Whoever made the decision to use the incorrect powder should have gone to prison. Knowing the government, he probably got a promotion.

The picture of the soldier at :25 is of Rick Rescorla in 1965 during the battle of the Ia Drang valley. He retired from the Army as a Colonel and later became the head of security for Morgan Stanley at the World Trade Center’s South Tower. He drilled his people hard, carrying out evacuation exercises and fire drills every few months making sure everyone knew what to do in an emergency after the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. On September 11, 2001 after flight 11 hit the North Tower, he immediately knew they were under attack, and began the evacuation of the South Tower, even as building officials were saying the disaster was confined to the North Tower and that tower 2 was secure and telling people to remain at their desks. When United Airlines flight 175 hit the South Tower, he began to rescue people trapped in their offices and get them to safety. To keep up morale and from people panicking he sang “men of Harlech” which was something he did in Vietnam to keep up the morale of his troops. He could’ve easily made his way out of the tower but chose to remain behind until everyone else had made it to safety, telling a colleague who urged him to leave “As soon as I make sure everyone else is out.” He was last seen on the 10th floor heading back up the tower to rescue more people. He died at 9:59 am on September 11, 2001 when the South Tower collapsed. His remains were either never found or if they were, have yet to be identified. He’s credited with saving the lives of at least 2,700 people.

As a trooper with the 1st Cavalry in 1966-1967 I carried an XM16E1. The only time I had a problem with it was if I was using what I'd call corroded cartridges. If using nice shiny brass it performed well for me. Lack of cleaning kits was also problem.

My experience with the XM16E1 did not come from my military USMC service but as a deputy sheriff. I was issued this rifle as over watch duty in a crowd control/ riot use. From training with it, I learned that this particular M16 was reliable. I later used it when we initiated a SWAT unit. The Army 7th Infentry AMTU supplied M16 training. This rifle had a different buffer than later models that allowed a slightly higher cyclic rate. I had noted this and bet a Army unit member that I could empty a 20 rounds mag faster than he could with his issue rifle. I won the bet and we all later shared the case of beer.

The XM16E1 is the most badass of all the M16 variations in my personal opinion. After the proper upgrades were made it was a perfect battle weapon. It's good for close quarters, but it can make longer shots as needed. The XM16E1 and it's earlier models changed weapons design forever. For as old as it is, it still looks very cutting edge and futuristic.

The M-16 may had a rough beginning, but boy, did it ever redeem itself afterwards! 60 years on and it's still a front line firearm for dozens of militaries around the world. Amazing!

My dad was issued an XM16E1 in 1968. Made a comment that the flash hider came in handy in opening bands on rations and ammunition. He never commented about "rifle" problems but the ammunition was "filthy".

My Harrington & Richardson (PSA) M16a1 just arrived today and I am so excited... then this video was on my KZfaq screen. Chris, you've read my mind!!! Having said that, "back in the day, people knew that when you put the magazine in and released the bolt, you'd load a round... now everyone has to do a press-check" - hilarious!

You forgot to mention how efficient the forward assist was as a vine attractor. Three prong flash hiders were great at that too. I constantly fantasized about welding a washer on the front of the flash hider but never did. I hated the rifle because of the rusty chamber I got in Vietnam, mid 1966. Failure to extract was common. The fix was the old three-section cleaning rod, carried on the bipod pouch. Had a skinny knurled end that would fit in the bore. Stick one section into the muzzle and leave maybe three inches hanging out. Then smack the rod into the barrel and knock the brass out. Then "pour" the rod section out and try again. All this under fire of course. Ammo was mostly stick powder. Got a brand new M16A1 in March 1967. Barrel was marked "C MP" chrome was in the chamber only. New in the box. Had a RED plastic muzzle cap. By that time I was committed to the Thompson (went Recon in December 1966 and got to turn in the M16). So the new rifle I got was left in supply. I liked the round but not the rifle.

