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The war fought by young Americans in Vietnam was this nation’s longest conflict until the Global War on Terror, and the firearm that became the great icon of the American experience in Vietnam is the U.S. M16 rifle. But where did the M16 come from and how did it perform on the battlefield? How did it go from a rifle that failed and resulted in the deaths of desperate young Americans found on the battlefield with their guns hopelessly jammed, to the nation’s longest serving infantry rifle? In this first installment of “The Men & Guns of the Vietnam War,” American Rifleman Television examines the evolution of the gun that we know as the M16 and its use in Vietnam. From the early AR-15s, then to the XM16E1, the M16 and its combat use are described in detail. We also hear from two familiar contributors to American Rifleman, the first being Field Editor Wiley Clapp, who served for a year and half in Vietnam, including as a company commander in the 3rd Btn., 7th Marines. Another version of the M16 used in the conflict was the XM77E2, better known as the CAR-15. Another contributor to American Rifleman, Major John L Plaster, used this gun behind enemy lines as part of the covert Studies and Observation Group. Back then, John Plaster was a U.S. Army Special Forces sergeant and team leader, and he describes the combat use of the CAR-15 against our nation’s enemies. Watch Part 1 of the series here.
Following the success of its .45 ACP-chambered LC Carbine, Ruger realized that this platform would go a long way toward making the 10 mm Auto more controllable and fun to shoot, and a new 10 mm version was released in 2024.
"Over the next five or six years, and before I went off to college, I fired hundreds and hundreds of rounds of .22 BB Caps, CB Caps, Shorts and Longs through this rifle."
The T-Bone from Strike Industries is an ideal fit for suppressed applications, as it can be configured by the user to redirect gas blowback entirely to either side ...
Weatherby's Model 307 bolt-action rifle opens up a world of aftermarket components to consumers, thanks to its Model 700 receiver footprint, and the company now has two new models for hunters and sport shooters.