Difference between A2, A3 and A4 platforms

[cysoto]

I have a very silly question and, even though I have been searching for an answer for the past hour, I can't find any concrete answers anywhere. For this reason, I thought that I would ask in a dedicated AR forum...

What is the difference between the A2, A3 and A4 platforms?

Thanks,
Cy

[idave]

In a nut shell

A2 is select fire/ burst mode
A3 is an A2 that does full auto
A4 has a removable carry handle and shoots 3 round burst.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M16_rifle Listed under the variants section

[sniper7]

Standard M16 =20" light barrel, triangular handguard, 'duckbill' flash supressor, no forward assist. Early Vietnam model
M16A1 = as above, but with forward assist, 3 pronged flash supressor, chrome lined barrel and cleaning kit issued with gun. Used extensively in Vietnam
M16A2= heavier barrel, rifling changed to stabalize a different bullet weight, round handguard, made more durable overall to better handle use in conjunction with the underslung grenade launcher. Improved rear sight with windage adjustment, closed bottom of the flash supressor so it wouldn't kick up dirt or snow when fired from prone position, slightly longer buttstock, made of more durable plastic, pistol grip changed to be more user friendly, with finger ledge, and better 'grip' to it. Most importantly, it removed full auto and replaced it with a 3 round burst feature. 1980's era gun.

M16A3 = same as M16A2 except it is not restricted to a 3 round burst. It is also a 1980's era gun, and was assigned to specialty units like the Navy SEALS, Rangers, etc.

M16A4 = slight change of the M16A2, the carry handle is no longer perminantly attached, it can be removed and replaced with optics like the ACOG, red dot sights,night vision, or whatever the troopers are issued. Subtype of the M16A4 is the M16A4 MWS, which has a handguard that is fitted with rails that can also accept additional accessories such as lights, vertical grips,etc. M16A4 retains the 3 round burst feature, and is not full auto

[sniper7]

also see this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M16_rifle

http://www.ar15armory.com/forums/A1-A2-A3-A4-difference-t67505.html

http://www.semiautorifles.com/forums/f11/understanding-a1-a2-a3-a4-terms-1488.html


if you read those three you will have a full understanding[Beer]

[SNAFU]

Add that
A2 is a rifle 20" with built in carry handle/sights
A3 is a flat top version removable carry handle/sights
M4 carbine 14.5" removable carry handle/sights


A2M4 carbine with built in sights/carry handle

[SA Friday]

I'll confuse the issue even more for you Cy and throw out that there were GUU and GAU variations of the M-16 also. Both were carbines predating the M-4, with handle and one flat top.

[cysoto]

I'll confuse the issue even more for you Cy and throw out that there were GUU and GAU variations of the M-16 also. Both were carbines predating the M-4, with handle and one flat top.
Just when I thought I had all this figured out and here come SA Friday complicating things... [Tooth] J/K

Thanks you all for the info!!
Cy

[sniper7]

I'll confuse the issue even more for you Cy and throw out that there were GUU and GAU variations of the M-16 also. Both were carbines predating the M-4, with handle and one flat top.


ooh good call I didn't even think about that.

[Circuits]

A3 is a flat top version removable carry handle/sights


Not according to the military - as noted above, the M16A3 is a fixed carry handle 20" rifle like the M16A2, but with full auto instead of 3rd burst.

The confusion arises from many civilian manufacturers "jumping the gun" and calling their flat-top variants "A3" before the Army standardized its A3 and A4 usages.

I think Colt started it, and some companies like Bushmaster went with the Colt mistake, while other companies, like Armalite, use the correct military "A4" designation for their flat tops.

[Troublco]

I'll confuse the issue even more for you Cy and throw out that there were GUU and GAU variations of the M-16 also. Both were carbines predating the M-4, with handle and one flat top.

Like the GAU-5, which is an outgrowth of the XM-177.

[SNAFU]

Not according to the military - as noted above, the M16A3 is a fixed carry handle 20" rifle like the M16A2, but with full auto instead of 3rd burst.

The confusion arises from many civilian manufacturers "jumping the gun" and calling their flat-top variants "A3" before the Army standardized its A3 and A4 usages.

I think Colt started it, and some companies like Bushmaster went with the Colt mistake, while other companies, like Armalite, use the correct military "A4" designation for their flat tops.

At any point in my post did I refer to M16XX type?