are the barrels h bar or gov profile on the m16 a2 1 in 9 or 1 in 12

The M-4. As for the M-16 it is Govt. Profile 1 in 7 twist.

SO A MARINE CARRIES A M16A2 AND IT HAS A 20'' 1 IN 7 TWIST GOV PROFILE. RIGHT . WHAT ABOUT ARMY SOME COLT OR FN thanks will

all M16A2s are the same, made by FN except for some airforce models that are marked "AR-15" that have been retrofitted with A2 uppers. all new M4s are are made by colt although i have seen some old fixed handle bushmasters.

All M16A2's are not made by FN.
I have seen plenty of Colt made M16A2's.

Quoted: All M16A2's are not made by FN. I have seen plenty of Colt made M16A2's.

I shot both Colt and Armalite M16A2s when I was in.  It was less than a year ago that FN got the contract.

FN got the contract for the M16A2 around 92-94 you didn't see FN rifles in the FMF until around 96 (the first one I saw was in the 3/12 armory in Okinawa, Japan in Oct 96 when doing the month BN inventory of weapons).  The army saw them allot earlier than we did though.   You still find allot Colts in the Marine Corps and a huge mix in the army of Colt, Armalite (old not new), FN and a mix of others.

STLRN - I thought that Colt was banking on getting the contract reupped for the M16A2, but it was awarded to FN instead.  That was last year, unless I am mistaken.
I could be wrong...

They could have been trying to get the contract back, but I know that the first one I saw was in 96, and the first I heard of them getting the contract was in 94, but I have read some where it was earlier.

CAPCO of Grand Junction, CO got the contract to update old Army and USAF A1's to A2 spec.

FN A2's have been around since 1988. If I remember correctly the USMC didn't buy/receive any of the FN units till late 1994/95. Majority of the A2's in service will be Colt marked as the FN contract was limited #/duration, though it is not uncommon to have entire units armed with FN or Colt only rifles.

The USAF bought a limited # of FN A2's then decided it was more cost effective to update the Old M16 rifles with new parts.  The US Army joined with the USAF and shopped the project out to several vendors.  The finalists were Colt, FN, SACO(Colt owned at the time) and CAPCO. CAPCO was the lowest bidder and they are currently in the process of updating the older A1's in stock.

Speaking of what the US uses. Pick up a copy of the Fall 2002 Special Weapons Magazine...There is a great read in there telling about ALL the weapons being used in the sand post 9-11 by our troups. Even gives you the spec's..

Quoted: Speaking of what the US uses. Pick up a copy of the Fall 2002 Special Weapons Magazine...There is a great read in there telling about ALL the weapons being used in the sand post 9-11 by our troups. Even gives you the spec's..

Yeah I picked that up. Good reading. Wish it was published a little better. Like with color photos and the like though.

Quoted: Quoted: Speaking of what the US uses. Pick up a copy of the Fall 2002 Special Weapons Magazine...There is a great read in there telling about ALL the weapons being used in the sand post 9-11 by our troups. Even gives you the spec's.. Yeah I picked that up. Good reading. Wish it was published a little better. Like with color photos and the like though.

You know, I was thinking the same thing...at 6 or 7 bucks a magazine!