This was a 1st, non colt M16 issued to me.

[ADK2ndClub]

So last week we had a 4 day drill in the feild. First time I was issued an M16 and not an M4 since basic. and to my surprise it was made by FN and not colt.

[GUNSICK]

M16A4 with Safe/Semi/Burst right?

[usmcveteran]

I remember something I thought about colt losing the contract or it opening up to other companies as well.

[ADK2ndClub]

M16a2, had burst, but the old school carrying handle

[ADK2ndClub]

I remember something I thought about colt losing the contract or it opening up to other companies as well.

e

That was recently with The M4A1 going to Remington, this was an old M16, I did some research FN was contracted in 88 to 92 or 94 to make M16 for support units cheaper than colt. After Colts contract was renewed with the Army they sold the M4 patent to the US Army and had a clause added that if they lost the contract again it had to be to an American company. The DOD had a contest in 2010 to find a replacement rifle, the HK 416 won out but because of that clause the US Army copied the improvements and designated it M4A1 and contracted Colt, Remington and a few other US manufactureers to co-produce the rilfes. They origionally were going to go with a Piston driven upper copy of the 416 but then some higher up squashed the piston as they felt the average grunt wasnt skilled enough to field strip it, so the piston version is only for USSCOM. Marine units were not restricted with such contracts and officaly adopted the HK as the M27.

[ADK2ndClub]

Pics of my Old school FN M16A2:

[harleyhutch]

Back when I was on Active Duty we turned in all our Colts and were issued FN's as replacements. I was a Motor Sergeant back then and oversaw the arms room. I was also good friends with the NCOIC of the ASP (Ammo Supply Point). Long story short I ended up with a couple thousand rounds for the senior NCO's to burn up on the range, as it is easier to account for expended brass than to put loose live ammo back in to the system. I personally ran 500 rounds through one too see how they would hold up as we didn't want to give up what we knew were reliable weapons. We were in the desert in AZ, left it laying in the sun, temps in the mid 90's, zero'd it, shot it non stop for 500 rounds, had to put it down, smoking and burning my hand through a glove, 15 minutes later back to the zero target and was still zero'd. Every bit as good a weapon as the colts. 9 out of 10 FTF were mag related, we later replaced all the ejector springs with ones with a little rubber/silicone bumper inside the spring that was supposed to make ejection more reliable.
Retired after 26 years and miss the free ammo, damn it.