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Posted: 5/23/2009 4:59:26 PM EDT
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I did a quik wikipedia search but nothing helped.
This is what I do know: Small amouts of A3 out there in the military. A3 and A4 have railed upper, unlike A2 So what am I missing. |
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A3 is a full auto A2 instead of burst. A4 is the flat top. This. A3 is full auto instead of burst. Purchased by the US Navy. A4 is bust with a flat top. I could have sworn the A3 was flattop too. Oh well. Thanks for the help. Lots of people make that mistake because of companies marketing their flattops as A3s as previously noted. |
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Most M16A3's are just M16A2's that are full auto. Navy Contract. The Seabee's often have these.
Later M16A3's had flattops just like the M16A4. When commercial manufactures started offering flat tops, they often called it A3 uppers. Later, some manufactures use the term A3 and A4 to refer to flat tops with out, and with M4 feed ramps. A3: Rifle feed ramps. A4: M4 ramps. |
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Most M16A3's are just M16A2's that are full auto. Navy Contract. The Seabee's often have these. Later M16A3's had flattops just like the M16A4. When commercial manufactures started offering flat tops, they often called it A3 uppers. Later, some manufactures use the term A3 and A4 to refer to flat tops with out, and with M4 feed ramps. A3: Rifle feed ramps. A4: M4 ramps. You might be thinking of the carbines, but the A3 was never a flattop and the A4 is the flattop version of the M16. The military designation is A2 (carry handle with burst), A3 (carry handle full auto), and A4 (flattop burst). And the manufacturers used A3 because it came after A2, numerically speaking. 
M16A3
The M16A3 was a fully-automatic variant of the M16A2 adopted in small numbers around the time of the introduction of the M16A2, primarily by the U.S. Navy for use by SEAL, SeaBee, and Security units.[21] It features the M16A1 trigger group providing "safe", "semi-automatic", and "fully-automatic" modes. The M16A3 is often incorrectly described as the fully-automatic version of the M16A4 or an M16A2 with a Picatinny rail. This misunderstanding likely stems from the use of the "A3" designation by Colt and other manufacturers to describe commercial AR-15 type rifles before the official adoption of the M16A3 or M16A4. Colt used the "A3" designation in the hopes of winning military contracts as they also did with the terms, "M4" and "M5". M16A4 The M16A4, now standard issue for front-line U.S. Marine Corps and some U.S. Army units, replaces the combination fixed carry handle/rear iron sight with a MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail, allowing for the rifle to be equipped with a carry handle and/or most military and consumer scopes or sighting systems (usually either an ACOG or M68 CCO scope).[21] Most of the U.S. Marine Corps' M16A4s are equipped with a Knight's Armament Company M5 RAS handguard, allowing vertical grips, lasers, tactical lights, and other accessories to be attached. In U.S. Army Field Manuals, M16A4s fitted with the RAS are sometimes referred to as M16A4 MWS or Modular Weapon System. This model retains the 3-round burst mode of the M16A2.[21] |
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Most M16A3's are just M16A2's that are full auto. Navy Contract. The Seabee's often have these. Later M16A3's had flattops just like the M16A4. When commercial manufactures started offering flat tops, they often called it A3 uppers. Later, some manufactures use the term A3 and A4 to refer to flat tops with out, and with M4 feed ramps. A3: Rifle feed ramps. A4: M4 ramps. You might be thinking of the carbines, but the A3 was never a flattop and the A4 is the flattop version of the M16. The military designation is A2 (carry handle with burst), A3 (carry handle full auto), and A4 (flattop burst). And the manufacturers used A3 because it came after A2, numerically speaking.
M16A3
The M16A3 was a fully-automatic variant of the M16A2 adopted in small numbers around the time of the introduction of the M16A2, primarily by the U.S. Navy for use by SEAL, SeaBee, and Security units.[21] It features the M16A1 trigger group providing "safe", "semi-automatic", and "fully-automatic" modes. The M16A3 is often incorrectly described as the fully-automatic version of the M16A4 or an M16A2 with a Picatinny rail. This misunderstanding likely stems from the use of the "A3" designation by Colt and other manufacturers to describe commercial AR-15 type rifles before the official adoption of the M16A3 or M16A4. Colt used the "A3" designation in the hopes of winning military contracts as they also did with the terms, "M4" and "M5". M16A4 The M16A4, now standard issue for front-line U.S. Marine Corps and some U.S. Army units, replaces the combination fixed carry handle/rear iron sight with a MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail, allowing for the rifle to be equipped with a carry handle and/or most military and consumer scopes or sighting systems (usually either an ACOG or M68 CCO scope).[21] Most of the U.S. Marine Corps' M16A4s are equipped with a Knight's Armament Company M5 RAS handguard, allowing vertical grips, lasers, tactical lights, and other accessories to be attached. In U.S. Army Field Manuals, M16A4s fitted with the RAS are sometimes referred to as M16A4 MWS or Modular Weapon System. This model retains the 3-round burst mode of the M16A2.[21] I have personally seen a M16A3 (rolled marked) rifle with an A4 upper(standard hand guards). But for all I know, could have been an armory upgrade or some sailors playing switch-a-roo. |
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Most M16A3's are just M16A2's that are full auto. Navy Contract. The Seabee's often have these. Later M16A3's had flattops just like the M16A4. When commercial manufactures started offering flat tops, they often called it A3 uppers. Later, some manufactures use the term A3 and A4 to refer to flat tops with out, and with M4 feed ramps. A3: Rifle feed ramps. A4: M4 ramps. You might be thinking of the carbines, but the A3 was never a flattop and the A4 is the flattop version of the M16. The military designation is A2 (carry handle with burst), A3 (carry handle full auto), and A4 (flattop burst). And the manufacturers used A3 because it came after A2, numerically speaking.
