I went to Marine Recruit training in August 2004 and the M16A2 issued to me was terribly beat up. The barrel was silver, the hand guard's would rattle and nearly fall off when we did drill, no stippling on the pistol grip, and the butt plate was worn down and rounded off. I couldn't believe I was able to hit Man size targets at 500 Meters with it and qualify expert. With all the Rumors I had heard growing up about how much the M16 was a "POS" I was shocked to see how awesomely reliable it was. I carried the A2 until 2006 when we transitioned to the A4. Later I was in Afghanistan with Army in 2011 and picked up one the Afghan Army's A2's I had forgotten how incredibly lightweight it was compared to my M4 with all the optics on it that we now have. The Afghan soldier tried to explain to me in broken English (M16 suck....AK much better bang, bang, bang) I gave him a small hip pocket class on how to properly lube his M16 in broken Dari which was mostly grunts and points. I tried to explain to him that the M16 is the best small arm on the planet. He looked at me like I had a dick growing out of my forehead, the Rumors will never end.

@springbloom5940

5 жыл бұрын

Ah yes, the M16A2 'Destroyer of Worlds', 5.56mm Magazine-Fed, Gas-Operated, Machine-Rifle 🤗

@northeastohioed7239

5 жыл бұрын

LMFAO! Dick growing out of your forehead! Colorful description of an expression! And yet, what makes it even funnier, is that I know exactly what that expression is, having encountered it quite a few times in my "subsidized" world travels. Thanks for the belly laugh!

@mr.nobody68

4 жыл бұрын

Fuck anybody who doesn't love the M16/M4 type rifle. They don't know that they're talking about

@gilbertoesquivel9668

4 жыл бұрын

M16A2 was truely designed by Marines for Marines who's lives depend on the OBSESSION over proper weapons maintenance and marksmenship...not some dipshit soldier with a second rate education....and I'm talking about Afghan soldiers too...

@cephasmartin8593

4 жыл бұрын

@@northeastohioed7239 Glad I could contribute to your world travels. I have a son-in-law who did two tours in Iraq.

Considering the Russians and the Chinese are still using mostly AK-74Ms/QBZ-95s with iron sights, I'd say that the M16A2 isn't too terribly outdated.

@georgewhitworth9742

4 ай бұрын

I guess that depends on what "outdated" means. If we're talking about what's avialable? Yeah, the M16A2 is getting pretty close. But outdated doesn't mean not deadly. It really depends on what technology is available to you, and what your facing.

i personally am of the opinion that the old A2 style rifles are the best, 20 inch barrel gives you full velocity, and the fixed carry handle makes it almost impossible to lose your zero, or have the entire thing loosen and back off of your rifle.

I served with this rifle in the USMC during the Gulf War and Somalia...In the hands of properly trained individuals (ie. UNITED STATES MARINES) those rifles can get the job done at 600 yards in daylight with no optics on a fairly regular basis. It is a fine weapon which thanks to your perfectly addressed video, I now feel the need to duplicate....great work sir!

I went to Parris Island in February of 92, we were issued the A2. My first one was a colt with a black lower, and the upper was worn until it was almost silver. When we went to the range, we discovered that my front sight post was bent, I was sent to the armorer, were he promptly look it over, threw it in a crate, and issued me a brand new colt.

Fulton Armory does an A2 replica called the FAR 15 A2 which is close to mil-spec as possible. They also sell all the components to piece it together. I hear good things about Fulton Armory.

@norikotakaya14292

Жыл бұрын

I live in Annapolis, MD, which is about 20 minutes from Jessup where Fulton Armory is located. They do a lot of tooling work for M1 Garands, so I would stop in to their shop and pick up en bloc clips cheap to load up my .30-06. I bought a new barrel from them to replace the worn out one in my Garand. Very high quality barrel, but a little pricey. They also sell a slick side Vietnam era M16 rifle that's period correct, but it's expensive as hell as they mill their own lower and upper receivers.

I went through basic at Ft Leonard Wood in 95. We had A2’s the whole time. Though my lower was an Arsenal rebuilt A1. You could see where 1 and AUTO had been milled down and re-stamped 2 and BURST. So the selector markings were still only on the left side. They hadn’t even re-parkerized it. The milled areas were shiny. The A2’s I had the rest of my time in were built as A2’s. I’m working on a clone myself. Unfortunately I started in early 2020….. My lower is a government property, M16A2, safe semi burst marked Palmetto State clone. It is built. My upper is built. I have all the parts to finish it, except the barrel which has been on backorder for months…… Finding somebody selling one with an FSB that isn’t F marked isn’t easy these days. Aaaaand finally found a barrel and finished my clone! Can’t wait to shoot it in a few days.

A2 rear site... because the USMC figures all wars will be fought on the Lejune KD range.

I carried a A1 in the Corps back in the early 80's a qualified expert with it three times. In 2012 I bought a RRA A2 standard and lost all nostalgia for the A1. Considerably more accurate and love those sights!

That's neat. We was the last cycle to use M16A2s. Well at least started phasing them out.

I have a Colt Sporter A2 HBAR from 1992. It was my first AR type rifle. I had been shooting Service Rifle competition since the early 70s with M1s and M1As and considered the AR a "mouse gun". The A2 version fixed the problems (lightweight barrels, poor sights and slow rifling twist) of the earlier A1 and suddenly it was THE rifle to have for match shooting. You hardly see the older guns on the line anymore. We still have them, we just don't use them in competition. If you want to compete, you use an A2 or A4 rifle. Great rifle and, IMO, the best looking AR rifle. I also have an Enhanced Rifle with 24" stainless bull barrel and recently added an A4 clone HBAR. I had some carbines and one AR pistol and sold them off. Nothing better than the full size AR15/M16.

I only carried one of these in Basic, but I still miss these. Such a better shooter than an M4 or M4A1.

There are many rumors about why the Gov't profile barrel came to be. In actuality it takes about 1,000 lbs of force to permanently bend an A1 barrel. Even the paratrooper landing barrel down on the ground is impossible. If their rifle hit the ground with 1,000 lbs of force that paratrooper probably had a malfunctioning parachute would've died or never walked again as a result. The real reason for the gov't profile barrel on the A2 is the marine corps was having unexplained accuracy problems with their old worn out A1s in the early 80s. Colonel Lutz and his team when coming up with the A2 design heard about this and looked at some of these A1s with the accuracy problem. They stuck full bore sized dowels down the barrel and on many the dowel would stop right around the front sling swivel area which indicated a bent barrel right at that same spot on many rifles. Lutz had a theory that the barrels were bending right at the spot due to it becoming a fulcrum point on the barrel during bayonet practice. And over the years there have been the theories of soldiers opening c ration crates with the bayonet affixed and also paratroopers landing. So Lutz and his team put in for a thicker barrel in this area for the new A2 program. Not long after that they realized that there was excessive copper fouling that was accumulating right around the rim of the gas port (which is directly above the sling swivel) and this is what caused those dowel rods to stop at that point and also causing the severe accuracy issues. But by this time the A2 design had already just been approved it was too late to go back to just a pencil barrel profile. The A2 gov't profile was born out of a misunderstanding and exists for literally no reason. Im sorry that I can't remember the source for this info but Colonel Lutz is documented saying this stuff himself. On a side note: there actually was a problem with the original Colt 601 skinny 3 prong flashider bending when soldiers used it to open crates and thats why on the 602 and XM16E1 the 3 prong hider was beefed up a bit. And then even the improved 3 prong allegedly was getting caught on branches and what not in the jungles so they went with the closed birdcage starting in '67 with the type classification of the M16A1.

Man, videos like these make me miss my A2 service stick.

I'm working on an A2 build myself. I could not locate a Colt barrel, so I bought one from Windham Weaponry instead.

@michaelmclaughlin4889

3 жыл бұрын

Same here mine was mostly a mosh of parts, but I used a Windham Weaponry barrel

Just bought an 80s Colt AR15 A2. Technically Sporter Match HBAR

IMO a “better” clone would be the AR-15 Government Model with the GS serial number. No sear block, has the bayonet lug but has that ridiculous front pivot screw. I think it also had the small trigger pins but I could be mistaken. That sear block and the chopped bolt carrier would ruin my day. All that said, these 20” rifles are sweet!

