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ColtM4

The M4 Carbine. It us the more shorter, compact version of the M16.

The M4A1 Carbine is one of the main weapons utilized by the U.S. Armed Forces in the film. The M4A1 is seen in the hands of members of the 2nd Battalion 5th Marines including Staff Sergeant Michael Nantz and Second Lieutenant William Martinez. USAF Technical Sergeant Elena Santos is also seen with M4's. The Marines' M4A1 carbines are fitted with ACOG scopes, M203 Grenade Launchers, RIS foregrips, Surefire Universal weaponlights, and most interestingly, AN/PEQ-15 laser designators; an improved, compact version of the AN/PEQ-2 system first employed in the early 2000's. In several scenes, bayonets are seen fixed on the M4's (which appear to be OKC-3S bayonets, adopted by the Marines to replace the M9 bayonet). The M4s are also all equipped with what appear to be Magpul Back Up Sights (MBUS) though these are never actually used.

History[]

Following the adoption of the M16 rifle, carbine variants were also adopted for close quarters operations. The CAR-15 family of weapons served through the Vietnam War. However, these rifles had design issues, as "the barrel length was halved" to 10 inches, which "upset the ballistics", reducing its range, accuracy, lethality and leading "to considerable muzzle flash and blast, so that a large flash suppressor had to be fitted". "Nevertheless, as a short-range weapon it is quite adequate and thus, [despte] its caliber, the XM177 'Commando' is classed as a submachine gun." In 1983, the US Government requested Colt make a carbine version of the M16A2. In 1984, Colt began work on a new carbine design called the XM4, as an improved variant of the XM177E2, combining the best features of the older XM177E2, Colt AR-15 Sporter Carbine (The first model), and later the M16A2 rifles.

In 1984, the first model was built, and it was tested in May 1985. The first models had an upper receiver with an A1 sight, and were given a longer 14.5-inch barrel for the bayonet and the M203 Grenade Launcher. The second model was made in May 1986, and it was tested from May 1986 though May 1987; at the time it had an A2 Upper Sight, and it had the M16A2's 1:7 inch rifle twist, to use the heavier 62-grain M855/SS109 rounds. The extended barrel improved the XM4's ballistics, reduced muzzle blast and gave the XM4 the ability to mount a bayonet and the M203 grenade launcher. The XM4 was also given the cartridge deflector, as well as other minor refinements. In May 1991, the XM4 was renamed to the M4, and Colt made a manual.

The M4 was officially accepted into service by the U.S. military in 1994, and first saw action in the hands of U.S. troops deployed to Kosovo in 1999 in support of the NATO-led KFOR peacekeeping force. It would subsequently be used heavily by U.S. forces during the Global War on Terrorism, including Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. In the U.S. Army, the M4 had largely replaced M16A2s as the primary weapon of forward deployed personnel by 2005. The M4 carbine also replaced most submachine guns and selected handguns in U.S. military service, as it fires more effective rifle ammunition that offers superior stopping power and is better able to penetrate modern body armor.

The United States Marine Corps has ordered its officers (up to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel) and staff non-commissioned officers to carry the M4A1 carbine instead of the M9 handgun. This is in keeping with the United States Marine Corps doctrine, "Every Marine a rifleman". The Marine Corps, however, chose the full-sized M16A4 over the M4 as its standard infantry rifle due to it's outstanding range, lethality and precision). United States Navy corpsmen E5 and below are also issued M4s instead of the M9. While ordinary riflemen in the Marine Corps were armed with M16A4s, M4s were fielded by troops in positions where a full-length rifle would be too bulky, including vehicle operators and fireteam and squad leaders. As of 2013, the United States Marine Corps had 80,000 M4 carbines in their inventory.

The benefits of this, however, have come under scrutiny from both the military and civilian firearms community, According to a PDF detailing the M4 Carbine improvement plans released by PEO Soldier, the direct impingement system would be replaced only after reviews were done comparing the direct impingement system to commercial gas piston operating system to find out and use the best available operating system in the U.S. Army's improved M4A1.

