Colt M4 vs M16

[ryanerb]

Why does everyone seem to get the M4? Because it's shorter?

Do you think you would get better accuracy from the longer 20" barrel of the m16 vs the 16 barrel on the m4?

I see all this talk and reviews on the M4 but nothing on the M16.  Same receiver and action right?

Ryan

[imschur]

No accuracy shouldnt really be any different.  Just a few fps difference in velocity. I suspect the M4 is most popular because that is also the most popular configuration of the AR-15. Small, light and fast.

it's just personal preference.

[J.Boyette]

The M4 was only for the coolest of the cool in the U.S. Army until 1997. In Mat of 1997 RTO's, PL's and PLT SGT's got M4's in the 82nd Airborne Div. By the time we deployed to Egypt in 1998 the whole Batt had them. And its been issued out one Batt at a time since.

The accuracy issues is not from the barrel length is from the sight radius. On a M4 the gas block is at 9" past the upper receiver compared to the M16 at 14" Thats a heck of a diff in the ability to deploy iron sights.

BUT if you run a Dissipator upper, you get the same level of accuracy on a short barreled upper like the M16.

So thats that. 

[ryanerb]

The M4 was only for the coolest of the cool in the U.S. Army until 1997. In Mat of 1997 RTO's, PL's and PLT SGT's got M4's in the 82nd Airborne Div. By the time we deployed to Egypt in 1998 the whole Batt had them. And its been issued out one Batt at a time since.

The accuracy issues is not from the barrel length is from the sight radius. On a M4 the gas block is at 9" past the upper receiver compared to the M16 at 14" Thats a heck of a diff in the ability to deploy iron sights.

BUT if you run a Dissipator upper, you get the same level of accuracy on a short barreled upper like the M16.

So thats that.

Great info there.  I was referring to the 22LR versions of the Colt :)  But still very informative!

[rodent.22]

Yeah the M4 Colt/Umarex is bought mainly for the cool factor, plus the rails will take every accessory known to man. A scope is easily mounted, and the stock options are endless. :thumb:

[Kilibreaux]

I think the M4 is simply a "cool looking" profile versus the standard M16.  The thick barrel with slot for mounting a grenade launcher has an appeal, plus the shorter barrel.  Of course the real M4 barrel is 1.5" shorter than commerical issue, but the "look" it there, and it appeals.

[Kilibreaux]

Personally, I would enjoy having a .22LR chamber in an 11.5" barrel configuration, but of course that is not allowed to we mere mortals.

The 11.5" barrel "M16A3" with sights is seriously the hot ticket, and to have one in .22LR would be super fine!