Explore the rich history and technical evolution of the M16 service rifle — its significance in American military history and its lasting impact on firearms design.
The M16 is a family of military rifles adapted from the ArmaLite AR-15, chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO. It has served as the standard infantry rifle of the United States Armed Forces and represents one of the most influential firearms designs in modern military history.
The eight stages of the firing cycle of a semi-automatic or automatic firearm: feeding, chambering, locking, firing, unlocking, extracting, ejecting, and cocking.