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List of Colt AR-15 and M16 rifle variants

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This article will help summarize the many Colt AR-15 variations, and also similar copies of the design. Bold model numbers are weapons used (or previously used) by U.S. Military while italic model numbers are weapons for commercial or export sale.

Colt models

Colt model no. Name Stock Fire control Rear sight Forward assist Case deflector Barrel length Barrel profile Barrel twist Hand guards Bayonet Lug Muzzle device
603 XM16E1 A1 S-1-F A1 Yes No 20 in. A1 1:12 Triangular Yes Type 2 Duckbill
603 M16A1 A1 S-1-F A1 Yes No 20 in. A1 1:12 Triangular Yes A1
604 M16 A1 S-1-F A1 No No 20 in. A1 1:12 Triangular Yes A1
605 CAR-15 Carbine A1 S-1-F A1 No No 15 in. A1 1:12 Triangular No Type 2 Duckbill
605A CAR-15 Carbine A1 S-1-F A1 Yes No 15 in. A1 1:12 Triangular No Type 2 Duckbill
605B CAR-15 Carbine A1 S-F-1-3 A1 No No 15 in. A1 1:12 Triangular No Type 2 Duckbill
606 CAR-15 Heavy Assault Rifle M1 A1 S-1-F A1 No No 20 in. HBAR 1:12 Triangular Yes Type 2 Duckbill
606A CAR-15 Heavy Assault Rifle M1 A1 S-1-F A1 Yes No 20 in. HBAR 1:12 Triangular Yes Type 2 Duckbill
606B CAR-15 Heavy Assault Rifle M1 A1 S-F-1-3 A1 Yes No 20 in. HBAR 1:12 Triangular Yes Type 2 Duckbill
607 CAR-15 SMG 1st Generation S-1-F A1 No No 10 in. A1 1:12 Short Triangular No Type 1 and 2 Duckbill and 3.5" Moderator
607A CAR-15 SMG 1st Generation S-1-F A1 Yes No 10 in. A1 1:12 Short Triangular No Type 1 and 2 Duckbill and 3.5" Moderator
607B CAR-15 SMG 1st Generation S-F-1-3 A1 No No 10 in. A1 1:12 Short Triangular No Type 1 and 2 Duckbill and 3.5" Moderator
608 CAR-15 Survival Rifle Tubular S-1-F A1 No No 10 in. A1 1:12 Short Round No Conical or 3.5" Moderator
609 XM177E1 2nd Generation S-1-F A1 Yes No 10 in. A1 1:12 Short Ribbed No 3.5" or 4.5" Moderator
610 XM177 or GAU-5/A 2nd Generation S-1-F A1 No No 10 in. A1 1:12 Short Ribbed No 3.5" or 4.5" Moderator
610B CAR-15 SMG 2nd Generation S-F-1-3 A1 No No 10 in. A1 1:12 Short Ribbed No 3.5" or 4.5" Moderator
619 XM177E1 2nd Generation S-1-F A1 Yes No 10 in. A1 1:12 Short Ribbed No 3.5" or 4.5" Moderator
620 XM177 2nd Generation S-1-F A1 No No 10 in. A1 1:12 Short Ribbed No 3.5" or 4.5" Moderator
629 XM177E2 2nd Generation S-1-F A1 Yes No 11.5 in. A1 1:12 Short Ribbed No 4.5" Moderator
