Thank you all once again for watching another episode of Loadout, I hope we've been able to do this iconic rifle justice! Between being able to see some original examples at The Royal Armouries, and me having a good reason to go back and play so many great shooters, this one was a lot of fun to make! Loadout will be going on a short break, as we'll be working hard on preparing the next season (but make sure you go check out the previous episodes if you're new here - there's a lot), so if there's weapons, phenomenon or ideas you'd like to see on the show be sure to leave them in the comments or shoot me a tweet @IrregularDave. As always I'm looking forward to reading your thoughts down below, but once again, from all of us, thank you so much for supporting the series! ❤
I'd like to see an episode on the Kris Vector, and similar weapons where many rifles and SMGs are opting for pistol caliber rounds, but make up for it with RPM? To go along with that, an episode about the iconic MP5 and its variants (including the MP5 K) would also be a cool episode, perhaps?
Good on Jonathan for actually discussing WHY the rifles failed in Vietnam, many discussions of the M16 in Vietnam say that the rifles were useless and never go into detail about what was actually wrong with them. The M16 is my favorite weapons platform and I especially have a soft spot for the XM16E1 and M16A1.
The book “The Gun” about the AK47 (by CJ Chivers) actually does a really good job of explaining how the M16 struggled at first in Nam. Mostly it wasn’t so much bad design as bad logistics and inadequate training.
What’s worse, is the fact that there was a deliberate sabotage of the rifle just so bureaucrats in the military industrial could fulfill contracts for the M14 rifle.
@@TugaAvenger I've seen more MP5s used by bad guys in film than M16s. Especially MP5Ks which were the quintessential evil bad guy henchmen gun in the 90s and early 2000s
As an owner of 2 ARs, I've always been impressed by how rapidly and continually we refine the platform Also, I feel that the MP5 (the default submachinegun in everything) needs an episode
Yeah, I thought it was really cool how it was incorperated into the game because in BO2 there's the M8A1 which is obviously the XM8 but enlarged a bit and standardized for 2025, then you have BO3 set in 2065 with the M8A7 which looks much more advanced and futuristic yet still has recognizable characteristics and performance from the A1 model, a great depiction of how that weapon could've evolved if it had actually entered service. In BO3 the ICR-1 is definitely the most AR-15 like gun in that game working much like an M4A1 though I'm pretty sure it's based off the M27 which was in BO2, which really is the US adopted HK416C. Although the M8 in both BO2 and 3 is functionally in terms of gameplay meant to be a M16 replacement though it's not from that gun.
@@IrregularDave you're clearly superior to Ahoy, thanks to both your content being added continuously, and of course you're actually helped by the Royal Armouries to do your homework
I might be an Ak guy but I can't forget that the m16a2 with the m203 and heat shield was my first favorite gun ever, now it ranks as my second favorite gun of all time
@@TheArklyte I like the full length one since it's the one that I saw that a soldier was carrying when I was kid plus it looks nice and retro with the heat shield
@TheArklyte nah the full length m16 had a heat shield handguard to use alongside the m203 which made it look super cool and threatening Whereas the shorter carbine versions usually just removed the bottom half of the regular handguard so the underside of the barrel was exposed so you could just attach the m203 that way. Still cool looking but nowhere near as iconic
Hearing the XM16E1 designation just makes me want Jonathan to give us a Metal gear solid 2/3 video even more! He could even fact check the weapon-specific codec/radio calls with Pliskin (Snake) & Sigint, respectively.
@@daltongarrett7117 oh it sure beats the cheap Turkish shotguns our soldiers use in Ukraine (yes, some units get assigned shotguns, see ХЛОПЦІ З ЛІСУ channel who talk about stuff and test weapons, there's one where they destroy building blocks and car doors with shotgun volleys and they LOVE any Western ones).
