Carbine, 5.56 mm, M4
An M4A1 with SOPMOD package, including Rail Interface System (RIS), flip-up rear sight and Trijicon ACOG 4x.
Type	Assault rifle
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	1994–present
Used by	See Users
Wars	War in Afghanistan (2001–present), War in Iraq (2003-present)
Production history
Manufacturer	Colt's Manufacturing Company
Produced	1994–present
Variants	M4A1, CQBR
Specifications
Weight	5.9 lb (2.7 kg) empty 6.9 lb (3.1 kg) with 30 rounds
Length	33 in (838 mm) (stock extended) 29.8 in (757 mm) (stock retracted)
Barrel length	14.5 in (368 mm)
Cartridge	5.56x45mm NATO
Action	Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire	700–950 round/min cyclic
Muzzle velocity	2,900 ft/s (884 m/s)
Feed system	Various STANAG Magazines.

The M4 Carbine is a family of firearms tracing its lineage back to earlier carbine versions of the M16, all based on the original AR-15 made by ArmaLite. It 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 M4 Sherman was the primary tank produced by the United States for its own use and the use of its Allies during World War II. Production of the M4 Medium tank exceeded 50,000 units, and its chassis served as the basis for thousands of other armored vehicles such... Image File history File links M4A1_ACOG.jpg‎ Cropped out the M4A1 with Photoshop. ... The AK-47 is the worlds most common assault rifle. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... For other uses of War in Afghanistan, see War in Afghanistan (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Iraq war (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see CMC. Colts Manufacturing Company (CMC--formerly Colts Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company) is a United States firearms manufacturer founded in 1847. ... A CQBR in comparison to a standard M4A1, showing how the reduced barrel length creates a more compact rifle. ... Look up pound in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Kg redirects here. ... Look up pound in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Kg redirects here. ... An inch (plural: inches; symbol or abbreviation: in or, sometimes, ″ - a double prime) is the name of a unit of length in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... A millimetre (American spelling: millimeter, symbol mm) is an SI unit of length that is equal to one thousandth of a metre. ... Folding stock of a SIG 550 rifle A stock or buttstock or shoulder stock is present in many firearms and some crossbows, and performs three functions - to facilitate easy and steady holding and aiming of the weapon prior to and during firing (which may be further assisted by a sling... An inch (plural: inches; symbol or abbreviation: in or, sometimes, ″ - a double prime) is the name of a unit of length in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... A millimetre (American spelling: millimeter, symbol mm) is an SI unit of length that is equal to one thousandth of a metre. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... An inch (plural: inches; symbol or abbreviation: in or, sometimes, ″ - a double prime) is the name of a unit of length in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... A millimetre (American spelling: millimeter, symbol mm) is an SI unit of length that is equal to one thousandth of a metre. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... U.S. Military 5. ... In firearms terminology, an action is the system of operation that the firearm employs to seal the breech (in a breech-loading firearm), and to load consecutive rounds. ... The gas-operated system for implementing automatic reloading of a firearm is one of five such systems, the others being recoil-operated, gatling, chain, and blowback. ... Rotating bolt of a Sig 550 rifle. ... (for paintball markers also)Rate of fire is the frequency at which a specific weapon can fire or launch its projectiles. ... A guns muzzle velocity is the speed at which the projectile leaves the muzzle of the gun. ... Feet per second is a unit of speed; it expressses the number of feet traveled in one second. ... Metre per second (U.S. spelling: meter per second) is an SI derived unit of both speed (scalar) and velocity (vector), defined by distance in metres divided by time in seconds. ... Two STANAG-compliant magazines: A 20-round Colt-manufactured magazine, and a 30-round Heckler & Koch High Reliability magazine. ... A carbine is a firearm similar to, but generally shorter and less powerful than, a rifle or musket of a given period. ... M16 (more formally United States Rifle, Caliber 5. ... The AR-15 is a lightweight, air-cooled, magazine fed, autoloading, centerfire rifle. ... The Armalite AR-18. ... M16 (more formally United States Rifle, Caliber 5. ... The AK-47 is the worlds most common assault rifle. ... A selective fire weapon can be fired in either of at least two modes, depending on the position of the selector switch. ... Walther P99, a semi-automatic pistol from the late 1990s A semi-automatic firearm is a gun that requires only a trigger pull for each round that is fired, unlike a single-action revolver, a pump-action firearm, a bolt-action firearm, or a lever-action firearm, which require the... In automatic firearms, burst mode or burst fire is a firing mode enabling the shooter to fire a predetermined number of rounds (usually 2, 3 or 4) at a time with a single pull of the trigger—this firing mode is commonly used in submachine guns, assault rifles and carbines. ... M2 Browning machine gun An automatic firearm is a firearm that automatically extracts and ejects the fired cartridge case, and loads a new case, usually through the energy of the fired round. ...