I was in the Army for nearly all of the 1980s, and was issued the M16A1, and later the M16 variant with attached M203 grenade launcher. The opinion at the time (with nearly anyone I took up the conversation about) was that the AK was a far better rifle that was less prone to stoppages, and had greater hitting power. Immediately after I got out of the Army-around 1992, I think-I purchased my first AK… mostly, because it was only $200 at the time, and a case of 1000 rounds only $100 more. Certainly, it was a novelty for many people, and quite popular at the range. I soon discovered that the myth of the “invincible AK” was not entirely correct, and that the rifle could suffer from stoppages just the same as an AR; which is to say, not often, but it does happen. I found it had a bit more recoil (which turned off many a girl I was trying to impress), and did not seem as accurate out past 100 meters. I did find myself wistfully remembering how good I was shooting my M16 in the service. My second sportier rifle was then a Bushmaster model of the M4 carbine. Now I have multiple iterations of both platforms. For my original Romanian AK, I bought an inexpensive Riley to keep company, but for the AR, I spared no expense building a fantastic rifle complete with all high-end parts, and EOTech optics for its companion. After 40 years of shooting both, I’m comfortable with either, but I’m more confident in my accuracy with the AR-15. I suppose our fascination with the AK back in my Army days was more or less due to the hype and mystique of the rifle, without having the opportunity to compare the two in any way. I did, however, have the chance to qualify with the [1980s version] of the German MG-42, and will swear to my dying days that it was a far better machine gun than the M-60! 😊

I love the original 20” barreled M16s. They are very light and much easier for me to shoot accurately than a carbine. I built a clone using a 1964 or 1965 barrel marked VP and a 12 near the muzzle. Shoots well. Was hitting a paper plate at 170 yards kneeling.

I trained with both the M-16A1 and XM-16E1 when I was in the Army in 1969. Whenever the rifles jammed I would automatically hit the forward bolt assist, always to no avail. Invariably, I would have to break down the rifle and extract the round. We were blamed for not doing enough cleaning maintenance on the rifles or doing it Improperly. Frequent cleaning and efforts to keep them out of the dirt didn't seem to make much difference in the seemingly random nature of the jams.

"This was the first one adopted by the U.S. military." U.S. Air Force: "Hello?"

The detent pin relief 1:26 is missing on the "golden" XM16E1 (serial number 50,000). Either Colt 603 production began before that particular update or this decorative unit was assembled from stock components not meant for deployment

I love my XBRN16E1 (XM16E1 clone) from Brownells. It’s excellent and a solidly built weapon. Have had it since they were brought on the market. I would love to get an H&R M16A1 through PSA eventually.

I spent a lifetime in the Infantry (Army) and always kept my rifle clean (personal motto: "First my weapon, than myself"), I can't even begin to tell you how many times I needed to use my Forward Assist. Just saying.

The slick side Model 604s we had in the Air Force were absolute perfection. No forward assist. All business. I'd make friends with the Combat Arms guys on base. They could always find me a near new/original rifle with chromed carrier, 3 prong flash hider & 20 round Colt mags with stainless steel followers. I was in heaven.

The New Zealand Armed Forces recently replaced their Steyr AUGs with the LMT Mars L version of the M16 and the British MOD Is replacing their L85 series rifles with the L403 A1 version of the M16 produced by Knights Armaments. The M16 family is very much alive.

1985, Ft Benning GA, I got handed a very beat-up, middle 100 thousand serial number XM16E1 to do my infantry OUSET with. Probably only the lower had any original parts in it. The barrel parkerizing was still there, so was fairly new. I was enough of a gun guy to know that it had probably been through hell and back again. Shot Expert with it.

As usual your analysis is totally correct. In ‘70 in VN the M16A1 had become one of the best combat rifles ever fielded, but…the problem then became finding good magazines!

Love these videos! I’d love to see more about the evolution from the CAR-15 to the M4 with all of the transitional models in between.

Excellent video, I enjoyed learning somemore of the history of the M16. By the way I ordered a Small arms solutions T shirt last week and received it yesterday. Awesome quality shirt!!! I will be wearing it at our next range day. Thx for everything you do for the 2A community.