@@daltongarrett7117I own a SPAS-12 and the problems are exaggerated, honestly. Though a lot of aspects of the SPAS-12 to use it effectively, while simple once you know them, aren’t well known so it makes sense why it has that reputation even if it’s not actually true to the gun.
@@gameragodzilla the main thing about them is the import restrictions that make us in the US have to replace several parts with aftermarket American parts, my understanding is if you can get a law enforcement model that wasnt subject to the import restrictions they're top of the line from the factory, or were they stopped making them years ago.
Aside from games set during/before ww2 (kind of a given since the gun didnt exist in those times), and extremely sci fi games (with few exceptions like New Vegas and COD infinite warfare), I don't think I've played a single shooting game that didn't include an AR variant
I'd love to see John and Dave talk about the SA80 series of weapons. A weapon that rarely gets shown in games, so it be nice to see a popular channel talk about the weapon.
Kinda reminds me how the icon for assault rifles in Blue Archive is actually the SA80. You'd think they'd use the AR platform to represent assault rifles, but for some reason the devs decided the SA80 would be better.
Small Arms Solutions has a video explaining his hate for the M14 and explaining on the Ordnance Corp essentially rigging the new weapons trials in the 50s against the AR-10
It was the M-16 A2 that became the popular rifle! One of the most accurate and reliable rifles ever! Mine had a M203 grenade launcher attached to it! Man, they were amazing rifles!
If you're planning on making more videos about iconic firearms like the AK and AR I feel like the Uzi's gotta get one, right? It's gotta be one of the most iconic SMGs in pop culture.
There's a .50 beowulf version of the service rifle in New Vegas' Honest Hearts dlc called the Survivalists' rifle. In universe the guy who owned it was a US-Canada border guard which is why "Arret!" is carved onto the stock
12.7 mm in fallout is more like .50 AE. Survivalist's rifle is the only long barreled weapon in that caliber. So I think it's a caliber meant for short barrels.
Its always fun to see how this series approaches the same topics slightly differently, with an update and style, to Ahoy's gun series. the Ahoy - M16 video is 8 years old and still holds up as well.
I like how ahoy's series is from the perspective of a gamer who also likes guns, while this series is from the perspective of a gun curator who also likes video games.
Funny enough, my first introduction to the M16 in gaming was in Tomb Raider 2 for the PS1. I immediately fell in love with the the design (even if it was in low poly form) and have used the weapon (or the M4 or Ar-15 variants) whenever I can. I actually prefer it with the carry handle, it just looks better and is easier on the neck when aiming down the iron sights (Can make looking through optics a pain if placed on top of the handled instead of in place of it though.)
3:22 The biggest take away there is that Eugene Stoner didn't make a faulty product, the US government changed stuff and disregarded Stoners suggested ammo for reliable use, just getting rid of the chrome plating and changing the ammo was the cause for 90% of all problems
As a proud owner of an AR15, I’m glad these guys made it clear that the M16 is the military designation of the AR15 platform. The AR15 is NOT a military designation. One is a platform, and the other a standardized arm for military operations.
Really enjoying the load out series guys! I love how you reference the games and pop culture while doing a factual deep dive with Johnathon’s commentary. Great format!
If it wasn't for the M16a1I don't think the m16 family would have been so iconic. But I am super glad it is. One of my absolute favorites especially the M16a1!
This is to me, alongside "Experts react", the best content on Gamespot for a long time. The passion and interest of all involved is clear in the product, be it @IrregularDave, the folks at the Royal Armouries or the editors splicing it all together. Gratz to you all and can't wait for more to binge through slow work days!
The Killzone series leaned *heavily* into the M16/AK duality with the main weapons of the two sides as well. The ISA's M82 is essentially a bullpup M16 (even with the iconic EOTech sight in 2 and 3), and while the Helghast's StA-52 resembles a FAMAS more than an AK, it still strongly incorporates that "mass produced" feeling the AK series does.
