M16 rifle
The M16 rifle (officially designated Rifle, Caliber 5.56 mm, M16) is a family of military rifles adapted from the ArmaLite AR-15 rifle for the United States military. The original M16 rifle was a 5.56×45mm automatic rifle with a 20-round magazine.
| M16 | |
|---|---|
M16A2, multi-sided view | |
| Type | Assault rifle |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1964–present |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars | See Conflicts |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Eugene Stoner (AR-10) L. James Sullivan (AR-15) |
| Designed | 1959 |
| Manufacturer | |
| Produced |
|
| No. built | c. 8 million as of 2011 |
| Variants | See List of Colt AR-15 and M16 rifle variants |
| Specifications (M16) | |
| Mass | unloaded: 6.37 lb (2.89 kg) (M16A1) 7.5 lb (3.40 kg) (without magazine and sling) (M16A2) 7.5 lb (3.40 kg) (M16A4) 8.81 lb (4.00 kg) (loaded with 30 rounds and sling) |
| Length | 38.81 in (986 mm) (M16A1) 39.63 in (1,007 mm) (M16A2) 39.37 in (1,000 mm) (M16A4) |
| Barrel length | 20 in (508 mm) |
| Cartridge | 5.56×45 mm NATO |
| Caliber | 5.56 mm (.223 in) |
| Action | Gas-operated (Expansion of gas within piston inside bolt carrier), closed rotating bolt |
| Rate of fire | 700–800 rounds/min cyclic sustained (M16A1) 700-900 rounds/min cyclic sustained (M16A2, M16A3) 800 rounds/min cyclic sustained (M16A4) |
| Muzzle velocity | 3,150 ft/s (960 m/s) (M855A1 round) |
| Effective firing range | 550 m (601 yd) (point target) 800 m (875 yd) (area target) |
| Maximum firing range | 3,600 m (3,937 yd) |
| Feed system | STANAG magazine 20-round detachable box magazine: 0.211 lb (0.096 kg) (empty) / 0.738 lb (0.335 kg) (full) 30-round detachable box magazine: 0.257 lb (0.117 kg) (empty) / 1.06 lb (0.48 kg) (full) 60-round detachable box magazine Beta C-Mag 100-round drum magazine: 2.2 lb (1.00 kg) (empty) / 4.81 lb (2.18 kg) (full) |
| Sights | Iron sights: Rear: aperture; L-type flip Front: wing-protected post Various aiming optics |
In 1964, the M16 entered US military service and the following year was deployed for jungle warfare operations during the Vietnam War. In 1969, the M16A1 replaced the M14 rifle to become the US military's standard service rifle. The M16A1 incorporated numerous modifications including a bolt-assist, chrome-plated bore, protective reinforcement around the magazine release, and revised flash hider.
In 1983, the US Marine Corps adopted the M16A2 rifle, and the US Army adopted it in 1986. The M16A2 fires the improved 5.56×45mm (M855/SS109) cartridge and has a newer adjustable rear sight, case deflector, heavy barrel, improved handguard, pistol grip, and buttstock, as well as a semi-auto and three-round burst fire selector. Adopted in July 1997, the M16A4 is the fourth generation of the M16 series. It is equipped with a removable carrying handle and Picatinny rail for mounting optics and other ancillary devices.
The M16 has also been widely adopted by other armed forces around the world. Total worldwide production of M16s is approximately 8 million, making it the most-produced firearm of its 5.56 mm caliber. The US military has largely replaced the M16 in frontline combat units with a shorter and lighter version, the M4 carbine.
In April 2022, the U.S. Army selected the SIG MCX SPEAR as the winner of the Next Generation Squad Weapon Program to replace the M16/M4. The rifle is designated XM7.