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After the Vietnam War, the M16A2 rifle was developed by Colt Industries in response to a number of improvements to the M16A1 suggested by the U.S. Marine Corps. In November 1983, the USMC adopted this new version chambered for the 5.56x45 mm NATO round. The rifle differed significantly from its predecessor with changes such as improved rear sights, a brass deflector, a heavier barrel and 1:9" rifling. Additionally, the M16A2 replaced the M16A1’s “AUTO” selector setting with a “BURST” setting, delivering three rounds with every trigger pull. The M16A2 has the longest service life of any American military shoulder arm and continues to serve to this day. Due to federal firearms laws, the M16A2 is not available to civilians. However, civilians can own a similar version by mounting an M16A2 upper on a lower receiver. For more on the U.S. M16A2 Rifle, watch this "I Have This Old Gun" segment from a recent episode of American Rifleman TV.
The Patriot Ordnance Factory LMR Base offers a .308 Win. chambering in a lightweight, AR-15-size package, which makes it a capable platform for today's new gun owner. And it comes at a fair price.
For each of the past 23 years, the editors of American Rifleman have convened to select our top picks for the past year’s best and most innovative products. Here are the most recent winners.
Henry Repeating Arms has donated a limited run of 50 “Team Keane” Golden Boy .22 lever-action rifles to support 13-year-old Keane Rhodes of Universal City, Texas, who is currently undergoing aggressive treatment for ALL T-cell leukemia.
Springfield Armory introduced its Echelon in 2023, bringing a modernized, chassis-style, striker-fired handgun to the market that has since seen several notable line extensions.