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M16 rifle

From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rifle, 5.56 mm, M16
From top to bottom: M16A1, M16A2, M4A1, M16A4
TypeAssault rifle
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service1963–present
Used bySee Users
WarsVietnam War
Laotian Civil War
Cambodian Civil War
The Troubles
Cambodian–Vietnamese War
Communist Insurgency War
Lebanese Civil War
Salvadoran Civil War
Falklands War
1982 Lebanon War
Invasion of Grenada
South Lebanon conflict (1985–2000)
Bougainville Civil War
United States invasion of Panama
Oka Crisis
Persian Gulf War
Yugoslav Wars
Somali Civil War
Operation Deny Flight
Operation Joint Endeavor
Nepalese Civil War
1996 Gangneung submarine infiltration incident
Kosovo War
War in Afghanistan
Iraq War
2006 Lebanon War
Mexican Drug War
2010 Rio de Janeiro Security Crisis
Syrian civil war
Gaza–Israel conflict
2013 Lahad Datu standoff
2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine
Iraq War (2014–present)
Production history
DesignerEugene Stoner and L. James Sullivan[1]
Designed1956[2]
Manufacturer
Produced1959–present[2]
No. builtabout 8 million[3]
VariantsSee Variants
Specifications (M16)
Mass7.18 lb (3.26 kg) (unloaded)
8.79 lb (3.99 kg) (loaded)
Length39.5 in (1,003 mm)
Barrel length20 in (508 mm)

Cartridge5.56×45mm NATO
ActionGas-operated, rotating bolt (direct impingement)
Rate of fire12–15 rounds/min sustained
45–60 rounds/min semi-automatic
700–950 rounds/min cyclic
Muzzle velocity3,110 ft/s (948 m/s)[4]
Effective firing range800 meters
Maximum firing range800 meters
Feed system20-round detachable box magazine:
0.211 lb (96 g) empty / 0.738 lb (335 g) full
30-round detachable box magazine:
0.257 lb (117 g) empty / 1.06 lb (480 g) full)
Beta C-Mag 100-round double-lobed drum:
2.20 lb (1,000 g) empty / 4.81 lb (2,180 g) full)
SightsIron sights

The M16 is an assault rifle used by the United States since the Vietnam War in 1963,[5] based on the AR-15. Since 1975, the M16 has been used by many different countries. First designed by Eugene Stoner in the United States of America, it is currently the standard infantry rifle used by the United States Military Forces. The rifle is being used by over 80 nations.

The M16 uses the 5.56mm NATO (.223) caliber cartridge, with a muzzle velocity (the speed of bullet leaving the rifle) of over 900 meters per second (over 3,000 feet per second), and has a maximum effective range of 600 yards,[6] with a rate of fire (how fast the gun shoots) of approximately 800 rounds per minute. The M16A1 can shoot semi automatic and fully automatic fire. The M16A2 can shoot semi automatic and three-round-burst fire. The M4A1 Carbine retains full automatic and semi automatic fire. The M16 normally holds 30 cartridges in its magazine, but there are variants of the magazine that hold only 20 or 10 cartridges.

There is also an M16 variant for the Canadian Army called Diemaco C-7. The Diemaco C-7 rifles have maple leaves on the left side.

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References

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  • Rose, Alexander. American Rifle-A Biography. 2008; Bantam Dell Publishing. ISBN 978-0-553-80517-8.
  1. Ezell, Virginia Hart (November 2001). "Focus on Basics, Urges Small Arms Designer". National Defense. National Defense Industrial Association. Archived from the original on 7 December 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Hogg, Ian V.; Weeks, John S. (2000). Military Small Arms of the 20th Century (7th ed.). Iola, Wisconsin: Krause Publications. ISBN 978-0-87341-824-9., p. 291
  3. Customers / Weapon users. Colt Weapon Systems. Archived 2015-06-30 at the Wayback Machine
  4. "M15 5.56mm Rifle. Specifications". Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 26 May 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). colt.com
  5. Rose, p. 380 & 392
  6. U.S. Army Field Manual 3-22.9 Rifle Marksmanship Chapter 2