We had FN M16A2 guns during my service, early '90s as well. Our receivers matched, color wise, plus I always had the M203 as well.

PSA has the A2 uppers with CHF FN barrels in stock for $399.00

In 2020 I built an A2 clone rifle. Using a Luth-AR A2 upper receiver, Palmetto State Armory lower, Wilson Arms 20 inch government profile barrel 1x9 twist. Finding parts was a challenge. Had to go with a nickel boron coated BCG. Had to put the front sight base on myself. Did a lot of looking on the web. Found a sight that had a guy who goes by “a Catholic Mechanic “ who has a wonderful page. I used his advice on doing it. Surprisingly it worked. The rifle shoots straight. The A2 is my favorite AR15 version. Oh, upper has A3 feed ramps? No problem with feeding from different mags. I have two M4 uppers, one 1x9 made by CORE. The other one built on a Aero Precision upper, Ballistic Advantage 1x7 qpq barrel. Haven’t shot it yet. Again I installed the FSB. Praying it shoots good.

@georgewhitworth9742

5 ай бұрын

I doubt the M4 feed ramps actually do anything. None of the Canadian C rifles have any.

My 20" A4 HBAR rifle, being complete and functioning perfectly, opens me up for my next build which will be an A2. The lower is complete just waiting on the trigger. I like a 2 stage and will go "incorrect" as far as triggers. After that will be the A1 then I'll purchase the 601 and AR-10 from Brownells. Thank you for the retro videos and information, it is an exciting time for those of us that love marksmanship and rifles that don't look like a Christmas tree while weighing 30 pounds...........

Just got my A2 build finished and it looks and feels incredible!!!

Bravo Co 6 Bat 1st ITB Sand Hill Ft Benning GA 1983 ... Used M16A1 with triangular handguards, slip ring, soda straw barrel, tear drop forward assist, and sights were adjusted with a M193 bullet tip back then ... The Tip of the Bayonet

I took a CA legal Colt M4 and got a Colt A2 M16 upper and A2 Colt stock and boom I have a Colt A2. With a Colt marked bayonet and colt magazines of course 10/30 mags.

97-2011 Army. Thanks to all Veterans for your service!

Lucky for me I bought my colt in 1991 that had the .154 pins with no sear block. All them years and it still looks brand new

I used the M16A2 in 2010 in boot camp just before they switched to the M16A4 with RCO’s..needless to say I want to get an A2 for my collection.

I still can't believe the Philippines, Israel, Costa Rica. Just to name a few still carry the M16A2 rifles.

@MasterVideoStudios

6 жыл бұрын

Oh yeah.

@SmallArmsSolutions

6 жыл бұрын

They get them for free

@ronsmith9251

6 жыл бұрын

A lot of reserve units still have them in inventory as well.

@ktanner11

5 жыл бұрын

I got out of the reserves less than a year ago. All i ever carried was an a2 even in A-stan. But i was in the rear with the gear (mechanic)

@rustyshackleford4965

5 жыл бұрын

@@SmallArmsSolutions a shame isn't it Be nice to see em as surplus

Very educational for me, thank you! I am building a bastardized version, but appreciate knowing how off I am on mine. This is my rifle, there are many others like it, but this one is mine. :) Appreciate man!

Great vid, really informative with lots of facts for future reference - thank you! Out of interest, is that a spinal brace? Hope you're all good?

The A1 looks cooler, but the A2 would be my go to on this platform

Might be time for an update, now that other clones are out. Would love to see u do a refresh on these. As a lefty, the A1 put a lot of hot brass down my shirt, so the A2 clone looks really interesting to me.

@SmallArmsSolutions

Ай бұрын

I thought of this. I am no longer able to get guns to evaluate from Springfield. I am working on bushmaster and H&R

I was a year behind at sand hill.....bless you my friend......I like that rifle. It's the one I learned how to fight with so to me; there is no other rifle.......

m16, my beloved

From what I understood, with all the changes in the last 18 years in small arms, I thought the US military had overall decided the m16 family of weapons would remain in service until at least 2025. If not further?

