. With the SAMR, those rates were 88 percent.

M16A2E4 Semiautomatic Rifle

The M16A2E4 rifle is a standard M16A2 Rifle modified by changing the current upper receiver to a flat-top upper receiver with a detachable carrying handle. The flat-top upper receiver has an integral rail which is utilized (when the carrying handle is removed) to mount optical devices to the weapon. This integral rail has been designed to conform to MIL-STD 1913 and allows common mounting of many different items.

M16A3 Semiautomatic Rifle

The M16A3, which replace the M16A2 in 1994, is basically an M16A2 with full-automatic capability and optional M4A1-style Rail Interface System (RIS). The M16A3 and the M16A4 are identical to the M16A2, but both have the modular upper receiver. The M16A3 is capable of fully automatic fire, like the M16A1, while the M16A4 uses the M16A2's three-round burst mechanism. Additionally, several types of optical sights have been developed for the modular upper.

M16A4 Semiautomatic Rifle

The M16A4 is identical to the M16A3, but can fire single shots or 3-round bursts (no full auto). The M16A4 Rifle is a standard M16A2 Rifle with a flat top upper receiver and detachable carrying handle. The flat top upper receiver has an integral rail that will be utilized (when the carrying handle is removed) to mount optical devices to the weapon. The M16A4 Rifle in combination with the M5 Rail Adapter forms the Modular Weapon System (rifle version) which provide soldiers the flexibility to configure their weapons with those accessories required to fulfill an assigned mission. There are no differences between the internal dimensions of the M16A2 Rifle and the M16A4 Rifle.

M4/M4A1 Carbine

The M4/M4A1 5.56mm Carbine is a lightweight, gas operated, air cooled, magazine fed, selective rate, shoulder fired weapon with a collapsible stock. A shortened variant of the M16A2 rifle, the M4 provides the individual soldier operating in close quarters the capability to engage targets at extended range with accurate, lethal fire. The M4 Carbine achieves over 80% commonality with the M16A2 Rifle and will replace all M3 .45 caliber submachine guns and selected M9 pistols and M16 rifle series.

After the military conflicts in Panama, the Persian Gulf and Somalia, the need for a shorter version of the M16A2 again appeared. Colt engineers shortened the barrel back to 14.5", contoured the barrel to mount the M203 grenade launcher, and added a collapsible, sliding buttstock. They also created a new upper receiver using a modular sight mounting system for use on a sub-variant. In August 1994, both variations were adopted. The United States Carbine, Caliber 5.56mm NATO, M4 uses the new barrel and collapsible buttstock, but was first issued with the standard M16A2 upper receiver and sights to streamline production, though it now is made with the new modular upper receiver.

The M4 Carbine is similar in design and functioning to the M16 family of rifles, thereby greatly simplifying training, supply, and maintenance. Compared to the M16A2 rifle, the M4 Carbine is 1.3 pounds lighter, 6 5/8 inches shorter with buttstock extended, and almost 10 inches shorter with the buttstock collapsed. The basis of issue plan replaces on a one-for-one basis all caliber .45 submachine guns, selected caliber .45 and 9mm pistols, and selected Ml6A2 rifles. Infantry personnel receiving the M4 include platoon leaders, platoon sergeants, radio-telephone operators, and mortar gunners. The pistols carried by Infantry commanders, executive officers, and operations officers will not be replaced.

M4 SOPMOD Accessory Kit

The Special Operations Peculiar Modification to the M4 Carbine (SOPMOD M4) Accessory Kit Program is sponsored by the United States Special Operations Command and is responsible for procuring and fielding Non-Developmental Item/Commercial Off-the-Shelf (NDI/COTS) components that increase the operational effectiveness of the M4A1 Carbine in both day and night conditions. This allows SOF operators to configure the M4A1 carbine based on mission-specific requirements; kit items increase weapons effectiveness through improved target acquisition and fire control in close-quarters battle and out to ranges of 500 meters, both day and night.

The procurement/fielding of the Accessory Kit (Phase I) is nearly complete, however, the program is looking to continuously improve the existing kit components as well as providing new NDI/COTS technologies to Special Forces. Currently, the Accessory Kit is comprised of the following components: 4X Day Scope, Reflex Sight, Rail Interface System (MIL-STD 1913), Vertical Forward Handgrip, Quick Attach/Detach M203 Grenade Launcher Mount and Sight, Infrared Laser Pointer/Illuminator, Visible Laser, Visible Bright Light, Backup Iron Sight, Combat Sling, Sloping Cheek Weld Stock, Mini Night Sight and 9" M203 Grenade Launcher Barrel.