639 XM177E2 2nd Generation S-1-F A1 Yes No 11.5 in. A1 1:12 Short Ribbed No 4.5" Moderator or A1
640 XM177E2 2nd Generation S-1-F A1 No No 11.5 in. A1 1:12 Short Ribbed No 4.5" Moderator or A1
649 GAU-5A/A 2nd Generation S-1-F A1 No No 11.5 in. A1 1:12 Short Ribbed No 4.5" Moderator
651 M16A1 carbine A1 S-1-F A1 Yes No 14.5 in. A1 1:12 Short Ribbed Yes A1
652 M16A1 carbine A1 S-1-F A1 No No 14.5 in. A1 1:12 Short Ribbed Yes A1
653 M16A1 carbine 2nd Generation S-1-F A1 Yes No 14.5 in. A1 1:12 Short Ribbed Yes A1
654 M16A1 carbine 2nd Generation S-1-F A1 No No 14.5 in. A1 1:12 Short Ribbed Yes A1
720 XM4/M4 3rd Generation S-1-3 A2 Yes Yes 14.5 in. M4 1:7 Short Ribbed Yes A2
723 M16A2 carbine 3rd Generation S-1-F A1 Yes Yes 14.5 in. A1 1:7 Short Ribbed Yes A1
725 M16A2 Carbine (Diemaco C8) 3rd Generation S-1-F A1 Yes Yes 14.5 in. A1 1:7 Short Ribbed Yes A2
727 M16A2 carbine 3rd Generation S-1-F A2 Yes Yes 14.5 in. M4 1:7 Short Ribbed Yes A2
733 M16A2 Commando/M4 Commando 3rd or 4th Generation S-1-F A1 or A2 Yes Yes or No 11.5 in. A1 or A2 1:7 Short Ribbed No A1 or A2
735 M16A2 Commando/M4 Commando 3rd or 4th Generation S-1-3 A1 or A2 Yes Yes or No 11.5 in. A1 or A2 1:7 Short Ribbed No A1 or A2
738 M4 Commando Enhanced 4th Generation S-1-3-F A2 Yes Yes 11.5 in. A2 1:7 Short Ribbed No A1 or A2
777 M4 Carbine 4th Generation S-1-3 A2 Yes Yes 14.5 in. M4 1:7 M4 Yes A2
778 M4 Carbine Enhanced 4th Generation S-1-3-F A2 Yes Yes 14.5 in. M4 1:7 M4 Yes A2
779 M4 Carbine 4th Generation S-1-F A2 Yes Yes 14.5 in. M4 1:7 M4 Yes A2
920 M4 Carbine 3rd and 4th Generation S-1-3 Flattop Yes Yes 14.5 in. M4 1:7 M4 Yes A2
921 M4A1 Carbine 4th Generation S-1-F Flattop Yes Yes 14.5 in. M4 1:7 M4 Yes A2
921HB M4A1 Carbine 4th Generation S-1-F Flattop Yes Yes 14.5 in. M4 HBAR 1:7 M4 Yes A2
925 M4E2 Carbine 3rd or 4th Generation S-1-3 Flattop Yes Yes 14.5 in. M4 1:7 M4 Yes A2
927 M4 Carbine 4th Generation S-1-F Flattop Yes Yes 14.5 in. M4 1:7 M4 Yes A2
933 M4 Commando 4th Generation S-1-F Flattop Yes Yes 11.5 in. A1 or A2 1:7 Short Ribbed No A2
935 M4 Commando 4th Generation S-1-3 Flattop Yes Yes 11.5 in. A1 or A2 1:7 Short Ribbed No A2
938 M4 Commando Enhanced 4th Generation S-1-3-F Flattop Yes Yes 11.5 in. A2 1:7 M4 No A2
977 M4 Carbine 4th Generation S-1-3 Flattop Yes Yes 14.5 in. M4 1:7 M4 Yes A2
978 M4 Carbine Enhanced 4th Generation S-1-3-F Flattop Yes Yes 14.5 in. M4 1:7 M4 Yes A2
979 M4 Carbine 4th Generation S-1-F Flattop Yes Yes 14.5 in. M4 1:7 M4 Yes A2

