HISTORY
After World War 2 the US army initiated a series of studies that found that most firefights take place at relatively close range and the side with higher firepower tended to win. Even when the selection of the new standard issue rifle for the military took place, what would become the M14, the US military continued with various trails to increase firepower under Project SALVO. Meanwhile the M14 was selected as the new standard issue rifle. Competitors to the M14 included a range of conventional rifles, such as the FAL, and the unusual AR-10. Eugene Stoner had developed the AR-10. It was a modern rifle while most military rifles in that period used steel and wood. The AR-10 uses aluminum for large parts of the receiver and glass reinforced plastics for the stock and forearm. The layout differed also from the competition, with the barrel in line with the shoulder to reduce recoil and the sights raised to eye level.
AR-15
While the M14 showed some of its drawbacks tests continued. The AR-10 was adopted to fire a new 5.56mm round by Fairchild. This allowed the AR-10 be lightened even more and the end result was called the AR-15. A few years before the M16 was finally adopted the patent and production equipment was sold to Colt for only 75.000 US dollars. General Curtis LeMay saw the benefits of the AR-15 and pushed the Air Force to adopt it, which was done after several years of struggling. The US air force was the first to adopt the M16. The US army adopted an improved model with forward assists as the M16A1, followed by the US marines. Many M14's remained in use throughout the Vietnam war, especially with the navy.
M16A2
In the late 1970's the improved 1970's was developed, it was first adopted by the US marines in 1982. Soon all US forces adopted the M16A2 and its improved 5.56mm round. This marked the end for the production of the M16A1. Many surplus M16A1's were given as aid to many US allies, most notably Israel.
License production
The M16A1 was produced under license by Elisco Tool Company in the Philippines, ST Kinetics in Singapore and Daewoo in South Korea.
DESIGN
The M16 has a conventional layout, while the M16 embodies what is nowadays called a conventional layout. The M16 has a pistol grip with the magazine inserted just in front. The barrel extends forward and a fixed stock is fitted. The M16 is based on the straight line principle. The shoulder stock, action and barrel are all in one line resulting in reduced recoil. In order to aim properly the sights have been raised. The rear sight base also functions as a carry handle for the weapon. The receiver is made of aluminum with the barrel, bolt and other parts in the mechanism made of steel. The forearms, pistol grip and stock are made of plastics. The M16 uses direct impingement gas operation. When a shot is fired high pressure gasses build up in the barrel. In the M16 these gasses are tapped via a port in the front sigh base and through a gas tube above the barrel they cycle the system. This design reduces the amount of moving parts significantly, but the gasses foul the moving parts easily. All variants are based on the same design; the barrel, forward assist and stock and forearm may differ per version. For a long time the M16 was issued with 20 round magazines as the development of a 30 round magazine proved difficult. A curved 30 round magazine proved to be the solution.
PERFORMANCE
The M16 was a giant leap forward in firearms design. It proved its worth in Vietnam, although it was plagued with several issues. With the US troops in Vietnam the M16A1 did not have a good reputation. The bad reputation was mainly based on the many problems with the trail versions that were used in combat. The trail versions had a twist rate of 355 to 457mm instead of the required 305mm one, resulting in wobbly bullets and enormous wounds. However, a survey in 1968 among combat troops showed that only 3 out of 2100 individuals wanted a different type of weapon. Overall the M16A1 is a good rifle. It is very light, accurate, ergonomic and has a very low recoil. The main drawback is its lack of reliability. When properly cleaned the it will function well, repeated cleaning is needed in moist and arid conditions.
Compact versions
The Commando was not a great success. During the 5 year production period Colt could no resolve the issues, such as lack accuracy, excessive fouling and inability to use tracer rounds. Despite its issues it was liked by its users, especially air crews, as it was a far more potent weapon than the M3 Grease Gun. The CAR-15 Commando paved the way for the successful CAR-15 and the Commando versions of the M4. The CAR-15 was not widely adopted by US forces, but paved the way for the M4 in US service. It was sold to many law enforcement agencies and foreign nations, be it in smaller quantities than the M16A1. The CAR-15 had a very good performance. With its retractable stock it is much more compact than the M16A1 and the muzzle velocity is high enough to engage targets out to medium ranges.
