XM16E1 Picture from early Vietnam War.

[Sapper740]

I haven't seen many in-country pictures of the XM16E1 in action. The Colt Model 603/XM16E1 was the first attempt at providing an improved M16 for the US Army and was a transitional model between the M16 and the M16A1 which came out in 1967. Only 85,000 were made. It was the first model to incorporate the forward assist and to use the "Partial Fence" reinforced lower receiver. I've attached the only picture I've seen of the XM16E1 in the field. The two rifles on the far left are both XM16E1's.

[FlightRN]

I haven't seen many in-country pictures of the XM16E1 in action. The Colt Model 603/XM16E1 was the first attempt at providing an improved M16 for the US Army and was a transitional model between the M16 and the M16A1 which came out in 1967. Only 85,000 were made. It was the first model to incorporate the forward assist and to use the "Partial Fence" reinforced lower receiver. I've attached the only picture I've seen of the XM16E1 in the field. The two rifles on the far left are both XM16E1's.

Good Day, can you ID the XM16E1 in the pictures? I see what appears to be two XM148 grenade launching units with the round ventilated handguards and a colt model 609 carbine (under the troopers arm).

I've always said if I decided I wanted to build a retro rifle it would be copy of the earlier carbine, the model 607 (South Carolina Military Museum)
Regards,
Michael

[Peter Laidler]

In 1967 Australia and Malaya we were using the first (?) troublesome AR15's and the earliest M16's. without forward-assist and open toe flash eliminators. I can't see those types in the photo.......

But can see a few of those slippery triangular left and right handguards. Another PITA. The crunchies used to sand them with coarse sand paper to give them a better grip in the wet and monsoon weather

[browningautorifle]

open toe flash eliminators.

There's two if you expand the pic to it's largest. Can't see the right rear to determine forward assist.

[Brian Dick]

We had rebuilt XM-15E1 rifles mixed in with rebuilt Vietnam era M16 and M16A1 rifles in basic training at Fort Benning in the 80s. I'm still a big fan of the M16A1 configuration. light, handy, reliable and accurate. I keep an old SGW Olympic Arms semi-auto with a Colt top end I bought at Knob Creek and assembled years ago handy for coyotes and other varmints.

[frenchkat]

What caught my eye was the 2 rifles on the left edge of the picture. They look like XM148/CGL-4 grenade launchers.