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Colt M16 assault rifle 5.56×45mm NATO
#guns #weapons #assaultrifle #usa #usarmy #m16 #m16a4_upgrade #vietnamwar
1.Introduction 00:00
2.Design 02:29
3.Range and accuracy 03:42
4.Miscelaneus 04:41
Introduction:
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.
In 1964, the M16 entered US military service, and the following year, it 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 a 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 M16 has gone through various stages of development and has faced challenges of reliability and performance, but it has remained a staple in the US military arsenal and that of other countries. Its evolution continues with the development of new technologies and next-generation weapons.
Design:
The M16 is a lightweight, 5.56 mm, gas-operated assault rifle with a rotating bolt. Its receivers are made of 7075 aluminum alloy, while the barrel, bolt, and bolt carrier are made of steel, and the handguards, pistol grip, and buttstock are made of plastics.
The rifle's internal piston action, designed by Eugene Stoner, is derived from the original ArmaLite AR-10 and AR-15 actions. It's often referred to as a direct impingement system, but it differs from conventional systems. The gas system, bolt carrier, and bolt-locking design are ammunition specific, lacking an adjustable gas port or valve.
The M16A1 weighed 7.9 pounds with a loaded 30-round magazine, lighter than both the M14 and the AKM. The M16A2, weighing 8.8 pounds loaded, adopted a thicker barrel profile for increased durability and slower overheating during sustained fire. The barrel remained thinner under the handguards for compatibility with the M203 grenade launcher.
Range and accuracy:
The M16 rifle is praised for its exceptional accuracy among service rifles. Its combination of light recoil, high velocity, and flat trajectory enables shooters to achieve headshots reliably out to 300 meters. With the introduction of the newer M855 cartridge, the effective range extends to 600 meters. Newer M16 models exhibit improved accuracy, capable of producing 1-3 inch groups at 100 yards. Marines equipped with ACOG-mounted M16A4s in Fallujah demonstrated such precision in headshots that some observers initially mistook the results for executions. The latest M855A1 EPR cartridge further enhances accuracy, with testing indicating that 95 percent of rounds hit within an 8x8 inch target at 600 meters.
Miscelaneus:
The M16 is the most commonly manufactured 5.56×45 mm rifle in the world. Currently, the M16 is in use by 15 NATO countries and more than 80 countries worldwide. Together, numerous companies in the United States, Canada, and China have produced more than 8,000,000 rifles of all variants. Approximately 90% are still in operation. The M16 replaced both the M14 rifle and M2 carbine as standard infantry rifle of the U.S. armed forces. Although, the M14 continues to see limited service, mostly in sniper, designated marksman, and ceremonial roles.
16 июн 2024
