#M16

It’s hard to capture the essence of the East vs. West small arms rivalry, the AK vs. M16, but Beach Ballistics’ still life is great for a Photo Of The Day. Most of TFB’s readers were probably not born then, but in the humid jungles of Vietnam, two rifles faced off in silence, symbols of ideologies clashing half a world away. On one side, the Soviet-born AK-47: rugged, simple, and unyielding. On the other, the American M16: lightweight, precise, and high-tech. The AK didn’t mind the mud or the rain; it fired with a vengeance through sand, snow, and time. The M16, elegant and fast, demanded care but rewarded it with accuracy and range.

The film “Commando” released in 1985 and directed by Mark L. Lester holds a significant place in pop culture due to its impact on the action movie genre and its portrayal of firearms. Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger in a relentless role, the film contributed to shaping the quintessential action hero archetype that would become emblematic of the 1980s. “Commando” pushed the boundaries of on-screen action with its intense, over-the-top sequences, establishing a template for subsequent action films to follow.

Back at NRAAM 2023, TFBTV’s Hop and I had a chance to check out the subtly launched Anderson Manufacturing AM15 Dissipator Carbine. The Anderson Dissipator carbine was an unexpected hit at the Primary Arms Range Day 2023, and NRAAM 2023 with, Hop, myself, and a couple of other writers having a blast running magazine after magazine through the retro-inspired rifle. I’m happy to announce that if you’ve been looking to pick one of these up since their announcement at NRAAM, they’re available now through the Anderson Manufacturing website for what I would call a great price.

While the late R. Blake Stevens‘ Black Rifle may still be considered the bible when it comes to the origins and history of the AR-15, the new second edition of ‘AR-15 (Volume 1)‘ from Vickers Guide is an accessible, aesthetically pleasing way into the history of one of the world’s most famous firearms.

Two years ago I posted about the Multi-purpose Arcade Combat Simulator (M.A.C.S). It was a basic rifle marksmanship training system that was based on a Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) gaming console. Hook it up to a TV, plug in the M.A.C.S. cartridge and plug in what looks like an M16 into the SNES console. I have always been intrigued by the M.A.C.S. rifles and have come across three different examples. After some research, I found out there is a fourth variant. They are all wildly different and yet modified for the sole purpose of shooting lasers at a TV to practice basic marksmanship.

The US Department of Defense has announced that Colt’s Manufacturing and FN America have been selected to compete for Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contracts worth up to $383,311,941 to produce M16A4 rifles for US allied nations including Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon and Nepal. The companies will bid for each of the orders.

The German Federal Criminal Police Office ( The Bundeskriminalamt, or BKA) just issued a guidline covering the essential parts of the new EU Firearms Act, and how the government chose to implement it into German Law. Unfortunately, Germany went further than the minimum level set by the European Union. The Weapons Act was amended in Germany as of February 19, 2020, and the legal classifications of certain components for firearms changed.

Photo Of The Day – We travel back in time to 1964 for some Apocalypse Now feeling.

Introduced at SHOT Show 2019, the Brownells Retro 4X Carry Handle Scope is now available for purchase. If you have acquired one of the Brownells retro guns or if you have other AR-15s with a carry handle, now you can retrofit it with the replica of this historical Vietnam War era Colt scope.

In 1959 the ArmaLite AR-15 was born, and 60 years later it’s popularity only continues to grow.  With advancements in ergonomics, controls, and handling, it is one of the most robust firearms platforms on the market today.  With the help of legendary firearms designer Jim Sullivan (one of the original AR-15 designers), SureFire set their sights on bringing the AR platform further into the 21st century with the SureFire OBC –  Optimized Bolt Carrier.  

We are all familiar with the AR15 and M16 and you’re almost certainly familiar with the man behind the design, Eugene Morrison Stoner. Well,  The Institute of Military Technology has put together a fascinating documentary telling the story of the man and the guns he designed. IMT are in the unique position of having many of Stoner’s prototypes in their collection as well as archival photographs and many of his original design papers and drawings.

Stars and Stripes recently ran a story about an embed with Afghan National Army troops operating in a number of provinces. One of the photos taken by the author, J.P. Lawrence, immediately caught my eye for obvious reasons. It features a young ANA soldier, on guard in Logar Province, armed with an M16A2, with some aesthetic improvements. It’s not uncommon for Afghan soldiers and security forces to decorate their rifles colourfully but I wouldn’t want to take point with this soldier’s rifle.

What’s the best way to pass a line between massive naval vessels in rolling seas with the deck pitching? Firing it from a rifle of course! The US Coast Guard continue to use specially adapted Springfield M1903s, in service since the 1930s, for the job.

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Thanks to my friend Ben, he alerted me to this rare piece of retro gaming collecting. My friend collects rare video game items and in the world of Super Nintendo (SNES) the Multi-Purpose Arcade Combat Simulator (M.A.C.S) is one of the top 5.