M16, XM16E1 and M16A1 Development in Vietnam

How does that 4 way selector work if there's still the two little indexing bumps on the receiver? It would still only be able to point 3 directions.

Which was used in Vietnam? The grey one or the black one?

The M16A1 had the habit of jamming during intense combat and, this fact actually made national news at the time. But it was light and easy to clean. HOWEVER, it jammed on me during a battle in the A Shau Valley, 1969. So I broke it in two, and carried it until we got back to base camp, and gave it to our unit armorer at supply for repair. In a joking manner, I ask the supply man, "you got any M-14s on hand!"'

man i just love the look of the carry handle and triangular handguard

Very Informative video!Thanks for sharing.

Hi, it looks like a few of the lower receivers do not have Colt or ArmaLite roll marks on the bolt release side of the rifle. Is that period correct?

What is the name of the bottom rifle

Checked the price of the book and it's over $200.00!

Got a fucking Ak 47 from a store called immaglockdealer on wickr if you need yours you can get from them too

When did they replace the Delta charging handle with the T one?

this video was narrated by charlie browns teacher.

2021 the politicians. Still hate the AR15. ...THE CITIZENS. LOVE IT

Im getting ready to build an m16a2 with a1 handguards

You forgot that Eugene Stoner had specified a very specific process to be used for the chrome plating of the bolt and bolt carrier. Colt, in order to save money, went with their own plating process which resulted in the chrome plating of Colt guns flaking off under hard use and jamming the guns. This is why the bolt carriers and bolts were then only plated on the inside and parked on the outside.

so if I understand you correctly the USMC used the Colt 604 early in Vietnam? Any idea which units would have received those rifles. I wanted to do a Vietnam impression but was only able to get a colt 604, and not the m16a1, so having a specific USMC unit I could research would be a great help!

Excellent Video Such Amazing Details And So Many Awesome Rifles And Thank You For The Detailed Knowledge You Have Bestowed Upon Me 😊😊😊👍🏼🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥😇

I would leave a like but you got 666...

What a great collection.

I remember being issued demilled rifles at Quantico for a particularly nasty course of training. They didn’t want our real rifles getting that trashed. There were at least 4 different models. Some are mentioned in this video.

I've always like the look of the classic M16A1 model. Its just so iconic and is definitely one of my favorite rifles.

I would love to see your collection of M-16s ...

What beautiful rifles I was issued a Vietnam War era General Motors hydra-matic division M16 rifle as a young Soldier stationed in Panama 1980 through 1983 brings back good memories love the original rifle

My father used an xm16e1 in vietnam in 67-68 as a sniper weapon i think? But it may be an a1 im not sure. I have pictures of it but cannot seem to get em to this chat.

Freaking awesome video so much great info.the “Retro” stuff is crazy hot right now,I’ve always wanted an original Vietnam era M16,there so many small changes and differences in these guns,very cool history.thank you

Its not called evolution..of an entity...its development

Super educational and fascinating! Thanks!

very good video i watched the complete I have a sp1 bought in 1979 in Muncie at mermorial drive off of highway 3 still have it thank you

Great history lesson! Is there any information about the minimal standard for accuracy? What I mean is how big could the shot groups be before the army would ship the rifle back to Colt and tell them to fix it.

That book is $300

that's a $500 BOOK

Someware around here ive got a mil blueprint on the ballport M16 for The M2 bradley IFV.

👍🏻👍🏻🇺🇸🇺🇸💯💯🔫🔫☕️☕️🤟🏻🤟🏻

Great video, very in depth thanks for making this.

Well done, thx.,.

great video, thanks for your work on it.

Was original Vietnam era M16A1 furniture painted black, or was the fiberglass material itself black with no exterior coating?

Why you say June 1967 when talking about the final testing phase of the XM16E1 and then you say the M16A1 was introduced on the 28th of February 1967? Did you mean 1968 each time you mentioned the A1 but you said 1967?
I find many videos and sources saying the A1 was introduced in early/mid 1968 and some even saying 1969, but now you say early 1967, so I’m confused. May you explain please?

By 1969 just about all of the M16's in combat were a hodgepodge of rifle parts, all manufactured by various contractors, Having a pristine or model correct weapon was next to impossible. Also, if there was slop in the upper/lower fit, the rifle never jammed.

The Dissipator is My Favorite 😊

Then the germans shouldve won ww2 cause all their firearms were higher rated of fire! Example Hitlers buzz saw!

Very few people realized it at the time and it has taken far too many decades for this fact to be fully understood: Eugene Stoner was an absolute GENIUS!

I had a brand new M16A1 issued to me when I got to my permanent station in Germany in 1975. Harrington Richardson. Best 16 I ever shot. Accurate as heck. Very solid construction. No faults in my opinion. I thought it was an excellent rifle and I shot it well.

lol E1 is superior

The modern M16 firing pin still strikes the primer leaving a dimple , yet not enough inertia to detonate

The M2 fully automatic carbine was not a Korean war modification. The M2 was bringing up the carbine to the original army required specifications that couldn't initially be produced at the onset World War 2. About the beginning of 1943 is when the M 2's were originally produced, And most of the original M1 carbines were retrofitted and stamped over as M2's.

The 173rd army brigade landing in May of 1965 Was not the first US combat unit to land Vietnam. The ninth marine regiment had already landed on the 5th of March and was conducting combat patrols by that time.

Hey I like your shoulder strap it's authentic.but you need to put the loose end of your strap to the outside and you will have your strap on your rifle correct! And you have a nice collection of rifles keep up the good work.

We had the M16's that were coming back from Vietnam in Basic ('68) and AIT. They were always fouling out on the range. When I got to the Korean DMZ we had the M16A1, which I never had a problem with. The guys south of the Imjin still had M14's.

I had the M16A1 with the original forward assist,pointed style not the round kind, the M16A2 we got in 88 had the round
assit, new style handgaurds and grips, New Sight system and tripple burst fire mode and semi not full auto.

Forward assist is worthless. COLT fixed the problem w/chrome-line chambers/Bbls & proper ammo. Musta shot 100k rds & never had a jam or had to use F.assist. Superflous - like Harris.