Float Pilot
Member
When the M-16A2 was developed, basically via a multi-service committee, the Marines wanted to improve on the M-16A1 by adding some muzzle weight and a better Peep-Sight for longer ranges. Plus ammunition capable of longer range engagements.
So the twist rate was increased, although a touch more than needed to accommodate the very long tracer round for the M-249 SAW. The Adjustable long range A2 peep sight was developed, although it tends to be a little flimsy in certain conditions. And the last few inches of the barrel were increased in diameter to add muzzle weight so real rifleman could make accurate shots. The rearward thinner section still being able to accept the original M-203 grenade launcher without modification.
Of course then a couple of the other services came along who refused to do intensive weapons training and insisted that the M-16A1 auto-sear assembly be changed to a three shot burst. This ruined the single (semi-auto) trigger pull and made the rifleman modifications a moot point unless your armorer installed an old M-16 trigger system for you.
The shipping crate strap legend arouse from the old original open prong flash hider. Not the thin barrel. It (the open prong flash-hider) could be used to snap banding and it could in theory be used to blast away Constantina Wire. (You crawl up to the wire, snag the wire in the groove of your flash-hider and fire a couple rounds to break the wire with firepower. )
The open prong flash-hider was not GI proof. It would catch every bush and vine you walked past and any idiot could supposedly twang his flash-hider & barrel out of whack by using it as a band-cutter. Thus it was replaced with the GI resistant closed bird-cage flash hider.
So the twist rate was increased, although a touch more than needed to accommodate the very long tracer round for the M-249 SAW. The Adjustable long range A2 peep sight was developed, although it tends to be a little flimsy in certain conditions. And the last few inches of the barrel were increased in diameter to add muzzle weight so real rifleman could make accurate shots. The rearward thinner section still being able to accept the original M-203 grenade launcher without modification.
Of course then a couple of the other services came along who refused to do intensive weapons training and insisted that the M-16A1 auto-sear assembly be changed to a three shot burst. This ruined the single (semi-auto) trigger pull and made the rifleman modifications a moot point unless your armorer installed an old M-16 trigger system for you.
The shipping crate strap legend arouse from the old original open prong flash hider. Not the thin barrel. It (the open prong flash-hider) could be used to snap banding and it could in theory be used to blast away Constantina Wire. (You crawl up to the wire, snag the wire in the groove of your flash-hider and fire a couple rounds to break the wire with firepower. )
The open prong flash-hider was not GI proof. It would catch every bush and vine you walked past and any idiot could supposedly twang his flash-hider & barrel out of whack by using it as a band-cutter. Thus it was replaced with the GI resistant closed bird-cage flash hider.
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