Was the M16 a bad rifle?

In its early years, the M16 fell short of expectations for a number of reasons. Its unreliability in combat situations could often be traced back to mechanical malfunctions, namely “failure to eject.” This issue could have been avoided if men had been given tools and instruction on how to maintain their equipment.

Why did soldiers hate the M16?

Vietnam War troops hated the M16 and dubbed it the “Mattel 16” because it felt more like a toy than a battle rifle. “We called it the Mattel 16 because it was made of plastic,” said Marine veteran Jim Wodecki in the video below. “At that time it was a piece of garbage.”

Is M16 a bad gun?

During the early part of its service, the M16 had a reputation for poor reliability and a malfunction rate of two per 1000 rounds fired.

Was M16 a good rifle?

The M16 had a higher rate of fire, 700-950 rpm compared to the 600 rpm of the AK-47, and most shooters — including those that have used the weapons in combat — have tended to agree that the M16 is the more accurate. A trade-off is that the accuracy and range don't equate to penetration.

Why was the original M16 so bad?

The harsh jungle climate corroded the rifle's chamber, exacerbated by the manufacturer's decision against chrome-plating the chamber. The ammunition that accompanied the rifles sent to Vietnam was incompatible with the M16 and was the principal cause of the failure to extract malfunctions.

Why the M16 Actually Sucks

Which one is better AK-47 or M16?

The standard U.S. military rifle (M-16) is substantially more destructive than its Russian counterpart (AK-47) when fired at short range into clay blocks, despite the fact that the AK-47 is of larger caliber and fires a much heavier bullet with a kinetic energy (muzzle) 25% greater when compared to the M-16.

When did the military quit using M16?

Although the M16 remained the weapon of choice for military forces around the world into the 21st century, by 2010 the U.S. Army had largely transitioned to the M4, a carbine based on the AR-15 platform, as its primary infantry weapon.

Does the M16 jam a lot?

Often … we take counts after each fight, as many as 50% of the rifles fail to work. I know of at least two Marines who died within 10 feet of the enemy with jammed rifles.

What was the failure rate of the M16?

The House Committee on Armed Services conducted a series of reliability tests on the M16. Stoppages were recorded at 3.3%, with 33 total stoppages from five rifles fired 200 times each.

Why did the US replace the M16?

The M4 came about when the U.S. Pentagon began a competition to replace the M16 Rifle with a carbine design using a shorter barrel for close-quarter combat. Although M16 variants with shorter barrels were in widespread use, they were noisy, difficult to handle, and had poor accuracy.

Why is it illegal to own an M16?

Owning a fully automatic M16 is legal for civilians, but the government paperwork required to acquire one takes more than a year, and the purchased M16 must have been manufactured prior to the 1986 ban.

Was the M16 sabotaged?

So, the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps “accepted” the M16 on their terms. Terms that were impossible for the M16 to meet, which they knew from the start. In short, they sabotaged the M16 project.

Do Navy Seals use M16?

The M4A1 carbine is the primary weapon used by SEAL operators. A shorter, more compact version of the M16A2 rifle, it was specially designed for U.S. Special Operations Forces.

Is the M14 better than M16?

The M14 shoots 7.62x51 ammo and that is one of the primary points of contention when claiming the M16/AR15 is the better gun. The M14 delivers more punch and, according to its many fans, is better suited for urban fighting environments where obstacles such as steel doors, vehicles and sand bags are a serious concern.

What rifle did the Marines use in Vietnam?

During the Vietnam War, the Marine Corps decided they needed a standard sniper rifle. After testing several possibilities, they ordered seven hundred Remington Model 40x rifles (target/varmint version of the Remington Model 700 bolt-action rifle), and gave them the M40 designation.

Will the US replace the M16?

The Army recently announced that the Next Generation Squad Weapon, the XM5 rifle and XM250 light machine gun will replace the M4/M16 rifle and the 249 light machine gun, with some Soldiers expected to receive the weapons by the fourth quarter of 2023.

How accurate is a M16?

The M16 has an effective range of 400-500 meters. + The M16 has a decisive advantage in range. The M16 is much more accurate weapon than the AK-47. It is much smoother-operating weapon and has less recoil.

What's the accurate range of an M16?

The M16 was selectable for full and automatic fire. The M16 was to have had the same effective range as the M14 rifle it replaced, but it was most effective at a range of 215 yards (200m) or less.

Is the AR-15 better then the M16?

The AR-15 came first, in 1947; the M16 a decade later. They have the same magazine capacity: 30 rounds. The former is heavier, with a shorter range and slower rate of fire, but these are subtle differences. Overall, the weapons are pretty similar.

What rifle do Marines use?

The M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR) is a 5.56mm select-fire assault rifle, based on the HK416 by Heckler & Koch. It is used by the United States Marine Corps (USMC) and is intended to be issued to all infantry riflemen as well as automatic riflemen.

Was the M16 rifle used in Vietnam?

The M16 rifle and its variants were the primary firearms used by American troops during the Vietnam War. Developed as a self-loading, gas-operated selective fire rifle, the Armalite AR-15 (the predecessor gun to the M16) first went into mass production in June of 1959.

Can a civilian own an M16?

You can own an M16 as a civilian depending on your state laws, however, since there are only so many of them available (none available for civilians after 1986), the price is high.

Is an AK cheaper than an M16?

Prices of AK-47 vs M16 rifles

Although many variants are available for both the rifles, when comparing the base models, the AK-47 is significantly cheaper than M16. The government price of the AK-47 can range from $150 to $200, depending on manufacturer and contract.

Which M16 is the best?