Full Size Heavy Weight M4 Tactical-system Style Airsoft Rifle.

The M4 carbine was adult by the famous Colt visitor on request from the US Armed services, as a shortened version of a then-new M16A2 burglarize. It was intended equally a personal defence force weapon for non-infantry personnel, to supplant ineffective handguns and obsolete submachine guns in this function. Colt received an initial development contract in 1984, and by 1986 showtime XM4 carbine prototypes were delivered to US Ground forces for initial tests. It took several more years to finalize and approve the design, and in 1994 US DoD officially adopted M4 and M4A1 carbines for service.

The Colt M4A1 carbine in its basic configuration — The Colt M4A1 carbine in its bones configuration

Until 2009, Filly company possessed intellectual property rights on the M4 Carbine TDP (technical data package) and was the sole supplier of M4 carbines to the US Armed forces. Other companies produced like clones as well, only those were sold either to civilian markets (in semi-automatic but versions) or foreign clients. In 2013 FN Manufacturing Inc, a The states-based subsidiary of the famous Belgian company FN Herstal won a meaning contract to deliver M4A1 carbines to US Army, and now it appears to be a major supplier of carbines to US DoD. Colt still makes select-burn down M4 and M4A1 carbines too, and offers semi-automatic, civilian legal versions of the M4 carbine with 16-inch barrels.

The M4A1 carbine as presently made by FN Mfg — The M4A1 carbine as soon made by FN Mfg

The Colt M4 semi-automatic carbine — The Colt M4 semi-automated carbine with sixteen″ barrel, equally fabricated for civilian and Police Enforcement markets

Early U.s. SOCOM selected the M4 carbine equally a potential master individual weapon for its operators, for its handiness and lighter weight. Subsequently, it developed the and so-called SOPMOD M4 kit which includes a RIS forend and several ancillaries such as sights, forward grips, sound suppressors, etc.

Initial gainsay experiences in Transitional islamic state of afghanistan and Iraq resulted in several desired updates, addressing the reliability and immovability of the carbine. As a result, the M4A1 carbine and the M4 carbine are now fitted with a heavier butt, which meliorate withstands protracted and intense firing. Despite the shorter constructive range and decreased lethality, as compared to the M16A2 or M16A4 rifle, by 2015 the M4 / M4A1 carbine became the primary fighting rifle for US Ground forces and US Marine Corps Infantry units.

As of early on 2022, United states of america Ground forces plans to supervene upon M4 carbines in the front-line infantry units with a new, much more potent weapon which is being developed under the NGSW program, but so far this programme brought no definite results. If the NGSW programme succeeds, the M4 carbine again volition be relegated to its original role as the Personal Defense Weapon for non-infantry units.

The M4 carbine is mechanically similar to the M16A4 rifle, except for the following major updates. It features a shorter, 14.5-inch barrel, and a telescoped shoulder stock. Internally it features a dissimilar commodities carrier buffer, shorter gas system, and an altered feed ramp cutting in the barrel extension and the receiver, to ensure reliable feeding. Near all M4 carbines, except for the primeval product run, feature so-called "apartment-top" receivers with integrated Picatinny runway, which replaced the M16A2-style carrying handle. Nearly current production M4 carbines also feature RIS forends with boosted track. The M4 carbine can deliver semi-automated burn and 3-round bursts, and its rubber/burn selector lever is appropriately marked "Safe – Semi – Flare-up". The M4A1 carbine does not have a burst limiting mechanism in its trigger unit, and its selector is marked "Condom – Semi-Auto". All other properties of the M4 and M4A1 are similar.

The M4 carbine with the M203 grenade launcher attached

Every bit a master infantry weapon, the M4 carbine can be fitted with a knife-bayonet, an underbarrel grenade launcher such equally M203 or M320, a sound suppressor, and a host of other accessories such as tactical flashlights, laser designations, and diverse day and night sights. For close combat, its standard upper receiver tin can be replaced with the Mk.18 with an even shorter ten.three-inch barrel. Another recent upgrade for USSOCOM M4A1 carbines in the 5.56mm SURG (Suppressed Upper Receiver Group), congenital past SIG-Sauer and based on their SIG MCX rifle.

The M4 carbine clone with the Mk.18 CQBR upper receiver

the SIG-Sauer SURG kit for an M4 carbine

Caliber: v.56mm NATO
Action: Gas operated, rotating bolt
Overall length: 838 mm (stock extended); 757 mm (stock fully collapsed)
Barrel length: 370 mm
Weight: ii.52 kg without magazine; 3.0 kg with mag loaded with xxx rounds
Rate of burn: 700 – 950 rounds per minute
Maximum effective range: 360 m