For guns and weapons, what's the difference between the M16 Assault Rifle and AR-15 Assault Rifle?

Soldier Jay

The AR-15 was based off of the AR-10.
The M-16 was based on the original AR-15 made by ArmaLite.
And then came the M4...

AR-10

The AR-10 is an American 7.62 mm battle rifle developed by Eugene Stoner in the late 1950s at ArmaLite, then a division of the Fairchild Aircraft Corporation. The rifle had some innovative features at the time of its introduction (1956); it was over 1 lb (0.45 kg) lighter than most other infantry rifles, and was significantly easier to control in automatic fire. The unique features of the AR-10 would eventually be developed into the U.S. Army's M16. Over its production life, the original AR-10 was built in relatively small numbers, with fewer than 10,000 rifles assembled.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AR-10

AR-15

The AR-15 (ArmaLite Model 15) is a widely owned semi-automatic rifle, of which the most famous derivative is the selective fire M16-series assault rifle used by the United States military.

The AR-15 consists of separate upper and lower receiver assemblies, which are attached with two through-pins and can be quickly interchanged with no tools. The lower receiver (because it bears the weapon's serial number and fire control group) is itself regulated as a firearm. However, the upper receiver assembly is simply considered a part, and may be purchased and mail-ordered in most locations with no restrictions. This is an attractive feature for users because it allows a number of upper receivers (often in different calibers) to be interchanged with the same lower receiver. However, one must be thoroughly familiar with firearms laws before doing this as it is possible to make an illegal configuration.

Standard AR-15 rifles accept detachable magazines of widely varying capacities, and have a pistol grip that protrudes beneath the stock. AR-15 rifles are highly configurable and customizable. They are commonly fitted with several accessories such as bipods, collapsing stocks, threaded barrels for the attachment of a flash suppressor, and a rail system for the attachment of vertical grips, flashlights, laser sights, telescopic sights and other accessories.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AR-15

M-16

The M16 (more formally Rifle, Caliber 5.56 mm, M16) is the United States military designation for the AR-15 rifle. Colt purchased the rights to the AR-15 from ArmaLite and currently uses that designation only for semi-automatic versions of the rifle. The M16 rifle fires the 5.56x45mm cartridge and can produce massive wounding and hydrostatic shock effects when the bullet impacts at high velocity and yaws in tissue leading to fragmentation and rapid transfer of energy. However, terminal effects can be unimpressive when the bullet fails to yaw or fragment in tissue.

The M16 entered United States Army service as the M16A1 and was put into action for jungle warfare in South Vietnam in 1963, becoming the standard U.S. rifle of the Vietnam War by 1969 replacing the M14 rifle in that role. The U.S. Army retained the M14 in CONUS, Europe, and South Korea until 1970. Since the Vietnam War, the M16 rifle family has been the primary infantry rifle of the U.S. military. With its variants, it has been in use by 15 NATO countries, and is the most produced firearm in its caliber.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M16_rifle

M4

The M4 carbine is a family of firearms tracing its lineage back to earlier carbine versions of the M16, all based on the original AR-15 made by ArmaLite. It is a shorter and lighter version of the M16A2 assault rifle, with 80% parts commonality. The M4 has selective fire options including semi-automatic and three-round burst (like the M16A2), while the M4A1 has a "full auto" option in place of the three-round burst.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine

List of the weapon variants.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AR-15_variants

Eagle1 Fox2

First of all, technically the AR-15 is not an assault rifle. An assault rifle is one that is capable of select fire, meaning fully automatic fire. For the most part, AR-15's re semi automatic. Calling them assault rifles is something that was done by the anti gun side in an attempt to get them banned.

Anyway, for the most part, AR-15's and M16's share about 95% ccommonality. With some exception, the main differences will be in the lower receiver and bolt carrier. The M16 lower receiver will have a different fire control group to include the trigger, hammer, disconnector, etc. It will also have a different selector switch, as well as have an auto-sear. The walls of the M16 will also be thinner to allow the placement of the auto-sear in the lower receiver. The bolt carrier will be slights longer on the bottom rear portion, allowing it to trip the auto sear and fire in full auto.

If you look below, I have given you a link to an excellent site that details the differences between the two.

USAFisnumber1

The M16 is a select fire weapon. Originally it could be fired full auto (machine gun) or one shot at a time. Newer ones are three-round burst or one shot at a time. It is a true assault rifle because it was specifically designed for the military for assault against the enemy.

The AR15 is NOT an assault rifle. It is a semi-auto that fires one shot at a time. It looks like the M16 but because it is a semi-auto, it is not designed for military use.

You fell into the liberal trap. Just because something looks like something else does not mean they are the same. While they look alike, they do not function alike. The AR15 functions like hundreds of semi-auto rifles, shot guns and pistols and no one goes running around and calls them assault weapons. That is because they do not look "bad."

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: