Which is better m16a3 or m16a4

Marksmanship scores in my experience were no different between the M16A2 and the M4. I don't ever recall carrying my M4 at the hip. That right there destroys his credibility to authoritatively discuss the M4 IMO. Dirty Little Links: News Links. Rules of Use. How to Behave on an Internet Forum. Infantry Discussion Board. Return to Topic Page. Subject: M16a3 or M16a4??? One wonders why go with an M16a4 when you can have an M16a3.

Is the reason why the USMC selected the M16a4 instead of the M16a3 because they have big attachment to burst fire rather than full auto or is there something else? The A4 has a picatinny rail for scopes, laser sighting, night vision, etc. Latest News. Most Read. Most Commented. The M16 is a rotating bolt rifle with a gas-operated direct impingement firing action. The M4 is similar, but it does not use impingement for its firing action. In this, it hews more closely to the AK design in order to provide a more reliable firing action in field conditions.

The M16 magazine is lightweight compared to that of other assault rifles. It is manufactured from stamped or mold-pressed aluminum and is weaker structurally than most other weapons' magazines, leading to more frequent failure. M16s hold 20 or 30 bullets each and can be replaced quickly, though anyone who will use the rifle will need training for some time to master the replacement process.

The M4 magazine is sturdier to reduce in-field failure rates when dealing with sub-optimal conditions and possibly frequent impacts with the ground or structures as soldiers advance or take cover. It holds 30 bullets and is somewhat easier to switch out than the M16's, but it does require some basic training for mastery. The basic M16 weighs between 7 and 9 pounds 3. The basic weight for the M4 is between 6 and 7 pounds 2. Most of the weight lost in the M4 is related to the barrel and stock, not to the metal-based parts that make up the firing mechanisms.

One advantage the M16 has is that the selector switch is easily reached and set without needing to take eyes off of a target. This lets the user switch from semi-automatic to automatic fire and back, but the switch's small size makes it difficult to use under stressful conditions.

Left-handed users of the M16 complain that the design makes it difficult for them to field-strip it for maintenance. The selector switch is larger and easier to set without losing sight of targets, while the breakdown components for maintenance are relatively neutral, although still somewhat more favorable to right-handed users.

The M16, like all weapon systems, started out with a reputation of being less reliable than its predecessor the M Over time, most reliability issues were reduced to low-percentage events; however, the AK has long been regarded as more reliable in field conditions wet, sandy, dirty, etc.

One improvement the M16 provided was a much higher manufacturing standard that now gives the weapon a service life of 20, to 50, rounds or more, compared to other assault rifles that max out at between 8, and 25, rounds. A major factor in M16 maintenance is lubrication, for without consistent cleaning and oiling, the weapon's performance deteriorates noticeably, even in recent variants. On the upside, this is easy to manage in field conditions.

Although the M4 has not had as much extensive field use when compared to the M16 or the AK, it, too, showed some early reliability issues. The gas-piston system failed in several early variants, though the problem was traced to differences in manufacturing rather than intrinsic design flaws.

With new iterations, the M4 quickly gained a reputation for reliability, both on the range and in field situations. Range tests now have the M4 firing at least 1, rounds before jamming, up from , while in field conditions, soldiers report almost no failures, with the ones that are reported often due to improper or overly-delayed maintenance. The Army-issued M4 has undergone over 90 design improvements over the years, which led to the upgraded M4A1 model of the carbine.

The weapon still has its critics, however. As recently as , Army generals and soldiers have complained about jamming and overheating in all M4 models.

Robert Scales , a military analyst and retired Army major general, has cited the M4's gas impingement system as its primary drawback and has argued that the gun cannot be improved without replacing the gas impingement system altogether. In response to complaints, the Army has called for weapons manufacturers to begin producing another round of upgrades to the military-grade carbine.

There are no plans to scrap the gas impingement system. In , the government price of every new U. Their prototypes and others were tested extensively as early as , with several trials taking place up to That year, a single-source order for the Colt M4 was made, essentially closing down the competition.

Although other similar weapons were still being tested around the world, the Pentagon backed Colt in what amounted to an exclusive contract.

The early jamming issues were resolved in manufacturing, and in , the Pentagon permitted other makers to begin manufacturing M4 weapons and accessories. Share this comparison:. If you read this far, you should follow us:.

The M16A3 is an effective Assault Rifle for those looking for a balanced weapon geared more towards close and mid range combat. The high customizability of the weapon allows users more say in how they would like the weapon to handle to meet their purposes.

It is a good substitute for users who do not prefer to use the M16A4; however, its obstructive muzzle flash and high first shot recoil results in some difficulty to engage in long-range situations.

Assault Rifles. Phantom Forces Wiki Explore. Wiki Content. Outdated articles Stub articles Articles under construction Articles needing pictures. Explore Wikis Community Central. Register Don't have an account? View source. History Talk 0. A traditional AR platform assault rifle as used by the US military.

This version features a fully automatic trigger group. Accurate with low recoil and a fast reload. Fan Feed 1 Weaponry 2 Mechanics 3 Ranks. Universal Conquest Wiki. Current Pre Suppressed Stats. R2 Suppressor. ARS Suppressor.