M16A2 Rifle

5.56 mm Select Fire Rifle

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M16A2 Rifle History

Above: M16 Rifle A2 Variation

The M16A2 rifle features several product improvements illustrated in this chapter and the operator's manual. The rifle is a 5.56-mm, magazine-fed, gas-operated, shoulder-fired weapon. It is designed to fire either semiautomatic or a three-round burst through the use of a selector lever (SAFE, SEMI, and BURST). It can be indentified from early M16 rifles by the addition of the spent case deflector and the forward assist on the M16A2. The M16A2 variant was adopted by the US Marine Corps in 1983 and the US Army adopted it in 1985.

1. A new 1 to 7 rifling twist to accommodate the new Nato ammunition.
2. An upgrade rear windage sight for elevation and windage.
3. The M-16 flash hider designed to reduce barrel climb and dust signature.
4. The selector lever now eliminated full automatic mode to reduce ammo waste and barrel wear.
5. A redesigned butt stock that is slightly longer than the M16.
6. Interchangeable hand guards in a upper/lower configuration.
7. The M16A2 can be equipped with a 40mm M203 grenade launcher.

The official field manual for the M-16A2 is the FM 3-22.9.

AR-15 Bayonet and M8A1 Sheath Bayonet Lug near new condition

• M16 Manufacturer: Colt Manufacturing and Fabrique Nationale Manufacturing Inc.
• M16 Length: 39.63 inches (100.66 centimeters)
• M16 Weight With 30 Round Magazine: 8.79 pounds (3.99 kilograms)
• M16 Bore Diameter: 5.56mm (.233 inches)
• M16 Maximum Effective Range: Area target: 2,624.8 feet (800 meters)
• Point target: 1,804.5 feet (550 meters)
• M16 Muzzle Velocity: 2,800 feet (853 meters) per second
• M-16A2 Rifling of Barrel: Right hand twist, 6 grooves, 1 turn in 7 inches

M16A2 Rifle Field Stripped

M16A2 Rifle Firing Rates

1. M16 Cyclic Rate of Fire: M-16 Cyclic: 800 rounds per minute
2. Sustained: 12-15 rounds per minute
3. Semiautomatic: 45 rounds per minute
4. Burst: 90 rounds per minute
5. M16 Magazine Capacity: 30 rounds
6. M16 Unit Replacement Cost: $586

Common M16A2 Rifle Questions:

How Do I Zero the M-16A2 Rifle Sights?

Answer: The M16A2 rifle has two adjustable sights -- front and rear. Elevation adjustments are made using the front sight, and elevation changes and windage adjustments are made using the rear sight.



5.56 mm M16A2 Rifle