I like the Airforce's model 614-it's everything the E1 was sans forward assist. Love all of them early ones,but since we're getting picky,lol

Kyle Rittenhouse ended the debate about the FA IMO..The new M-5 still uses the FA..Stoner stated he didn't think the chamber needed chrome plating which was a mistake. The edgewater buffer never did work correctly even in the best circumstances according to Colt..DuPont couldn't cherry pick lots of stick powder to meet velocity requirements as they had done before without incurring chamber pressure problems while manufacturing the large amount of ammunition needed for the war effort..The government wouldn't change the velocity requirements so the stick powder could be used, which is why the ammunition manufacturers switched to ball powder with the blessing of the government..Another excellent review, as always..

50yrs ago I was taught to use the forward assist to when draining water from your barrel after being submerged and doing a DZ lock & load (especially at night). Later when Teaching BRM in the 80s, Insert the Magazine, Palm Tap it twice, release the bolt and hit the forward assist, move the selector lever and watch your lane. I could tell y'all horror stories about receiving Connex'es jammed full of uncleaned M16s direct from Cam Ranh.

I used the forward assist. If you have the drop on your enemy it is much quieter to go through the malfunction process by using the forward assist than to be using the charging handle. Helped me get the kill that day.

There is one time [that I know of] the forward assist saved a life. It can be clearly seen is TY hasn't bad the video. The young man that got into all the trouble when he shot and killed a thug and another thug got hit when the protests where going on. The video show the young man struggling with his AR and it failed to fire, he hits the forward assist sending the blot home then defends himself. This was the on fire case that had everyone watching the out come, the young man was found Not guilty and went on to become so what of a hero. Thank You Chris I really enjoy your work, there's no better IMO.

I personally love the 601 even with all its shortcomings. Can you imagine picking up a 601 in 1960? Forged aluminum, gas operated, straight pull recoil, intermediate caliber rifle with composite furniture weighing a scant 6lb? The flash hider made it ring like a bell with no flash. It was completely alien, on the bleeding edge of the US's collective manufacturing ability. Sure it wasn't really ready for the military but it was (and still is!) ready for the civilian to go out and shoot targets and blow up watermelons

Favorite member of the M-16 family. The Colt model 639 XM177 Colt Commando. The original blued with the slick 2 position aluminum stock, 11.5 inch barrel, and moderator. Absolutely fell in love and never looked back when it comes to rifle/carbine selection. ARs are the BEST combat rifles/carbines on the planet. Nothing has been able to topple it's reign, many have tried, many have failed. No matter the competition or competitors they always fail to match the performance of Mr. Eugene Stoner's gift to the free world.

The bad reputation that the rifle had earned when introduced into Vietnam, as well as the "Mattel Myth" overshadowed it's strengths, well beyond the US Military. I was in the Canadian Army in the early 80' and 90's during the time we were looking for a replacement for our venerable, but worn out FN's which is another weapon that René Studler played a hand in screwing up. At the time, the decision to adopt an M16 variant was not finalized, but it was well-known that the M16 was the leading contender, and this was looked upon with great suspicion by those of us who'd heard of it's early problems but had never used it.

I joined the 1st Inf. Div. in South Viet-Nam in September 1968. I was issued a XM-16E1by my field artillery unit. Later I was attached to an infantry company; they all had M-16A1s. I continued to carry my XM-16E. I did, in fact, open C ration case several times each week with the 3 prong flash hider with no apparent damage. We were only given M-193 55 grain ammunition and used 20 round aluminum magazines. We were told to load 18 rounds to avoid feeding problems. The cyclic rate of fire was 800-850 rounds per minute. The rifles had manganese phosphate bolt carriers, any chromed bolt carriers were to be replaced immediately. We cleaned our weapons each day whether fired or not. I have witnessed tens of thousands of M-16 ammunition without malfunctions. The exception was the 3 or 4 XM-177E2s in the company; at least one would jam in each fire fight. Our rifles were cleaned and lubricated with LSA; they were reliable and dependable. I have trusted the M-16 with my life.

Chris you are a true treasure!! Love these videos the wealth of knowledge you have is amazing!! Keep it up!!

YOU SIR....truly are an encyclopedia of the black rifle. I would like to ask if it would be a possibility for you to do a video on the .308 ar10 variant, specifically stating your opinions on variable weight (scs type) buffer systems and variable mass carrier relationships. Im building a large pattern ar right now and im curious what your opinions are on how to obtain the best reliability with the current parts options we have. reliability and suppression seem to be two hot topics and i have seen a bunch of products claiming to provide the much needed reliability to the platform but nobody really has put the depth of knowledge that you possess into a subjective opinion on how to achieve the goal. please and thank you.

