Information AboutM4 Carbine |
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The M4 Carbine traces its lineage back to earlier Carbine versions of the M16 , all based on the original AR-15 made by ArmaLite . The weapon is a shorter and lighter version of the M16A2 Assault Rifle , achieving 80% parts commonality with the M16A2. The M4 has Selective Fire options including Semi-automatic and three-round burst (like the M16A2), while the '''M4A1''' has a " Full Auto " option in place of the three-round burst. The M4A1 is sometimes also found with a heavier Barrel to withstand heat from sustained fully-automatic fire. Both the M4 and M4A1 carbines fire 5.56 X 45 Mm NATO Ammunition and are Gas-operated , air-cooled, Magazine -fed, Selective Fire Firearms with a telescoping Stock . A fixed stock can also be fitted, but this is not common practice in the U.S. military. As with many Carbine s, the M4 is handy and more convenient to carry than a full-length Rifle . While this makes it a candidate for non- Infantry troops (vehicle crews, clerks and staff officers), it also makes it ideal for Close Quarters Battle (CQB), and airborne and special operations. It has been adopted by United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and is the preferred weapon of the U.S. Special Forces . Malaysia purchased M4 Carbine service rifles to replace the Steyr Aug service rifles in the Malaysian Armed Forces in 2006 . The M4 was developed and produced for the United States Government by Colt Firearms , which has an exclusive contract to produce the M4 family of weapons through 2009; however, a number of other manufacturers offer M4-like firearms. The M4, along with the M16A4 , has mostly replaced M16 and M16A2 firearms; the U.S. Air Force , for example, plans to transition completely to the M4 Carbine. The M4 has also replaced the M3A1 Submachine Gun that remained in service (mostly with Tank crews). The M4 is similar to much earlier compact M16 versions, such as the 1960s-era XM177 family, though unlike them it is not intended to fire the earlier M193/6 ball ammunition. HISTORY AND VARIANTS Except for the very first delivery order, all U.S. military-issue M4 and '''M4A1''' possess a flat-top NATO M1913-specification Rail on top of the receiver (for attachment of Optical Sight s and other aiming devices — Trijicon TA11 and TA31 Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight s (ACOG) and Aimpoint M68 Close Combat Optic (M68 CCO) being the favorite choices —, and a detachable rail-mounted carrying handle. The current government standards are the Colt Model '''920''' (M4) and '''921''' (M4A1). The major difference between these models is that the M4 has the "S-1-3" (safe/semi-automatic/3-round burst) fire modes, while the M4A1 has a "S-1-F" (safe/semi-automatic/fully-automatic) fire modes. Colt Model 925 carbines were tested fitted with the Knight's Armament Corporation (KAC) M4 RAS under the designation '''M4E2''', but this designation appears to have been scrapped in favor of mounting this system to existing carbines without changing the designation. The U.S. Army Field Manual specifies for the Army that adding the Rail Accessory System (RAS) turns the weapon into the '''M4 MWS''' or ''Modular Weapon System''. The M4A1 carbine is a variant of the basic M4 carbine intended for Special Operations use. The M4A1 can be found in use by many U.S. military units, including the Delta Force , U.S. Navy SEALs , and the U.S. Marine Corps' Radio Reconnaissance Platoons and Force Reconnaissance companies. The M4A1 Carbine is specially favored by Counter-terrorist and Special Forces units for close quarters combat because of the carbine's compactness and firepower. These features are also very useful in Urban Warfare . Although the M4A1 does not have as far an effective range as the longer M16, many military analysts consider engagement with a non-specialized small arm above a range of 300 m to be unnecessary. It is extremely effective at 150 m or less. In the last few years, M4A1 carbines have been being refit or received straight from factory with barrels with a thicker profile under the handguard. This is for a variety of reasons such as heat dissipation during full-auto and accuracy as a byproduct of barrel weight. These heavier barrel weapons are also fitted with a heavier buffer known as the H2. Out of three sliding weights inside the buffer, the H2 possesses two tungsten weights and one steel weight, versus the standard H buffer, which uses one tungsten weight and two steel weights. These weapons, known by Colt