U.S. Marines Are To Switch From The M16 To The M4

U.S. Marine Corps infantrymen could soon switch to the M4 from the M16. Pictured: Marine Corps Cpl. Jordan Westra takes aim using an M4 rifle before firing a warning shot at Camp Barcha in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Oct. 12, 2009. Reuters

Washington Post: The Marines are slowly saying goodbye to the M16 rifle

The Marine Corps’ long, sometimes twisted, relationship with the M16 rifle is slowly coming to an end.

On Monday, the Marine Corps Times reported that the rifle is only a few signatures away from being phased out from front-line units and relegated to a support role. The move, which follows a similar one by the Army, comes as the Marine Corps implements its new small-arms modernization strategy.

“The proposal to replace the M16A4 with the M4 within infantry battalions is currently under consideration at Headquarters Marine Corps,” Maj. Anton Semelroth, a Marine spokesman, told the Marine Corps Times in an e-mail.

The weapon replacing the M16, the M4, is a smaller, carbine variant of the M16. Aesthetically the M4 looks only slightly different, with a collapsible stock and shorter barrel. And while the M4 also shoots the same sized bullet as the M16 — 5.56mm — the real benefits come from its reduced weight and portability.

More News On The U.S. Marines Switching From The M16 To The M4

Marine brass endorses infantry plan to ditch M16 for M4 -- Marine Times
Marine Leaders Endorse Switch From M16 To M4 Weapons For Better Modern Warfare -- IBTimes
Every Marine is a Carbineman: USMC may switch to M4 -- Guns.com
Marine Corps Leaders Endorse Plan To Replace M16 With M4 -- Task & Purpose