T'au: Firewarrior had an M16A1 autogun as an Imperial weapon your T'au character can pick up and use, even 38,000 years into the future, there are still AR-15s and M16s in use by PDFs and strung-out Guardsmen.
That would actually be a good topic. Games always have to strike a balance between how much damage they can do vs how much they really should do. Some are quite controllable, and would be a giant advantage vs the same ammo used in a sidearm. So sidearms have to either have speciality roles or the full-auto gets nerfed. Then again, the M14 and FAL are examples where full-auto isn't really worth it. So irl it's about using the small or mid sized cartridges. But yeah, some games don't get it right. I love New Vegas, but autos aren't as strong as they should be cause they have lower damage per round for balance, but the way damage is calculated means enemies can end up tanking it too easily compared to powerful single shot weapons.
Funny you brought up the Drak from Deep Rock Galactic since I personally felt that the Lok1 actually resembles the AR-15 platform more aesthetically but less so from a gameplay standpoint.
I remember seeing the Aug in commando as a kid and being totally wowed anything else after that other rifles just happened. However the M16 in call of duty black ops just was absolutely everything you needed for any firefight , ranged, med and even cqc it was THEE all-rounder!!!
Nice to hear the A3 get a call out. I encountered this variant aboard the Stennis in 2001-2002 and people will sometimes try to correct me, "You mean the A4?"
There is also a inspiration of M16/M4/AR-15 in Star Citizen it is P4-AR which has a 10mm cartrige, auto/burst/single fire mode. Also it is my main go-to weapon because it is somehow familiar to me because of a load of another games.
I would have liked to see more focus on the fact that all of the issues encountered with the early models were systematically addressed as the years went by. At this point, these are some of the most finely crafted rifles ever to exist.
@@bradhaines3142 5.56 is still great at the ranges combat was usually happening at when it was adopted and is excellent for urban or forested environments. Within a couple hundred meters or so it will break apart inside a body and do a lot of damage. The reason the US army wants to move away from it now is because with all the desert and mountain warfare they're doing now they found they were having more engagements at longer ranges than that. 5.56 relies on its speed to have a good effect so there's not really a way for it to work well at those distances; it will slow down too much.
@@andrewmoore7014 Being fired out of shorter barrels (14.5, for example) certainly doesn't help matters either. I much prefer the C7A2 configuration myself
@@kylebrady969 Yeah a 20-inch barrel was what the 5.56mm round was actually designed for; that's what gives it the velocity it needs for maximum effectiveness.
from personal aesthetic preference, in games I like for m16s to have the carry handle rear sight and burst fire, while m4s having the post rear sight and full auto fire
Btw the reason the forward assist is flipped on the version in cs1.6 is because it literally was since the creator of the models was left handed, so they were modeled and animated as if the character was left handed, so they just flipped the view model for right handed players
Ironic considering the WWSD 2020 lacks chrome lining of the bore and chamber, which contributed to issues with the early Colt 603 (XM16E1) and early Colt 604 (M16), but the lower is still innovative
M16 and AK47 are so over used in games that I legit avoid using them at any and all costs. I do recall the 3 round burst being *chefs kiss* in Battlefield 2. I do find it amusing and typical politicking how much the US Army tried to make the M16 fail in trials cuz they had such a hardon for the M14. Then did the same thing to the FAL. I also find it amusing how the biggest issue early on of the M16 was it jamming up cuz they said it was so advanced it didnt need cleaning........so it jammed. Simply giving soldiers cleaning kits and instructions fixed that issue lol. Or, at least alleviated it somewhat.
Nice video What gets me with the M16 is how so many real would guns feel the need to imitate the M16 ergonomics guns like the MPX or even the Lewis Machine tools carbine all feel the need to be the same shape. I once even saw a company that sold grappling guns mention the fact it used the M4 buttock as a selling point. I think it's something to do with how much soldiers have to train with weapons and how western militaries and police cross train buts its interesting how those practical factors create a kind of cultural identity
Funny you should mention Mass Effect. The M8-Avenger (it's predecessor, M7-Lancer) is that universe's M16 equivalent, with it being the standard infantry rifle of the Systems Alliance Navy (basically NATO + NASA, 100 years in the future). It's also a popular choice amongst mercenaries, making it one of the most common 'rifles' (really gauss weapons) in the Galaxy. I always imagined the Mattock (mentioned in the video) was an M14 equivalent, though I've only seen the M14 in Hitman: Blood Money and know nothing about how it actually works.
Mattock even _plays_ like M1 Garand in most WW2 shooters so it IS like futuristic M14 indeed. ME3's Lancer being an old M16 model and current Avengers being the latest variant. Design-wise Mattock/Harrier does have the AR carrying handle thingy.
BTW, he said "hint of familiarity in bizarre world of Mass Effect"... excuse me, the game is full of real life parallels and allegories, from racism you see against quarians on Citadel, to Geth panic satirizing post-9/11 Islamophobia, to alt right space MAGA wanting to post with Shep in the first game, to Council not believing it was Reapers like everyone before 24th of February last year telling us "it's not russians, just some separatists". To all other planets not joining the fight and telling you to survive on your own after the full scale invasion... The game hits TOO close to home. Any Council talk is like our diplomacy for the past decade.
When I was in service in my country the M16 wasn't accepted for service, too expensive and too finicky for infantry service, BUT, some spec ops units and naval infantry servicemen actually used the A2 and the M4 (or the CAR-15, I saw one in the armory), here was regarded as a "cop and criminal gun", even the federal police use the G-36, the Airforce used the HK43, but the army was the good old FAL, same with the Minimi and the Mag, but since I left they adopted a new rifle made here, we also make M4s, but as long as I know, still not fit for general service, mostly spec ops and some police units.
Very fond memories of the M16A1. When I joined the USMC back in mid '85, we were the last platoon to be issued the old rifle. Other than the hand guard needing to be replaced and rattling like crazy, I thought it was a great rifle. Accurate, light weight, and (for me) better ergonomics since the pistol grip didn't have the annoying finger groove like the A2. We got issued the A2 with the faster twist barrel as soon as we got out into the fleet since we were also phasing out all the old 55gr ammo as well for the heavier 62gr slugs.
I love the M16, my only qualm is that every game depicts it with burst only, like yeah it's accurate, but I'd like to shoot the full auto M16 not be babied by the slow chugging A2/A4 designs that all shooter fans are familiar with
I would say a great option, (and I am far from the only one thinking this) is the MP5, with so many variants and having a dominating presence in Call of Duty, Battlefield, Resident evil and tons of other franchises it is definitely one of the most iconic weapons in gaming alongside the M4, AK, SCAR and 1911
I'd love an episode on the FAL and/or G3! It's not for no reason the FAL was called the "Right Arm of the Free World", being even more of a NATO counterpart to the AK than the M16 was.
The M16 had a bad reputation for reliability because some numnut thought it was a good idea to call it a self cleaning rifle in the field manual. Most guns don't work that well when you stop cleaning and maintaining them
I don't know much about guns but I have to say that's got to be the dumbest thing someone ever wrote, I mean it sounds like they were deliberately trying to sabotage the rifle
@@rosfell00 The Army brass were, in fact, trying to sabotage the rifle, and were extremely biased against it, favoring the M14. The M14 had just been adopted as the standard service rifle, and the first deliveries were in 1959. Said rifle was adopted to replace the M1 Garand, the M1 Carbine, the M1 and M3 submachine guns, and the M1918 BAR, a task the M14 utterly failed at, as while semi-automatic fire was as accurate as the older rifles, automatic fire was impossible to control. The idea though was to have one weapon fulfill all those tasks to simplify logistics, something the AR-15 was superior at. Anyways, the Army brass preferred their battle rifle as it was familiar to what they were issued with, and criticized the M16 as a Mattel toy. Up until McNamara had the weapons tests investigated, the Army ensured the M14 remained the dominant rifle, while lying and downplaying the AR-15. However, the Air Force and Special Forces loved the M16 because it was light, and because it used a smaller round, more ammunition could be carried in the field. The 5.56x45mm cartridge also inflicted more grievous injuries because the round would tumble and make wound cavities much larger than the larger 7.62x51mm. The Army didn't want to standardize the new round after browbeating the rest of NATO into accepting the 7.62x51mm, and replacing it would be costly, and that's after all the money and years they had poured into developing the M14. In the end, they improperly trained soldiers on how to use the M16, didn't issue cleaning manuals or kits, and waited for the M16 to fail in the field. Personal bias killed a lot of soldiers before intervention finally saved the rifle.
