What is the Difference between an M4 and an AR15?
- Thread starter Cammy7s
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AR is a blanket name for tons of different variants. M4 is a specific rifle, 14.5" barrel, collapsible stock, A2 carry handle sight, A2 grip etc.
An M4 is a specific US mil carbine configuration. Depending on the version, it is full auto or burst capable, has a 14.5in barrel and I believe that all (or almost all) have been manufactured by Colt Defense.
AR-15 covers the whole family of rifles and carbines.
AR-15 covers the whole family of rifles and carbines.
ranger_scout
Member
- Location
- In a woods. Try to find me
Wikipedia both and your question will be solved in great detail. From parts to legality.
What are the main differences between the AR and M4 models?
Where is the best place to get both for under $1000?
An actual M4? Joining the US Army.
Starscream
CGN frequent flyer
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- Southern Alberta
Well they do give you the C8 which is pretty close to an M4 in the Canadian army.
<-- thinks the C8 is superior because it is simply Canadian.
In all seriousness though, the M4 is an assault rifle in use by the US Army and is specific to the 14.5" barrel. It's got it's own specifications that set it apart from say the M16, the C7, and C8 rifles even they're all M16 pattern. In the strictest sense, the M4 is actually a variant of the Armalite Rifle Model 15. The AR15 came first, the M16 was a further development after the US army expressed it's interest to replace the M14, and the M4 was designed after the M16 was adopted.
or pony up the 10+ grand for a transferable m16 lower in the US.
Either way, you're headed south
Gunnerlove
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
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- Vancouver Island
I was issued one in Australia.
BattleRife
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
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- of No Fixed Address
The idea that only the US military can call a carbine "M4" is rather quaint. The US military holds no trademarks on its terms and Colt's effort to trademark "M4" was shot down by the courts years ago. The fact is that Colt (and maybe even Bushmaster) were selling carbines to the public under the term M4 years before the DoD adopted their M16A2 carbine variant as the M4. Nowadays, virtually anyone can ( and does) call almost any 14.5"-16" carbine with a collapsing stock "M4".
What are the main differences between the AR and M4 models?
Where is the best place to get both for under $1000?
Approx 900 rds per minute lmao. The number of positions on the selector.