as the Model 921HB (for ''Heavy Barrel''), have also been designated M4A1, and as far as the government is concerned the M4A1 represents both the 921 and '''921HB'''. USSOCOM developed the Special Operations Peculiar Modification ( SOPMOD ) I M4A1 Kit for the carbines used by units under its jurisdiction. The kit features an M4A1 carbine, a Rail Interface System (RIS) handguard system developed by Knight's Armament Company, a shortened quick-detachable M203 Grenade Launcher and Leaf Sight , a KAC Sound Suppressor , KAC back-up rear sight, an Insight Technologies AN/PEQ-2A visible Laser / Infrared designator, along with Trijicon's ACOG and Reflex Sights , and a Night Vision sight. This kit was designed to be configurable (modular) for various missions, and the kit is in service right now with Special Operations units (though many soldiers have changed the Trijicon Reflex Sight for M68 CCO Red Dot Sight s and EOTech Holographic sights). A 2nd generation SOPMOD (now known as SOPMOD II ) is currently under development, with many different manufacturers competing for a contract. Notable manufacturers include Knight's Armament Company and their URX II, ARMS and their Selective Integrated Rail (SIR) system, along with Lewis Machine & Tool 's Monolithic Rail Platform (MRP). Variants of the carbine built by different manufacturers are also in service with many other foreign special forces units, Australia 's Special Air Service Regiment (SASR). While the Australian SASR uses weapons of essentially the same pattern built by Colt for export (Colt uses different models to separate weapons for the U.S. military and those for commercial/export purposes), the British SAS uses a variant on the basic theme, the SFW built by Diemaco of Canada. Although Diemaco was purchased by Colt and renamed Colt Canada , the Diemaco names and related firearms were kept. As mentioned, the M4 replaced the M3A1 submachine gun that remained in U.S. service, mainly with Tank crews. They had previously had M3s, but this was changed to two M4s and two M9 Pistol s (' Personal Defense Weapon s'). This was as much to increase capability as it was change over from .45 ACP , as M3A1s could be configured to fire 9 Mm Ammunition . DESIGN The M4/M4A1 5.56 mm Carbine is a gas-operated, air-cooled, magazine-fed, Selective Fire , shoulder-fired weapon with a telescoping stock. A shortened variant of the M16A2 rifle with a 36 cm barrel, the M4 provides the individual soldier operating in close quarters the capability to engage targets at extended range with accurate, lethal fire. The original M4 Carbine has Semi-automatic and three-round burst fire modes, while the M4A1 has "semi" and "full auto" with no three-round burst. The M4 Carbine achieves over 80% commonality with the M16A2 rifle and was intended to replace M3 .45 ACP submachine guns and selected M9 pistols and M16 rifle series with most Army units. (This plan was thought to be changed with the development of the XM29 OICW and the XM8 Carbine . However, they have not officially adopted the latter weapon yet, and as known so far, do not intend to.) The M4 Carbine is also capable of mounting the M203 grenade launcher. Some features compared to a full-length M16A2 rifle include:
However, there have been some criticisms of the carbine, such as lower Bullet velocities and louder report due to the shorter barrel, additional stress on parts because of the shorter gas system, and a tendency to overheat faster than the M16A2. Accessories Like all the variants of the M16 assault rifle, the M4 Carbine and the M4A1 Carbine can be fitted with many accessories, such as night vision devices, laser pointers, telescopic sights, Bipod s, the M203 grenade launcher and the XM26 LSS Shotgun , and anything else compatible with a MIL-STD-1913 picatinny rail. Other common accessories include the AN/PEQ-2 , Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight (ACOG), and M68 Aimpoint. EOTech holographic weapon sights are to be part of the SOPMOD II package. Visible and IR (infrared) lights of various manufacturers are also commonly attached using various mounting methods. The M4 is used with a Blank Firing Attachment when using blank rounds; without the BFA it does not cycle. LESSONS LEARNED REPORTS , Iraq . The 2nd and 4th soldiers from the right have M203 grenade launchers attached]] An April 2002 presentation by the Natick Soldier Center presented by LTC Charlie Dean and SFC Sam Newland reported on lessons learned from M4 use in Afghanistan (such as use during Operation Anaconda ):
