Colt M16A2 AR Complete Specs and Full Gun Specifications

The M16A2 became the follow up design to the much-maligned M16 debuting with American forces from 1959 onwards (particularly during the Vietnam War). The model was developed to a United States Marine Corps (USMC) request after combat experiences with the prototype XM16E1 and production-quality M16A1 models proved highly vulnerable to battlefield abuses. The M16A2, therefore, became a major reworking of the original and included changes such as new rifling patterns on the barrel assemblies as well as reinforced barrels, support for the single-shot 40mm M203 underslung grenade launcher, an all-new adjustable rear sight installation, a revised flash suppressor less prone to collecting debris, a reworked rounded/ribbed frontal handguard (as opposed to triangular), slightly revised ergonomic pistol grip, lengthened and reinforced shoulder stock of polymer with integrated buttplate and a shell deflector fitted along the right side of the receiver near the ejection port. The full-automatic fire functionality of the original M16 was dropped in preference for a more controllable three-round burst fire mode along with the standard semi-automatic fire. Muzzle climb has been substantially reduced and use of plastics has made for a lightened end-product. The USMC was the first US service branch to adopt the improved M16A2 in the mid-1980s with other service branches following suit. The M16A2 has, itself, since been replaced by the equally-improved M16A4 though it still sees widespread circulation in US inventories and her allies the world over.