Are 733 Commandos still in service?

AR/M4 AR General Discussion
1

Or has it been totally supplanted by the M4? Settle an argument for me. :stuck_out_tongue:

2

What do you mean by ā€œin serviceā€? A 733 is not a US military weapon.

3

Sorry, I meant to ask if any are in US inventory or being issued in any capacity. I know RO733 isnā€™t a military designation but I donā€™t know what else to call it besides a Commando, or maybe CAR-15? :confused: I suppose what Iā€™m driving at is if there are any shorter AR15 based rifles than the M4 besides the Mk18/CQBR that are being fielded.

4

If you are asking if the M16A2 Commando is in use, generally no. The few that units purchased would probiliy rebuilt as M4s. Iā€™ve seen several lowers in USAJFKSWC arms room marked ā€œM16A2 Carbineā€ US Property with full auto and not burst. These guns were rebuilt as M4A1s. As far as the orginal 10" bbls the few that I do know of down range where 10" uppers put on M4A1 lowers themselves. These were later classified as the Mk18s.

CD

5

The only current official shorty is the MK18 so the answer to your question is no.

The MK18 uses a 10.5" (10.3") barrel. Not a 10" and yes this is an important difference.

6

Having just spent the last 20 years in the USAF I can say there are many types of M-16/AR platforms in service. Not Sure what a 733 is in Mil speak but Iā€™m sure there is one someplace in the inventory.
I saw a Guard unit in A-Stan back in '03 that had A1ā€™sā€¦

Here is a great page with lots of AF weapons pictures:

http://www.retroblackrifle.com/ModGde/CrbGde/USAFGdeCrb.html
http://www.retroblackrifle.com/InTheField/USAirForce.html

1996 - 66th Rescue Squadron, Nellis AFB, NV

Note M4 bbl

7

If you are referring to the ā€œColt Commandoā€, the M-16 carbine with the
5"moderator, the answer is yes. There are still some in service with the USAF in the sandbox. They are called the GAU.

8

I would concur with that. Iā€™ve spent many years ā€œaround the communityā€ at Bragg and elsewhere, and have never seen an XM-177/Commando configured carbine in Army hands; I have, however, seen Air Force types carrying them as recently as just a few years ago.

Chief

9

The ones with the M4 profile style barrel are called GUU-5Pā€™s. Most do not have the forward assistā€¦just a slick :slight_smile: