The M4 Carbine: Aged to Perfection

The M4 was officially accepted into service by the US military in 1994, and it first saw action in 1999, when US troops were deployed to Kosovo.
Later in the Global War on Terror, it was heavily used by US forces, including Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
By 2005, the M4 had largely replaced M16A2s as the primary weapon of forward-deployed US Army personnel.
Furthermore, the M4 carbine replaced the majority of submachine guns and selected handguns in US military service.
Initial combat experiences in Afghanistan and Iraq resulted in a number of desired updates addressing the carbine's reliability and durability.
By 2015 the M4 / M4A1 carbine became the primary fighting rifle for US Army and US Marine Corps Infantry units.
In 1994, U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and the Navy developed the Special Operations Peculiar (SOPMOD) M4A1 Accessory Kit to make this weapon exceptional in versatility, lethality, and effectiveness.
Sig Sauer has been picked by the Army to make replacements for the service's aging M4 rifle and M249 Squad Automatic Weapon but it will likely take nearly a decade for units to start seeing the new weapons.
#m4
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[@Interestingengineeringofficial]

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[@fratercontenduntocculta8161]

Retired US Soldier here. Never once during my career did I not trust my M4. As long as you keep it clean, it works flawlessly. Another interesting fact about shooting them is you will almost never need to fire the burst mode as semi is perfect for engaging targets quickly but accurately. I deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan during the tensest parts and never needed automatic fire.

[@6mmFilms]

Long live America's rifle.

[@markh995]

I've shot the A1, A2, and M4 in my 20 years of service and the first two were jam-o-matics. The M4 never once failed me.

[@vlada]

The military industrial complex thanks you for your devotion to their pocketbook.

[@nelson0110]

Loud, Bright, Brittle, Concussive, High Maintenace and Jams. Perfection.

[@phxlt1994]

Hard to believe a rifle that was met with so much animosity is still going strong.

[@calliber1176]

Sad to say the first model m16 right out the box was a piece of crap that got a bunch of American soldiers killed in Vietnam and it had to make all of these modifications for it to finally work.

[@keithrickson8522]

There is no necessity to replace old military equipment. If there's nothing wrong with it and there's nothing better, that's what's called reinventing the wheel.

[@tristanlayton5126]

They say its days are numbered with the development of the sig spear. I bet the military comes full circle again and goes back to relying primarily on the m4.

[@grahamthebaronhesketh.]

I like the M4

[@beardly0121]

The M4/AR15 platform is better than ever before. In fact, it is arguably the best, most versatile rifle ever created. You can outfit the platform to do anything you would want a gun to do. The M4 isn't being replaced because its obsolete--indeed none of the peer threats to America are issuing anything that is even "just as good" as the M4. In fact the Army is replacing the M4 for the explicit purpose of dramatically over matching enemy capabilities.

[@georgedoolittle9015]

This is an amazing iteration of the M-16 Family. Very stable high muzzle velocity definitely the exact opposite of the criminally bad M-9 Service Pistol.

[@hamletthaus3046]

I can give this historical analysis. As for Camp Lejeune FMF the M4 started it trial during 2000. If memory serves me correctly it was 2/2. I know it was 2nd Regiment but I believe it was 2/2. I was a Block NCO FAP’ed out to Charlie Range during that time when 2/2 came out for trials. After they were done I asked as many jarheads as I could what they thought of the Guinea pig? Response back I got was favorable but the downside was it was an accountability nightmare because of all the extra parts. And we all know what happens when parts go missing. Pumping out with 2/6 for OEF 2002 we grunts still had the A2’s.

[@MTMILITIAMAN7.62]

I still prefer the M16A4, but the M4 is a vetted and versatile weapon.

[@User5678-yp7dx]

M4 is the glock of rifle world. if i ve to chose 1 pistol and 1 rifle during SHTF. i would pick Glock 19 and M4. Its the sexiest rifle besides endless possibilities of modifications. Accuracy reliability style all 10/10. I ve used like 50 plus platforms during entire career but there is something hypnotic about M4. Its FIBUA king. Hoooyaaah.

[@jacksquat2067]

If anyone knows: What optic is shown at

[@-1Patroit.]

When I was in we had the M16 with full auto not the burst like the M4s used today. I joined in 73

[@riiddisbuk2496]

Anything AR-15 related all the way.

[@letaz77]

Marines have replaced the M16, M4, and M249 SAW with M27. It didn't take decades.