M16A1 M16

M16A1 M16 MACHINE GUN
Service history
In service 1964–present
Used by United States of America, See Production and usage
Wars Vietnam War–present
Production history
Designer Eugene Stoner
L. James Sullivan[1]
Designed 1957
Manufacturer Colt Defense
FN Herstal
H & R Firearms
General Motors Hydramatic Division
Produced 1960–present
Number built Approx. 8 million [2]
Variants See Variants
Specifications (M16A2)
Weight 7.8 lb (3.5 kg) unloaded
8.79 lb (4.0 kg) loaded
Length 39.5 in (1,000 mm)
Barrel length 20 in (508 mm)
Cartridge 5.56x45mm NATO
Action Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire 700–950 rounds/min, cyclic depending on model
Muzzle velocity 3,200 ft/s (975 m/s) (M16A1)
3,050 ft/s (930 m/s) (M16A2)
Effective range 550 m (600 yd)
Feed system Various STANAG Magazines
The M16 (more formally Rifle, Caliber 5.56 mm, M16) is the U.S. military designation for the ArmaLite AR-15 rifle. Colt purchased the rights to the AR-15 and currently uses that designation only for semi-automatic versions of the rifle.

The M16 entered United States Army service as the M16A1 and was deployed for jungle warfare in the Republic of South Vietnam in 1963,[3] becoming the standard US Rifle of the Vietnam War by 1969;[4] replacing the M14 rifle in that role. The US Army retained the M14 in CONUS, Europe, and South Korea until 1970. Since the Vietnam War, the M16 rifle family has been the primary infantry rifle of the U.S. military. With its variants, it has been in use by 15 NATO countries, and is the most produced firearm in its caliber.