M16A3
The M16A3 was a fully-automatic variant of the M16A2 adopted in small numbers around the time of the introduction of the M16A2, primarily by the U.S. Navy for use by SEAL, SeaBee, and Security units.[21] It features the M16A1 trigger group providing "safe", "semi-automatic", and "fully-automatic" modes. The M16A3 is often incorrectly described as the fully-automatic version of the M16A4 or an M16A2 with a Picatinny rail. This misunderstanding likely stems from the use of the "A3" designation by Colt and other manufacturers to describe commercial AR-15 type rifles before the official adoption of the M16A3 or M16A4. Colt used the "A3" designation in the hopes of winning military contracts as they also did with the terms, "M4" and "M5". M16A4 The M16A4, now standard issue for front-line U.S. Marine Corps and some U.S. Army units, replaces the combination fixed carry handle/rear iron sight with a MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail, allowing for the rifle to be equipped with a carry handle and/or most military and consumer scopes or sighting systems (usually either an ACOG or M68 CCO scope).[21] Most of the U.S. Marine Corps' M16A4s are equipped with a Knight's Armament Company M5 RAS handguard, allowing vertical grips, lasers, tactical lights, and other accessories to be attached. In U.S. Army Field Manuals, M16A4s fitted with the RAS are sometimes referred to as M16A4 MWS or Modular Weapon System. This model retains the 3-round burst mode of the M16A2.[21] I have personally seen a M16A3 (rolled marked) rifle with an A4 upper(standard hand guards). But for all I know, could have been an armory upgrade or some sailors playing switch-a-roo. It might have been switching stuff around, but the official designation was as posted. It would not take much to put an A4 upper on an A3 lower.
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[ I have personally seen a M16A3 (rolled marked) rifle with an A4 upper(standard hand guards). But for all I know, could have been an armory upgrade or some sailors playing switch-a-roo. And who's to say it wasn't original? Just as the M4 evolved from integral carry handle to flat top without a change in nomenclature, so did the M16A3. Anyone wanna bet what configuration the M16A3s produced under Sabre's new contract will be in? Bet it ain't carry handle receivers. |
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[ I have personally seen a M16A3 (rolled marked) rifle with an A4 upper(standard hand guards). But for all I know, could have been an armory upgrade or some sailors playing switch-a-roo. And who's to say it wasn't original? Just as the M4 evolved from integral carry handle to flat top without a change in nomenclature, so did the M16A3. Anyone wanna bet what configuration the M16A3s produced under Sabre's new contract will be in? Bet it ain't carry handle receivers. Who is Sabre and what contract? Show me some documentation that the A3 evolved into a flattop. |
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[ I have personally seen a M16A3 (rolled marked) rifle with an A4 upper(standard hand guards). But for all I know, could have been an armory upgrade or some sailors playing switch-a-roo. And who's to say it wasn't original? Just as the M4 evolved from integral carry handle to flat top without a change in nomenclature, so did the M16A3. Anyone wanna bet what configuration the M16A3s produced under Sabre's new contract will be in? Bet it ain't carry handle receivers. Who is Sabre and what contract? Show me some documentation that the A3 evolved into a flattop. Sabre Defence's new (year old) contract to supply several thousand M16A3 and M16A4 rifles to the military. Ring a bell? Far as showing you documentation, well, I don't quite jump when you say, so whatever. |
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Here is the Sabre contract.
http://www.defensereview.com/sabre-defence-industries-awarded-m16-rifle-contract-m16a3-m16a4-rifles/ It was originally awarded to Bushmaster but when Bushmaster was purchased by Cerberus they no longer qualified. Net worth too high or something. Here is my Bushmaster A4 upper that was offered during the "tax time" sale of 2007. When Bushmaster lost the contract they dumped the uppers cheap. I think it was $415 with the BCG and carry handle. Barrels are of course gov't profile 1x7. It sits in the back of the safe unfired. 
