Is the M16A3 issued in any significant numbers?:
When I was in I was told the Navy had the M16A3s and used them to guard the nuke bases. But you know how reliable common knowledge in the military is…
The only place I have seen them were with Navy units other than a few buried in various armories.
The only ones I’ve seen were Navy. I had them in my armory for a little while, then I shipped them to Crane for the Navy.
That’s good news for FN.
.
Is the M16A3 an M16A2 with full auto?
I wonder why FN got this. Are Colt’s UAW labor rates too high? QC probelms?
As I recall, FN has the contract for all M16’s and variants, while Colt produces the M4’s. Maybe someone else can elaborate why, but I think that’s the jist of it.
I’m not sure how it’s written but it seems that Colt builds all the M4’s and we do the different 16’s.
.
I had no idea you were with FN. Good info.
M16 = SAFE-SEMI-AUTO
M16-A1 = SAFE-SEMI-AUTO
M16A2 = SAFE-SEMI-BURST (carry handle upper)
M16A3 = SAFE-SEMI-AUTO (carry handle upper)
M16A4 = SAFE-SEMI-BURST (flat top upper)
M4 = SAFE-SEMI-BURST (early ones were A2 uppers, now flat tops)
M4A1 = SAFE-SEMI-AUTO (flat top uppers)
FN has been building all the M-16 variants starting with the M-16A2s. Colt was responsible for the M-4 and M-4A1s.
Hasn’t the USMC been issuing M-16A4s for quite some time now? Have they ever issues M-16A3s?
Can anyone verify this?
Standard issue USMC is a 20" M16A4 (flat top rifle with burst).
Yep, but for what what it’s worth I’m just a weapons assembler (M240) and sometimes CNC operator. It is a great place work and I get to see lots of cool stuff…
.
Do Colt and FN manufacture their own barrels, lowers, uppers, etc. or do they subcontract?
Colt makes almost everything in house.
I know FN has one of the few barrel hammer forging machines in the US.
Barrels and lowers yes.
The barrel line pushes out products for the FN military weapons, FNH USA, FN pistols as well as other’s like Winchester.
As for stuff being “subcontracted” I’m not in a postion to post that.
.
I’ve seen brand spanking new flat top FN M16A3s issued to a National Guard Field Artillery Unit in 2003, until I held in one my hand I thought they were a myth. I forget which state the unit was from but that state was supposed to be buying brand spanking new rifles for every swinging dick being deployed.
Are you sure they were A3’s? Selector should be marked “Auto”, not “Burst”, and there should not be a burts cam on the right side of the hammer or have the burst disconnector to the right of the disconnector.
I don’t mean to insult your knowledge, but sometimes someone who is a position of authority bt not necessarily speaking from a solid knowledge base will say something, and whether it is right or wrong it will be taken as gospel.
FWIW- I have seen M16A3s with A2 carry handles as well as flat-tops. All of them had A2 handguards, though changing to something else is pretty simple. All were marked “FN” and “M16A3” on the left side (as normally marked) of the mag well.