The M4 carbine has become one of the defining military firearms of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Developed as a fusion of the XM177E2 Colt Commando and the M16A2 assault rifle, the M4 offered a more convenient battlefield firearm than the full-length M16 variants, and the US Army adopted it as the standard infantry weapon in the 1990s. Today, military and law-enforcement personnel of more than 60 countries have adopted either the M4 or the M4A1 variant, both of which have been tested and proven in major combat operations worldwide. This study describes the development process in detail, from production of the first XM4 prototypes in 1984 through numerous modified types until it emerged into official use as the M4 in 1994. The M4 offered a weapon that was 1lb lighter and 6in shorter than the standard M16A2, yet could still deliver precision semi-auto and full-auto firepower up to an effective range of 500m. Over time, its capabilities have been enhanced by the M4A1 modifications plus an extensive range of tactical accessories, including optical day/night sights, laser/infrared designators, under-barrel grenade launchers and shotgun modules, foregrips, furniture options, mounting rails, and sound suppressors. Numerous M4/M4A1 combat operations are investigated to reveal why the weapon has received such high levels of approval by front-line combat troops, not only in Afghanistan and Iraq, where the M4/M4A1 has been intensively combat-tested, but also in contexts such as Colombia, India, Israel, and the Philippines. Profusely illustrated with photographs and artworks, and drawing its research from the latest declassified documents, this is a complete guide to one of the most important and widely distributed tactical infantry weapons of the last quarter-century.

This US issue manual is a truly hands on and is the only M4/AR15 book you will ever need. Filled with how to photos and complimented by detailedtext, it covers every part right down to the smallest pin. A few of the topics covered are: Disassembly, Assembly, Maintenance, Troubleshooting, Tools Required, Inspection and much more. If you want to understand how the rifle works and how to keep it working this book is an absolute must.

The Army is undertaking both the M4 Carbine Improvement Program and the Individual Carbine Competition, the former to identify ways to improve the current weapon, and the latter to conduct an open competition among small arms manufacturers for a follow-on weapon. [...] This reduces the number of moving parts in the rifle in comparison to the gas-piston system and offers potential improvements in the weapon's stability when firing; however, it also results in greater amounts of heat and carbon deposits in the receiver, which can lead to the weapon's malfunctioning. [...] The rail along the top of the rifle's receiver lends stability to the weapon and also serves as the mount for weapon attachments. [...] Congressional Research Service 2 The Army's M-4 Carbine: Background and Issues for Congress conventional unit training.10 USSOCOM further noted that the M-4 met or exceeded the Army's specifications for reliability and that the M-4 met the needs of the conventional Army.11 Soldier Weapons Assessment-Operation Iraqi Freedom12 In July 2003, the Army published a report to assess small arms performanc [...] The assessment stated that the M-4 was "by far the preferred individual weapon across the theater of operations"13 and recommended in the "near term replace the M-16 with the M-4 as the standard issue weapon."14 But without any corresponding analytical data, some might question the validity of the Army's assessment.

The author, a New York Times reporter, traces the invention and mass distribution of the AK-47 assault rifle, and its effects on war. He traces the invention of the assault rifle, following the miniaturization of rapid-fire arms from the American Civil War, through World War I and Vietnam, to present-day Afghanistan, where Kalashnikovs and their knockoffs number as many as 100 million, one for every seventy persons on earth. It is the weapon of state repression, as well as revolution, civil war, genocide, drug wars, and religious wars; and it is the arms of terrorists, guerrillas, boy soldiers, and thugs. From its inception to its use by more than fifty national armies around the world, to its role in modern-day Afghanistan, he discusses how the deadly weapon has helped alter world history.

Rifle Marksmanship is the newly revised, official guide to planning and executing training on the M16-series rifles (M16A1, M16A2, M16A3, and M16A4) and M4 carbine. This handbook is developed by the US Army for commanders, leaders, and instructors to help create training programs and materials for soldiers to complete the United States Army rifle marksmanship program. It offers a comprehensive guide to the specifics and capabilities of each weapon and an introduction to the fundamentals of marksmanship, followed by complete guidance through each of the five stages of rifle marksmanship training. Topics covered include: Weapon Characteristics, Accessories, and Ammunition Range Safety and Risk Management Preliminary Marksmanship and Mechanical Training Advanced Optics, Lasers, and Iron Sights 10-Meter Target Offsets and 25-Meter Zero Offsets Training Aids, Devices, and Scorecards Replete with information and training materials for learners and instructors, this handbook provides the guidance for all shooters, whether in combat or in hunting and recreation, to operate their rifles with deadly proficiency.

This manual provides operation and maintenance instructions for the M16A2, M16A3, M16A4 Rifles, M4 and M4A1 Carbines. These weapons are lightweight, gas-operated, air-cooled, magazine-fed. shoulder-fired weapons that can be fired in either automatic, three-round bursts, or semiautomatic. The purpose of the weapons is to provide personnel an offensive/defensive capability to engage targets in the field. The adapter rails allows the operator the capability to mount various accessories on to the M16A4 Riffle and the M4/M4A1 Carbines. When a procedure is common to M16 rifle and M4 Carbine, ONLY the M16A2 configuration will be depicted. If a procedure is not common to both -weapons, the procedure will be incorporated and the weapon will be identified. If your weapon is configured with adapter rails, refer to the appropriate appendices in this manual for operation and maintenance procedures for the adapter rails.

The handy to carry and use handbook of rifle knowledge for all owners/users of the M16/M4 rifle/carbine system. Written by two Special Forces instructors and AR builders this handbook includes decades of knowledge of this weapon system. The most up-to-date explanation of the proper corrections to common malfunctions and how to ensure they don't happen in the future. Maintenance, inspection, training tips, and common optics used.