1. First off, one must remember that the two main complaints about the M16 are because of poor handling by the wonderfully intelligent people at the ordinance department. Frankly the M16 is the reason why I've lost faith that there are any more than a significant minority of intelligent people running the military.
2. First off about stopping power, the M16 had a better round in vietnam that fragmented much better the M193, but was traded for the M855 to continue the romantincized notion of unnessacarily long range markmanship (the M855 has somewhat better long range performance but suffers ballistically) Also the fetish for short barrels that seems to be running rampant through the military (cough) m4(cough) is a big factor. An M16 with a barrel of a good length has actually good stopping power at any realistic range (for what reaslistic ranges are look at the salvo studies), but the shortening of the barrel reduces the velocity of the round as the gas from the exploding powder can't act on it as long, and this decrease in velocity hampers the bullets ability to fragment, the 5.56x45 round's main wounding mechanism.
3. The M16's issue of reliability has largely been adressed and was a result in non-chrome lined barrels, no cleaning kits, and dirty powder, as these have been fixed a well taken care of M16 isn't nearly as unreliable as it is made out to be.
4. And with those two areas covered the M16 has the M14 beat in just about all others. It has good accuracy at any realistic range. It is much lighter. It allows for better full auto and even much better burst fire, frankly with an M-14 unless you were unusually well trained the 3rd round in a 3 round burst is going to be an anti-aircraft round. It also has the ability to carry significantly more ammo per magazine and overall. It also has polymer furniture as opposed to wood, which breaks more easily and swells when water is introduced to it (such as in Nam). For the above reasons I believe that the M16 is a better weapon than the M14.

quote:

I don't want no teenage queen.
I just want my M-14.

Full Metal Jacket, that movie effing rocked.

Having had an M-14 in Nam – I found no fault with it. All it requires is being qualified to shoot the damned thing which many people did quite well. It was reliable and did not require as much maintenance as the M-16. Also, full auto is no excuse for poor marksmanship in any weapon. It was not even a point of qualification with either weapon. That is way they issued us M-60s.

The only thing I ever heard our infantry guys say nice about the M-16 was that is was not as heavy.

you rascals! the M9 AS is by far the best armslave around, the russian RK92 doesnt stand a chance!

The best weapon in the world is a US Marine and his bare hands.

when applied to this!

I would like to shoot that, but I still prefer M14's to M-16's

quote:

Originally posted by sergeant seymour:
you rascals! the M9 AS is by far the best armslave around, the russian RK92 doesnt stand a chance!

OMG, had you payed attention you would know that this isnt about guns from counter strike its about M-14 vs M-16.

I personely have shot, taken apart, cleaned, and drilled with M-14's as long as I can remember so yaaaaaaa.................. M14! I shot the M-14 for the first time when I was 10; we rented it at a gun range.

And for whoever it was that asked, the current model of te M-16 in use today is the M-16A2 which has a flash suppresor, more adjustable rear sight and a different hand guard on the barrel. also oming into use more and more is the M4 which has a shorter barrel and can go full auto (still in 5.56x45).

This message has been edited. Last edited by: SQUID,

http://www.break.com/index/she-loves-the-big-boom.html

This one from one of coachman's links.
She has a matched pair of 38s and some
pistols too...

quote:

And for whoever it was that asked, the current model of te M-16 in use today is the M-16A2

Only in non-combat roles is the M16A2 being used now:

"The M16A4 became standard issue for the United States Marine Corps during Operation Iraqi Freedom, increasingly replacing the earlier M16A2. In the United States Army, a combination of the M16A4 and M4 Carbine continues to replace existing M16A2 Rifles."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M16_rifle

http://www.colt.com/mil/M16.asp