Overview

The M4 and variants fire 5.56x45mm NATO ammunition and are gas-operated, air-cooled, magazine-fed, selective fire firearms with a 4-position telescoping stock. Original M4 models had a flat-ended telescoping stock, but newer models are now equipped with a redesigned telescoping stock that is slightly larger and the end has a curvature.^[1] U.S. Military 5. ... Ammunition, often referred to as ammo, is a generic term meaning (the assembly of) a projectile and its propellant. ... The gas-operated system for implementing automatic reloading of a firearm is one of five such systems, the others being recoil-operated, gatling, chain, and blowback. ... A 30-round STANAG magazine. ... A firearm is a kinetic energy weapon that fires either a single or multiple projectiles propelled at high velocity by the gases produced by action of the rapid confined burning of a propellant. ... Folding stock of a SIG 550 rifle A stock or buttstock or shoulder stock is present in many firearms and some crossbows, and performs three functions - to facilitate easy and steady holding and aiming of the weapon prior to and during firing (which may be further assisted by a sling...

The M4 Carbine with the newer, redesigned telescoping stock.

As with many carbines, 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 combat (CQC), 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. Army Special Forces. M4 have also been fielded by the Australian Special Air Service Regiment. Malaysia purchased M4 Carbine service rifles to replace the Steyr AUG service rifles in its armed forces in 2006 and will be manufactured in Malaysia under license by Colt Firearms^{[citation needed]}. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 659 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1249 × 1136 pixels, file size: 381 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) February 20, 2004 A paratrooper communicates through a tactical radio during a response to shots being fired in Fallujah, Iraq. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 659 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1249 × 1136 pixels, file size: 381 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) February 20, 2004 A paratrooper communicates through a tactical radio during a response to shots being fired in Fallujah, Iraq. ... Folding stock of a SIG 550 rifle A stock or buttstock or shoulder stock is present in many firearms and some crossbows, and performs three functions - to facilitate easy and steady holding and aiming of the weapon prior to and during firing (which may be further assisted by a sling... A carbine is a firearm similar to, but generally shorter and less powerful than, a rifle or musket of a given period. ... For other uses, see Rifle (disambiguation). ... Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme in World War I Infantry or footmen are very highly disciplined and trained soldiers who fight primarily with small arms(rifles), but are trained to use everything from their bare hands to missle systems in order to neutralize... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Hand to hand combat. ... Emblem of the United States Special Operations Command. ... Blue Light redirects here. ... The Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) is a Special Forces regiment modelled on the original British SAS and also drawing on the traditions of the Australian World War II Z Special Force commando unit, as well as the Independent Companies which were active in the South Pacific during the same... The AUG is an Austrian 5. ... Military of Malaysia is known officially as the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF, Malay: Angkatan Tentera Malaysia). ... For other uses, see CMC. Colts Manufacturing Company (CMC--formerly Colts Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company) is a United States firearms manufacturer founded in 1847. ...

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. This article is about the federal government of the United States. ... For other uses, see CMC. Colts Manufacturing Company (CMC--formerly Colts Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company) is a United States firearms manufacturer founded in 1847. ... M16 (more formally United States Rifle, Caliber 5. ... “The U.S. Air Force” redirects here. ... The M3 Grease Gun (more formally United States Submachine Gun, Cal. ... The MP5 is a third-generation submachine gun that is widely used by law enforcement tactical teams and military forces. ... Caliber: 5. ...

The United States Marine Corps has ordered its officers (up to the rank of lieutenant colonel) and SNCOs to carry the M4 carbine instead of the M9 Beretta pistol. This is in recognition that pistols are largely useless in current conflicts, and is in line with the Marine Corps phrase, "Every Marine a rifleman." United States Navy corpsmen will also be issued M4s instead of the M9, according to the Marine Corps Times.^[2] The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the United States military responsible for providing power projection from the sea,[1] utilizing the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces. ... The M9 handgun, formally Pistol, Semiautomatic, 9mm, M9, is a 9mm pistol of the U.S. military adopted in the 1980s. ... USN redirects here. ... Hospital Corpsmen (HMs) are members of the United States Navy Hospital Corps. ... Marine Corps Times is a weekly newspaper serving active, reserve and retired United States Marine Corps personnel and their families, providing career-related news and information as well as community and lifestyle features, educational supplements, and resource guides. ...

History and variants

For more details on M4 Carbine variants, see AR-15 variants

Except for the very first delivery order, all U.S. military-issue M4 and M4A1 possess a flat-top NATO M1913-specification (Picatinny) rail on top of the receiver for attachment of optical sights and other aiming devices — Trijicon TA01 and TA31 Advanced Combat Optical Gunsights (ACOG) and Aimpoint M68 Close Combat Optic (M68 CCO) being the favorite choices — and a detachable rail-mounted carrying handle. standards are the Colt Model 920 (M4) and 921 (M4A1). This article will help summarize the many variations on the AR-15 family of weapons. ... This article is about the military alliance. ... M4A Modular Weapons System carbine with M1913 rails on receiver and foregrip Picatinny Rail Dimensions, Cross Section The Picatinny rail is a bracket used on some firearms in order to provide a standardized mounting platform for scopes and other accessories such as tactical lights and laser sighting modules. ... Trijicon (pronounced Trîj-î-(kòn)) is an American company that manufactures and distributes optical sighting devices (scopes) for firearms, including pistols, rifles, and shotguns. ... An ACOG model TA01NSN, as supplied with the SOPMOD kit The Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight (normally pronounced ACOG) is a commonly used telescopic sight for rifles, particularly tactical and assault rifles, such as the automatic M16. ... Aimpoint AB is a Swedish optics company manufacturing red dot sights for civilian, police and military use. ... The CompM2 is a red dot gunsight manufactured by Aimpoint AB. Its US Army designation is M68 Aimpoint. ...

