OK, I give up. I've been scouring the net (including here- perhaps I'm not using the right keywords) for information on standard combat load of frontline troops of the following:

Number of rounds carried for the M1, M14 and M16.

I have read that it is 210 rounds for the M16.

Officially it's 7 magazines (210 rounds) for an M16/M4.  Reality, according to a couple of my former PSGs, is "whatever you can carry and still be combat effective."

Yeah, what voilsb said.  My wife carries 210 rounds for her M4.  But there's always more in the truck.

When I was in the USMC (early 90's) a combat load for a grunt was 7, 30 round mags, or 200 rounds.
Some guys carried more mags/ammo in the field, if they wanted to and if their command didnt hassle them about it.

In the USAF (Security Police)  I was always issued 240 rounds in 8 30 round mags as a standard load when we did ABGD (air base ground defense) stuff.  

IIRC standard loadout for an M1 Garand in WWII was 10x 8 round strippers on the waistbelt +1 in the rifle= 88 rounds.  I would imagine that unofficially the loadout would have been considerably more.

Thank you, all.  Now, I can sleep better at night and stop wearing out my keyboard hitting the net looking for answers.

BII (basic issue item) for the M16A2 rifle is seven (7) magazines.  One in the rifle and 3 each in the two magazine pouches.  These will hold 210 rounds.  

Actual basic load is determined by the unit commander and in an infantry unit will often be 13 magazines, or 390 rounds.  Same one in the rifle and four mag pouches of 3 each.

The basic load in my infantry unit using 20 round magazines was 440 rounds, 22 magazines.  One in the rifle and 21 in 3 each seven pocket bandoleers worn across the chest bra-style.  This was, of course, pre body armor so there was lots of room for mags.

Basic loads for some weapons systems, like tanks, is determined by what the ammo racks can carry, but for individual weapons it all depends on the unit commander and how many mags he can get.  And how many the troops can carry.  Mech unit can carry crates of the stuff, a light unit has to man carry it.

-- Chuck

Hey, I carried same from Whiteman AFB to Wueschheim AS, Germany GLCM program.  Great to hear from fellow SP.  Did you ever suffer the dreaded magazine strip down in the armory for turn-in.  A buddy of mine shot a clearing barrel one night after Camper duty at whiteman, doh!