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M16 assault rifle was adopted by the US army in 1963 as a replacement to M14 and till this date this rife is being regarded among the world’s best rifles. It was designated as The AR-14 and was designed by the Armalite Corporation in 1957, from where Colt purchased it. By 1967, it took its position in the US army as their standard assault rifle. It was during Vietnam War when M16 was highly used in jungle warfare in South Vietnam.

M16 has the most produced firearm of its caliber with 8 million of production including the ones adopted by other major nations like Canada and China where it is still manufactured in large scale. Its receiver is in alloy while its barrel, bolt and bolt carrier are in steel with handguards, pistol grip, and buttstock in plastic, making it a lightweight weapon. The carrying handle and the rear side assembly have gone through further improvement and the latest version of M16 uses a picatinny rail that allows application of further sighting devices. In this line the US Marine Corp has integrated the weapon with ACOG rifle combat optics and the US Navy have integrated with EOTech Holographic Weapon Sight.

Its recoil string is positioned in the stock right behind the action which helps in recoil buffer and operating spring. Fast and continued shots are easier enabling the operator to be more predictable about firing as the spot does not change with recoils. It is gas operated and enhances better feat in hasty fire by keeping reciprocating masses on the same axis as the bore. Due to its firing of 5.56*45mm NATO cartridge, it produces lethal massive wounding as the bullet blows at high velocity with rapid energy. Due to this reason International Committee of Red-Cross considers it an inhumane weapon in the history of wars.Image may be NSFW.
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Various variants have been designed of the M16 rifle but the latest ones are hardly up to the level of its antecedent. The M16A2 and A4 series of rifles fire in three-round rupture and is semi-automatic, while the original M16A1 and A3 variants were fully-automatic. The Colt M16A4 Rifle is the fourth generation of this chain, and has been regarded as the world standard by which all other weapons of this category are evaluated. Integrated with a detachable carrying handle and a rail mounting system for mounting of optics and other supplementary devices, it is the ultimate full length combat rifle in 5.56mm caliber for the 21st Century.

The complete description of this deadly weapon’s development, manufacture and operation can be read in the famous author, Gordon L Rottman’s Book, The M16 (Weapon). The author of the book himself had been in US army as a weapons specialist and served in the 5th Special Forces Group in Vietnam in 1969-70 and afterwards in airborne infantry, long-range patrol and intelligence assignments until retiring after 26 years. The M16 (Weapon) is a great read you if you are one among those who have a flair for weapons and their history in wars. Who else can explain you better other the man himself you operated it? Get this book here at a special discount on both, kindle version as well as paperback.

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Specification of M16

Length: 39.625”

Weight (without magazine & sling): 39.625”

Weight (with loaded 30 round magazine & sling): 7.76 pounds

Maximum range: 2,653 meters

Maximum velocity: 3,250 feet per second

Rate of fire (cyclic): 800 rounds per minute

Video of M16 shoot