After the Vietnam War, the M16A2 rifle was developed by Colt Industries in response to a number of improvements to the M16A1 suggested by the U.S. Marine Corps. In November 1983, the USMC adopted this new version chambered for the 5.56x45 mm NATO round. The rifle differed significantly from its predecessor with changes such as improved rear sights, a brass deflector, a heavier barrel and 1:9" rifling. Additionally, the M16A2 replaced the M16A1’s “AUTO” selector setting with a “BURST” setting, delivering three rounds with every trigger pull. The M16A2 has the longest service life of any American military shoulder arm and continues to serve to this day. Due to federal firearms laws, the M16A2 is not available to civilians. However, civilians can own a similar version by mounting an M16A2 upper on a lower receiver. For more on the U.S. M16A2 Rifle, watch this "I Have This Old Gun" segment from a recent episode of American Rifleman TV.
Our official coverage of new products for the current year is set for next month, but we included two substantial new developments in this issue that have the potential to make significant ripples in the firearm business even before then.
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed into law requiring public and open enrollment public charter schools to provide age-appropriate firearm safety instruction beginning during the 2025-2026 school year.
Alexandria Pro-Fab, a contract machine shop based in Minnesota, announced that it has purchased the assets of Adams Arms, along with all of the company’s intellectual property, and it plans to relaunch the company in the second quarter of 2025.
The Herstal, Belgium, firm of Anciens Etablissements Pieper was apparently expecting big things when, in 1908, it named its new semi-automatic pocket pistol “Bayard.”
This latest update to Benelli’s pump-action shotgun gives users a few upgrades over previous generations, making the new NOVA 3 the most exciting pump-gun yet to come from the Italian maker.