@stevejobs101

5 жыл бұрын

The M16A2 is somewhat still in service among National Guard units and the M16A4 is still issued to rear echelon guys in both the Army and USMC. Mostly M4's with ANYBODY being remotely close to the front lines now.

Sad day when the U.S.M.C goes away from a FULL SIZE battle rifle to a carbine

@shadowbanned-9577

4 жыл бұрын

An even Sadder day is when The Marines have Illegal Foreign Nationals enlisted and trained in the Ranks... Training alongside FBI-BLM AGENTS, U.N. And NATO troops for door to door Gun Confiscation and riot defusing... ANGERING EVEN. AND FACTUAL.

@colec.6477

4 жыл бұрын

@@shadowbanned-9577 thank Israel

@sonicdash9652

4 жыл бұрын

It's even sadder that they replaced both M16 and M4A1 to an "German M16". That is NOT very american.

I was just looking for this vid from your original channel

Good info. Currently building an all fn a2 with a mil collector m16 marked lower and a midlength a2 on an anderson pony

I love the a2, I was at ft Benning in 95 and it was very accurate for me.b258

How hard was it to dremmel the upper receiver? I have a retro A1 upper receiver and I want to put a A2 barrel that has M4 barrel extension.

I would love to have one of these. Assuming the barrel twist it 1 in 7

back in the 70's my first m16 a1 was made by H&R then over sea's they issued me a colt m16 a1 they were both great weapons

I went to basic at Ft Benning in 1987, at Harmony Church and we had M16A2. So I don’t think you were even close to the first group to have them. 😂

@SmallArmsSolutions

10 ай бұрын

Well that’s interesting. Army just started procuring in. 1986 and first guns went to overseas.

@gmedic68

10 ай бұрын

Well you still sound skeptical, I have pics!

I bought a Bushmaster A2 target model with a heavier barrel. No regrets since. Doesn’t matter to me what logo is on the left side of the lower, as long as it shoots well and feels nice to shoulder.

@norikotakaya14292

Жыл бұрын

I've got a Bushmaster AR15A2 rifle myself and have had it since 2001. It was the first AR I bought and I did so as a complete rifle. I've got 9 other AR's, but I've put all those together from parts kits from varying manufacturers. My Bushmaster is still my favorite though as it's the rifle I carried in the USMC from 1983-1987.

Thanks Chris 😊😀🔥😊😊 I Am a Fan Of The M16A2 Also But The M16A1 Is Always My Favorite

The A2 is still an excellent Rifle. I have the A4 clone, but prefer the A2.

My Sporters came factory drilled in the fence/boss for the front pivot pin. I have a worse than semi auto carrier, the whole bottom is gone. Also my rifles are greenish gray.

Dude! Alpha 1/19 Rock of Chickamauga August 1990. Then on to planet Ord to the 1/9 Infantry Div. Manchu's. Lightfighters!

Just got one from Windham Weaponry today!

Very interesting and informative.....thanks for you service

I was looking for this video, but it seemed to have disappeared.Im to see glad it's back, but what happened?

I have a colt upper 1/7 HBAR with original bcg. Any suggestions on a lower receiver for it , it has the large swivel pin front.

Did you have back surgery? Last chest rig I saw like yours was the one I wore after my first back surgery. If you did have back surgery I'll pray it turns out better for you than it did for me. In truth, my doctor gave me a 50/50 chance of success. Take care.

@SmallArmsSolutions

4 жыл бұрын

Cephas Martin broke my back few years back

556 was designed for a 20 inch barrel

I thought they made the forward area of the barrel because we had idiots who were using their M-16A1 barrels to break the steel bands on cases of their C-Rats ( really MRE ).