M4/M4A1

The major difference between these models is that the M4 has a "S-1-3" (safe/semi-automatic/3-round burst) trigger group while the M4A1 has a "S-1-F" (safe/semi-automatic/fully automatic) trigger group.

M4 MWS (Modular Weapon System)

M4 MWS (Modular Weapon System) shown with various accessories including M203 grenade launcher, RIS foregrip, removeable carry handle/rear sight assembly, AN/PEQ-2 laser system, and several optional optics.

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. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1340x728, 81 KB) Summary US Government picture of the M4/A1 MWS w/ equipment, obtained on www. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1340x728, 81 KB) Summary US Government picture of the M4/A1 MWS w/ equipment, obtained on www. ... M203 generally refers to the United States Army designation for a single shot 40 mm grenade launcher that attaches to the M16 assault rifle or the M4 Carbine. ... The AN/PEQ-2 is a laser aiming device for use on rifles fitted with a Picatinny rail. ... Knights Armament Company (KAC, also Knights Manufacturing Company) is an American firearms and firearms parts manufacturer. ...

M4A1

The M4A1 carbine is a variant of the basic M4 carbine intended for special operations use. The M4A1 is used by almost all U.S special operation units. The M4A1 Carbine is specially favored by counter-terrorist and special operations units for close quarters combat because of the carbine's compactness and firepower. These features are also very useful in urban warfare. Although the M4 does not have as great of an effective range as the longer M16, many military analysts consider engagement with a non-specialized small arm above a range of 300 meters to be unnecessary. It is effective at ranges of 150 meters or less. It has a maximum effective range of about 460 meters. For other uses, see Special forces (disambiguation). ... Counter-terrorism refers to the practices, tactics, and strategies that governments, militaries, and other groups adopt in order to fight terrorism. ... Special forces or special operations forces is a term used to describe relatively small military units raised and trained for reconnaissance, unconventional warfare and special operations. ... Urban warfare is a modern warfare conducted in urban areas such as towns and cities. ...

In the last few years, M4A1 carbines have been 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.

SOPMOD Block I

SOPMOD (Special Operations Peculiar Modification) Block I

USSOCOM developed the Special Operations Peculiar Modification (SOPMOD) Block I kit for the carbines used by units under its jurisdiction. The kit features an M4A1 carbine, a Rail Interface System (RIS) handguard developed by Knight's Armament Company, a shortened quick-detachable M203 grenade launcher and leaf sight, a KAC sound suppressor, a 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 currently in service with special operations units (though many soldiers have changed the Trijicon reflex sight for EOTech holographic sights). Image File history File links SOPMOD_2-2005. ... Image File history File links SOPMOD_2-2005. ... Emblem of the United States Special Operations Command. ... The Special Operations Particular Modification (SOPMOD) kit is an accessory system for the M4A1 Carbine used by USSOCOM. The kit allows the Special Forces operator to configure his weapon to individual preferences and mission requirements. ... M203 generally refers to the United States Army designation for a single shot 40 mm grenade launcher that attaches to the M16 assault rifle or the M4 Carbine. ... Sight of a Sig 550 rifle (muzzle) Sight of a Sig 550 rifle (stock) A sight is an optical device used to assist aim by guiding the eye and aligning it with the weapon or other item to be pointed. ... Several firearms with detachable suppressors Bolt-action rimfire rifle with suppressor Semiautomatic rimfire pistol with suppressor A suppressor or sound moderator is a device attached to a firearm to reduce the amount of noise and flash generated by firing the weapon. ... The AN/PEQ-2 is a laser aiming device for use on rifles fitted with a Picatinny rail. ... For other uses, see Laser (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Infrared (disambiguation). ... A Norwegian soldier holding an MP5 with an Aimpoint CompM2 red dot sight. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Image intensifier. ... A Norwegian soldier holding an MP5 with an Aimpoint CompM2 red dot sight. ... EOTech designs, manufactures, and markets electro-optic products and systems. ... This article is about the photographic technique. ...

SOPMOD Block II

A second-generation SOPMOD kit (now known as SOPMOD II) is currently under development, with many different manufacturers competing for a contract. Notable bidders include Knight's Armament Company, Atlantic Research Marketing Systems (ARMS), and Lewis Machine & Tools. Daniel Defense has won the contract for the RIS-II, the next generation of rail handguards.

Variants of the carbine built by different manufacturers are also in service with many other foreign special forces units, such as the Australian Special Air Service Regiment (SASR). While the 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. The Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) is a Special Forces regiment modelled on the original British SAS and also drawing on the traditions of the Australian World War II Z Special Force commando unit, as well as the Independent Companies which were active in the South Pacific during the same... See also Australian Special Air Service Regiment and New Zealand Special Air Service: The Special Air Service Regiment (SAS) is the principal special forces unit of the British Army. ... The C7 is a variation of the M16 rifle that is manufactured by Diemaco, a subsidiary of Colt Firearms, and used by the Canadian Forces, Hærens Jegerkommando (Norway), Military of Denmark (all branches) and the Royal Netherlands Army as its main infantry weapon. ... Diemaco is a Canadian firearms and defence company. ...

Design

M4 with M68 Close Combat Optic and AN/PAQ-4

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 14.5 in (368 mm) 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 the .45 ACP M3 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, both projects were cancelled.) The M4 Carbine is also capable of mounting the M203 grenade launcher. The CompM2 is a red dot gunsight manufactured by Aimpoint AB. Its US Army designation is M68 Aimpoint. ... An inch (plural: inches; symbol or abbreviation: in or, sometimes, ″ - a double prime) is the name of a unit of length in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... A millimetre (American spelling: millimeter, symbol mm) is an SI unit of length that is equal to one thousandth of a metre. ... Walther P99, a semi-automatic pistol from the late 1990s A semi-automatic firearm is a gun that requires only a trigger pull for each round that is fired, unlike a single-action revolver, a pump-action firearm, a bolt-action firearm, or a lever-action firearm, which require the... The XM29 OICW (Objective Individual Combat Weapon) was the name for a series of prototypes of a new type of battle rifle that fired 20 mm HE airbursting projectiles. ... A US Marine weapons instructor holds an XM8 Carbine during the Infantry Operations Chief Symposium in August 2005 The XM8 is a developmental U.S. military designation and project name for a lightweight assault rifle system that was under development by the United States Army from the late 1990s to... M203 generally refers to the United States Army designation for a single shot 40 mm grenade launcher that attaches to the M16 assault rifle or the M4 Carbine. ...

Some features of the M4 and M4A1 compared to a full-length M16-series rifle include:

• Compact size
• Shorter barrel 14.5 in (368 mm)
• Telescoping buttstock
• Increased rate of fire

However, there have been some criticisms of the carbine, such as lower muzzle 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. An inch (plural: inches; symbol or abbreviation: in or, sometimes, ″ - a double prime) is the name of a unit of length in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... A millimetre (American spelling: millimeter, symbol mm) is an SI unit of length that is equal to one thousandth of a metre. ... A guns muzzle velocity is the speed at which the projectile leaves the muzzle of the gun. ...

Accessories

An M4 just after firing, with an ejected case in mid-air; the M203 and M68 CCO are attached

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, bipods, the M203 grenade launcher and the XM26 LSS shotgun, and anything else compatible with a MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail. A M4 Carbine just after firing, with an ejected case in mid-air The article titled casing is a disambiguation page. ... M203 generally refers to the United States Army designation for a single shot 40 mm grenade launcher that attaches to the M16 assault rifle or the M4 Carbine. ... The CompM2 is a red dot gunsight manufactured by Aimpoint AB. Its US Army designation is M68 Aimpoint. ... A bipod is a support device that is similar to a tripod or monopod, but with only two legs. ... M203 generally refers to the United States Army designation for a single shot 40 mm grenade launcher that attaches to the M16 assault rifle or the M4 Carbine. ... M4 carbine with XM26 LSS The XM26 Lightweight Shotgun System (LSS) is a developmental under-barrel shotgun attachment for the M16/M4 family of U.S. service firearms. ... For other uses, see Shotgun (disambiguation). ...

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. As with all versions of the M16, the M4 accepts a blank-firing attachment (BFA). An ACOG model TA01NSN, as supplied with the SOPMOD kit The Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight (normally pronounced ACOG) is a commonly used telescopic sight for rifles, particularly tactical and assault rifles, such as the automatic M16. ... The blank-firing attachment (BFA) is a screwtop seal intended for placement at the end of (primarily) rifle barrels to allow for a natural cycling of the weapon after a blank round is fired. ...

M4 Carbine effectiveness

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): Located in Massachusetts, the Natick Soldier Center purportedly exists to develop and test new systems for the US Military Soldier. ... Combatants  United States,  Canada,  United Kingdom,  New Zealand,  Australia,  Denmark,  France,  Norway,  Germany Taliban insurgents, al-Qaeda Commanders Major General Franklin Hagenbeck Unknown Strength 2,000 500–1,500 Casualties 8 U.S. servicemen killed, 82 wounded, 7 Afghan soldiers killed 500–800 [1] A map showing the pre-operation...

• 34% of soldiers reported that their M4's handguards rattle and become excessively hot when firing.
• 15% reported that they had trouble zeroing the M68 reflex sight.
• 35% added barber brushes and 24% added dental picks to their cleaning kits.
• Soldiers reported the following malfunctions:
  • 20% reported double-feeding.
  • 15% reported feeding jams.
  • 13% reported that feeding problems were due to magazines.
• 89% of soldiers reported confidence in the weapon.
• 20% were dissatisfied with its ease of maintenance.

Soldiers requested the following changes:

• 55% requested the firearm be made lighter
• 20% requested a larger magazine

2007 Dust Test

In the fall of 2007, the Army tested the M4 against three other carbines in "sandstorm conditions" at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland: the Heckler & Koch XM8 rifle, FNH USA’s SOF Combat Assault Rifle (SCAR) and the Heckler & Koch HK416. Ten of each type of rifle were used to fire 6,000 rounds each, for a total of 60,000 rounds per rifle type.^[3] The M4 suffered far more stoppages than its competitors: 882 stoppages, 19 requiring an armorer to fix. The XM8 had the fewest stoppages, 116 minor stoppages and 11 major ones, followed by the FN SCAR with 226 stoppages and the HK416 with 233.^[4][5] The Army now has plans to improve the M4 with a new cold-hammer-forged barrel to give longer life and more reliable magazines to reduce the stoppages. Magazine failures caused 239 of the M4's 882 failures. Army officials said the new magazines could be combat-ready by spring if testing goes well.^[6] Aberdeen Proving Ground is a United States Army facility located at Aberdeen, Maryland (in Harford county). ... Official language(s) None (English, de facto) Capital Annapolis Largest city Baltimore Largest metro area Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area Area  Ranked 42nd  - Total 12,407 sq mi (32,133 km²)  - Width 101 miles (145 km)  - Length 249 miles (400 km)  - % water 21  - Latitude 37° 53′ N to 39° 43′ N... Heckler & Koch GmbH (H&K) (pronounced [1]) is a German weapons manufacturing company famous for various series of small firearms, notably the MP5 submachine gun, the MP7 personal defense weapon, USP series of handguns, high-precision PSG1 sniper rifle, and the G3 and G36 assault rifles. ... A US Marine weapons instructor holds an XM8 Carbine during the Infantry Operations Chief Symposium in August 2005 The XM8 is a developmental U.S. military designation and project name for a lightweight assault rifle system that was under development by the United States Army from the late 1990s to... The HK416 is an assault rifle designed and manufactured by Heckler & Koch to be an improved version of the M4 carbine pattern firearm. ... The SOF Combat Assault Rifle[1], or SCAR, is a modular rifle made by Fabrique Nationale (FN) for the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) to satisfy the requirements of the SCAR competition. ...

Trademark issues

Colt has held a US trademark on the word "M4"^[7] Many manufacturers produce firearms that come very close in terms of appearance to a military M4, sometimes colloquially referred to as an "M4gery"^[8] (pronounced ĕm'fôr jə-rē, a portmanteau of "M4" and "forgery"). Colt has maintained that it retains sole rights to the M4 name and design. Other manufacturers 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 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. Heckler & Koch later settled out of court, changing one product's name from "HK M4" to "HK416". However, on December 8th, 2005, a District court judge in Maine granted a summary judgment in favor of Bushmaster Firearms, dismissing all of Colt's claims except for false advertising. On the latter claim, Colt could not recover monetary damages. More importantly, the court ruled that "M4" was now a generic name, and that Colt's trademark should be revoked. “(TM)” redirects here. ... A portmanteau (IPA: ) is a word or morpheme that fuses two or more words or word parts to give a combined or loaded meaning. ... Heckler & Koch GmbH (H&K) (pronounced [1]) is a German weapons manufacturing company famous for various series of small firearms, notably the MP5 submachine gun, the MP7 personal defense weapon, USP series of handguns, high-precision PSG1 sniper rifle, and the G3 and G36 assault rifles. ... Bushmaster Firearms Inc. ... Trademark infringement is a violation of the exclusive rights attaching to a registered trademark without the authorisation of the trademark owner or any licensees (provided that such authorization was within the scope of the license). ... Trade dress refers to features of the visual appearance of a product or its packaging (or even the facade of a building such as a restaurant) that may be registered and protected from being used by competitors in the manner of a trademark. ... Dilution is a trademark law concept forbidding the use of a famous trademark in a way that would lessen its uniqueness. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... Antitrust is also the name for a movie, see Antitrust (movie) Antitrust or competition laws legislate against trade practices that undermine competitiveness or are considered to be unfair. ... The HK416 is an assault rifle designed and manufactured by Heckler & Koch to be an improved version of the M4 carbine pattern firearm. ... Official language(s) None (English and French de facto) Capital Augusta Largest city Portland Area  Ranked 39th  - Total 33,414 sq mi (86,542 km²)  - Width 210 miles (338 km)  - Length 320 miles (515 km)  - % water 13. ... Summary judgment is a legal term which means that a court has made a determination (a judgment) without a full trial. ...

Users

In addition to the United States of America (the country of origin), users of the M4 Carbine and its variants include;^{[citation needed]} Motto: (traditional) In God We Trust (official, 1956–present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at the federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic  - President George W. Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence - Declared - Recognized...

Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Argentina. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Brazil. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Colombia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Chile. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Denmark. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Egypt. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Greece. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Georgia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Indonesia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Iraq. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Israel. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Japan. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Jordan. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Kuwait. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Lebanon. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Malaysia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Mexico. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_New_Zealand. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Peru. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Philippines. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Poland. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Republic_of_China. ... For the Chinese civilization, see China. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Singapore. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_South_Korea. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Thailand. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Turkey. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ...

U.S. citizen ownership

Sales of select-fire or full automatic M4s by Colt are restricted to military and civilian law enforcement. Only under special circumstances can a private citizen own an M4 Carbine in a select-fire or fully automatic configuration. While many machine guns can be legally owned with a proper tax stamp from the BATFE, an amendment to the Firearm Owners Protection Act of 1986 barred the transfer to private citizens of machine guns made in the U.S. after May 19, 1986. The only exception was for Special Occupational Taxpayers (SOT): licensed machine gun dealers with demonstration letters, manufacturers, and those dealing in exports and imports. As such, only the earliest Colt M4 prototypes built prior to May 19, 1986 would be legal to own by civilians not in the categories mentioned. However, as US firearms law considers the lower receiver of a M16/M4 type rifle to be the "firearm" (the serial numbered and, in the case of machineguns, registered under federal law, part of the weapon), a registered Colt M16 (much more common than an actual M4) may be configured as an M4 by replacing the M16 upper receiver/barrel assembly with an M4 top half, the burst mechanism with a fully-automatic FCG, and the fixed rifle stock with a 4-position telescoping M4 stock. The Firearm Owners Protection Act (FOPA) is a United States federal law that revised many statutes in the Gun Control Act of 1968. ...

References

Military of the United States Portal

Image File history File links Naval_Jack_of_the_United_States. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

M4

• Colt Official M4 Military page and Colt M4 Law Enforcement page
• US Army M4 fact file
• The AR-15/M16 Magazine FAQ
• U.S. Army Won't Field Rifle Deemed Superior to M4
• The USA's M4 Carbine Controversy

