Difference between an M-16 and AR-15
Can someone please explain what is the difference (if any) between a M-16 rifle and an AR-15 rifle? Are they two distinct guns with noticeable differences between them, or are they basically just the same gun with two different names?
"Gun control is not about guns; it's about control." "If guns cause crime, then matches cause arson."
"Gun control is not about guns; it's about control." "If guns cause crime, then matches cause arson."
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Cosmeticaly they are the same.
The AR-15 is the semi-automatic civilian model
The M-16 is the full-automatic military model
As you can see the biggest difference is the Fire control group IE the selecter.
As I'm not a owner (or fan) of them, perhaps someone else can point out other differences.
Some guys like a mag full of lead, I still prefer one round to the head.0 -
tailgunner is almost correct. the ar 15 is semi automatic only. by law. the m-16 a1 was fully semi auto OR full auto, just by rotating the selector switch one more position. the modern M-16A2 and A3 are NOT full auto. there is a 3 round burst instead of full auto.
SGT USMC
The greatest happiness is to see your enemy scattered before you, to see his village in ashes, and to gather to your bed his wives and daughters.-Genghis Khan 12260 -
About $8000.00-give or take. 0 -
When I see a nit, sometimes I just cannot resist picking it.
The original ArmaLite AR-15 was a select-fire "full-auto" rifle. When the rights were licensed to Colt, and a government contract was received, "M-16" was the military designation given to the resulting select-fire "full-auto" rifle. In 1964, Colt began to offer a semi-automatic-only version of the M-16 rifle named the "AR-15."
I strongly disagree that the M-16A2 and its variations are not "full-auto." They are. Whether they fire a three-shot burst, or a continuious burst, the are still considered "full-auto." Any firearm that fires more than one shot with one pull of the trigger is considered a "machine gun" under the National Firearms Act. In popular usage, "full auto" also means more than one shot with one pull of the trigger.0 -
There are select-fire AR-15 rifles which were OEM from Armalite as well as made under license by Colt (Colt Model 601) and marked Armalite. When the Armalite name was removed, the select-fire AR-15 became Colt Model 602. When the US Military adopted the select-fire AR-15 in 1967 it was given the designation M16 (US Air Force) and M16A1 (with forward assist for bolt closure). This number was simply the next in the line of US Rifles: M1...M14, M15, and then came the M16. As Judge Colt mentions, when Colt purchased the rights to the Stoner design from Armalite, they registered the AR-15 as a trademark and used it for their new semi-automatic sporting rifle. Colt still owns the name AR-15 and although no longer for sale to the public since 1989, no other makers rifle (Bushmaster, Olympic Arms, Rock River, ect.) can be legally called an AR-15. All AR-15 rifles are either original Armalite's or they are Colt's- anything else is simply an AR type rifle.
Although it is illegal to have any select-fire components in a semi-automatic AR-15 or AR type rifle, the real difference between a semi and a select-fire weapon is the presence of the "auto sear". If you look at the receiver of an OEM select-fire AR-15/M16 you will notice a small pin above the top (usually the "semi") selector marking. This tiny pin retains the auto sear and allows for full automatic fire. The mere presence of this hole in an AR reciever makes the receiver a machinegun whether or not it has any internal parts installed- even if all parts are of the semi-automatic type. Although I never spent a day in the military, I've owned, handled, and fired plenty of AR-15/M16's and feel I know this weapons system pretty well.
Mark T. Christian0
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