CODE 03-132-986

NAME – M16A3

NAME (NATIVE) – M16A2E3 (Colt Model 705)

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN – USA

DATE OF MANUFACTURE – 1986 [1992]

CALIBER – 5.56x45mm Nato

OVERALL LENGTH – 99 cm (39 in) with flash suppressor

BARREL LENGTH – 50.8 cm (20 in) without flash suppressor, 53.3 cm (21 in) with flash suppressor

RIFLING (TYPE & TWIST) – 6 Groove, Right-hand twist, 1 turn in 17.8 cm (7 in)

LOAD – M855 Full metal jacket with steel core penetrator

BULLET DIAMETER – 5.69 mm (0.224 in)

BULLET WEIGHT – 4.02 g (62 grains)

MUZZLE VELOCITY – 960 m/s (3150 fps)

MUZZLE ENERGY – 1852 j (1366 ft/lb)

WEIGHT (EMPTY) – 3.40 kg (7 lb 8 oz)

WEIGHT (EMPTY) – 3.53 kg (7 lb 13 oz) with Mil-Std-1913 rail

WEIGHT (LOADED) – 3.99 kg (8 lb 13 oz) with sling, loaded with 30 rounds M855 Ball

WEIGHT (LOADED) – 4.71 kg (10 lb 6 oz) with Handle/Sight Assembly, Sling, loaded with 30 rounds M855 Ball

WEIGHT OF SLING – 0.11 kg (4 oz)

SIGHTS – Open, iron, adjustable, Front sight – Square post with tritium insert, adjustable for elevation zero, Rear sight – Leaf-type flip apertures, adjustable for windage, Battle aperture (short range) 0-200 meters (0-219 yards), Long range aperture adjustable from 300 to 800 meters in 100 meter increments (328 to 875 yards in 109 yards increments)

SIGHTS – Integral Mil-Std-1913 rail along top of receiver for sight mounting.

HANDLE/SIGHT ASSEMBLY WEIGHT – 0.59 kg (1 lb 5 oz)

EFFECTIVE RANGE – 550 m (601 yards)

OPERATION – Gas impingement

TYPE OF FIRE – Selective, Semi and Full automatic

RATE OF FIRE – 45 rpm Semi, 90 rpm Full, 12 to 15 rpm sustained rate

CYCLIC ROF – 700 to 900 rpm

FEED DEVICE – 20 or 30 round aluminum magazine, double column, double feed

FEED DEVICE WEIGHT (EMPTY) – 20 rd – 0.080 kg (2.83 oz), 30-rd – 0.110 kg (4 oz)

FEED DEVICE WEIGHT (LOADED) – 20 rd – 0.33 kg (12 oz), 30 rd – 0.48 kg (1 lb 1 oz)

BASIC AMMUNITION LOAD – Seven 30-round magazines (210 rounds)

LOAD WEIGHT – 3.36 kg (7 lb 7 oz)

MANUFACTURER – Colt Manufacturing Company LLC, Hartford, Connecticut, FN USA, Columbia, South Carolina

STATUS – Production completed

SERVICE – US Navy Forces

     The first specimens of the M16A3 were produced for a US Navy specification and were effectively the M16A2 rifle, but with a full automatic capability. Later production weapons (circa 1998 – Colt Model 901) had the top of the upper receiver flattened and a Mil-Std-1913 (Picatinny) rail machined into the metal to allow for additional sight options to be installed. These M16A3 version were also issued with the Handle/Sight assembly to give the weapon a standard A2 rear sight if desired. The M16A3 was primarily issued to the US Navy SEAL Teams as well as some SeaBee units. Some M16A3 specimens had their round handguards removed [subtracting 0.26 kg (9 oz) of weight] and the M5 Rail Adapter System (RAS) installed (adding 0.41 kg (14 oz) of weight] to the weapon. With the M5 RAS installed, the M16A3 had an empty weight of 3.55 kg (7 lb 13 oz) for the version with the A2 upper receiver, and an empty weight of 3.68 kg (8 lb 2 oz) for the later version with the upper receiver with the integral Mil-Std 1913 rail.