M16A1 Rifle, NSN 1005-00-073-9421, LIN R94977.
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In 1967 the M16A1 was
adopted by the US Army, and it became
the Army's standard issue rifle,
with some 3,690,000 manufactured. The weapon,
chambered for 5.56x45mm NATO caliber,
was a mainstay of the U.S. military for
two decades, until it was replaced by
the
M16A2
starting in 1983.
The M16A1 featured a positive forward assist to help close the bolt when dirty, a chromium plated chamber and bore to resist corrosion, and an improved gas system with a new bolt buffer designed to reduce the rate of fire on full auto. These improvements, together with a new field cleaning kit and better maintenance instruction, helped to alleviate some of the original M16's reliability problems. The major difference between the M16A1 and M16A2 is the fact that the M16A1 could operate in full-automatic mode, emptying an entire 30-round magazine in just a few seconds; whereas the M16A2 is restricted to 3-round bursts, a feature which preserves ammunition and improves accuracy. ArmyProperty.com is researching the BII / COEI listing and component hand receipt for this item, and will post these documents when available. |
Video: TOP 10 Combat Rifles of All Time - M16 (No.2)
Accessories (While it is physically possible to install these accessories on the M16A1, it is not routinely done, due to the M16A1's old age and the fact that the M16A2 replaced it in most Army units many years ago):
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CQD Sling (NSN# 8415-01-504-3087)
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| Major End Items | |
| NSN | Description |
| 1010-00-179-6447 | M203, 40mm Grenade Launcher |
| 5855-01-398-4315 | PAQ-4 infrared laser designator |
| 5855-01-447-8992 | PEQ-2 infrared spotlight / laser designator |
| 1240-01-492-5264 | EOTech 1x Holographic-Diffraction Optical Reflex Sight |
| 5855-01-432-0524 | PVS-14, Monocular NVG (Can be mounted on M16 carrying handle using a rail adapter) |
| 5860-01-471-2091 | Laser Borelight System (LBS); used for field-zeroing mechanical and optical sights |
| RFI (Rapid Fielding Initiative) Accessories (Major End Items). Fielded routinely to units through Force Modernization program, or through RFI bulk-issue during prep for deployment. | |
| 1005-01-452-6771 | M5 Rail Adapter System (allows installation of accessories, such as a PEQ-2 or Surefire Tac-Light on front handguard) |
| 1240-01-534-1114 and others | ACOG (Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight) and other magnified and unmagnified optical sights, manufactured by Trijicon. |
| 1240-01-411-1265 | M68 CCO (Close Combat Optic) 1x "Red Dot" Optical Reflex Sight, manufactured by Aimpoint |
| RFI (Rapid Fielding Initiative) Accessories (Non Major End Items). Fielded routinely to units through Force Modernization program, or through RFI bulk-issue during prep for deployment. | |
| NSN | Description |
| 1005-01-541-1772 | Rifle Bipod; Also called Forward Grip Bipod |
| 1005-01-541-1771 | Tactical Sling; Also called 3-Point Sling; (Click Here for more sling NSN's) |
| (TBP; LIN ZA905D) | Enhanced sliding M4/M4A1 buttstock assembly; currently being mounted and used on M16-series rifle in large numbers because of the need to maneuver the weapon inside confined spaces (HMMWV interiors, for instance). However, Ground Precautionary Messages state that this is "not authorized and can result in injury or equipment damage." |
| Other Accessories, Non Major End Items | |
| NSN | Description |
| Various | SureFire Tactical Flashlight |
| 4020-01-493-8337 | Tactical Sling (not the RFI version), made by Blackhawk! and distributed through the Army supply system. Carries weapon across chest, muzzle oriented downward, "at the ready"; (Click Here for more sling NSN's) |
| 1005-01-520-5992 / 1005-99-126-9781 | Heckler & Koch (HK) High-Reliability Steel Magazine |
| 1005-01-541-2477 | Multiple magazine holder; New AAL Item, may be included in RFI in the future |
| 1005-01-541-2476 | Forward rail bracket (also called CQB kit mini-rail); New AAL Item, may be included in RFI in the future |
| 1005-00-921-5004 | Standard 30-round magazine |
| 1005-00-118-6192 | M15A2 Blank Firing Adapter / Attachment (red in color, for M16 rifle only; yellow BFA, M23, NSN 1005-01-361-8308, is for the M4 carbine only) |
| 5340-00-880-7666 | Cap, Protective, Dust. Keeps dust and dirt from entering the muzzle during normal operations, and can be left in place until the weapon is fired, but must be removed periodically to prevent rust build-up. |
| 3rd Party Accessories -- COTS (Commercial, Off-the-Shelf) | |
| Company | Description |
| ARMS, Inc. | ARMS #2 Rail adapters for M16A1/A2, which attach to the (non-removable) carrying handle and allow the attachment of optical aiming devices |
Related End Items ("Also See...")
| NSN | Description |
| 1005-01-231-0973 | M4, Rifle, 5.56mm |
| 1005-01-382-0953 | M4A1, Rifle, 5.56mm (Rare, full-automatic version of M4) |
| 1005-01-128-9936 | M16A2, Rifle, 5.56mm (Most widely-used M16 variant) |
| 1005-01-367-5112 | M16A3, Rifle, 5.56mm (Rare, full-automatic version of M16A2) |
| 1005-01-383-2872 | M16A4, Rifle, 5.56mm (Similar to M16A2, but with detachable carrying handle and modular rail system) |
| 1005-00-903-0751 | M134 Minigun ("Gatling Gun"), 7.62mm |
| 1005-00-589-1271 | M14, Rifle, 7.62mm |
| TBP | Rifle, 5.56mm, HK416 |
| 1005-01-469-2133 | Rifle, .50 Caliber, Sniper: XM107 (Barrett Family) |
| 1005-01-534-2841 | XM110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System (SASS) |
| 1005-01-240-2136 | M24, Sniper Rifle, 7.62mm |
| 1005-01-081-4582 | M231, Submachine Gun, 5.56mm (Firing Port Weapon for Bradley) |
| 1005-01-127-7510 | M249, Machine Gun, 5.56mm, Belt and Magazine-Fed (Squad Automatic Weapon) |
| 1005-01-118-2640 | M9, Pistol, 9mm, Automatic, Beretta (Model 92F) |
| 1005-00-017-9701 | M7, Bayonet, Multi-Purpose (Older Model) |
| 1005-01-227-1739 | M9, Bayonet, Multi-Purpose (New Model, with saw blade and integral wire cutter) |