The M4 carbine is a shorter and lighter variant of the M16A2 assault rifle. The M4 is a 5.

5645mm
NATO, air-cooled, direct impingement gas-operated, magazine-fed carbine. It has a 14.5 in
(370 mm) barrel and a telescoping stock.
The M4 carbine is extensively used by the United States Armed Forces and is largely replacing the
M16 rifle in United States Army and United States Marine Corps combat units as the
primary infantry weapon.[5][6]
The M4 is also capable of mounting the M203 and M320 grenade launchers. The distinctive step in
its barrel is for mounting the M203 with the standard hardware. The M4 is capable of firing in semi-
automatic and three-round burst modes (like the M16A2 and M16A4), while the M4A1 is capable of
firing in semi-auto and fully automatic modes (like the M16A1 and M16A3).

History[edit]
Following the adoption of the M16 rifle, carbine variants were also adopted for close quarters
operations. The CAR-15 family of weapons served through the Vietnam War. However, these
carbines had design issues, as "the barrel length was halved" to 10 inches which "upset the
ballistics", reducing its range and accuracy and "led to considerable muzzle flash and blast, so that a
large flash suppressor had to be fitted".[7] "Nevertheless, as a short-range weapon it is quite
adequate and thus, (despite) its caliber, (the XM177 "Commando") is classed as a submachine
gun."[7] In 1984, Colt began work on a new carbine design called the XM4 combining the best
features of the Colt Commando and M16A2 rifles.
The XM4 was given a longer 14.5-inch barrel with the M16A2's 1:7 inch rifle twist, to use the heavier
62-grain M855 rounds. The extended barrel improved the XM4's ballistics, reduced muzzle blast and
gave the XM4 the ability to mount a bayonet and the M203 grenade launcher. The XM4 was also
given the M16A2's improved rear sight and cartridge deflector, as well as other minor refinements.
[citation needed]
In May 1991, the XM4 was renamed to the M4, and Colt made a manual. In 1994, the U.S.
military officially accepted the M4 into service to replace M16A2s in certain roles. [8] The M4 carbine
has also replaced most submachine guns and selected handguns in U.S. military service,[8] as it fires
more effective rifle ammunition that offers superior stopping power and is better able to penetrate
modern body armor.[citation needed]
The United States Marine Corps has ordered its officers (up to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel) and
staff non-commissioned officers to carry the M4 carbine instead of the M9 handgun.[9] This is in
keeping with the Marine Corps doctrine, "Every Marine a rifleman". The Marine Corps, however,
chose the full-sized M16A4 over the M4 as its standard infantry rifle. United States
Navy corpsmen E5 and below are also issued M4s instead of the M9.[10] While ordinary riflemen in
the Marine Corps are armed with M16A4s, M4s are fielded by troops in positions where a full-length
rifle would be too bulky, including vehicle operators and fireteam and squad leaders. As of 2013, the
U.S. Marine Corps had 80,000 M4 carbines in their inventory.[11][12]
By July 2015, major Marine Corps commands were endorsing switching to the M4 over the M16A4
as the standard infantry rifle, just as the Army had done. This is because of the carbine's lighter
weight, compact length, and ability to address modern combat situations that happen mostly within
close quarters; if a squad needs to engage at longer ranges, the M27 IAR can be used as
a designated marksman rifle. Approval of the change would move the M16 to support personnel,
while armories already have the 17,000 M4s in the inventory needed to outfit all infantrymen who
need one.[13] In October 2015, Commandant Robert Neller formally approved of making the M4
carbine the primary weapon for all infantry battalions, security forces, and supporting schools in the
U.S. Marine Corps. The switch is to begin in early 2016 and be completed by September 2016. [14]

