The M16 rifle is one of most commonly used firearms in any military force around the world. It has gained its popularity in the United States Army when it was used in South Vietnam’s jungle warfare. The M16 is a majorly modified version of the ArmaLite AR-15 designed by Eugene Stoner. It fires 5.56 x 45 mm rounds and can generate big wounds making it an army personnel’s choice over its predecessor AR-15 with 36 out of 2100 voting otherwise according to a 1968 Department of Defense report.
The assault rifles’ components are made up of different types of compounds. Its bolt, bolt carrier and barrel are made of steel; its butt stock, pistol grip and hand guard are made of plastic while its receivers are of aluminum alloy making it lightweight weighing in at 8.5 lbs when loaded. It has thicker barrel to slow down overheating and for damage resistance when roughly handled. It is ergonomically designed with a handle which is more of a guard for the gas tube located below it.
Due to the soldiers’ wide acceptance of the M16 rifle, upgrades were manufactured and fitted unto it. Scopes and red dot laser were added for increased accuracy, flashlights for conditional terrain and grenade launchers for assault support making it an all around weapon.
The immense popularity of this weapon has even reached popular culture. Pre-WWII toy designs were mostly trucks and cars for boys and dolls and teacups for the girls. After World War II, because of the heroic portrayal of soldiers returning from Europe, toy manufacturers released plastic replicas of the weapons the soldiers used including those used by the Germans. After its invention and successful transition to the jungles of Vietnam, the M16 rifle also conquered the toy industry making it the preferred Christmas gift during and after the war and inspired a great number of boys to join the Army when they get old enough.
After the invention of Airsoft, the M16 rifle is probably the first, if not, one of the firsts to be manufactured for use in the recreational sport. Just like its real world counterparts, the Airsoft M16 rifle can also be upgraded with sights and lasers and airsoft grenade launchers. It mostly made of plastic with the exception of the battery powered firing mechanism.
The M16 rifle is one of the iconic symbols of the United States of America’s power. Its five decades of service reflects its reliability and toughness both in the war-torn and pellet-ridden worlds.
Related posts:
