This article, by Capt. William L. Smith, originally appeared in the January 1969 issue of THE AMERICAN RIFLEMAN, predecessor to American Rifleman. To subscribe to today's monthly magazine, visit NRA’s ...

Key Points - The M16 rifle's introduction during the Vietnam War was deeply controversial despite its "on-paper" advantages over the M14—lighter weight, higher ammunition capacity, and lower recoil.

Summary and Key Points: The M16 rifle, designed by Eugene Stoner and adopted by the U.S. military in the 1960s, has remained a staple due to its reliability, modularity, and effectiveness. -Despite ...

To gun enthusiasts, it is an effective, lightweight weapon. To anti-gun advocates, it's a symbol of mass shootings. Experts estimate approximately 16 million adults in the US now own at least one of ...

To gun enthusiasts, it is an effective, lightweight weapon. To gun-control advocates, it's a symbol of mass shootings. Approximately 16 million adults in the US now own at least one AR-15, according ...

Here’s What You Need to Know: Thanks to its smaller cartridge, the M16 in automatic fire mode produced shot groups half the size of the bigger rifle. The M16 rifle is one of the most iconic weapons of ...