OPERATION ]] The operating drills for the M4 are identical to those of the M16 . Safety precaution (no magazine fitted) Safety precautions should be performed when taking possession of the weapon from another user, or any time the state of the weapon is unknown or in doubt. As with all firearms, always assume for safety purposes that such a weapon has a round in the chamber, ready to fire. Point the weapon in a safe direction, pull the cocking handle to the rear (a round may be ejected) and hold it there, examine the chamber to ensure it is clear, allow the action to go forward under control, push the forward assist plunger, fire the action, and close the ejection port cover. Safety precaution (magazine fitted) Perform an "unload". If the above safety precaution is used with a charged magazine fitted a round will be chambered and fired. Load Insert a charged (loaded) magazine into the magazine well/housing. There is a slight audible click when the magazine is properly inserted. The secureness of the magazine can be tested by gently trying to remove the magazine by pulling on it. Ready Pull the charging handle all the way to the rear and release (do not ride the handle forward). Push the forward assist to ensure the bolt is forward and locked. If the weapon is not to be fired immediately then put the fire selector to "SAFE" and close the ejection port cover. Fire in mid-air; the M203A1 and M68 Close Combat Optic are attached]] Marksmanship is a complex and subtle art and is beyond the scope of this article. However, in general the weapon is fired by putting the fire selector on either "SEMI" or "BURST" ("AUTO" on the M4A1), resting the butt plate against the shoulder, aligning the eye of the firer, aperture of the rear sight, tip of the foresight, and aim to the target, take a breath, and at the end of the breath, squeezing the trigger as smoothly as possible. Unload Attempt to put the fire selector on "SAFE" (the selector will only go on "SAFE" if the hammer is depressed, i.e.: the weapon is cocked). Remove the magazine by pressing the magazine release with the trigger hand while grasping the magazine with the other hand. Tilt the weapon to the right and cock the weapon (a round may be ejected). Pull the cocking handle to the rear again and hold it. Tilt the weapon to the left and ensure the chamber is empty. Allow the action to go forward, push the forward assist plunger, put the fire selector to "SEMI" and squeeze the trigger. Close the ejection port cover and recover the ejected round. AMERICAN CIVILIAN OWNERSHIP Sales of actual M4s by Colt are restricted to military and law enforcement. Only under special circumstances can a Civilian own an official M4 Carbine. The 14.5-inch barrel would classify the weapon as a "Short-Barreled Rifle" according to the Bureau Of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, And Explosives (BATF). (BATF Defines a "Short-Barreled Rifle" as "A rifle having one or more barrels less than 16 inches in length, and any weapon made from a rifle, whether by alteration, modification, or otherwise, if such weapon, as modified, has an overall length of less than 26 inches" of Federal Regulations, Title 27, Volume 1, Parts 1 to 199 .) The rate of fire (even for burst-firing models) would classify it as a .) Many manufacturers produce firearms that come very close in terms of appearance to a military M4. Usually, M4-like firearms feature 16-inch barrels and are semi-automatic only. This has been a source of contention with Colt, which maintained that it retained sole rights to the M4 name and design. Other manufactures had long maintained that Colt had been overstating their rights — "M4" has now become more of a generic term for a shortened M16/AR-15. In April 2004, Colt filed a lawsuit against Heckler & Koch (HK) and Bushmaster Firearms , claiming acts of Trademark Infringement , Trade Dress Infringement , Trademark Dilution , False Designation Of Origin , False Advertising , Patent Infringement , Unfair Competition , and Deceptive Trade Practices . HK later settled out of court. However, on December 8th, 2005, a District court judge in Maine granted a Summary Judgment in favor of Bushmaster Firearms. POPULAR CULTURE ''''.]] The M4 has been featured in countless Film s and Video Games , along with the M16 and MP5 . It is often seen with characters belonging to law enforcement agencies or military special forces, and is well appreciated for its low recoil, good accuracy and availability of upgrades (scopes, suppressors, M203 grenade launchers, etc). SEE ALSO
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