The A1 is my favorite configuration

Good point on the bolt close mech., I use it for a chamber check/reclose only also.

I love these videos about the history of the m-16. Love the Car-15 and commando!

It’s my favorite as well! I have 5 XM16E1 rewelds (3 of which I have videos on) and soon I’ll have a 601 reweld

I'm having a problem understanding why you would prefer an earlier, unimproved rifle over the newer, improved M16A1. Seems like a no-brainer. I carried a series of worn-out but still serviceable A1's during the '80's. My favorite is my 'A4, though.

I've never before seen the history of this rifle covered so succinctly and so accurately. Now I want to build my own hybrid AR. I'd use the basic layout of the M16A1 but get rid of the FA and install a brass deflector, use an 18" pencil or gunner barrel with a 1:14 twist, and add an ambi safety selector. Do you know if such a barrel and upper receiver exist?

Outstanding video! Cpl. Sev.

Kyle is on video using forward assist, it saved his life.

4:41 This is INSANE

Mine personally is the XM177 definitley something that really made me love M4s in the long run.

While I understand the hate for how the M16 has become so heavy. A lot of it is things that did end up being needed. All programs have found that you really want an optic. So more weight. You want accessories for night fighting. more weight. While we did need to go from the pencil barrel (there were known issues with the metallurgy at the time, modern ones not so much) though they did kind of fuck up in the way they changed it. But even if we kept the barrel. Your still getting optics. your still getting rails so you can toss things like NVDs, PEQs, Flashlights, grips, bipods, etc on there because it does increase the ability of the shooter to hit the locate, identify, and engage the target. And those attachments have spoken for themselves countless times since the 90s. And its still comes in 2lbs lighter than an M14 with some of that on it

Thank you Chris!

What I had in BCT, 1972...The only problem I saw was that the barrel was to light, so I got a Colt SP2, with the heavier barrel yet kept all the A1/SP1 features...happy then and now...

To think that some in the top brass of the US military deliberately sent unproven rifles and ammunition into the field, HOPING that they'd fail so that they would get their beloved M14s back... knowing that doing so would get the servicemen using the XM16E1 killed in combat. Absolutely despicable.

I still have fond memories of the old M16A1 from 1986 till 1988. Very good combat capable rifles till we got the M16A2s, it was a bit heavier but nothing really significant about it in performance despite it's hype. Zeroing was much more complicated just using the sights, good for the Marines and target shooters but not for the average infantryman. It didn't shoot any better on qualification as in target groups because it still had the standard feel of the G.I. trigger. The 3 round burst was useless because all infantrymen were not trained to use that mode of fire even with the full auto on the M16A1. The M16A1 was very comfortable to fire with the M193 which is a deadly round. I have shot a 1 inch thick mild steel billet at 100 yards and blow through with no problems in my old AR-15 Sporter from 1978, 20 inch barrel and 1/12 twist with Winchester white box or Federal Eagle 55 grain FMJs. During 1989 when I was in Panama doing live fire exercises before the Panama Invasion when using M16A2s with M855 FMJs, the copper jackets would split upon impact on wood which we used to hold up the man sized card board targets. I also noticed that they would split open rocks as big as a cabbage head from the steel penetrator. When the invasion started and going through with combat operations, I did notice that M855 ammunition from M16A2 and M249 SAW did break up cinder block walls like nothing and caused the Panama Defense Forces to retreat during brief engagements. The steel penetrators I though did their job. I ETS out of the Army after Panama and tried out to see if the M193 Ball was less effective in shooting at wood or cinder blocks out of my COLT AR-15 Sporter Carbine with a 16 inch barrel, 1/12 twist At 50 yards first with a block of hardwood Mesquite, 5 inches thick, the M193 penetrated it like a hot knife through butter. Next at the same distance with a cinder block with no concrete fill, it exploded into dust. Meaning from my opinion and view the M193 is still a deadly round and could defeat Soviet design body armor like what the M855 was designed to do in the 1980s. The M855 was designed to penetrate a Soviet steel helmet at 800 meters which is ridiculous in my opinion. Tiny fragments form shrapnel going at high velocity have killed more soldiers and civilians than direct rifle fire in combat other than artillery or random rocket artillery.

