From top to bottom: M16A1, M16A2, M4A1, M16A4. A Marine of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines cleans his XM16E1 in December 1967. In July 1960, General Curtis LeMay was impressed by a

Dec 9, 2025 · M16 rifle, assault rifle developed as the AR-15 by American engineer Eugene Stoner of ArmaLite Inc. in the late 1950s. The rifle received high marks for its light weight, its accuracy, and the …

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...

The M16 is a selective-fire, a gas-operated rifle chambered in 5.56×45 mm (.223 Remington). Despite early flaws, the weapon is now considered among the best assault rifles in the world, offering …

Jul 18, 2025 · Designed in the late 1950s by ArmaLite, a division of Fairchild Engine and Airplane Company, the M16 was a cutting-edge rifle for its time; its aluminum receivers and polymer furniture …

May 30, 2025 · For over 60 years, the M16 rifle has been the backbone of the U.S. military’s small arms arsenal. Originally developed by Eugene Stoner and Armalite in 1956, this rifle was designed for …

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.

Dec 16, 2024 · The full history of the M16 rifle, from its development during the Vietnam War to its role in modern conflicts like Desert Storm and Afghanistan. Learn about its evolution, key variants, and …

With its lightweight construction, high rate of fire, and adaptability, the M16 has become synonymous with American military operations since its introduction in the early 1960s. But what exactly is an M16 …

May 29, 2022 · The M16 rifle was first developed in the early 1960s as a replacement for the M14 rifle. It was designed to be lighter and more accurate than the M14, which is a battle rifle, and it featured a …