M16A4

The modernized, updated version of the AR15 platform, currently in use by the United States Army and Marine Corps. While in less numbers than the M16A2, and generally only used by frontline units, it is arguably better than its predecessor. The M16A4 features a picatinny rail, a railed fore grip, detachable sights, and a 1:7' rifling, rather than the 1:12' and 1:9' rifling previous models had, which equates to better power and accuracy. The M16A4 is, essentially, an M16A3, but with a safe/semi/3-round burst selector switch, rather than a safe/semi/fully-automatic switch. Standard magazine capacity is 30-rounds of M855 or Mk. 262 5.56x45mm ball ammunition. It is gas-operated, with a rotating bolt. It is air-cooled, with an external, detachable magazine, peep hole sights, a forward assist, and a charging handle mounted on top of the receiver, behind the picatinny/carrying rail. Reliability in the M16A4 is solid; one is capable of firing upwards of 1,000 standard, ball rounds through a decently maintained rifle, with STANAG magazines, without a single jam or malfunction. While disputably not as good as the AK platform, it is a far cry from the M16(A0), and is a step up from the M16A2.