I personally prefer the A2 iron sites over the A1, but I shoot out to 500 meters. Marksmanship is fun!

I had two M-16s in Viet Nam, neither would load a round after firing. Without exception it took three hits on the forward assist to load the next round.

I have to respectfully disagree with the latter-day conventional wisdom regarding the forward assist. For some unknown reason, especially during the winter months (yes, it can get cold there) during my deployment to Iraq in 2004-2005, whenever I chambered my first round upon leaving the wire, the bolt would hang-up just shy of going into full battery. So I used the forward assist to fully seat the bolt. During test-firing soon after leaving the wire, the rifle never failed, and a slap on the bolt catch never failed to chamber a round completely. But for some reason, that first chambering on a cold rifle, during cold weather, often seemed to need a little help fully seating. YMMV, but I very much appreciated having the forward assist feature on our M-4 carbines back then.

Awesome video. My fav is the M16A4.

If barrel twist makes a lot of difference; they could have marked the twist on the barrels and used what ever they needed for the location they were at.

I hope PSA sends you one of their H&R rifles to review!

Thank you. 👍

Great video as usual Chris. Im blessed to own a Colt GAU 5A/A (1 of 500), SP1 , 14.5 Colt SOCOM, and 16 Colt SOCOM. To this day I love that S1 slickside more than all my other Colts and Gucci commercials. It just feels right.

Thank you

I carried a M16A1 from basic on until I went to work for someone besides the army. Then I carried an AKM. Would loved to have carried a M16A1 but couldn't. Nothing US issue. Besides sense the otherside used AKMs ammo resupply after a fire fight was on the ground. With a M16 I would have to carried all the ammo I would need as there was no resupply. Good video. The first rifle were marked Colt's Armslite AR15.

Great video Chris. Thanks!

Something about that rifle in that Army Green Color, makes me want to get an A2/A4 Style and paint it OD Green

I love the XM flash hider. I put it on my 5.56 AR. Thanks for the vid.

Because of the xm16, my favorite variant, the A4 was born❤

Mine is the m4 so I bought a cr6920 thanks for everything SAS

I believe I used the forward assist only once in my 25 year military career and it was at the range. When you pop the wire seals on the ammo cans the ASP won't allow you to return the unused ammo so logically you have to shoot it all. After firing a metric sh!t ton of ammo I had my bolt on an A2 fail to go into battery so a slight tap on the FA got it to run again. I could have had easily have used my finger on the bolt to do the same thing (or better yet, I should have gave the internals a wipe down).

Interesting information, from the military AR-15 (in this case, we are talking about rifles), in my opinion, the best option is Diemaco C7, as it has the advantages of M16A2, without its disadvantages (too complex sighting, mode with a cutoff of 3 shots, barrels with low resource (5000-10000 shots, in Australian tests resource was 5000-6000, against about 11000 in AUG A1)), and the most aesthetic, M16A2.

I served in the US Navy in the late 70's to the early 80's active. Reserve until the early 90's. Served with a lot of combat vets from "nam". One guy that served with the army and later switched over to the Navy said if they found an AK they would throw the M16 in the mud and use that......that sounds pretty simple so I suppose their had to be enough ammo around to feed it.

I had an XM-16E1 in Basic Training in 1985.

Wonderful program, Chris.

The XM-16E1 is my favorite of that family as well. I want a clone of this model.

I've used the FA a couple of times to fully seat a bolt after I pulled the charging handle partially backward to see if there was a round in the chamber. In truth I could have closed it just as easily by pushing on the bolt carrier with my thumb, which is something I have done on a number of other occasions. I did once have the FA fall out of my upper receiver because the roll pin failed while I was firing the rifle. It did not affect the mechanical operation of the rifle, but neither did it fill me with a warm fuzzy. To me the FA is dead weight I can do without and one more part that could fail. Forcing a bolt home is dumb. Instead, clear the malfunction and inspect the chamber for debris.

