The M16 rifle (officially designated Rifle, Caliber 5.56 mm, M16) is a family of assault 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.

Feb 26, 2025 · With some minor adjustments based on recommendations from the field, the rifle, now designated the M16A1, was adopted as the standard infantry weapon for the U.S. military in 1967, superseding the M14 rifle.

Nov 23, 2023 · An M16A1. Note the birdcage-style flash suppressor. Credit: US Army via Wikimedia Commons. The fixes worked, and the new variant with said improvements – the M16A1, which first entered service in 1967 – was immediately noted as a drastic improvement over the original.

Aug 23, 2024 · The M16A1 rifle was introduced in the 1960s as a response to the need for a lightweight, high-velocity firearm that could excel in the dense jungles of Vietnam. Developed from the AR-15 design by Eugene Stoner, the M16A1 was officially adopted by the U.S. military in 1964, replacing the heavier M14.

This rifle differed from the M16A1 by having a heavier barrel with faster 1:7 rifling, a different type of rear sights (adjustable for both range and windage), round handguards instead of triangular ones, and by replacing the full-automatic fire mode with 3 round burst to preserve ammunition.

Sep 30, 2022 · By 1967, the M16 was a reliable weapon and type-classified as the M16A1 rifle. To keep up with demand, Harrington & Richardson and the Hydra-Matic Division of General Motors were awarded contracts to manufacture M16A1 rifles.

Sep 20, 2017 · On Feb. 28, 1967, the XM16E1 was standardized as the M16A1 rifle at the height of the jamming epidemic when troop confidence in the rifle had reached an all-time low.

Nov 15, 2024 · The M16A1 was a 5.56-chambered rifle that made a few changes to the original Stoner AR-15 design. (Photo: Zach Buth/Guns.com) The M16A1’s key feature is its lightweight construction.

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Colt M16A1 5.56mm NATO 20in Black Semi Automatic Modern Sporting Rifle - 20+1 Rounds - The classic M16A1 was the iconic rifle of the Vietnam War. It was issued to the vast majority of U.S. soldiers during the conflict, and its general success in combat led to its continued service in the U.S. armed forces in varied forms over the years.