M4 Marine Corps - The US military's standard weaponry can trace its origins to the Vietnam War. The M4A1 carbine is a shorter, lighter, improved version of the original M-16 rifle released in the 1960s. Although not perfect, the M4A1 is a contract weapon that is required for soldiers who can - often - fight almost anywhere in the world, from cities to in the wilderness.

The history of the M4A1 began in 1962, when the US Air Force ordered 8,500 of the new type of rifle. Designed by Eugene Stoner, the "ArmaLite Rifle-15", or AR-15, is a lightweight rifle made of aluminum, steel and rubber.

M4 Marine Corps

M4 Marine Corps

Unlike the contemporary, heavy 7.62 × 51-millimeter assault rifle used by the US and NATO, the AR-15 is a so-called "assault rifle". The AR-15 ditched the older 7.62.51 millimeter NATO round for the lighter 5.56-millimeter round. The new rifle weighed 6.35 pounds, compared to the 9.32 pounds of the M14 magazine at the time. The AR-15 with a combat load of 120 pounds of ammunition weighs only 11.04 pounds, while the weight of the M14 with combat load is 18.93 pounds. The new gun is also said to be more reliable, more accurate, and six inches shorter in length.

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The US military jumped on the AR-15 bandwagon, looking for a simple yet deadly rifle that would do well in the jungles of Vietnam. The military called the new rifle the M16 but changed the powder used for military ammunition. The design of the "direct impact" of the M16 caused some of the powder to enter the steel plate which was fired back into the receiver of the weapon, moving the ammunition group, ejecting spent brass cartridges, loading new cartridges, and firing ammunition.

The gasses often deposit powder in the gun, increasing the need for cleaning. Meanwhile, rumors are circulating in the military that there is no need to get rid of the M16. Meanwhile, unknown to the military, the new gun introduced many remnants. The combination of all these factors led to the resumption of involvement in the battlefield, a problem that costs American lives and requires a great effort to overcome. The Army stuck with the M16, eventually releasing the M16A1, and in 1980 added the M16A2.

During the Vietnam War the M16 version was shortened, the XM177 "Colt Commando" was obtained in limited numbers for US special forces and reconnaissance teams operating in Vietnam. This weapon was popular but never adopted in the general US Army. In the mid-1980s, the military became interested again in the carbine version of the M16. The XM4 is designed to fire the same ammunition as the M16A2 but has a shorter 14.5 inch barrel and a collapsible stock. Like the M16A2, the XM4 fires semi-automatic bursts in three rounds.

Carbine ammunition has many advantages over a full-size rifle. The XM4 carbine is six inches shorter than the M16A2, making it easy to carry on the back of an M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle, UH-60 Blackhawk, or almost any other vehicle. The shorter barrel length made it easier to maneuver the weapon into spaces such as houses or forests. Both weapons appear the same and have the same manual of arms. At the same time, the two soldiers exchanged weapons and magazines.

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The US Army began manufacturing the M4 carbine in 1999, and the US Marines began testing the weapon in 2002 and finally adopted it for snipers. Unlike the M16A2, the M4 is offered in a "flat top" configuration without a carry/rear mechanism. Instead, the M4 has a so-called Picatinny Rail, a system developed by Picatinny Arsenal for mounting optics and accessories. This allows the military to offer multiple gun sights for use with the M4. Some units get the Trijicon M150 ACOG four-power day and night, while others get the M68 Close Combat Optic, also known as the Aimpoint M4. The M4 typically uses visible and infrared light and laser devices such as the AN/PEQ-15.

In 2016, the Army began upgrading the M4 carbine to the new M4A1 standard. The update included several new features, including a heavier barrel, to address concerns that older barrels rose too quickly in extended combat, leading to loss of accuracy and wear. Weapons are now more left-handed friendly, with full control controls. Finally, the -A1 model includes a new fire control unit that improves efficiency, flexibility and automatic firing capabilities. (Unfortunately, the Army has discovered a dangerous safety flaw in the new trigger group that allows the loaded rifle to be fired without reason, a problem that has so far been 10 percent of these guns are upgraded.)

Today the US Army continues to use the M4 series of carbines. Although the military shows a great interest of the company to acquire new, deadly caliber and assault rifles, small arms are making great progress and it seems that no new amazing weapons should the price there. The US Marine Corps, after adopting the Heckler and Koch 416 rifles in place of the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon, has now adopted the new rifle, now known as the M27, on the sea front. Marine combat support and support units will continue to use the M4. More than fifty years later, Eugene Stoner's weapon is still on America's front lines. It doesn't look like it's going away anytime soon.

M4 Marine Corps

Kyle Mizokami is a defense and homeland security writer based in San Francisco who has appeared in The Diplomat, Foreign Policy, The Endless War and The Daily Beast. In 2009, he founded the security blog Japan Security Watch. You can follow him on Twitter:  @KyleMizokami.

U.s. Marine Corps Sgt. Guillermo Floresmartines Uses The Scope On His M4 Assault Carbine To Scan

Photo: Jordan - 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Marine Raid Force Marines fire an M4 Carbine at a range in Jordan, June 19, 2013. Exercise Eager Lion 2013 is an annual, multinational event designed to strengthen military-to-military relations and promote security and stability in the region by responding to today's security situation. The 26th MEU is a Marine that continues to deploy to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of ​​operations within the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group that serves as an amphibious assault ship. active fluid is used in many weapons. efficiency. (US Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Christopher Q. Stone, 26th MEU Combat Camera/Resolution) PUCKAPUNYAL, AustraliaÑSgt. Jonathan Shue, machine shop noncommissioned officer commanding officer, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 36, Marine Air Group 36, 1st Marine Aviation Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, drives his M4 here May 10 at the Army Skill Australia at Arms Meet 2011. Meet is an annual international combat competition sponsored by the Australian military, and will be held until May 19. (US Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Mark W. Stroud/Released)

Marines applaud their new commander's decision to use M4 assault rifles. take take take take take take take take take take take take take take take take take take take take take take take take take take take take take take take take take take take take take take take. M16 ammunition has been introduced to their new commanders for the m16. The Navy announced on October 26 that the M4 assault rifle will officially replace the M16A4 as the standard assault rifle.

Commanding General Robert Neller approved the change, making the M4 the primary weapon for Marines and all infantry, defense forces and support schools by September 2016. Marines will go forward carrying non-combatants, leaving the M16A4 for all but grotesque use.

The move is popular among Marines who have long complained that their rifles are too long and inefficient for civilian use and vehicles in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many Marines believe the M4 is a better weapon than its predecessor. In contrast, the M16A4 is long, heavy and unwieldy, according to the Navy's call to the Marine Corps Times to discuss the policy change.

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"It's about time," said Sgt. Jonathan Ferriera, a sniper in the 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, first used the M4 during a 2010-2011 deployment in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. "The M4 retains all the qualities that the M16 does: everything the M16 can do, the M4 does better."

He told Marine Corps Times that, in his experience, the only difference is that the M16 can fire accurately up to 600 550 meters, while the M4 has an effective range of about 545 500 meters. That is space, however, more than that created by the smaller M4, Ferriera said.

"Size makes a big difference, because everything revolves around movement and speed," he said. all important."

M4 Marine Corps

Although the M4 has been in service with the Corps for the better part of a decade, the lack of regulations restricting soldiers to military units meant that the carbine was not used very often. they could easily fall to the Marines trapped inside the wire as the outsiders moved in.

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Claybourne said the gGrunts would have to carry more weapons and heavier packs, he said

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