The M16

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The M16

With its light weight of less than six pounds and its powerful

ammunition, small 5.56mm circumference, short 38.80 inch

long body, a whipping 3,250 feet per second muzzle velocity,

and a maximum efficiency range of 460 meters the M16 is the

most versatile standard issue rifle of any army. You may think

that the brains of the government's army may have devised the

plan to make the M16, but it was none other than the brains of

John Hopkins University where the development of the M16 first

began in September of the year of 1948.1

The ability of being selective firing was the main point of

interest for the army. Also another high point is that the

ammunition must be able to pierce a steel helmet from 500

meters away.2

The military appointed Mister Eugene Stoner to design

the rifle since he was a soldier but had been decommissioned

after the war. The gun that was more or less being improved

was the heavy, high caliber, selective fire capable, M14. Its

benefits are that it can penetrate a steel helmet at a greater

range. Some disadvantages of the .308 caliber M14 Also Known

As the NATO are that when the gun is shot only the first two or

three shots will hit the target that has been aimed at. This

happens because of the kick or the amount of space the gun

moves when fired this can also be called recoil. In a bullet that

has .308 caliber for the NATO the recoil is a lot. Also since the

ammunition itself is large this means that it weighs a lot. This

also means that a soldier can only carry a little bit of

ammunition into a battle. Maneuvering the weapon was also a

difficulty, due to the weight and size but in spite of the fact of

the M14's disadvantages, the M14 was very reliable...

... middle of paper ...

...ve fully automatic weapons

including two AK-47's.9

During the shootout the police went to a nearby gun store

to get as much ammunition as they could when they could.

After all was said and done the robbers sadly were killed.

In the month of September of 1997 the California governor said

that he had bought 600 M16 rifles for the police department.

Hopefully this day will not be repeated.10

Dessert Storm was the first time the M16 proved its

excellency. A new gun may be in order for the army.11 The

military is debating on whether or not they will adopt the M4A1

as standard issue for the Unites States. It is like the M16 but

has an adjustable buttstock, two types of ammunition, and a

grenade launcher that can be shot simultaneously with either of

the types of ammunition. the M4A1 is not a new gun but only a

modification of the unchallenged M16.12

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