The only critique I have is that "AR" merely stands for "Armalite." Armalite's entire catalogue of the time began with "AR-" whether it was a rifle, pistol, or otherwise.
There's a very good series called "the forward assist vindicated" by a youtuber named "FullSpectrum" that is worth a look, that goes over the misconceptions and down right dangerous slander against the forward assist that is well worth a watch.
The reason why the M16 had so many malfunctions during the Vietnam conflict was due to the new gunpowder that heavily fouled the action. Also, many of them were received without cleaning kits and most of the men issued the new rifles were not trained in how cleaning the new weapon system. Government beuracracy kills again. I was issued the M16A2 in boot camp and the iron sights are phenomenal. The modern M16 is extremly accurate, reliable, lightweight, soft shooting.
When I went thru bootcamp they showed us AHOY’s video on the M16 in one class but not Heat’s shooting. But I was west coast and east coast does stuff different.
My game includes a weapon called the “Carbine” loosely based on the M16 family of rifles. It fires a triple burst of high damage but hard to find “Heavy Bullets”. Upgrades include a fully automatic mode and an underslung 40mm grenade launcher named “Undertaker”.
4:29 The forward assist wasn’t related to the early reliability issues. The Army insisted on the feature from the outset and the XM16E1 initially issued to the Army & Marine Corps had the forward assist but didn’t have a chrome lined bore or chamber. The initial reliability issues were related to corrosion of the barrel and especially the chamber causing stuck cartridges, ie failure to extract. A forward assist would not help a failure to extract malfunction. In addition the new ball powder increased chamber pressures and rate of fire.
4:26 This is wrong too. The Forward Assist was ordered by the US army in 1963 one year prior to the Gulf of Tonkin incident in 1964 and two years prior to the landing of the first US army troops in 1965. The Weapon the US army troops had was the XM16E1 that already had got the forward assist. The FA was an army requirement and not a reaction to problems with the weapon. Source: Black Rifle 1
The AR10 was developed by Eugene Stoner. The .223 Remington was developed by Stoner and Remington The AR15 was designed by James Sullivan as a shrunk down AR10 (still at Armalite) The rifle was ignored by the US Army but picked up by the US Air Force Finally adopted by the Army Sabotaged by the Ordnance Board Misunderstood by Colt Still went on to become a rifle that other rifles get judged by and adopted by a lot of countries, some with minor tweaks and some with large but not fundamental changes, and still going strong today. Anyone who thinks the XM7 is going to outright replace the M4 has a very idealistic world view. I'm sure we'll use the XM7 a lot, it'll likely replace the MK17 and MK20 rifles if all goes well, but the AR15 is hear to stay for a long time.
Not quite ignored by the US Army wholly as there was division between the Ordnance Corps and the Infantry Board (CONARC), which commissioned the AR-15 in the first place under the Small Calibre High Velocity programme in 1957, beginning with unit XAR1501
I'd argue it's less of a "good guy" gun and more a forces of "order" deal. Lots of bad guy henchmen in movies/games use them. Especially when they're guarding "The Man".
@@commanderwookiecopc806 exactly, it feels like any time the bad guys is an established presence in the (western) world thier goons uses some version of an AR15.
