[j. earl carter]

Same reason we Marines had to deal with the 3 shot burst on the M16A2. Army didn't want to teach trigger control

The M16A2 was created specifically for the USMC. The army did not switch and kept their M16A1's (at least, this was the case back in my era. I spent time in both the Army and Marine Corps from '86 to '92)

The big difference between them was that the A2 has a dial to adjust the range on the rear sight. The Army goes with the philosophy of using fixed sights and Kentucky windage for range adjustment.

I don't know who came up with the 3-shot burst idea, but I do know it wasn't done for the Army.

BTW, AFAIK "trigger control" in the USMC refers to applying slow even pressure to the trigger in a manner such that you are surprised when the rifle fires. This is done to prevent reflexive flinching. If one practices good trigger control on an automatic weapon, there is no telling how many rounds will go down range before you let off the trigger. I suspect that this is the reason the M16A2 offered only semi-automatic and 3-round burst modes.

[real saxophonist]

Okay, we were in about the same time. That's just what I was told in '89.

Thanks. Anyway, they should just take the Glock and be done with it.

[fireforeffect]

The three round burst was added to the M16A2 by the army to increase hit potential. The theory being that three round fired at a high cyclic rate would stand a better chance of hitting than just one. Combat experience in WOT has shown that is not so.

FYI: The Germans came up with the three round burst idea. They had it on their caseless experimental rifle.

The M16A4 Rifle was created for and by the USMC, not the A2. The Army just took forever to field the A2’s to every one.