What is the difference between m16a3 and m16a4

It is still quite a reliable weapon, especially when well maintained. It is also comfortable to fire and has good accuracy.

It must be noted that during operations in Afghanistan and Iraq in and , respectively, there were several controversial complaints about the effectiveness and reliability of the M16A2 and M4 rifles. It seems that most complaints about the reliability of the M16A2 rifles were at their root caused by inadequate troop training and the resulting improper handling of the rifles. The M4 carbines are a somewhat different story, since the problems can be partially traced to the shortened gas system.

As it is shortened, it operates at higher pressures, thus more violently in terms of deteriation. The M4 also overheated rapidly. Another general complaint was about the poor effectiveness of the standard M ammunition, which lacked stopping power especially when fired from the shorter M4 carbine barrels.

That experience also clearly showed the excessive length of the M16A2 rifles, which are too clumsy for motorised troops, riding in cars, armored carriers and helicopters. At the present time, many M16A2 rifles are being replaced in the hands of US troops with more compact and maneuverable M4A1 carbines.

One of the key advantages of the Stoner design, that must be especially stressed, is its extreme flexibility of construction.

Special, manually operated single-shot uppers are commercially available in the extremely powerful. This advantage is viable for both military especially Special Ops , Law Enforcement, and civilian applications, as it allows the tailoring of any particular AR type rifle to the current situation and tactical needs. The original AR rifle and every rifle from the M16 family is a gas operated, selective fire, magazine fed weapon.

Generally civilian AR type rifles are semi-automatic only. Instead, the hot powder gases are fed directly from the barrel and down a stainless steel tube into the receiver. The hot gases, through the gas key, enter the hollow cavity inside the bolt carrier, and expand there. There they act against the bolt carrier and the collar around the bolt body.

The pressure of the gases causes the bolt carrier to move back against the initially stationary bolt. The linear rearward movement of the carrier is initially transferred into the rotation of the bolt, via the cam slot in the bolt carrier and the cam pin, attached to the bolt, that follows the slot.

As soon as the bolt is rotated to unlock from the barrel, the bolt group continues its rearward travel under the inertia and the residual pressure in the barrel, extracting the spent case and compressing the buffer return spring, located in the buttstock.

The forward movement of the bolt group first strips a fresh cartridge from the magazine and, in the final stage of the movement, rotates the bolt to lock into the barrel extension. The bolt has 7 radial locking lugs and an eighth lug is located on the extractor claw.

Since the introduction of the XM16E1 rifle, the forward assist device is used on all military and most civilian AR type rifles. This device consists of a spring-loaded button with internal claw, that engages the serrations on the right side of the bolt carrier to push it forward. This is in the case that the pressure of the return spring is insufficient to do so for example, due to fouling inside the receiver or chamber.

The rifle will not fire unless the bolt is locked and the bolt carrier is in its forwardmost position. Another feature of the AR type rifles is the bolt catch device, that locks the bolt group in the open position when the last round is fired. To release the bolt group one must push the button, located at the left side of the receiver, above the magazine. Browning developed his famous Auto-5 semiautomatic shotgun. This essentially consists of a hammer, a trigger, a disconnector, a full auto sear and some springs.

In the latter cases, the trigger unit also includes a ratchet device to count the shots fired. The ejection port is located at the right side of the receiver, and is closed by the spring-loaded dust cover, which automatically pops open when the bolt carrier is pulled back.

The M16A2 also features a spent case deflector — a triangular bulb on the receiver, just behind the ejection port, that allows the gun to be safely fired left-handed.

The M16 is fed using box magazines. The earliest magazines were made from aluminum and held 20 rounds. Circa the new, 30 round magazines were introduced into service and these magazines are still in service today. Most receivers are made from machined aluminum, but some commercially available receivers are made from aluminum castings with final drilling and machining.

The upper and lower receivers are linked by two cross-pins — one at the front pivot pin , and one at the rear, above the pistol grip takedown pin.

To field strip the AR, one must push the rear pin to the right as far as it will go, and then hinge the upper receiver around the front pin. This will allow the bolt group and the carrying handle to be removed from the upper receiver. For further disassembly, the front pin also must be pushed out, and the upper and lower receiver can be separated. The key benefit of this design is its great flexibility — if all components available are made to the same specifications as in most cases they are , one can easily swap various upper receivers on to a lower receiver and vice versa.

On the early AR and M16A1 rifles, the handguards were of triangular cross-section, and were made from two non-interchangeable parts. The buttstock on the M16A2 is similar in design to the one of M16A1, but slightly longer. One disadvantage of the Stoner system is that it cannot be adapted for a conventional folding buttstock. Instead, if required, a telescoped stock is used, that allows the rifle to be shortened when required by about half of the length of the standard stock.

A3 and A4 have railed upper, unlike A2 So what am I missing. A3 is a full auto A2 instead of burst. A4 is the flat top.

Quoted: A3 is a full auto A2 instead of burst. Quoted: Quoted: A3 is a full auto A2 instead of burst. Nope lots of companies market flat-top recievers incorectly as A3, but the US Navy A3 predates the flat top receiver. Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: A3 is a full auto A2 instead of burst. Most M16A3's are just M16A2's that are full auto.

Navy Contract. The Seabee's often have these. Later M16A3's had flattops just like the M16A4. When commercial manufactures started offering flat tops, they often called it A3 uppers.

Later, some manufactures use the term A3 and A4 to refer to flat tops with out, and with M4 feed ramps. A3: Rifle feed ramps. A4: M4 ramps. This misunderstanding likely stems from the use of the "A3" designation by Colt and other manufacturers to describe commercial AR type rifles before the official adoption of the M16A3 or M16A4. Colt used the "A3" designation in the hopes of winning military contracts as they also did with the terms, "M4" and "M5".

Marine Corps and some U. This model retains the 3-round burst mode of the M16A2. I think Colt did designate a flat top rifle as an A3s prior to the "official" military designation of the M16A3. See above. Quoted: [ I have personally seen a M16A3 rolled marked rifle with an A4 upper standard hand guards. But for all I know, could have been an armory upgrade or some sailors playing switch-a-roo.

Quoted: Quoted: [ I have personally seen a M16A3 rolled marked rifle with an A4 upper standard hand guards. Here is the Sabre contract. Net worth too high or something. Here is my Bushmaster A4 upper that was offered during the "tax time" sale of When Bushmaster lost the contract they dumped the uppers cheap. Keep me logged in on this device Forgot your username or password? Don't have an account? Sign up for free! What do you need help on?

Cancel X. Topic Archived Page 1 of 2 Last. Sign Up for free or Log In if you already have an account to be able to post messages, change how messages are displayed, and view media in posts. User Info: Chobitts Only difference is the firing mode.

Kills for each are shared between them. User Info: ITcore. A4 has a burst mode. There's no place like User Info: ninjaman The attachments are also shared between them. The same goes for the M4 and M4A1. The best reason they probablydid this was to bring in realism the M16A3 in real life can only be fired fully automatic or single shot, while the M16A4 is three round burst and single shot.

The U. S Marines in real life use the M16A4 as the standard-issue rifle. The reason they didn't have it as the faction specific weapon that the A3 does is to keep them balanced with the Russian's faction specific rifle; the AKM, which is fully automatic and single shot. If they put the A4 as the faction gun, then it would not be balanced for both teams because one is only burst and the other is fully auto.

Thus, they put in th A3, even though its barely used in real life.