Table of Contents
Why was the M16 so bad in Vietnam?
The ammunition that accompanied the rifles sent to Vietnam was incompatible with the M16 and was the principal cause of the failure to extract malfunctions. The result was the M16 often jammed, making the rifle “about as effective as a muzzleloader,” in the words of one officer.
Why was the M16 so unreliable?
The original M-16 fielded in Vietnam was unreliable because cost cutting measures were used which required stringent maintenance in the field that soldiers either weren’t doing or not doing sufficiently. The rifle is manufactured to very tight tolerances.
Who made the Vietnam era M16?
M16 rifle
| Rifle, Caliber 5.56 mm, M16 | |
|---|---|
| Designer | Eugene Stoner (AR-10) L. James Sullivan (AR-15) |
| Designed | 1959 |
| Manufacturer | Colt’s Manufacturing Company Daewoo Precision Industries FN Herstal Bushmaster H&R Firearms General Motors Hydramatic Division Elisco U.S. Ordnance |
| Produced | 1963–present |
Why did the M16 suck?
The rifle stock had a tendency to crack. Barrel, bolt carrier group, and other steel parts rusted. Brass ammunition casings were too soft, leading to ripped rims during the extraction process. The maintenance problem grew increasingly urgent.
Did Mattel make M16 parts?
Yes, you read that right. Mattel was, in fact, making components for the M16 at the time of the Vietnam War. When their guns started having problems, Mattel took a lot of that flack because the forend grip was branded with their name.
When was M16A1 made?
In 1964, the M16 entered US military service and the following year was deployed for jungle warfare operations during the Vietnam War. In 1969, the M16A1 replaced the M14 rifle to become the US military’s standard service rifle.
Can you legally own an M16?
You can own an M16 as a civilian depending on your state laws, however, since there are only so many of them available (none available for civilians after 1986), the price is high. Prices have doubled in the past 10 years or so, which is currently a lot better return than the stock market.
What is the M16 made out of?
The M16 is a lightweight, 5.56 mm caliber, air-cooled, gas-operated, magazine-fed rifle, with a rotating bolt, actuated by direct impingement gas operation. It is constructed of steel, aluminum and composite plastics. There have been four principal versions of the M16.
What kind of piston action does the M16 have?
M16 internal piston action system. The M16 is a lightweight, 5.56 mm, air-cooled, gas-operated, magazine -fed assault rifle, with a rotating bolt. The M16’s receivers are made of 7075 aluminum alloy, its barrel, bolt, and bolt carrier of steel, and its handguards, pistol grip, and buttstock of plastics.
When was the M16A1 made?
The M16 was first adopted in 1964 by the United States Air Force (USAF) as the M16. Various modified versions of the M16 design were subsequently fielded under experimental designations, culminating in the M16A1.
Would the M14 have been a good weapon to use in Vietnam?
If that were the case, the M14, another 7.62 × 51 mm weapon predating the M16 by about 15 years, would have fit all of these qualifications quite handily. This would have been the ideal weapon to have in Vietnam, especially since the soldiers trained with the M14 stateside in basic training.