@toki89666

4 жыл бұрын

That's just a rumor. In actuality it takes about 1,000 lbs of force to permanently bend an A1 barrel. Even the paratrooper landing barrel down on the ground is impossible. If their rifle hit the ground with 1,000 lbs of force that paratrooper probably had a malfunctioning parachute and died as a result. The real reason for the gov't profile barrel on the A2 is the marine corps was having unexplained accuracy problems with their old worn out A1s in the early 80s. Colonel Lutz and his team when coming up with the A2 design heard about this and looked at some of these A1s with the accuracy problem. They stuck full bore sized dowels down the barrel and on many the dowel would stop right around the front swing swivel area which indicated a bent barrel right at that same spot on many rifles and hence the theories of opening c ration crates and paratroopers came to be. So Lutz and his team put in for a thicker barrel in this area for the new A2 program. Not long after that they realized that there was excessive copper fouling that was accumulating right around the rim of the gas port (which is directly above the sling swivel) and this is what caused those dowel rods to stop at that point and also causing the severe accuracy issues. But by this time the A2 design had already just been approved it was too late to go back to just a pencil barrel profile. The A2 gov't profile was born out of a misunderstanding and exists for literally no reason. Im sorry that I can't remember the source for this info but Colonel Lutz is documented saying this stuff himself. On a side note: there actually was a problem with the original Colt 601 skinny 3 prong flashider bending when soldiers used it to open crates and thats why on the 602 and XM16E1 the 3 prong hider was beefed up a bit. And then even the improved 3 prong allegedly was getting caught on branches and what not in the jungles so they went with the closed birdcage starting in '67 with the type classification of the M16A1.

Hey, Chris, since you have a C7A1, all you need now is a transferable A1 lower!🍁🦅

My A2 has an A1 lower with the screw in front and push pin in back.

Hello. I’ve built an A2 clone similar to yours. For nostalgia, I put on an A1 triangle guard. Did the A2’s and A4’s have the “government” barrels? How much heavier would they have been compared to an A1 carried in Vietnam? Like you, I enlisted in 1991-January, Air Force. I could swear we were still using A1’s to train on.

@georgewhitworth9742

Жыл бұрын

Yep, the A2, A3 and A4 have the gov profiles. And yes, Air Force still used a lot of old school M16's used for training.

Are you guys gonna re-upload the M4 clone vid?

Still my favorite variant

I built a colt 713 export. Early A2.

Was thst also known as the Colt Model 645? Before it was the M16A2 or E1

2022 October, it’s getting harder and harder to find an A2 upper. I finally found a Colt A2 upper and I’m trying to find a matching lower receiver but they want so much money for it.

Is it ok if I put a m16 upper on a normal AR15 lower since the buffer tubes look different

Hi, what is the most period (say around late 80s, early 90s, none of those 3 point slings) correct sling you would recommend?

Considering a PMS 20". I like it's appearance, but it has a 1/7" twist. Any suggestions?

I was at sand hill in 89. D 4/60. We carried the m16a2, we took 16a1s for bayonet and other training. But mostly carried the a2. I don't know why you were told that.

@SmallArmsSolutions

Жыл бұрын

That’s what we were told. Perhaps there was a shortage of A2’s since Gulf War 1. They took our A2’s right after BRM.

Long live the 20".....

I picked a Contracted FN M16A2 Upper from a gun shop in Anniston AL. They told me it was an actual USMC issued . I shot 100 rounds through it . Then put it in a shadow box for my man cave .

A1 is the best, looks so sexy with a 20 RND mag.

I prefer the triangular hand guard also.

“They didn’t want this 179 rare bullshit” Keep telling it like it is.

I know late-production 'Colt-grey' was much darker than early 'Colt-grey', but you often see pictures of M16A2s which appear have modern Type III black anodising; did Colt ever produce M16A2s for the US government with this finish, or were those FN production rifles?

Hey there great videos you have taught me and I’m having a hard time figuring out what my dad had has he passed away and I was hoping you could maybe help me with

@SmallArmsSolutions

5 ай бұрын

Email hbartocci@smallarmssolutions.com

Yap colt is like An apple iPhone treating their customers like children! Used the m16a2 back in 88, loved my 1st 3 issues from my 1st 3 duty stations. Got to my 4th duty stations and had to fight tooth and nail with the Armor in the FMF to get the warped berrel replaced ! So many other companies out their make better lowers then Colt! I would not waste money on a colt. A shade tree Armor can make a better lower out of an 80% lower then Colt does! When you were lucky to get a good A2 they are sweet! But if your unlucky and get a beat up issue they totally suck !