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[ I have personally seen a M16A3 (rolled marked) rifle with an A4 upper(standard hand guards). But for all I know, could have been an armory upgrade or some sailors playing switch-a-roo. And who's to say it wasn't original? Just as the M4 evolved from integral carry handle to flat top without a change in nomenclature, so did the M16A3. Anyone wanna bet what configuration the M16A3s produced under Sabre's new contract will be in? Bet it ain't carry handle receivers. Who is Sabre and what contract? Show me some documentation that the A3 evolved into a flattop. Sabre Defence's new (year old) contract to supply several thousand M16A3 and M16A4 rifles to the military. Ring a bell? Far as showing you documentation, well, I don't quite jump when you say, so whatever. So, in other words, you can't. As for the contract, it calls for 4952 A3s and 702 A4s. If they are the same, why the differentiation? I will give them a call tomorrow and ask about it. |
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[ I have personally seen a M16A3 (rolled marked) rifle with an A4 upper(standard hand guards). But for all I know, could have been an armory upgrade or some sailors playing switch-a-roo. And who's to say it wasn't original? Just as the M4 evolved from integral carry handle to flat top without a change in nomenclature, so did the M16A3. Anyone wanna bet what configuration the M16A3s produced under Sabre's new contract will be in? Bet it ain't carry handle receivers. Who is Sabre and what contract? Show me some documentation that the A3 evolved into a flattop. Sabre Defence's new (year old) contract to supply several thousand M16A3 and M16A4 rifles to the military. Ring a bell? Far as showing you documentation, well, I don't quite jump when you say, so whatever. So, in other words, you can't. As for the contract, it calls for 4952 A3s and 702 A4s. If they are the same, why the differentiation? I will give them a call tomorrow and ask about it. Er, maybe because the fundamental difference between military A3s and A4s is full auto vs. burst ? 
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Here is the Sabre contract. http://www.defensereview.com/sabre-defence-industries-awarded-m16-rifle-contract-m16a3-m16a4-rifles/ It was originally awarded to Bushmaster but when Bushmaster was purchased by Cerberus they no longer qualified. Net worth too high or something. Here is my Bushmaster A4 upper that was offered during the "tax time" sale of 2007. When Bushmaster lost the contract they dumped the uppers cheap. I think it was $415 with the BCG and carry handle. Barrels are of course gov't profile 1x7. It sits in the back of the safe unfired. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v455/innocent_bystander/M5RAS-1.jpg Do want! You lucky... 
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[ I have personally seen a M16A3 (rolled marked) rifle with an A4 upper(standard hand guards). But for all I know, could have been an armory upgrade or some sailors playing switch-a-roo. And who's to say it wasn't original? Just as the M4 evolved from integral carry handle to flat top without a change in nomenclature, so did the M16A3. Anyone wanna bet what configuration the M16A3s produced under Sabre's new contract will be in? Bet it ain't carry handle receivers. Who is Sabre and what contract? Show me some documentation that the A3 evolved into a flattop. Sabre Defence's new (year old) contract to supply several thousand M16A3 and M16A4 rifles to the military. Ring a bell? Far as showing you documentation, well, I don't quite jump when you say, so whatever. So, in other words, you can't. As for the contract, it calls for 4952 A3s and 702 A4s. If they are the same, why the differentiation? I will give them a call tomorrow and ask about it. Er, maybe because the fundamental difference between military A3s and A4s is full auto vs. burst ?
Maybe because the A3 has a fixed carry handle. right back at you.
So, after being shown the official designation for them, you still want to argue, huh. BTW, I won't call them today, I will call tomorrow. |
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I have known about the A1 lowers but someone told me they are also using M16A3 lowers when they can get them. I just wondered if that was true or not. The post-A1 lower reinforcements wouldn't really add anything to the SPR to justify the expense of buying new A3 lowers instead of using surplus A1. The Navy has been buying new M16A3 to replace the M14 kept aboard ships (except for those used for line throwing). As for the flattop issue, note that the Navy kept the fixed carry handle Model 727 in service long after the flattop M4A1 were available. However, there was a curious mention of an A5 variant in a Navy NDIA briefing last year. Could this be a colloquial name for a flattop A3? |
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Didn't Crane Naval Arsenal use some M16A3 lower receivers to build the navy version of the Designated Marksman Rifle Mk12 MOD 0? Receivers often get built into newer configurations. One of my good buddies (Army) was issued an M16A2 with a reused XM177 receiver, and I've seen USAF M4 carbines built on M16A1 recievers. |
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Didn't Crane Naval Arsenal use some M16A3 lower receivers to build the navy version of the Designated Marksman Rifle Mk12 MOD 0? Receivers often get built into newer configurations. One of my good buddies (Army) was issued an M16A2 with a reused XM177 receiver, and I've seen USAF M4 carbines built on M16A1 recievers. You mean a GAU-5 carbine for the USAF Yeah the Seabees sure do love them A3s. |
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Receivers often get built into newer configurations. One of my good buddies (Army) was issued an M16A2 with a reused XM177 receiver, and I've seen USAF M4 carbines built on M16A1 recievers. You mean a GAU-5 carbine for the USAF The USAF has been trying to standardize on the M4 configuration for a couple of years. |
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Receivers often get built into newer configurations. One of my good buddies (Army) was issued an M16A2 with a reused XM177 receiver, and I've seen USAF M4 carbines built on M16A1 recievers. You mean a GAU-5 carbine for the USAF The USAF has been trying to standardize on the M4 configuration for a couple of years. Key word trying. |
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