All kit items currently fielded or in production with the exception of the Mini Night Vision Sight (MNVS). Operational testing completed on MNVS in the third quarter FY 1999, with fielding to follow. Beginning work now on supplemental requirements to SOPMOD Generation II, which begins R&D efforts in FY 2000 and FY 2001. Generation II SOPMOD will concentrate on consolidation of current devices and new capabilities designed to enhance the lethality of the SOF operator.

[Pandy]

http://www.cataclysm-eagles.com/m161Pic.gif

This is MY M16 - Wannabe M4... ;)

[JDBL14]

A M4 is a M16 with a shortened(carbine) Barrel, and a collapasbe stock, the M4A1 has a removable carryhandle. M4's also are semi/full auto where as M16's past the A2 variant are semi/3round burst. Now for the M16, the AR15/16 was used mostly in or shortly after vietnam then the M16 was introduced with minor changes in grips, sights and i believe the casing deflector(the large triangle shaped piece behind the ejection port) and foreward assist were first found on the new version. The A2 was essentially the same only it was semi/burst. The A3 has a removable carryhandle and the A4 has the same and the front grip was replaced with a rail system for greater versitility. there are several models in this family also including the M733/177(both of these have an even shorter barrel than the M4) the SPR(Special purpose rifle, basicially a sniper rifle) and the list goes on and on.

basically all M16/M4/AR15/16 and CAR15/16 are essentially the same mechanics just differences in grips, stocks, sights and minor changes in firing modes.

I apologize if what i've typed is worng and if it is please correct me, and i hope this helped.

[REMOV]

4)5.56 is the diameter (in mm) of the bullet/barrel and 45 is the lenght of the brass.
4) 7.62x39 => 7.62 is the width of the bullet it self in mm (millimeter) and 39 is the length of the cartridge in mm. I'm afraid both of you are wrong.

The marking such as "9mm x 19" or "5.56mm x 45" are barrel diameter (the real bullet diameter is always a little bit larger because of rifling, bullet is screwing in the barrel thread) and rough lenght of the case. Just a names with - sometimes - a little with common to the real dimensions.

For instance the "5.56 mm x 45" cartridge (SS109) real dimensions are diameter 5.701mm and case length 44.70 mm, the "7.62mm x 39" are 7.86mm diameter and case length 38.50 mm, etc.

[D.Sigurdsson]

http://world.guns.ru/ammo/223rem_size.jpg

I stand corrected

[Tony Williams]

I think you'll find the articles 'A Primer on Cartridges' and 'Basic Ballistics' on my website to be of interest. And if you really want to know all about assault rifles and their ammunition then try the book 'Assault Rifle' - also advertised on my website ;)

Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website (http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk) and discussion forum (http://forums.delphiforums.com/autogun/messages/)

[FDF_Hemppis]

7.62x54mm --> .308



No. I believe .308 is 7.62x51

7.62x54 is the Russian cartridge.


;)

[Frens]

7.62x54mm --> .308



No. I believe .308 is 7.62x51

7.62x54 is the Russian cartridge.


;)

oops :oops: my fault...thanks FDF ;)

[KaceCoyote]

5.56 and .223 are not the same caliber. Theres some minor differences in headspacing I believe?

[Frens]

5.56 and .223 are not the same caliber. Theres some minor differences in headspacing I believe?

yes there are little differences...that's why a rifle chambered with .223 shouldn't fire 5.56

here is the full story --> http://www.ammo-oracle.com/body.htm#diff

[Ameen]

Wow, alot of good information. Thanks!

[scrybe]

Great reference pic:
http://img27.echo.cx/img27/8/m16a1m16a2m4m16a43bv.jpg
M16A1
M16A2
M4
M16A4

[Frens]

Great reference pic:
http://img27.echo.cx/img27/8/m16a1m16a2m4m16a43bv.jpg
M16A1
M16A2
M4
M16A4

this is Ekie's collection, a member of ar15.com woot

he only needs a slabside lower for his A1


great collection

[California Joe]

REMOV always knows. p-)

[scrybe]

Great reference pic:
http://img27.echo.cx/img27/8/m16a1m16a2m4m16a43bv.jpg
M16A1
M16A2
M4
M16A4

this is Ekie's collection, a member of ar15.com woot

he only needs a slabside lower for his A1


great collection

Yea I've used the pic a few times. Nice collection indeed.

I don't post enough at arfcom, mostly just browse EE and dream. Bought an Aimpoint for my M4 recently though...