What’s the back brace for? Great video!!

@SmallArmsSolutions

3 жыл бұрын

Broken back

What was the cost on the new one? I've decided Colt can go to hell for their prices which means now, I don't have a clue what to buy or what's a fair price

Good. Volume is low on this, hard to heàr.

I can get a bushmaster for 900.00 . I used the A2 in the military but I thought Colt was the best

What is your opinion on the Palmetto State Armory A2 Kits? Are you familiar with them?

@keithplymale2374

5 жыл бұрын

I am doing one. The main difference is the hand guards are slightly oval in cross section. Mine is the mixed A2/A4 version with F marked FSB and M4 marked T rail. Doing after marked BCG, charging handle and FN made carry handle. My lower will be the complete A2 rifle lower they do with the polished trigger and hammer.

@snooze6.597

5 жыл бұрын

Keith Plymale Thanks for the info. If I’m not mistaken, the Palmetto A2 Kit doesn’t come with an A2 carry handle right ?

@keithplymale2374

5 жыл бұрын

PSA sells it with there BCG, charging handle and carry handle OR as a complete upper from the Delta ring forwards with the upper receiver having just the forward assist and the dust cover. I got mine for $179 free shipping two weeks ago. The BCG is by Cryptic Coatings black nitride. The charging handle is by Giessele. The carry handle is by the FN plant in South Carolina. Those three parts will be $340 total spread over two paychecks. Then the A2 complete lower with polished trigger and hammer will be $220 with shipping. Using the none PSA parts is driving up cost but I did a lot of research before deciding to spend that much.

Mine had an FN on it.

Its the best in the armalite platform

Seems to me I need to purchase an A2 from Colt. These "what's happening now" are short barrel and I could hit AOT at 800 meters. I want something I can use with ease ...muscle memory with my old data book.

Why is your M16A2 missing BURST setting? My Army issue in 1995, had the SAFE, FIRE, and BURST

@SmallArmsSolutions

4 ай бұрын

Mine is a commercial sei only. Not an NFA select fire

@alivideo403

4 ай бұрын

@@SmallArmsSolutions I see. That's why I am thinking of ordering "HARRINGTON & RICHARDSON M16A2 LOWER" from Palmetto State Armory. I'm new to this Clone project. If you can please take a look at it at PSA, and let me know what you think of it?

@SmallArmsSolutions

4 ай бұрын

I have 2 on order. Just not sure when i will see them

The marines should keep the M16A4 and A2

@Max_Da_G

5 жыл бұрын

What for? They are identical except for RIS, if memory serves me right.

@Max_Da_G

4 жыл бұрын

@Travers Kilroy Cooper Alvirez Oh I know that. I meant why have A2 and A4 when A4 had the rails and A2 doesn't

As I'm a Colt "purist"...the arrogance of Colt since the beginning keeps repeating itself! Ugh! Dan Wesson introduced the "cartridge" to replace the ball & cap, but Samuel Colt basically called him STUPID! Then Colt, waiting 7 years for the patent to run out, jumped aboard. (Dan and Horace connected to be Smith & Wesson) As I thoroughly enjoy Small Arms Solutions, we fill his, your, frustrations, being a Pony guy, seeing the other mfg's building/selling "mil-spec Colt" without trying to bow to the government, so to speak.

How much price this M16A2

holy shit its Alex jones' doppelganger

Give me the A4 over the A2 ............ Got to be able to take the carry handle off adding optics etc ............. I got a Colt A4 for Christmas and I really like it a lot ...... I prefer a 77 grain polymer tip round which the 1/7 twist of the full size rifle vs a M4 round of 55 or 62 grain ...... Colt disappointed me when they turned Democrat and announced a stop to making ARs for commercial market ..... A Pussy move imo ........

97 to 01 Marine