Apparently, the entire country is Northerners, and South Vietnam didn't exist, eh? Even then, VIetnam was invaded by China as well so basically everyone is a villain for them.
Johnathan just needed two more lines when discussing the reliability of the M16 in Vietnam. The SF community loved their privately purchased M16s and variants thereof, and the stubbornness of the ordinance corps led to the intentional sabotage of the M16 and needless deaths of thousands. Also 20" barrel and carry handle gang.
I have a signed photo of Al Pacino holding his little friend that hangs right above where my AR that I furnished to look like the M16A1 sits. Easily my favorite variant of the AR-15 ever
The problem with the M16 three round burst was that you have to hold the trigger until all 3 rounds were fired. If you let go after 2, the next burst fired only 1 bullet to complete the cycle and they needed to pull the trigger again for a full burst. If I'm not mistaken, they removed the burst mode in the next generation of the gun because of that
i had never even heard of the colt 9mm smg until i saw mozzie from r6 siege with the little baby m16 looking gun and i thought at first that it was some custom modified version made by him but i only later learned its a real gun.
It's just so oversaturated is the issue from an aesthetic and game perspective. The Spear sure isn't gonna replace it though, that's just the fallacy of More Power again, like 7.62 rifles.
Not often mentioned: 1) First AK-47 we’re both extremely unreliable and not durable. 2) First Toyota Corolla we’re both extremely unreliable and not durable. The pattern is very simple: any mechanical device which is not extensively tested under field conditions is often both unreliable and not durable.
Just like M16 is considered a "Good Guy weapon", M4 was considered to be an American weapon in Metal Gear Solid 2 and Metal Gear Solid 4. M16 was also in Metal Gear Solid 3 and Portable Ops. As for guns, probably do the Beretta M9, HK VP 70 Matilda, MK22 Handgun, MK23 SOCOM, FAMAS, PSG1, Mosin Nagant and/or an Bullpup Automatic Rifles.
They desperately need Jonathan to look at the arsenals from the series. MGS4 had some of the most authentically depicted and detailed firearms for it's time.
Here in Philippines we just call it "armalite"; & is an umbrella term for any AR-based platform. AR-15 name is getting used a lot now here, but still, armalite is the common name
Thank you all once again for watching another episode of Loadout, I hope we've been able to do this iconic rifle justice!
Between being able to see some original examples at The Royal Armouries, and me having a good reason to go back and play so many great shooters, this one was a lot of fun to make!
Loadout will be going on a short break, as we'll be working hard on preparing the next season (but make sure you go check out the previous episodes if you're new here - there's a lot), so if there's weapons, phenomenon or ideas you'd like to see on the show be sure to leave them in the comments or shoot me a tweet @IrregularDave.
As always I'm looking forward to reading your thoughts down below, but once again, from all of us, thank you so much for supporting the series!
❤
What a sublime conclusion to the _season_ with nonother than the AR-15- bravo, Dave!
you could do a episode on common gun misconceptions or smt
I'd like to see an episode on the Kris Vector, and similar weapons where many rifles and SMGs are opting for pistol caliber rounds, but make up for it with RPM? To go along with that, an episode about the iconic MP5 and its variants (including the MP5 K) would also be a cool episode, perhaps?
@@PLAYER_42069 yh the VEk would b amazing
I'm unsure if you have done a video on it but think the mp5 submachine gun needs a video
Good on Jonathan for actually discussing WHY the rifles failed in Vietnam, many discussions of the M16 in Vietnam say that the rifles were useless and never go into detail about what was actually wrong with them. The M16 is my favorite weapons platform and I especially have a soft spot for the XM16E1 and M16A1.
It didn’t FAIL in Nam, it had a rough start and was greatly improved, then loved, by the US soldiers using them.
