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The M4 is smaller and lighter. it features:

  • 6 position adjustable stock
  • a shorter barrel
  • lower reliability than the M16

The M16 comes in four variants. All variants include:

  • a longer barrel, hence higher accuracy and range
  • A fixed stock
  • higher reliability because the longer barrel allows more reliable gas cycling

M16A1 - 20" barrel, fixed butt stock, select fire in Semi and Full auto, triangular handgaurds and rear sight fixed carry handle with windage adjustments.

M16A2 - 20" barrel, fixed butt stock, select fire in semi-auto and 3 round burst, circular hand guards and rear sight with fixed carry handle windage and elevation adjustments.

M16A3 - Same as M16A2 but Full-Automatic fire mode.

M4 - 14.5" barrel, adjustable stock, flat top / detatchable carry handle, semi - 3 round burst.

M16A4 - Same as M16A2, but has flat top / detatchable carry handle and 4 rail handgaurds.

The M4 is more suits to close quarters combat, it also has automatic fire capabilities, unlike the M16A2 which is the M16 primarily issued in the military.

The M16 has a reputation as being unreliable due to it's poor performance in the Vietnam War, this is so because Colt (the then manufacturer) claimed it to be self cleaning, and thus cleaning kits were not issued. Most jamming issues today besides poor maintenance is poor quality ammunition issued by the military.

They did not think that they were "self cleaning" but nothing ever came up to be a problem while testing and did not think to much towards into being used in the Vietnam environment and because of the constant positive testings they assumed soldiers wood not need to carry an extra load while fighting.

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Q: What is the difference between an M16 and M4?
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Related questions

What is the difference between a M4 and M16?

M4 is the carbine- shorter barrel


What is better the M16 or the M4 carbine airsoft gun?

The M4 CARBINE IS BETTER THAN THE M16.


What is the difference between ar15 m4 m16?

AR 15 - semi-automatic only M16 - depending on variant capable of full auto or burst fire. Will also fire semi-auto.


What is the similarities between the m4 and 16 and give descriptions of each?

The M4 is the carbine version of the M16 (carbine means short barreled rifle). Search Wikipedia for M16 for more reading.


What is the difference between an m16 and an m4a1?

Not really too much to tell. The M16 has a longer barrel, and the projectiles will leave the barrel with greater velocity for it. The M4 has the collapsible buttstock and 14.5 inch barrel, so it would be the easier of the two to utilise in urban terrain and such. The M16's longer gas system is the more reliable of the two, and the muzzle flash and noise of the M16 is reduced. The operating mechanism is the exact same, except that the M4 and M16 won't use the same return spring or buffer.


Which has a greater range m4 or m16?

The M16 assault rifle has a greater range than the M4 carbine as a result of its 20-inch barrel, compared with 14.5 for the M4. The M16 can hit an area target out to 800 meters while the M4 is effective to 600 meters.


Can an airsoft m4 look like an m16?

An M4 is a short barreled version of the M16, so yes, they can look quite similar.


What was made first the m4 carbine or the m16?

The M16. The M16 entered production in 1960. The M4 entered production in 1984, and was an improvement over the earlier XM-177 carbines.


Is the m16 still in use?

Yes, along with the carbine version of the M16, the M4.


Did they replase the m16 with the m4?

Not entirely. The Marines retained the M16, and most Army mech units opted for the M16A4 rather than the M4.


What are the differences between the M4 and M16?

The M4 is basically a carbine version of the M16A2 rifle, and was developed both to reflect the development of the M16A2 over the previous M16A1, and to correct deficiencies which had been identified with the XM-177 (which was the carbine variant of the M16A1).General differences between the M4 and M16 include:M4 has a four position collapsible buttstock (vs. the fixed buttstock of the M16)The weight of the buffer is different in the M4 than the M16The M4 has shorter handguardsThe M4 has a shorter gas systemThe M4 has extended feed ramps cut into the upper receiver for ease of chambering rounds.The M4 has a 14.5 inch barrel, vs. the 20 inch barrel of the M16The M4 has an "F" marked front sight base, which is designed to compensate for the difference in sight radius between the M4 and M16The M4 has an indentation in the barrel profile to facilitate the mounting of an M203 grenade launcher.Some people often cite the removable carry handle of the M4 as one difference, but the first production run of M4 carbines had the same fixed carry handle as the M16A2 (I was actually issued one when I was in the FL National Guard).


Is the m16 a real gun?

The M16 and the M4 are the US designations for the AR-15 pattern of rifles.