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Posted: 1/25/2012 4:58:32 PM EDT
| What is the difference between the different flat top models such as the A 3 A4 and is one better thenthe other? |
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Er - the M16A3 is a fully automatic rifle (no 3 shot burst) issued primarily to the US Navy, and has the same permanent receiver-mounted carry handle the M16A2 has. The M16A4 is a 3 shot burst derivation of the M16A2 (also a 3 shot burst weapon), but instead of the receiver-mounted carry handle, it has a Picatinny rail flattop, and a full length quad-rail mount instead of the standard handguards of the M16A2. The M16A4 is primarily issued to US Marines.
In the civilian world, A2 refers to an AR upper w/ the permanent receiver-mounted carry handle w/ the M16A2 style rear sight; A3 refers to a flattop receiver w/ a Picatinny rail. Gig 'em, backbencher |
| I've sometimes seen A3 referred to as a flat top without m4 cuts, and the A4 referred to as a flat top with m4 cuts. Although this isn't a standard and companies use the two interchangeably. So just pay attention to which cuts you want and order accordingly. Usually this info is advertised. |
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In the civilian world both A3 and A4 usually mean flat top. You will have to look at the specific features for any other differences. As has been noted, in military usage, the M16A3 is the same thing as an M16A2, but with full auto instead of 3 round burst. The M16A4 is the official military designation for a flat-top, 20" rifle. It has burst and not full auto. A true A4 upper will not have feedramp cuts - it uses the standard rifle barrel extension. Only M4s get the feedramp cuts and use the carbine barrel extension with the wider/longer feedramps. M4s are not flat-tops, either - those are M4A1s and some other, later variations. Common civilian/commercial usage mangles the distinctions, and often calls any flat-top an "A3" regardless of presence or absence of feedramp cuts. I think only Armalite actually got their commerical nomenclature aligned with what the military decided on (M15A2/M15A4). |
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In civilian parlance there is also an A1 fixed stock and an A2 fixed stock (with the A2 stock being the later version and a bit longer in length of pull). These use a standard length buffer tube and typically a standard weight buffer.
The adjustable telescopic stocks use a shorter, carbine (CAR) length buffer tube. The shorter length necessitates the use of a heavier buffer made for the carbine tube. Then among the CAR length buffer tubes, there is a Commercial version and a Mil-Spec version. There are some dimensional differences between the two, so if you get a telescopic butt stock make sure it's for whatever tube you have, either Commerical (Civilian) or Mil-Spec, if it doesn't already come with the tube. An A1 or A2 fixed stock or an adjustable CAR stock can be put on any AR receiver, be it an A1, A2, A3, A4. That's beyond what you're asking, but I thought it might help shed some more light. |
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Quoted:
In the civilian world both A3 and A4 usually mean flat top. You will have to look at the specific features for any other differences. As has been noted, in military usage, the M16A3 is the same thing as an M16A2, but with full auto instead of 3 round burst. The M16A4 is the official military designation for a flat-top, 20" rifle. It has burst and not full auto. A true A4 upper will not have feedramp cuts - it uses the standard rifle barrel extension. Only M4s get the feedramp cuts and use the carbine barrel extension with the wider/longer feedramps. M4s are not flat-tops, either - those are M4A1s and some other, later variations. Common civilian/commercial usage mangles the distinctions, and often calls any flat-top an "A3" regardless of presence or absence of feedramp cuts. I think only Armalite actually got their commerical nomenclature aligned with what the military decided on (M15A2/M15A4). The M4-marked, Colt-manufaactured carbine (serial number W016312) I was issued in the 101st ABN DIV (AASLT) and carried in both Kosovo and Afghnistan, had a removable carry handle. It was not an M4A1, which are full auto. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
In the civilian world both A3 and A4 usually mean flat top. You will have to look at the specific features for any other differences. As has been noted, in military usage, the M16A3 is the same thing as an M16A2, but with full auto instead of 3 round burst. The M16A4 is the official military designation for a flat-top, 20" rifle. It has burst and not full auto. A true A4 upper will not have feedramp cuts - it uses the standard rifle barrel extension. Only M4s get the feedramp cuts and use the carbine barrel extension with the wider/longer feedramps. M4s are not flat-tops, either - those are M4A1s and some other, later variations. Common civilian/commercial usage mangles the distinctions, and often calls any flat-top an "A3" regardless of presence or absence of feedramp cuts. I think only Armalite actually got their commerical nomenclature aligned with what the military decided on (M15A2/M15A4). +1 Since the inception of the flattop civilian usage has largely used the A3 designation improperly. AFAIK there is no military classification for extended feed ramps in a rifle. So currently an A3 from one vendor may be identical to a different vendor’s A4 or not. In the absence of a standardized nomenclature the only way to figure it out is to read the full description. |
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