Guns, Weapons & FireArms

The M16A2 is the standard issue rifle. It's carried by pretty much every soldier in a combat zone. Most people simply call it the M-16. The M-16 has been around in one version or another since the Vietnam war (the first version, the M16A1 entered Army service in 1964). It's longevity is creditable to its usefulness as a general assault weapon. It's quite simply one of the finest military rifles ever made (although advocates of the M-4 Carbine may argue with me). The rifle is lightweight, simple to operate, and puts out a lot of lead.

The M16A2 5.56mm rifle is a lightweight, air-cooled, gas-operated, magazine-fed, shoulder or hip-fired weapon designed for either automatic fire (3-round bursts) or semiautomatic fire (single shot) through the use of a selector lever. The weapon has a fully adjustable rear sight. The bottom of the trigger guard opens to provide access to the trigger while wearing winter mittens. The upper receiver/barrel assembly has a fully adjustable rear sight and a compensator which helps keep the muzzle down during firing. The steel bolt group and barrel extension are designed with locking lugs which lock the bolt group to the barrel extension allowing the rifle to have a lightweight aluminum receiver.

Primary function: Infantry weapon

Manufacturer: Colt Manufacturing and Fabrique Nationale Manufacturing Inc.

Length: 39.63 inches (100.66 centimeters)

Weight, with 30 round magazine: 8.79 pounds (3.99 kilograms)

Bore diameter: 5.56mm (.233 inches)

Area target: 2,624.8 feet (800 meters)

Point target: 1,804.5 feet (550 meters)

Muzzle velocity: 2,800 feet (853 meters) per second

Cyclic: 800 rounds per minute

Sustained: 12-15 rounds per minute

Semiautomatic: 45 rounds per minute

Burst: 90 rounds per minute

Magazine capacity: 30 rounds

Unit Replacement Cost: $586