v • d • e AR-15 variants

AR-10 • AR-15 • M16/A1/A2/A3/A4 • M4/A1 Carbine • Diemaco C7, C8 • Colt Commando, XM177, CAR-15 • Colt 9mm SMG • Bushmaster M4 • HK416 • HK417 • REC7 • M231 FPW • SDM-R • SAM-R • Mark 11 'SWS' / SR-25 • M110 SASS • Mark 12 'SPR' • SEAL Recon Rifle • Mark 18 'CQBR' • Ares Shrike • La France M16K • SR-47 • Colt Automatic Rifle / CAR • Heckler & Koch MR223 Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Belligerents United Nations: Republic of Korea Australia Belgium Canada Colombia Ethiopia France Greece Luxembourg Netherlands New Zealand Philippines South Africa Thailand Turkey United Kingdom United States Naval Support and Military Servicing/Repairs: Japan Medical staff: Denmark Italy Norway India Sweden DPR Korea PR China Soviet Union Commanders Syngman Rhee Chung... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The M1911 is a single-action, semiautomatic handgun chambered for the . ... The M9 handgun, formally Pistol, Semiautomatic, 9mm, M9, is a 9mm pistol of the U.S. military adopted in the 1980s. ... The Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft (SIG)-Sauer P226 is a full-sized, service type pistol originally chambered for 9 mm Luger. ... The Smith and Wesson Model 39 was developed for the US Army service pistol trials of 1949. ... The MK23 Mod 0 is an offensive handgun system consisting of a match grade semi-automatic pistol, a laser aiming module (LAM), and suppressor. ... The Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft (SIG)-Sauer P226 is a full-sized, service type pistol originally chambered for 9 mm Luger. ... For other uses, see Rifle (disambiguation). ... The M1 Garand (more formally the United States Rifle, Caliber . ... The Browning Automatic Rifle (more formally first as the Rifle, Caliber . ... M14 and M-14 redirect here. ... The M15 was developed as a replacement for the Browning Automatic Rifle for use as a squad automatic weapon. ... M16 (more formally United States Rifle, Caliber 5. ... Caliber: 5. ... Colt Automatic Rifle is a 5. ... The AAI Serial Bullet Rifle was a US made assault rifle, developed by the AAI Corporation as a possible entrant into the Advanced Combat Rifle program to replace the long serving M16 rifle. ... A US Marine weapons instructor holds an XM8 Carbine during the Infantry Operations Chief Symposium in August 2005 The XM8 is a developmental U.S. military designation and project name for a lightweight assault rifle system that was under development by the United States Army from the late 1990s to... The United States Navy Mark 14 Mod 0 Enhanced Battle Rifle (EBR) is an American select-fire military rifle chambered for the 7. ... The SOF Combat Assault Rifle[1], or SCAR, is a modular rifle made by Fabrique Nationale (FN) for the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) to satisfy the requirements of the SCAR competition. ... The HK416 is an assault rifle designed and manufactured by Heckler & Koch to be an improved version of the M4 carbine pattern firearm. ... A carbine is a firearm similar to, but generally shorter and less powerful than, a rifle or musket of a given period. ... The M1 Carbine (formally the United States Carbine, Caliber . ... The Colt Commando (a. ... Caliber: 5. ... CAR-15 is a common name applied to many carbine variants of the Colt AR-15 rifle (adopted by the USA as the M16 rifle) in both military and civilian service. ... M231 FPW Designed by the Rock Island Armory as a dedicated Firing Port Weapon (or FPW) for the M2/M3 Bradley AFV, the Colt M231 FPW remains in service, although all but the rear two firing ports on the Bradley have been removed. ... CAR-15 is a common name applied to many carbine variants of the Colt AR-15 rifle (adopted by the USA as the M16 rifle) in both military and civilian service. ... A CQBR in comparison to a standard M4A1, showing how the reduced barrel length creates a more compact rifle. ... The M40, United States Marine Corps standard-issue sniper rifle. ... The M21 Sniper Weapon System (SWS) is the semi-automatic sniper rifle adaptation of the popular M14 rifle. ... The M24 SWS (Sniper Weapon System) is the military and police version of the Remington 700 rifle, M24 being the model name assigned by the United States Army after adoption as their standard sniper rifle in 1988. ... The M25/XM25 is a joint venture sniper rifle, built for both the US Army Special Forces and the US Navy SEALs. ... This article is about the M40 rifle. ... For the assault rifle, see Valmet M82. ... The McMillan TAC-50 is a military/law enforcement sniper rifle chambered in . ... The Barrett XM109 is a 25 mm sniper rifle still under development by the Barrett Firearms Company. ... The M110 SASS (Semi-Automatic Sniper System), is a semi-automatic rifle that uses 7. ... For State Route 25 or State Road 25, see list of highways numbered 25. ... An Mk 12 Mod 0 SPR clone built by Mid-South Tactical Network (MSTN). ... The United States Marine Corps Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR, NSN 1005-01-458-6235; more formally the United States Rifle, 7. ... Caliber: .50 BMG Magazine: Detatchable Magazine Capacity: 5 Rounds Action: Bolt Action Length: 139. ... A Squad Advanced Marksman of the 22nd MEU in Afghanistan The Squad Advanced Marksman Rifle (SAM-R) gives U.S. Marines the capability to provide precision fire in support of the rifle squad, providing precision fire in support of an assault, and aid in observation and adjusting of supporting arms. ... The United States Army Squad Designated Marksman Rifle (SDM-R) is a M16-series rifle modified to provide increased accuracy over range, giving infantry squads greater firepower. ... The MP5 is a third-generation submachine gun that is widely used by law enforcement tactical teams and military forces. ... Tommy Gun redirects here. ... The M3 Grease Gun (more formally United States Submachine Gun, Cal. ... The MP5 is a 9 mm submachine gun of German design, developed in the 1960s by a group of engineers from the West German arms manufacturer Heckler & Koch GmbH (HK). ... For other uses, see Shotgun (disambiguation). ... The Ithaca 37 is a pump-action shotgun made in large numbers for the civilian, military, and police markets. ... The Remington Model 870 is a U.S.-made pump-action shotgun. ... The Mossberg 500 is a shotgun manufactured by O.F. Mossberg & Sons [1]. Rather than a single model, the 500 is really a series of widely varying hammerless, pump action repeaters, all of which share the same basic receiver and action, but differ in bore size, barrel length, choke options... The Benelli Super 90 M4 also known as the M1014 Combat Shotgun is an Italian-made shotgun manufactured by Benelli Armi S.P.A. It is currently used by the United States Armed Forces as their Joint Service Combat Shotgun. The M4 was developed in Italy by Benelli. ... M4 carbine with XM26 LSS The XM26 Lightweight Shotgun System (LSS) is a developmental under-barrel shotgun attachment for the M16/M4 family of U.S. service firearms. ... A . ... This article is about the . ... For other uses, see M60. ... Caliber: 5. ... 