AR15 and M16

Arena SG

Can I ask a silly question?
What is the difference between AR15 and M16?
Both seems the same to me...

Meia Gisborn SG

The M16, M16A1 and M16A2 are military assault rifles with full automatic or burst-fire capability.

The civilian version is the AR15 which lacks the full auto or burst feature. It is capable of only semi-auto fire (i.e., one round discharged per trigger pull).

Externally, both versions are identical (except for an additional position on the selector switch of the M16 that is labeled BURST or AUTO); internally, the mechanisms are somewhat different. This page describes and illustrates some of the major differences in the internals of the AR15 and M16.

Raptor937 SG

AR15 (ARmalite 15) is the original name for the M16 before the US Military adopted it and designated it the M16.

The ArmaLite Division of Fairchild developed the AR-15 in 1959. Fairchild licensed the rifle to the Colt's Patent Firearm Manufacturing Corporation, and Colt's assumed the AR-15 trademark. Early Colt rifles were marked "Colt ArmaLite 15."

LazerLordz SG

M16 has a forward assist handle.

moca SG

The first M16 issued to troops did not have forward bolt assist.

Only the later versions designated M16A1 had forward bolt assist.

wonderamazement SG

http://www.quarterbore.com/nfa/registeredreceiver.htm
Check here.... Mr. Green

tankee1981 SG

And i always thought that the AR-15 and the early M-16 are structurely the same! Just that they are being called differently. Now i know better. Very Happy

moca SG

I think there is a difference of opinions here as the guy in the link was talking about the difference between a weapon designated as AR-15 or M-16 in the USA civilian gun ownership market of today.

In this case, the AR-15 is semi-auto for the civilian market.

But....

Some others here on this forum was referring to the difference between the AR-15 and M-16 in the 60's when the US first adopted the weapon.

The following quotation is from http://world.guns.ru/assault/as18-e.htm

"The US AF M16 was no more than an AR-15 rifle with appropriate markings."

spartan6 SG

AR-15 has no forward-assist

beavan SG

i remember some forumite has already said that the older versions of the m16 also doesn’t have the forward assist.

gary1910 SG

The original AR-15 come with semi as well as full auto but the difference between the later M-16 is that dun have a bolt assist.

Meia Gisborn SG

The vast majority the AR15 rifles currently sold in the US do have forward assists. Here's mine, which was built with parts from various vendors:

You can see the forward assist just below the charging handle.

Several vendors here do offer AR15 upper receivers without the forward assist.
Here's one from DPMS for ARs chambered in .308 rather than .223/5.56.

wonderamazement SG

Hope my above link has helped Mr. Green

SpecOps87 SG

If u wanna noe sumthing else…the local M16S1’s buffer spring assembly cannot be removed frm the lower receiver unlike tt of the AR15 or M16A1s…

Meia Gisborn SG

Yes, it has. Thank you for the link, sir! Very Happy

wonderamazement SG

Laughing No problem....just that i'm a lowly recruit!! Kiddin'

moca SG

Don't really understand this statement... Please elaborate.

LazerLordz SG

That's in the butt isn't it? Can be removed. But not by mere hands.

Shotgun SG

Issit? I pried the whole buffer spring out b4 leh… it was dam dirty lar, so took it out, wiped it, re-oiled it. lol! Its the thing that looks a bit like a dildo with spring around it rite?

SpecOps87 SG

Tried before...can't move it. On AR15 its supposed to be able to be screwed in or out.