Improved M4[edit]
On 1 July 2009, the U.S. Army took complete ownership of the M4 design.[15] This allowed companies
other than Colt to compete with their own M4 designs. The Army planned on fielding the last of its
M4 requirement in 2010.[15] On 30 October 2009, Army weapons officials proposed a series of
changes to the M4 to Congress. Requested changes included an electronic round counter that
records the number of shots fired, a heavier barrel, and possibly replacing the direct
impingement system with a gas piston system.
The benefits of this, however, have come under scrutiny from both the military and civilian firearms
community.[16][17] According to a PDF detailing the M4 Carbine improvement plans released by PEO
Soldier, the direct impingement system would be replaced only after reviews were done comparing
the direct impingement system to commercial gas piston operating system to find out and use the
best available operating system in the U.S. Army's improved M4A1. [18]
In September 2010, the Army announced it would buy 12,000 M4A1s from Colt Firearms by the end
of 2010, and would order 25,000 more M4A1s by early 2011. The service branch planned to buy
12,000 M4A1 conversion kits in early 2011. In late 2011, the Army bought 65,000 more conversion
kits. From there the Army had to decide if it would upgrade all of its M4s.[19]
On 21 April 2012, the U.S. Army announced to begin purchasing over 120,000 M4A1 carbines to
start reequipping front line units from the original M4 to the new M4A1 version. The first 24,000 were
to be made by Remington Arms Company. Remington was to produce the M4A1s from mid-2013 to
mid-2014.[20] After completion of that contract, it was to be between Colt and Remington to produce
over 100,000 more M4A1s for the U.S. Army. Because of efforts from Colt to sue the Army to force
them not to use Remington to produce M4s, the Army reworked the original solicitation for new
M4A1s to avoid legal issues from Colt.[21] On 16 November 2012, Colt's protest of Remington
receiving the M4A1 production contract was dismissed. [22] Instead of the contract being re-awarded to
Remington, the Army awarded the contract for 120,000 M4A1 carbines worth $77 million to FN
Herstal on 22 February 2013.[23][24] The order is expected to be completed by 2018.[25]
Army upgrades[edit]
The M4 product improvement program (PIP) is the effort by the U.S. Army to modernize its inventory
of M4 service rifles. Phase I consists of converting and replacing regular M4s with the M4A1 version.
This variant of the rifle is fully automatic and has a heavier barrel, and is given ambidextrous fire
controls. Phase II of the PIP explored developing a new bolt carrier. 11 designs were submitted. The
competition was scheduled to conclude in summer 2013, but ended in April 2012. Over six months of
testing revealed that the current bolt carrier assembly outperformed the competing designs,
especially in the areas of reliability, durability, and high-temp and low-temp tests. Phase II also
includes a competition for a free-floating forward rail assembly. The Army may award contracts to up
to three finalists in early 2013, with the selection of a final winner in early 2014. If the Army
determines that the winning rail system should be procured, delivery of new rail is anticipated by the
summer of 2014.[26]
In March 2015, the Army launched a market survey to see what the small-arms industry could offer
to further enhance the M4A1 to an "M4A1+" standard. Several upgrade options include an extended
forward rail that will allow for a free-floated barrel for improved accuracy with a low-profile gas block
that would do away with the traditional triangular fixed front sight, removable front and rear flip-up
back-up iron sights, a coyote tan or "neutral color" rail for reduced visual detection, a more effective
flash suppressor/muzzle brake, an improved charging handle, and a new single-stage trigger
module.[27] In June 2016, the M4A1+ was canceled after reviewing the offerings and determining that
there were no major upgrades currently offered.[28]

Design[edit]
M4 with M68 Close Combat Opticand AN/PAQ-4

The M4 and its variants fire 5.5645mm NATO (and .223 Remington) ammunition, and are gas-
operated, magazine-fed, selective fire firearms with either a multi-position telescoping stock or a
fixed A2 or LE tactical stock.[29]
The M4 is a shorter and lighter variant of the M16A2 rifle, with 80% parts commonality. [30] The M4 is
similar to much earlier compact M16 versions, such as the 1960s-era XM177 family. Some of those
visual similiarities are obvious in both weapons.

The M4 with the newer, redesigned telescoping stock

As with many carbines, the M4 is handy and more convenient to carry than a full-length rifle. The
price is slightly inferior ballistic performance compared to the full-size M16, with its 5.5" (14 cm)
longer barrel. This becomes most apparent at ranges of 200 yards and beyond.
While the M4's maneuverability makes it a candidate for non-infantry troops (vehicle crews, clerks
and staff officers), it also makes it ideal for close quarters battle(CQB). The M4, along with the
M16A4, have mostly replaced the M16A2 in the Army and Marines. The U.S. Air Force, for example,
has transitioned completely to the M4 for Security Forces squadrons, while other armed personnel
retain the M16A2. The US Navy uses M4A1s for Special Operations and vehicle crews.
Some features of the M4 and M4A1 compared to a full-length M16-series rifle include:

Compact size

Shortened barrel 14.5 in (370 mm), which includes the shorter carbine gas system.

Telescoping buttstock
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.

Accessories[edit]

An M4A1 just after firing, with an ejected case in mid-air; the M203 and M68 CCO are attached.

Like all the variants of the M16, the M4 and the M4A1 can be fitted with many accessories, such as
night vision devices, suppressors, laser pointers, telescopic sights, bipods, either
the M203 or M320 grenade launchers, the M26 MASS shotgun, forward hand grips, and anything
else compatible with a MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail.
Other common accessories include the AN/PEQ-2, Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight (ACOG),
and M68 CCO. EOTech holographic weapon sights are 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) for training
purposes.
In January 2017, a USMC unit deployed with suppressors mounted to every infantry M4 service
weapon. Exercises showed that having all weapons suppressed improved squad communication
and surprise during engagements; disadvantages included additional heat and weight, increased
maintenance, and the greater cost of equipping so many troops with the attachment. [31]
Feedramps[edit]