In September 2010, the United States Army announced it would buy 12,000 M4A1s from Colt Firearms by the end of 2010, and would order 25,000 more M4A1s by early 2011. The service branch planned to buy 12,000 M4A1 conversion kits in early 2011. In late 2011, the Army bought 65,000 more conversion kits. From there the Army had to decide if it would upgrade all of its M4s.

The M4 product improvement program (PIP) is the effort by the U.S. Army to modernize its inventory of M4 service rifles. Phase I consists of converting and replacing regular M4s with the M4A1 version. This variant of the rifle is fully automatic and has a heavier barrel, and is given ambidextrous fire controls. Phase II of the PIP explored developing a new bolt carrier. 11 designs were submitted. The competition was scheduled to conclude in summer 2013, but ended in April 2012. Over six months of testing revealed that the current bolt carrier assembly outperformed the competing designs, especially in the areas of reliability, durability, and high-temp and low-temp tests. Phase II also includes a competition for a free-floating forward rail assembly. The Army may award contracts to up to three finalists in early 2013, with the selection of a final winner in early 2014. If the Army determines that the winning rail system should be procured, delivery of new rail is anticipated by the summer of 2014.

In March 2015, the Army launched a market survey to see what the small-arms industry could offer to further enhance the M4A1 to an "M4A1+" standard. Several upgrade options include an extended forward rail that will allow for a free-floated barrel for improved accuracy with a low-profile gas block that would do away with the traditional triangular fixed front sight, removable front and rear flip-up back-up iron sights, a coyote tan or "neutral color" rail for reduced visual detection, a more effective flash suppressor/muzzle brake, an improved charging handle, and a new single-stage trigger module. In June 2016, the M4A1+ was canceled after reviewing the offerings and determining that there were no major upgrades currently offered.

Design[]

The M4 Carbine is a scaled down version the M16 which 80% of the parts remain largely the same like the polymer handguard, but it to still have the Carrying handle and the front sight, which is a trademark from both weapons and an adjustable stock. It is heavily used by the United States Army, it was retrofitted with a redesigned adjustable telescopic buttstock, and a Quad-Railed Handguard for mounting attachments. The Carrying Handle is now detachable and can mounted with various optical sights, like an ACOG Scope which largely similar to the M16A4.

The M4 and its variants fire 5.56x45mm NATO (and .223 Remington) ammunition, and are gas-operated, direct impingement, magazine-fed, selective fire carbine with either a multi-position telescoping stock or a fixed A2 or LE tactical stock; The M4A1 is fitted with an RIS handguard, allowing multiple customization options.

The M4 is a shorter and lighter variant of the M16A2 rifle, with 80% parts commonality. The M4 is similar to much earlier compact M16 versions, such as the 1960s-era XM177 family. Some of those visual similarities are obvious in both weapons.

As with many carbines, the M4 is handy and more convenient to carry than a full-length rifle. The price is highly inferior ballistic performance compared to the full-sized M16, with its 5.5" (14 cm) longer barrel. This becomes most apparent at ranges of 300 meters and beyond.

While the M4's maneuverability makes it a candidate for non-infantry troops (vehicle crews, clerks and staff officers), it also makes it ideal for close quarters battle (CQB). The M4, along with the M16A4, have mostly replaced the M16A2 in the Army and Marines. The U.S. Air Force, for example, has transitioned completely to the M4 for Security Forces squadrons, while other armed personnel retain the M16A2. The US Navy uses M4A1s for Special Operations and vehicle crews.

After the introduction of the M4 Carbine, it was found that the shorter barrel length of 14.5 inches also has a negative effect on reliability, as the gas port is located closer to the chamber than the gas port of the standard length M16 rifle: 7.5 inches instead of 13 inches.

Specifications[]

  • Lenght: 839mm (Stock fully extended), 759mm (Unretracted)
  • Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
  • Effective Range: 400-500 Meters
  • Weight: 7.75 Pounds (Fully Loaded)
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