Armalite
From Airsoft Community Wiki
ArmaLite is one of the premier small arms manufacturers in the United States
Real steel models.
AR-15/M16 series rifles and carbines
Development:
The 5.56 mm (0.223) AR 15 was designed by Eugene Stoner, at that time, an employee of ArmaLite Inc. Upon being classified as a military type weapon in 1962, the AR 15 rifle was designated the name M16 and issued initially to the U.S. Air Force. The Army adopted a modified version from combat experience in Vietnam and became the M16A1 in 1967.
The main differences apparent between the M16 and the M16A1 is the the bolt with serations of the right hand side and a forward assist assembly present on the A1. The forward assist allows a round to be chambered/force the bolt home if the return spring is otherwise incapable due to dirt.
The M16A1 bacame the main version of the M16 for U.S. army use and is still today the most numerous version of the M16/AR 15 series.
Due to rifles needing to comply with NATO spec ammunition 5.56 x 45mm the barrel rifling was changed to one turn in 177.8mm to allow the chambering of all NATO cartridge, thus born was the M16A2. Other alterations to this model include a heavier barrel, rearsights to compensate for windage and new impact resistant materials. The M16A2 replaced the fully automatic selector setting with a non recycling 3 round burst however a limited production variant of the M16A2, the M16A3, continued to feature the Safe/Semi/Auto settings. The two rifles are externally identical.
The most recent variant of the M16/AR 15 in service with the US armed forces is the M16A4 which has replaced the M16A2 as the standard service rifle for both the US Army and USMC. The M16A4 features an M1913 Picatinny rail mount to the top of the receiver to facilitate the attachment of different optics and sighting systems. In USMC service the M16A4 is fitted with the Knights Armament M5 RAS in place of the handguards.
Along with the development of the M16 series, a number of carbines namely the M4 and M4A1. These carbines sported a shorter barrel and telescopic butts
Common misconceptions
Alot of M16 rifles in use by the U.S. Forces were manufactured by the Hydra-Matic Division of GM Corporation and Harrington & Richardson of Worcester, Mass. The M16A2 and M16A4 are manufactured by both Colt Defense and FN Manufacturing Inc.
AR-1 - Parasniper
AR-5 - Hornet
AR-7 - Explorer – ArmaLite’s first commercial item
AR-10 - The AR-10 was conceived by Eugene Stoner, and was tested by US. Ordnance as early as 1956 at Springfield Armory.
AR-10B - An improved version of the AR-10 put into production in 1996
AR-15 - Basic infantry rifle using ArmaLite developed .223 caliber ammunition. The AR-15 was licensed to the Colt’s Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company in January 1959
AR-16 - Basic infantry rifle chambering 7.62mm NATO caliber ammunition and featuring a folding stock. It also launches rifle grenades
AR-17 - Semi-automatic shotgun
AR-18 - Sheet metal version of the AR-15 with select fire.
AR-180 - Semi-auto AR-18
AR-180B - Made of a high strength polymer, and features the trigger group and magazine well of the AR-15
AR-50 - ArmaLite’s normal pattern of sequential designation of models was altered for the AR-50. Chambering .50 caliber Browning Machine Gun cartridge and adaptable to the Russian 12.7mm cartridge
Airsoft Models.
Single Action Guns : Tokyo Marui M16 A1 Hop-Up Rifle and the Tokyo Marui XM177 Hop-Up Rifle.
Automatic Electric Guns : ICS M4 Carbine, ICS M4 Rifle, ICS M16 A3, ICS M4 R.I.S, ICS M4 Para, ICS M4 C15, ICS M4 SIR Carbine, ICS M4 SIR Rifle, ICS M4 CQB Carbine, ICS M4 CQB Rifle, Tokyo Marui M16 A1, Tokyo Marui M16 VN, Tokyo Marui M16 A2, Tokyo Marui M4A1 (2006 Version), Tokyo Marui M4A1 R.I.S. Version, Tokyo Marui M4 S-System, Tokyo Marui Knights SR16, Tokyo Marui M733 Commando, Systema M16 A3 Professional Training Rifle and the Systema M4 A1 Professional Training Rifle.
Other versions : Tokyo Marui Boys M4A1, M16 VN mini electric gun and the XM177 mini electric gun.
This is pretty much the versions that are most used in the UK, but i`m very sure there a tonne more misc. makes of them. Other makes may include CYMA, G&P, G&G, Classic Army and other lesser known japanease and china manufacturers. Edit curtosy of British Knight
