Armalite AR-16 Battle Rifle
Armalite AR-16 Battle Rifle
Armalite AR-16 Battle Rifle
Armalite AR-16
Armalite AR-16
Image Type Placeoforigin
[1]
Battle rifle
United States
Production history
Designer Designed Manufacturer Eugene Stoner 1960 Armalite
Specifications
Length Barrellength Cartridge Action Rateoffire 940mm 464mm 7.62x51mm NATO Gas 700-800rpm
The AR-16 is a prototype selective fire, gas-operated rifle in 7.62x51mm NATO designed by Eugene Stoner at ArmaLite in the late 1950s. While the AR-16 never was adopted as a service rifle by any nation, its main claim to fame was that, in scaled-down form, it served as the basis for the more widely-known 5.56mm AR-18, itself an influence on later designs. Despite the similarity in nomenclature, and while it is an ArmaLite design like the AR-15/M16, it is a very different weapon. Eugene Stoner designed the AR-16 after the AR-15's direct gas impingement action was sold to Colt's Manufacturing Company. Stoner designed a more conventional weapon, using a more conventional short-stroke gas piston in place of the direct impingement system of the AR-15. The design was eventually used in the 5.56mm Armalite AR-18, but the AR-16 was only manufactured in prototype form and was never put into production. The AR-16 was Stoner's last design for ArmaLite; he left the company soon afterwards.
Armalite AR-16 providing additional clearance for foreign matter entering the receiver. Unlike the AR-10, the cocking handle fitted directly into a recess in the bolt carrier and reciprocated with it during firing, allowing the firer to force the breech closed or open if necessary. The cocking handle slot had a spring-loaded cover that could be closed by the user to prevent debris entering the receiver, and it would open automatically as the bolt carrier moved rearwards after the first shot. The recoil springs were housed within the receiver, differing from the AR-10 which housed its more elaborate buffer mechanism in the buttstock. The AR-16's compact design enabled the use of a side-folding stock with a hinging mechanism. The sights were of similar design and sight picture to those of the AR-10 - a 2-position flip aperture rear sight and post foresight - but the rear sight was made of stampings. A notable change is the use of a more conventional lower sight line closer to the axis of the bore, in contrast to the elevated sights of the AR-10. Overall, the design is simple and effective with some clever touches; for example the bolt guide rod assembly guides the bolt in the receiver, retains the recoil springs and the rear end of the top handguard, as well as serving as the latch holding the upper and lower receivers together in the closed position. Disassembly is somewhat similar to the AR-10 and AR-15, with the working parts accessed by the rifle pivoting open on a cross-pin immediately forward of the magazine well.
AR-16 derivatives
Despite its lack of commercial success, the AR-16's basic design features have been reused in several other firearms. These include: Armalite AR-18, Main derivative of the AR-16 L64/65/SA80 SAR-80/SR-88/SAR-21 Sterling SAR 87 Leader Dynamics Series T2 MK5 Howa Type 89 Bushmaster M17S Heckler & Koch G36 Heckler & Koch HK416 T65 assault rifle
References
[1] http:/ / img. photobucket. com/ albums/ v219/ MTC29/ Long%20Guns/ AR-15/ AR-16. jpg
License
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported //creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/