[rstrahan]

The M16 in 7.62 was still being used in Iraq and Afgahanistan because it has a lot more stopping power than the M4. Explain how the M16 is outdated and useless when our troops are being hammered by the Ak-47 and Ak-74.

[re_tail20]

It wasn’t the M-16 in 7.62, which has never existed, unless you count the AR-10. It’s the M-14 you mean. This is a small and long overdue step forwards. Now if both the Army and Marines can adopt an M-4 type carbine with a bigger caliber, or modular multiple calibers, and also a piston operating system, they’d be back in real business once again.

[Bringbackthedraft]

Ak-47 and Ak-74. ???? Updated STG 44s.

[ctdonath2]

Explain how the M16 is outdated and useless when replaced by the same thing with minor tweaks. Biggest change is adjustable stock and shorter barrel.

[jonascord]

If they issue the M-4 to all the military, and issue the M-16A4 to Obama's private army, suddenly, who is better armed, with longer range?

If it was anyone else, 8 years ago, I would consider this tinfoil hat logic. But now that he's got his crotch slurping pets in the JCS, a Muslim as head of the CIA, and a drooling idiot as SecState, anything is possible.

[Herzo61]

The Ak-74 (a replacement for the AK-47) fires a round similar to the M-16/M-4 - the 5.45 X 39. The Russians have also gone to lighter ammunition (more rounds per pound).

[RJS1950]

The M-14 was the VN era weapon that used 7.62.

[Vermont Lt]

I thought the M16 in 7.62 was an M-10, or something like that. I know the civilian version is an AR10.

[Jack Black]

The M16 in 7.62 was still being used in Iraq and Afgahanistan because it has a lot more stopping power than the M4. Explain how the M16 is outdated and useless when our troops are being hammered by the Ak-47 and Ak-74.

I agree this isn't a great article. First the M4 *is* the M-16, with a few useful modifications like collapsing stock and shorter barrel. It's basically a carbine version of the M-16 rifle. Parts are interchangeable between them.

As far as the "M-16 in 7.62" that was the original caliber that the first rifles in the M-16 Series were chambered in. They are known as the AR-10 (generically). Armalite was the builder of the AR-10 originally, Knights Armament has been the military supplier for many years, and probably still is.

For a long time the AR-10 was impossible to get. Armalite went out of business in the 1970s, and Colt which bought the M-16 (AR-15) rights didn't buy the AR-10 rights.

Eventually Armalite was bought by someone, and the company started building AR-10s again. Although they were not identical to the earlier ones.

THe Original Armalite AR-10s were used by a couple of Army's: Portugal adopted them, and so they were used in Africa in Mozambique and other Portugese colonies.

These original Armalite AR-10s are easy to distinguish from later models. Brown hardware and the charging lever is inside the carry handle. Armalite did make a pretty good copy of this gun, including both those features for a few years in the early 2000s.

A more recent version of the AR-10 built by Knights. The rifle is called the SR-25 (for Stoner Rifle).

[jpsb]

I think you mean the M14 in 7.62 was still being used in Iraq and Afghanistan. I like the M14 very nice weapon. Up close the M4 is probably a better choice but why let the enemy get up close?