After World War 2 the US army initiated a series of studies that found that most firefights take place at relatively close range and the side with higher firepower tended to win. Even when the selection of the new standard issue rifle for the military took place, what would become the M14, the US military continued with various trails to increase firepower under Project SALVO. Meanwhile the M14 was selected as the new standard issue rifle. Competitors to the M14 included a range of conventional rifles, such as the FAL, and the unusual AR-10. Eugene Stoner had developed the AR-10. It was a modern rifle while most military rifles in that period used steel and wood. The AR-10 uses aluminum for large parts of the receiver and glass reinforced plastics for the stock and forearm. The layout differed also from the competition, with the barrel in line with the shoulder to reduce recoil and the sights raised to eye level.
AR-15
While the M14 showed some of its drawbacks tests continued. The AR-10 was adopted to fire a new 5.56mm round by Fairchild. This allowed the AR-10 be lightened even more and the end result was called the AR-15. A few years before the M16 was finally adopted the patent and production equipment was sold to Colt for only 75.000 US dollars. General Curtis LeMay saw the benefits of the AR-15 and pushed the Air Force to adopt it, which was done after several years of struggling. The US air force was the first to adopt the M16. The US army adopted an improved model with forward assists as the M16A1, followed by the US marines. Many M14's remained in use throughout the Vietnam war, especially with the navy.
M16A2
In the late 1970's the improved 1970's was developed, it was first adopted by the US marines in 1982. Soon all US forces adopted the M16A2 and its improved 5.56mm round. This marked the end for the production of the M16A1. Many surplus M16A1's were given as aid to many US allies, most notably Israel.
License production
The M16A1 was produced under license by Elisco Tool Company in the Philippines, ST Kinetics in Singapore and Daewoo in South Korea.
DESIGN
The M16 has a conventional layout, while the M16 embodies what is nowadays called a conventional layout. The M16 has a pistol grip with the magazine inserted just in front. The barrel extends forward and a fixed stock is fitted. The M16 is based on the straight line principle. The shoulder stock, action and barrel are all in one line resulting in reduced recoil. In order to aim properly the sights have been raised. The rear sight base also functions as a carry handle for the weapon. The receiver is made of aluminum with the barrel, bolt and other parts in the mechanism made of steel. The forearms, pistol grip and stock are made of plastics. The M16 uses direct impingement gas operation. When a shot is fired high pressure gasses build up in the barrel. In the M16 these gasses are tapped via a port in the front sigh base and through a gas tube above the barrel they cycle the system. This design reduces the amount of moving parts significantly, but the gasses foul the moving parts easily. All variants are based on the same design; the barrel, forward assist and stock and forearm may differ per version. For a long time the M16 was issued with 20 round magazines as the development of a 30 round magazine proved difficult. A curved 30 round magazine proved to be the solution.
PERFORMANCE
The M16 was a giant leap forward in firearms design. It proved its worth in Vietnam, although it was plagued with several issues. With the US troops in Vietnam the M16A1 did not have a good reputation. The bad reputation was mainly based on the many problems with the trail versions that were used in combat. The trail versions had a twist rate of 355 to 457mm instead of the required 305mm one, resulting in wobbly bullets and enormous wounds. However, a survey in 1968 among combat troops showed that only 3 out of 2100 individuals wanted a different type of weapon. Overall the M16A1 is a good rifle. It is very light, accurate, ergonomic and has a very low recoil. The main drawback is its lack of reliability. When properly cleaned the it will function well, repeated cleaning is needed in moist and arid conditions.
Compact versions
The Commando was not a great success. During the 5 year production period Colt could no resolve the issues, such as lack accuracy, excessive fouling and inability to use tracer rounds. Despite its issues it was liked by its users, especially air crews, as it was a far more potent weapon than the M3 Grease Gun. The CAR-15 Commando paved the way for the successful CAR-15 and the Commando versions of the M4. The CAR-15 was not widely adopted by US forces, but paved the way for the M4 in US service. It was sold to many law enforcement agencies and foreign nations, be it in smaller quantities than the M16A1. The CAR-15 had a very good performance. With its retractable stock it is much more compact than the M16A1 and the muzzle velocity is high enough to engage targets out to medium ranges.