Vets and their M16's

[Sarge]

I know we are lucky to have several veterans on this forum, and to start, God bless you and thank you for your service. For this thread, I'm interested in those who carried the early M16/M16A1's, that we base our beloved retro builds off of.
For those who carried them, I'm interested in hearing:
1. You're experiences with them as a combat weapon. Reliability, accuracy, etc.
2. What kind of personal touches did your weapon have, if any? I.E rack numbers, stickers, cleaning rod taped to stock, grenade launchers, scopes, etc.
3. What equipment were you issued for them?
Thanks again!

Well, I "sorta" carried an M16 in Viet Nam. Actually it was a CAR 15 (officially an XM177E2).
Never had a malfunction with it. Of course I had learned, and paid attention to, the proper cleaning procedures.
No personal touches except for an AK 47 mag reworked to be a 35 rd M16 mag. This is what was carried in the weapon with 20 rd mags for reloads. Learned this from the Navy guys working "Market time" down in the Delta.
Nothing, I scrounged what ever I wanted to go with it. Used a 2 qt canteen strap as a top mounted sling.
I currently have an AR15A2, CAR 15 (built on an early SP 1 lower with parts I sent home from RVN) and an AR 15.
Here are some photos. The 3 M14s are all chicom - An M1A type and 2 M14 select fire rifles. At the top is an FN/FAL select fire rifle. The AR15A2 is not in the photo.
Sarge
Attachment 82507

[browningautorifle]

Always enjoy looking at your rifles Sarge...the first M14 is dressed exactly like the ones I saw the brow guard close up with on the USS Alamo in about 1978. They brought four and the BAR belts full of mags...plus...

[MikieG]

So tell us about the AK mag reworked to fit an m16. Love to see pics of it.
Makes me wonder why they used a different mag to feed the 5.56 AKMs when according to Sarge here the 7.62 mags feed 5.56 fine.

[garrettbragg12]

So tell us about the AK mag reworked to fit an m16. Love to see pics of it.
Makes me wonder why they used a different mag to feed the 5.56 AKMs when according to Sarge here the 7.62 mags feed 5.56 fine.

+1 I too would like to know that secret!

[Sarge]

Well that was in early 1970 and I never thought to bring the mag home because I never had any thought of owning an M16 or anything similar.
All I remember is I had to do some grinding on the top and I put an M16 mag follower in it. Gave me 35 or 36 rds of 556. As I said before I got the idea from the Navy guys as a guy I knew in the Mike Force had been on an operation with them and he brought back one of their mags and wouldn't let me have it so I had to make my own using his for a pattern.
IF we had of had the new 30 rd mags I wouldn't have bothered with it, but we didn't get them till later.
Sarge

[browningautorifle]

I had to do some grinding on the top and I put an M16 mag follower in it.

We've talked about it here before, I wonder if someone has one to show?

IF we had of had the new 30 rd mags I wouldn't have bothered

Now I understand why it was done. I couldn't figure why on earth anyone would go to the trouble before.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

We've talked about it here before, I wonder if someone has one to show?

Might make an interesting addition to a retro A-1. I would like to see/make one as well.

[browningautorifle]

Might make an interesting addition to a retro A-1.

Or a carbine...?

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Even better.

[imarangemaster]

Never carried it in combat, but was issued an M16A1 in the Army 1974 to 1977. 1977 to 1979, I was inactive reserve, so I didn't have one. 1979 to 1981, I was in a USAF Reserve/AFNG Security Police unit, and was issued a GAU-5/A/A and (11.5" barrel) and a GAU-5/P 14.5" 1/12 pencil barrel. 1980s, I carried M1 Carbines and an AR180 as LEO trunk weapons, and in the 1990s, I had an XM177E2 for a trunk weapon. Since then, I have always had some form of AR15.

I could count the malfunctions I have had in all of them since 1974, on two hands, or maybe even one for that matter. Most of those were bad ammo or mags. I NEVER had to use a forward assist! That's my my "all Colt except stripped NDS 601 lower" SP1 carbine build has none!