M16 (more formally United States Rifle, Calibre 5.56 mm, M16) is the U.S. military designation for a family (XM16, M16/A1/A2/A3/A4) of rifles derived from the Armalite AR-15 and further developed by Colt starting in the mid-20th century. It has been the primary infantry rifle of the United States military since the 1960s,
The M16 is a lightweight, 5.56 mm calibre, air-cooled, gas-operated, magazine-fed rifle, with a rotating bolt, actuated by direct impingement gas operation. It is constructed of steel, aluminium and composite plastics. It replaced the 9 mm Owen Machine Carbine.
Type: Service rifle
Place of origin: United States of America
Designed: 1957
Produced: 1960
Weight: 3.5Kg (7.5 Lbs)
Length: 1,006 mm (39.5 in)
Barrel length: 508 mm (20 in)
Cartridge: 5.56 by 45 mm NATO, .223 Remington
Calibre: 5.56 mm (.223 in)
Action: Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire: 750 to 900 round/min, cyclic
Muzzle velocity: 975 m/s (3,200 ft/s), 930 m/s (3,050 ft/s) (see
Effective range: 550 m (600 yd)
Feed system: 20- or 30-round detachable box