Forward assist is equivalent to wearing a cloth mask..

I used to bolt forward assist one on some of my reloaded ammo. It blew the mas out of the gun and locked up the bolt.

I took the time to clone one of these out of about 80% original Colt parts. It’s by far my favorite AR.

fantastic video.

I recently used the FA after noticing my bolt wasn't closed all the way on a very dirty and suppressed 10.5. I ended up getting light strikes. When it happened again, I just racked it and seated a new round. No issues. If I had loaded with the bolt locked back, this probably wouldn't have been an issue at all.

The XM16E1 is the sexiest, and my earliest example ever seen in a video game growing up (Metal Gear Solid 3). I'm inspired to build a "clone" but obviously only do a cosmetic clone, not a true clone.

Devil's advocate: I've found forward assist to be useful on a very small level for a TON of tiny, insignificant malfunctions that are basically caused by user error. Riding the bcg forward, brass checks, suppressed firing + one of those two things, etc. It's only useful at all because of gas rings. Rifles that don't have gas rings or that have kinda word and loose gas rings don't have these issues. I've also found BCGs that are a bit too tight and don't even like closing on an empty chamber. This is a very minor benefit, and only even slightly relevant because the place you'd stick your thumb to push the BCG forward is also where the hot gases come out. I have a Taiwanese T65, and it literally never needs any assistance in closing the bolt. It goes forward like glass. For the record, I do not think piston rifles are superior, and I would near never choose a piston rifle for a fighting rifle.

I have a 605 clone but with mid length gas and I love it

16" or 18" barrel? Ready... Go!

Your enthusiasm is contagious. Great video as always. Does the scalloped area on the bolt carrier that actuates the dust cover have a name?

Thank you, that was a fascinating.

I have two rifles without the forward assist one is a 1974 Colt SP-1 the new one is a Walmart build with no dust cover upper and no forward assist on a brand new lower.

They were still kicking around in parts form in the mid 70s. I’m not sure, but I thought mine was an E-4 but I’m not sure . When I worked as an MP on nuke site guard duty that was the receiver mine had. Everything else was standard M16 with the updates. What a nice rifle. Mine came straight from refurbishment from the look of it. It was gray parkerized and the finish was thick. It felt like fine sandpaper. I got a 1911 that was done up the same way at the time. I couldn’t shoot it all that well but there was definitely no rattle when you shook it. I never saw another pair like those again.

Awesome and perfect video, many of my questions on this era of AR15 answered right here ! :D

Been waiting for this one!

I love the XM16E1 as well, but I love the 601 and shoot my Brownells version any chance I get. Didn't MACV-SOG use the Airforce rifle in combat? So technically it was the one without the forward assist that the Air Force adopted that was the first.

Would be interested to hear your thoughts on the new H&R m16a1 variants from PSA.

Lowest common denominator 😂😂. I like your style sir

I have used a forward assist. Popped primer got the bolt stuck rearward. If not for the forward assist I would've had to remove the whole receiver extension.

Such a beautiful rifle!

forward assist is such a bummer. I wish that never happened.

Agreed

Hi Mr. Bartocci, I have another quick question for you, would you happen to know the name of those vintage AR15 upper receivers that don't have a forward assist, but have like an oval hump in the receiver in that area. Not necessarily Slick Side or Slab Sides , there is no forward assist but just a hump, and there's no brass deflector either. Any info would be appreciated. I think Nodak Spud was remaking them for a while. It was a short run this type. I'm thinking of using one for my build. :)

Mine is the one i have

I love the M16 A1 so much. Such a good looking rifle. If the A2 didn't have the dumb three round burst and retarded barrel profile, I'd probably be a straight improvement. A2 sights are wonderful.

Kyle Rittenhouse disagrees with your forward assist argument lol. It saved his life.

Wish Brownells was still making these.

Very informative video. Makes me want to own one of those M-16s

Are you interested at all in the rifles manufactured by Daewoo in Korea under license from 1971-on?

I like my XM16E1 build the most out of my collection as well. Are those NDS receivers on yours? Still looking for the proper “grey” parts kit for mine. Great video as always