How M16 Rifle Works | XM16E1 | US Army Training Film | 1966
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US Army training film on the XM16E1 rifle, the first mass-fielded version of the M16 rifle. This is the version with chrome-plated bolt carrier, no trap door in the buttstock, no forward assist, non-chrome-lined chamber, and three-prong flash suppressor. Somewhat notorious for reliability issues in the jungles of Vietnam, it was upgraded into the much more reliable M16A1 in 1967. Most of the basic information in this video is just as true today for the M16A2/A4 and M4 carbine.
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The M16 rifle, officially designated Rifle, Caliber mm, M16, is a United States military adaptation of the Arma Lite AR-15 rifle. The original M16 was a select-fire, ×45mm rifle with a 20-round magazine.
In 1963, the M16 entered United States Military service and was deployed for jungle operations during the Vietnam conflict. In 1969, the M16A1 replaced the M14 rifle to become the U.S. military’s standard service rifle. The M16A1 improvements include a bolt-assist, chromed plated bore and a new 30-round magazine. In 1983, the USMC adopted the M16A2 rifle and the U.S. Army adopted it in 1986. The M16A2 fires the improved ×45mm NATO (M855/SS109) cartridge and has a new adjustable rear sight, case deflector, heavy barrel, improved handguard, pistol grip and buttstock, as well as a semi-auto and three-round burst only fire selector.
The M16 has also been widely adopted by other militaries around the world. Total worldwide production of M16s has been approximately 8 million, making it the most-produced firearm of its mm caliber. The U.S. Army has largely replaced the M16 with the shorter and lighter M4 carbine.
XM16E1 and M16A1 (Colt Model 603):
The U.S. Army XM16E1 was essentially the same weapon as the M16 with the addition of a forward assist and corresponding notches in the bolt carrier. The M16A1 was the finalized production model in 1967.
To address issues raised by the XM16E1’s testing cycle, a closed, bird-cage flash suppressor replaced the XM16E1’s three-pronged flash suppressor which caught on twigs and leaves. Various other changes were made after numerous problems in the field. Cleaning kits were developed and issued while barrels with chrome-plated chambers and later fully lined bores were introduced.
With these and other changes, the malfunction rate slowly declined and new soldiers were generally unfamiliar with early problems. A rib was built into the side of the receiver on the XM16E1 to help prevent accidentally pressing the magazine release button while closing the ejection port cover. This rib was later extended on production M16A1s to help in preventing the magazine release from inadvertently being pressed. The hole in the bolt that accepts the cam pin was crimped inward on one side, in such a way that the cam pin may not be inserted with the bolt installed backwards, which would cause failures to eject until corrected. The M16A1 is no longer in service with the United States, but is still standard issue in many world armies.
How M16 Rifle Works | XM16E1 | US Army Training Film | 1966
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