Military Rifles: 4 Most Commonly Used Amongst The Branches
Rifles have been used by the military for centuries, and they continue to be an important part of each branch’s arsenal. In the early days of warfare, rifles were primarily used by infantry units to provide covering fire for other troops as they advanced. Today, all branches of the military use rifles in various ways as they provide an accurate and powerful weapon that can be used in a variety of situations, including combat and training.
The Army uses rifles for both long-range engagements and close-quarters combat, while the Marines rely heavily on them for urban warfare. The Navy SEALs, as well as the Air Force, use a variety of different sniper rifles for long-range shots.
The United States military uses a variety of rifles for combat and training purposes. Each branch has its own preference when it comes to the right rifle, but all of them share some common characteristics. Here are some of the most popular rifles used by the different branches of the military:
M16A2
To start, the most common rifle used by the Army and Air Force is the M16A2 service rifle . This is a gas-operated, magazine-fed, shoulder-fired weapon that fires 5.56mm NATO ammunition. It has a 20-inch barrel, a magazine capacity of 30 rounds, and can be equipped with either a grenade launcher or an optical sight.
The M16A2 is the standard issue rifle for most airmen and is used in both combat and training situations.
M4 Carbine
The M4 Carbine is a type of weapon that is used by the Navy SEALs, Army, Marines, and Air Force. The M4 Carbine, in comparison, is a shorter and lighter version of the M16A2. The M4 is also gas-operated and magazine-fed, but it fires smaller 5.56mm NATO rounds. It has a 16-inch barrel and a 30-round magazine and can be equipped with various sights and accessories.
This lightweight compact weapon is easy to carry and maneuver, making it a great option for airmen assigned to aircraft or ground vehicles. In addition to the benefit of its weight, it is also equipped with a grenade launcher, which makes it a very effective weapon in close-quarters combat situations.
M24
The military also uses sniper rifles for long-range engagements. A standard sniper rifle used by the Army, Marines, and Air Force is the M24 SWS (Sniper Weapon System). The M24 is a bolt-action rifle that fires 7.62mm NATO rounds. It has a 24-inch barrel and a 5 to 10-round magazine capacity. It can be fitted with various optical sights, making this weapon great for precision shooting.
The M24 is often used by airmen who are assigned to sniper units or who are tasked with providing overwatch during combat operations.
M16A4
The M16A4 Rifle is another type of rifle that is used by the Navy and Marines. It is the most recent version of the M16, and its effective range that is about 50 meters longer than the M16A2. It is a bit heavier than the M4 Carbine, but it is still a very effective weapon.
Like the M16A2, the M16A4 is also a gas-operated, air-cooled, magazine-fed, shoulder-fired rifle.
It can also be fitted with different sights and accessories to meet the needs of different missions and situations. It can be equipped with a grenade launcher which, again, makes it a very effective weapon in close-quarters combat situations.
This is the most common rifle used by Marines and fires 5.56x45mm NATO ammunition.
To conclude:
These are just some of the most popular rifles used by the different branches of the military. They are an essential part of the military that have and will continue to play a vital role. Each branch has its own preferences when it comes to firearms, but as you can see, all of them share some very common characteristics.
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