M16 or M4

Am Shooting Journal ^ | 9/23/20 | N Perna

[w1n1]

Which Duty AR is King? – Nick Perna, a former soldier and currently a cop, weighs in on whether the M16A2 or M4 is a better overall weapon system.

Age equals experience. One of the few perks of getting old is that you get exposed to more things throughout the course of your life. This includes weapon systems. I’ve been making a living with a firearm since the late 1980s.
In jobs ranging from the military, bounty hunting and law enforcement, I've carried a wide variety of handguns, long guns, crew-served weapons and other things that go "Bang!" I've personally bore witness to the development of the M16/M4 weapon system throughout my adult life.

My first experience was with the M16A1. I carried the triangle-gripped Vietnam-era weapon in the 1990s as an ROTC cadet and later as a member of the National Guard in Florida and California. It was full-auto, which was nice. The fore grips were a little flimsy and could bite at one's hands at times. The rear sight was somewhat unsophisticated compared to later models, but it worked fairly well.

Later, while on active duty with the 82nd Airborne, I was issued an M16A2. I had longed to carry one since I had seen pictures of paratroopers in Panama carrying them during Operation Just Cause in 1989. Compared to the M16A1 it seemed state of the art. Overall, the weapon was better built. A heavier barrel was used, increasing accuracy and durability.

I’ve carried the M4 variant in the military and as a SWAT officer. It’s a great system. The shorter length makes it ideal for close-quarters battle. Getting rid of the carrying handle and replacing it with an ample Picatinny rail makes sense in the modern era where optics are standard-issue. Bringing back full-auto was a good move as well.

SO, WHICH ONE is the best overall weapon system? Is the M4 the king by virtue of the fact that it is the most current variant? It depends on what you are looking for and what criteria are used to judge.
In this comparison I'm going to exclude my personal fave, the M203. It's a unique weapon and all modern M16/M4 variants can be turned into a 5.56/40mm combo so, in essence, it's in a category all its own.
The M4's major advantages are size and modularity. It is significantly shorter than an M16A2, giving it a lot of advantages. It’s better for carrying in confined spaces such as inside a vehicle and aircraft. It is also more user-friendly when clearing buildings, which is a major component of what the military and law enforcement do.

This size comes at a cost, though. The Achilles heel of the M4 is the retractable stock. The buffer tube that supports the stock is the weakest part of the weapon. The buffer tube can be bent, dented or damaged in some other way through hard use. Read the rest of M16 vs M4.

[Dead Corpse]

I’m aging like a fine cheese. Getting smelly and crustier by the day.

I’m still a big side of beef though, can still hump the load and embarrass the younger bucks.

[Kudsman]

Love my Bushmaster. Errr...I did until it fell overboard.

[gundog]

The military’s M-4s have a 14.5 inch barrel. We civilians are getting some bonus velocity.