M4 vs M16: What do you prefer?

2015-03-06T10:31:35-05:00

Which do you prefer and why?

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Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Mar 6 at 2015 10:32 AM

2015-03-06T10:32:51-05:00

Even though they are at their root, basically the same firearm, the M4 is more adaptable.

Response by James Jones made Mar 6 at 2015 10:35 AM

2015-03-06T10:35:23-05:00

My extensive Call of Duty experience tells me the M4 is the superior weapon.

Response by SPC Neil Hood made Mar 6 at 2015 11:04 AM

2015-03-06T11:04:06-05:00

Gold plated AK-47 a la Saddam!

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Mar 6 at 2015 11:04 AM

2015-03-06T11:04:13-05:00

MOUT Environment. Shorter weapon, less likely to get hung up on things.

Although I like a longer sight radius (making the platform more accurate), the trade off is well worth it at anything under 300 yards, especially when you can easily add an optic on it.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 6 at 2015 11:10 AM

2015-03-06T11:10:16-05:00

Easier to manuever, especially when doing convoy operations

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2015 8:27 AM

2015-04-24T08:27:27-04:00

I am so much more accurate with the M16. I am not a bad shot with the M4, but I prefer the ole' faithful.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2015 8:33 AM

2015-04-24T08:33:51-04:00

Which variant of the M16? M16A2 or M16A4? Some post speak of adding optics and toys to M4s when you can do the same on the A4. Like most Soldiers I prefer the M4 for the manuverability and length. I would have no problem carrying an M16A4 either if I was dismounted in an open environment.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Apr 24 at 2015 8:38 AM

2015-04-24T08:38:22-04:00

20 inches is the right length for the powder and cartridge to achieve maximum speed and thus range and accuracy. I'd rather have some additional weight and accuracy unless clearing buildings or piling in and out of vehicles constantly. I carried an M16 on my first deployment as a staff officer to make this point, and to run counter to the culture of all of our Marines trying to get an M14 to carry around because it was lighter and they weren't thinking it through.

On the adviser team I carried the M4 with a 203 when we were in the boonies. In the city I dropped the 203, but we were in a city and I didn't need the last 200 meters of accuracy.

If I had my druthers I'd have carried an M14 or a LWRCI REPR.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2015 11:58 AM

2015-04-24T11:58:14-04:00

This is not meant as a slam but I never understood why people refer to the M4 like it is not an M-16. Yet, the Mk 4 Mod 0 was a variant of the M16A1.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2015 3:22 PM

2015-04-24T15:22:53-04:00

M4 hands down

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made May 3 at 2015 12:46 PM

2015-05-03T12:46:16-04:00

Depends on what I was going to be doing and where. If I was in Afghanistan walking foot patrols in the hinterland, I'd want an M16 (in general, I agree with the Marine philosophy that primary trigger pullers are assigned the M16 and secondary trigger pullers the M4). The longer barrel gives that extra range and oomph needed in wide open spaces. If I was in urban Iraq where the shooting was going to be at closer ranges (under 200m) I'd take the M4. If I was going to be running convoys where I wasn't expected to shoot a lot with my individual weapon or be stuck on a FOB and couldn't get my hands on an M9, I'd opt for the M4 as well.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 3 at 2015 2:51 PM

2015-05-03T14:51:04-04:00

The one I remember.

Response by Cpl Arik Blane made May 3 at 2015 4:23 PM

2015-05-03T16:23:31-04:00

For marksmanship purposes M16, combat purposes M4