Non-Colt models

Name Base weapon Stock Fire control Rear sight Forward assist Case deflector Barrel length Barrel profile Barrel twist Hand guards Bayonet Lug Muzzle device
GUU-5/P GAU-5/A or GAU-5A/A 2nd or 4th Generation S-1-F A1 Yes No 14.5 in. A1 or M4 1:7 Short Ribbed Yes A1 or A2
GUU-5/P GAU-5/A or GAU-5A/A 2nd or 4th Generation S-1-F A2 or Flattop Yes Yes 14.5 in. M4 1:7 M4 Yes A2
Mekut'zar Model 653 3rd Generation or Israeli S-1-F A1 Yes No 14.5 in. M4 1:7 Short Ribbed Yes A2
Mekut'zrar Model 653 2nd Generation or Isaeli S-1-F A1 Yes No Variable; 9" average A1 1:12 Short Ribbed No Various

Glossary of Terms

Stock

  • 1st Generation: 2-position sliding stock that resembled a shortened fixed buttstock
  • 2nd Generation: 2-position aluminum retractable stock
  • 3rd Generation: 2-position fiberlite retractable stock. Introduced 1985
  • 4th Generation: 4-position nylon retractable stock. Introducted 2002, designed by Picatinny Arsenal engineer Lily Ko with reinforced ribs, an angled buttplate, and a rear sling swivel
  • Israeli: Rebuilt 3rd Generation stocks with 6 positions instead of 2.
  • A1: Fixed stock as used on M16 and M16A1. May or may not have a trapdoor to store a cleaning kit
  • A2: Improved stock used on M16A2. Longer by 5/8"
  • Tubular: Fixed tubular buttstock, similar to the 2nd Generation retractable unit, using a receiver extension and triangular rear with buttplate

Fire control

  • S-1-F: The selector is Safe (S) - Semi-Automatic (1) - Fully Automatic (F)
  • S-1-3: The selector is Safe (S) - Semi-Automatic (1) - 3-Round Limiter (3)
  • S-F-1-3: The selector is Safe (S) - Fully Automatic (F) - Semi-Automatic (1) - 3-Round Limiter (3). First Generation 4 option group
  • S-1-3-F: The selector is Safe (S) - Semi-Automatic (1) - 3-Round Limiter (3) - Fully Automatic (F). Second Generation 4 option group

Rear sight

  • A1: "Field sights" in which the rear sight is only adjustable for windage
  • A2: Rear sight adjustable for both windage and elevation
  • Flattop: Indicates carry handle and rear sight has been replaced with a MIL-STD-1913 rail

Barrel Profile

  • A1: Also referred to as the "lightweight" or "pencil" profile. Original barrel profile where barrel diameter is between 0.675 and 0.575 inches.
  • A2: Also referred to as the "government" or "gov't" profile. Barrel profile for which the portion of the barrel in front of handguards is thickened to 0.715 inches
  • HBAR: A barrel that in some portion is thicker than government-profile, usually underneath the handguards
  • M4: Government barrel profile with small portion reduced to 0.575 inches to mount M203 grenade launcher
  • M4 HBAR: M4 barrel with portion under handguard thickened for sustained automatic fire

Barrel twist

  • 1:12: 1 right hand twist every 12 inches (305 mm)
  • 1:7: 1 right hand twist every 7 inches (177.8 mm)

Handguards

  • Triangular: Triangular rifle handguards
  • Short Triangular: Carbine length triangular handguards
  • Short Round: Carbine length smooth round handguard
  • Ribbed: Ribbed round rifle handguards
  • Short Ribbed: Carbine length ribbed handguards
  • M4: Oval carbine handguards with double heatshields

Muzzle device

  • Type 1 Duckbill: Original three-prong flash hider
  • Type 2 Duckbill: Also referred to as "three prong." A beefed-up three-prong flash hider
  • A1: Also referred to as the "Birdcage" flash hider
  • A2: Birdcage flash hider with bottom slots closed off to act as muzzle compensator and to prevent dust from being blown into the shooters face while in the prone position.
  • 3.5" Moderator or 4.5" Moderator: Either the 3.5-inch or 4.5-inch baffled moderators
  • Conical: A conical flash suppressor.
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