what are the mechanical differences between an AR15 and an M16?

Question

and if anyone wants to share any more general info about these two with me that would be appreciated. as far as the type of ammunition and practicality, what it is designed to do to the target...how to operate...
im also trying to find a picture with the parts of one of these rifles or one similar. like where the magazine chamber(is that what its called?)is located and the basic body parts.
...PS im not going to hurt anyone im working on a film for school and just dont want to make any mistakes in my script

i HAVE searched online but i wanted a more understandable explanation from a less professional perspective.

and i have a glock 357, im okay at the range but i dont know much about it.

Answer 1

Hey a woman who wants to know about guns....mmm.

Ok, well the M16 and AR15 are generally the same gun, but the M16 has the ability for full auto and burst fire. The AR15 is the civilian version, without that ability. If it is possible to convert the AR15 this would be illegal, as fully auto guns are strictly regulated to the public.

This is not to say that you couldnt get access to M16s on a movie set via the right firm, and I am sure there are more than a few.

The ammunition is 5.56 nato aka .223 caliber

What I would do is go down to your local gun shop (real gun shop, not walmart) and ask to see any of the AR15 type rifles. Ask some questions and look around. Most guys love to talk about guns and will be happy to help you out.

Take care and I hope your gun ambition continues to blossum.

Answer 2

email me and I will scan some pictures of the ar rifle and it's inner workings for you. As for differences: the AR-15 as the civilian model has been called, is a semi automatic rifle. this means it fires one round each time the trigger is pulled. The M16 rifle ( the latest military version is called the M-4) is a full automatic rifle. This means that each time you pull the trigger and hold it back, the rifle will continue to fire until the magazine is empty, or you release the trigger. In it's original version as issued to the military, the M-16 had three settings on the selector switch: position one was "safe", position two was "semi auto" and position three was "auto". this alowed you to switch the rifle from semi automatic ( one round for each pull of the trigger) to fully automatic. In a nutshell, the only difference between the ar 15 and m16 rifle are some changes in the sear and disconnector, the bolt carrier and the "selector/safety" switch. The m16 fires 5.56mm and the ar15 fires .223 winchester. But this is where it gets confusing. Both rounds are basically the same. You can fire .223 in a rifle chambered for 5.56 and vice versa. But, the brass for the military round (5.56) is slightly thicker, has a little more gunpowder in it and use a heavier primer. the .223 brass is slightly thinner, uses slightly less powder and has a lighter primer. Like I said, it is confusing. If you need more explanations, include your questions in your email and I will answer them.
I have built several of the AR15 rifles, and used them in competition shooting etc. So I have a pretty good understanding of them.

Answer 3

In reality, very little. Many different companies produce the design with very little cosmetic differences, IE the stock or carrying handle. They will offer them in .223 or 5.56 mm, the difference being that the 5.56 can handle the .223 round, but not vice versa. In the military, the Current model m-16 has a 3 round burst option that many (legal) ar-15 type civilian rifles do not. You can acquire a 3 round burst AR-15 if you are a member of LE or have a special permit.
My buddy is in the Army and owns a Smith and Wesson M&P-15, which is basically the same as a standard M-4 Assault rifle in the military (M-16 w/ shorter barrel and collapsible stock, and some are fully auto), but without the fully auto capabilities.


PS GLOCK is a great weapon, I own a Glock 22, .40cal

Answer 4

Well the AR-15 was once the normal layout, and it was once a selective-fireplace attack rifle. The navy followed it because the M16. What you'll cross out and purchase at the civilian marketplace is a semi-computerized variant of it - what we most commonly name an AR-15.

Answer 5

They are practically the same weapon. The AR-15's bolt assembly does not have a "burst" mechanism. This means it is just a regular high powered semi automatic 5.56 rife.

Answer 6

If you are serious about you reasons, then search for your requested information on line!

Answer 7

selector switch