Armalite/Colt AR-15/M-16 Assault Rifle (U.S.A.)
Original military issue AR-15/ M-16 rifle (circa 1965), with no forward assist and with the original three-prong flash hider
M-16A1 rifle with a 30 round magazine and a 40mm M203 grenade launcher attached
(circa mid 1970”s). |
M-16A3 “flat top” upper receiver with the Pictinny
rail & the remove-able carrying handle |
M-16A1 rifle, with the forward assist, “bird Cage” flash hider and the 20 round
Magazine (1967). M-16A2 rifle, with the heavy barrel, modified
rear sights, spent deflector, round hand guard and modified pistol handle (circa mid-1980’s). |
Specifications
Caliber Action Overall length Barrel length Weight empty / loaded with 30 rounds Magazine capacity Rate of fire, cyclic Muzzle Velocity Maximum effective range |
M-16A1
5.56x45mm (.223 Remington), M193 Gas operated, rotating bolt 986mm 508mm 2.89 kg / 3.6 kg 20 or 30 rounds standard 650 - 750 rounds per minute 945 minutes per second 460 meters |
M-16A2
5.56 X 45mm NATO / M855 Gas operated, rotating bolt 1006mm 508mm 3.77 kg / 4.47 kg 20 or 30 rounds standard 800 rounds per minute 900 550 meters |
One of the key advantages of the Stoner design, that must be especially stressed, is the extreme flexibility of the construction. At the present time the interchangeable complete "uppers" are available in various barrel lengths and profiles (from 7 to 24 inches long, slim and heavy), in dozens of rifle and pistol calibers (from tiny but fast .17 Remington and up to monstrous .458 SOCOM, and from .22LR and 9mm Lugar up to mighty .50AE). Special, manually single-shot uppers are commercially available in the extremely powerful .50BMG (12.7x99mm) caliber. Various "lowers" offer a broad variety of trigger units, butt stocks and other options. This advantage is viable for both military (especially Spec Ops), Law Enforcement, and civilian applications, as it allows to tailor any particular AR-15 type rifle to the current situation and tactical needs.
M16 / AR-15 Technical description
The original AR-15 rifle is a gas operated, selective fire, magazine fed weapon. Every rifle from the M16 family is generally the same, but most civilian AR-15 type rifles are semi-automatic only.
The heart of the AR-15 is the direct gas system, developed by the Eugene Stoner in the early 1950s. This system uses no conventional gas piston and rod to propel bolt group back after the shot is fired. Instead, the hot powder gases are fed from the barrel and down to the stainless steel tube into the read more
M16 / AR-15 Technical description
The original AR-15 rifle is a gas operated, selective fire, magazine fed weapon. Every rifle from the M16 family is generally the same, but most civilian AR-15 type rifles are semi-automatic only.
The heart of the AR-15 is the direct gas system, developed by the Eugene Stoner in the early 1950s. This system uses no conventional gas piston and rod to propel bolt group back after the shot is fired. Instead, the hot powder gases are fed from the barrel and down to the stainless steel tube into the read more