Posted on 12/07/2016 4:54:38 PM PST by PROCON
The classic M16A1 was the iconic rifle of the Vietnam War. It was issued to the vast majority of U.S. soldiers during the conflict, and it’s general success in combat led to its continued service in the U.S. armed forces in varied forms over the years. And of course it wasn’t too long before the M16’s popularity translated to the civilian market as well.
Luckily, earlier this summer at the 2016 NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits in Louisville, Kentucky, Colt teased the release of a reproduction, semi-auto-only M16A1 that faithfully replicates the look and features of the original, Vietnam-era rifle. The new rifle, which Colt has dubbed the M16A1 Reissue, is a virtual match to the classic design, featuring the same unique triangular handguard, 20-inch pencil-profile chrome-lined barrel with a 1:12-inch twist, and recognizable carrying handle.
Although I wasn’t in attendance at the event in Louisville, I did get a chance to get some shooting time with the new Colt M16A1 Reissue at Colt’s recent Media Day event at the historic Gunsite Academy in Paulden, Arizona. It was a great opportunity to learn more about the M16A1 Reissue from the Colt team and to put some rounds through it at the range.
While there are a ton of AR-15 style rifles available today, faithful recreations of the original military-issue M16A1 are a little harder to find. This can be especially disappointing for collectors looking for a semi-auto replica of this classic and historical rifle.
(Excerpt) Read more at gundigest.com ...
I have an M21 clone.If I can see it,I can hit it.
Some door gunners kept M-16s (one had three banana mags made into a single mag with 100 mph tape), others had AKs with the buttstock sawed off.
Went into an LZ & the DG’s bbl assembly flew off into the grass; barrel latch open. No problem, grabbed his AK pistol & continued to lay down fire.
*I want one! O the memories!!!!
Have one for each chambering, you never know which caliber may be had for the taking.
Sorry, it’s the old eyes ... I doubt I could see a man sized target at 600 yards ... that’s why I built an AR 10.5 Pistol in 5.56. Should have built it in 5.45 x 39 but couldn’t find a barrel for that.
I’ve got 3 .308 rifles and 3 .223 rifles.I prefer a .308 over any other chambering.
People who know more than me seem to prefer the 6mm Remington or .243 Winchester for longer ranges. Still I love the 120 year old 6.5X55. In modern strong rifles with the common 1:8 twist, the old timer should be hard to beat. That is with hot loads.
In the old Swedish Mausers it is a pussycat.
I think all of them beat the 5.56 or 7.62 for must uses.
With a 1:12 barrel twist you’re pretty much stuck with shooting the lighter bullets.
There’s the “Happy Switch”.
Didn’t say they did - however, the word Mattel has been seen and documented inside A0 stocks and pistol grips by quite a few troops. Best explanation I’ve seen is that someone thought it would be a funny “easter egg”.
Then I found myself with the parts to build a mousegun and said, why not? Ammo is sure a lot cheaper than 7.62/.308.
Half day training ,Lackland Air Base,
January 1972,couldn’t hit crap.
I’ll stick with my FAL for .308s - the G3’s a lot more violent when you fire it and to me has a weird balance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYtx9g7BmOE
I have a 1900 dated Swedish mauser,most accurate milsurp rifle I’ve ever shot.
The M193 bullet always tumbles,makes a nasty wound.
If you want to do that, go buy a standard lower receiver and go get an actual *original* A1 that was sent out under FMS and has been returned to the US as a parts kit. You’ll spend less than half the price and get an original.
An American Classic, for sure... like the M1 Garand and the Thompson.
Too bad the M16 had so many teething problems. Sure has come a long way though, to it’s M4 incarnation...
At one time I owned maybe a dozen of them. When I lived in Kansas, my neighbor was a dealer part time. He ordered six of them for me at one time. He was so impressed that he ordered a bunch for himself.
One of mine was actually made by Mauser. Most at the Carl Gustaf’s City Rifle Factory. A couple by Husquarna how ever you spell it. I now only have one, a Carl Gustafs made in the early 1900s.
They are beautifully made and as you said, always super accurate.
Got a friend here in town, a Vietnam vet who later shot for the Army team, M1A, iron sights of course, targets at 600 yards.
Windage was the key, he says.
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