Analysis of M16A2 Rifle Characteristics and Recommended Improvements

Abstract

Based on five years of marksmanship-related research for the U.S. Army, the characteristics of the M16A2 rifle developed by the Marine Corps were analyzed to determine what impact new rifle features would have on Army marksmanship training and on combat effectiveness. It was found that use of the M16A2 rifle by the Army would be extremely problematic, due in part to the vast differences between the marksmanship training philosophies of the Army and the Marine Corps. Numerous recommendations are presented which would result in simplified training and improved combat performance if adopted. Keywords: Aperture sight; Assault fire; Automatic fire; Ball ammunition; Ballistics; Battlesight zero; Dispersion; Collinater; M16A1 rifle; M16A2 rifle; Marksmanship; Sight adjustment; Tracer ammunition; Serviceability checks; Point of aim/point of impact; and Zeroing.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 1986
Accession Number
ADA168577

Entities

People

  • Arthur D. Osborne
  • Seward Smith

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Ammunition
  • Army Training
  • Automatic Rifles
  • Directed Energy Weapons
  • Doctrine
  • Employment
  • Fire Control Systems
  • Low Light Levels
  • Marine Corps
  • Materials
  • Small Arms
  • Social Sciences
  • Terminal Ballistics
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Training
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Marksmanship and Weaponry.
  • Systems Analysis and Design