Auto Rifle M 16
From top to bottom: M16A1, M16A2, M4A1, M16A4
Type Assault rifle
Place of origin United States
Service history
In service 1964–present[1]
Used by See Users
Wars
Vietnam War
Cambodian Civil War
Persian Gulf War
War in Afghanistan
War in Afghanistan (2015–present)
Iraq War
Iraqi Civil War (2014-present)[2]
Syrian Civil War[3]
Production history
Designer Eugene Stoner and L. James Sullivan[4]
Designed 1956[5]
Manufacturer
Colt's Manufacturing Company
Daewoo Precision Industries
FN Herstal
H&R Firearms
General Motors Hydramatic Division
Elisco
U.S. Ordnance
Produced
As the Armalite AR-15 from 1959 to 1964[5]
As the Colt M16 rifle from 1964 to present[1]
No. built c. 8 million[6]
Variants See Variants
Specifications (M16)
Weight 7.18 lb (3.26 kg) (unloaded)
8.79 lb (3.99 kg) (loaded)
Length 39.5 in (1,003 mm)
Barrel length 20 in (508 mm)
Cartridge 5.56×45mm NATO
Action Gas-operated, rotating bolt (direct impingement)
Rate of fire 12–15 rounds/min sustained
45–60 rounds/min semi-automatic
700–950 rounds/min cyclic
Muzzle velocity 3,150 ft/s (960 m/s) (M855A1 round)[7]
Effective firing range 550 m (601 yd) (point target)[8]
800 m (875 yd) (area target)[9]
Maximum firing range 3,600 m (3,937 yd)
Feed system 20-round detachable box magazine:
0.211 lb (96 g) empty / 0.738 lb (335 g) full
30-round detachable box magazine:
0.257 lb (117 g) empty / 1.06 lb (480 g) full)
Beta C-Mag 100-round double-lobed drum:
2.20 lb (1,000 g) empty / 4.81 lb (2,180 g) full)
Sights Iron sights or various optics