7. ... The M240, formally United States Machine Gun, 7. ... The M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (M249 SAW) is the United States military designation for a sub-family of the FN MINIMI squad automatic weapon (from Mini-mitrailleuse French: mini-machine gun. Both are 5. ... The HK 23 is a belt-fed light machine gun using the 5. ... XM307 The XM307 Advanced Crew Served Weapon (ACSW) is a developmental 25 mm belt-fed Grenade Machine Gun with smart shell capability. ... XM312 . ... The Browning M1919 was a . ... The Colt Machine Gun-1 or CMG-1 was an open bolt belt-fed machine gun that fired 5. ... For the U.S. Navy torpedo, see Mark 48 torpedo. ... A grenade launcher is weapon that fires or launches a grenade to longer distances than a soldier could throw by hand. ... The M79 grenade launcher is a single-shot, shoulder-fired, break open grenade launcher which fires a 40 x46 mm grenade and first appeared during the Vietnam War. ... The XM148 was an experimental 40 mm grenade launcher developed by Colt Firearms as the CGL-4 (Colt Grenade Launcher). ... M203 generally refers to the United States Army designation for a single shot 40 mm grenade launcher that attaches to the M16 assault rifle or the M4 Carbine. ... The M234 Riot Control Launcher is an M16 series rifle attachment firing a M755 blank round. ... Wikimedia Commons has media related to: XM320 XM320 Grenade Launcher Module (GLM) refers to the U.S. Militarys designation for a new single-shot 40 mm grenade launcher to replace the M203. ... The MGL is a grenade launcher manufactured in South Africa by Milkor Marketing. ... The EX 41 grenade launcher, also called the Shoulder-Fired Weapon (SFW), was a prototype multi-shot grenade launcher that was never adopted by the United States military. ... The SOF Combat Assault Rifle[1], or SCAR, is a modular rifle made by Fabrique Nationale (FN) for the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) to satisfy the requirements of the SCAR competition. ... Mk19 40mm grenade launcher MK-19 40mm grenade launcher during MIL-EX 2003 Mk19 40mm grenade launcher with cover open and training ammunition loaded The Mk 19 Grenade Launcher is a belt-fed automatic 40mm grenade launcher or grenade machine gun entered U.S. military service during the Cold War... A Mk 47 being tested in 2002 at Camp Lejeune The Mk 47 Mod 0 or Striker 40 [1] is a 40 mm grenade machine gun with an integrated fire control system, capable of smart programmable 40 mm shells in addition to various dumb rounds. ... For the sniper rifle, see XM25 Sniper Rifle. ... For other uses, see Bazooka (disambiguation). ... The M67 recoilless rifle was a lightweight, portable, crew-served 90mm weapon intended primarily as an anti-tank weapon made in the United States by the department of the U.S. army. ... The M72 LAW (Light Anti-Tank Weapon, also referred to as the Light Anti-Armor Weapon or LAW) is a portable one-shot 66 mm anti-tank weapon, designed in the United States by Talley Defense Systems, produced by Nammo Raufoss AS in Norway. ... This article is about the unguided anti-tank weapon. ... The XM141 Bunker Defeat Munition is a U.S. Army shoulder launched weapon designed to defeat hardened structures. ... The M202A1 FLASH (Flame Assault Shoulder Weapon) is a type of rocket-launcher that was designed to be a replacement for the flamethrower, which was already coming of age after World War II. The M202A1 is lightweight, and features four tubes that can load 66mm incendiary rockets, generally filled with... SMAW The Shoulder-Launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon (SMAW) is a shoulder-launched rocket weapon, based on the Israeli B-300, with the primary function of being a portable anti-armor rocket launcher. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... U.S. Military 5. ... NATO 7. ... .30-06 Springfield cartridge specifications. ... .50 BMG rounds and 20MM Vulcan round, with a golf ball and a stick of RAM posed to provide scale. ... .300 Winchester Magnum (known as . ... The 9x19mm Parabellum is a pistol cartridge introduced in 1902 by the German weapons manufacturer Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken (DWM) for their Luger pistol. ... .45 ACP cartridges .45 redirects here. ... 12 gauge is the most common size of shotgun shell. ... This article will help summarize the many variations on the AR-15 family of weapons. ... The AR-10 is classed as an automatic rifle which fires 7. ... The AR-15 is a lightweight, air-cooled, magazine fed, autoloading, centerfire rifle. ... M16 (more formally United States Rifle, Caliber 5. ... The C7 is a service rifle variation of the M16 rifle that is manufactured by Diemaco/Colt Canada, a subsidiary of Colt Firearms after 2005, and used by the Canadian Forces, Hærens Jegerkommando (Norway), Military of Denmark (all branches), the Royal Netherlands Army and Netherlands Marine Corps as its... CAR-15 is a common name applied to many carbine variants of the Colt AR-15 rifle (adopted by the USA as the M16 rifle) in both military and civilian service. ... The Colt 9mm SMG is a Submachine Gun based on the M16 weapons platform. ... The M4 Type Carbine is a firearm manufactured by Bushmaster Firearms International, modeled on the AR-15 platform. ... The HK416 is an assault rifle designed and manufactured by Heckler & Koch to be an improved version of the M4 carbine pattern firearm. ... The HK417 is an up-scaled version of the HK416, designed to chamber the 7. ... M231 FPW Designed by the Rock Island Armory as a dedicated Firing Port Weapon (or FPW) for the M2/M3 Bradley AFV, the Colt M231 FPW remains in service, although all but the rear two firing ports on the Bradley have been removed. ... The United States Army Squad Designated Marksman Rifle (SDM-R) is a M16-series rifle modified to provide increased accuracy over range, giving infantry squads greater firepower. ... A Squad Advanced Marksman of the 22nd MEU in Afghanistan The Squad Advanced Marksman Rifle (SAM-R) gives U.S. Marines the capability to provide precision fire in support of the rifle squad, providing precision fire in support of an assault, and aid in observation and adjusting of supporting arms. ... For State Route 25 or State Road 25, see list of highways numbered 25. ... The M110 SASS (Semi-Automatic Sniper System), is a semi-automatic rifle that uses 7. ... An Mk 12 Mod 0 SPR clone built by Mid-South Tactical Network (MSTN). ... Background Built in house by SEAL Team armorers, and later by the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (often referred to as NSWC-Crane or just Crane), these rifles were developed to provide SEAL snipers with a portable, lightweight system that had greater lethality over a standard M4-type AR... A CQBR in comparison to a standard M4A1, showing how the reduced barrel length creates a more compact rifle. ... Caliber: 5. ... The La France M16K is a M16 rifle modified by the company La France Specialties, which among with other firearm related activities, convert common military weapons into more compact configurations typically for law enforcement and special forces use. ... The SR-47 is a modern assault rifle based on the ArmaLite family of rifles created by Knights Armament Company for the USSOCOM. Unlike the majority of guns based around ArmaLite design, the SR-47 fires the Soviet 7. ... Colt Automatic Rifle is a 5. ...