@@Av-vd3wk by failed I was talking about the malfunctions, I probably could've worded that better though
The book “The Gun” about the AK47 (by CJ Chivers) actually does a really good job of explaining how the M16 struggled at first in Nam. Mostly it wasn’t so much bad design as bad logistics and inadequate training.
If you stop trusting the only thing helping you against the enemy that's bad for troop moral.
What’s worse, is the fact that there was a deliberate sabotage of the rifle just so bureaucrats in the military industrial could fulfill contracts for the M14 rifle.
Jonathan actually using guns looks quite badass
Because hes one of the few people who actually know how to use one fully.
The right mix of curator and John Wick energy
I'd love a Loadout episode on the MP5! An equally iconic weapon from pop culture, be it in the hands of John McClane, Rainbow Six or a CoD player!
Or Jonathon Fergusson
I was going to comment the same thing, but you're right that we need an MP5 episode.
Well, Fergusson is a big fan of the MP5... so that one was a no-brainer
I'd argue it's even more of a "good guy gun" than the M16 - at least until you cut its stock off.
@@TugaAvenger I've seen more MP5s used by bad guys in film than M16s. Especially MP5Ks which were the quintessential evil bad guy henchmen gun in the 90s and early 2000s
As an owner of 2 ARs, I've always been impressed by how rapidly and continually we refine the platform
Also, I feel that the MP5 (the default submachinegun in everything) needs an episode
The M8 in BO2 and BO3 are supposed to be fully adopted versions of the HK XM8. Which uses a modified AR-18 gas system.
Yeah, I thought it was really cool how it was incorperated into the game because in BO2 there's the M8A1 which is obviously the XM8 but enlarged a bit and standardized for 2025, then you have BO3 set in 2065 with the M8A7 which looks much more advanced and futuristic yet still has recognizable characteristics and performance from the A1 model, a great depiction of how that weapon could've evolved if it had actually entered service. In BO3 the ICR-1 is definitely the most AR-15 like gun in that game working much like an M4A1 though I'm pretty sure it's based off the M27 which was in BO2, which really is the US adopted HK416C. Although the M8 in both BO2 and 3 is functionally in terms of gameplay meant to be a M16 replacement though it's not from that gun.
I absolutely love this series. It fills out the void left from Ahoy not making Iconic Arms like he used to
Exactly. I stopped watching him because he barely puts out content anymore.
Thank you! Our show being mentioned in the same breath as the content Ahoy has done is an honour I don't take lightly!
@@IrregularDave you all have clearly proven yourself to be up to the task, and do not disappoint. Can't wait to see more!
@@IrregularDave you're clearly superior to Ahoy, thanks to both your content being added continuously, and of course you're actually helped by the Royal Armouries to do your homework
I might be an Ak guy but I can't forget that the m16a2 with the m203 and heat shield was my first favorite gun ever, now it ranks as my second favorite gun of all time
based ak enjoyer
Wait, full length one? Wasn't carbine with M203 much better looking combo?
@@TheArklyte I like the full length one since it's the one that I saw that a soldier was carrying when I was kid plus it looks nice and retro with the heat shield
ikr, it just OOZES with aesthetics.
@TheArklyte nah the full length m16 had a heat shield handguard to use alongside the m203 which made it look super cool and threatening
Whereas the shorter carbine versions usually just removed the bottom half of the regular handguard so the underside of the barrel was exposed so you could just attach the m203 that way. Still cool looking but nowhere near as iconic
Ahhhh ~ the infamous foward assist pull, never get old .
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Hearing the XM16E1 designation just makes me want Jonathan to give us a Metal gear solid 2/3 video even more! He could even fact check the weapon-specific codec/radio calls with Pliskin (Snake) & Sigint, respectively.
I'm such a sucker for the carrying handle and M203 Heatshield. It looks every bit as menacing and imposing as the Spas 12.
idk about that, you can get killed from a rifle, but 12 gauge has a way of deleting your face that 5.56 just cant match
Yeah, too bad the spas is junk in reality.
@@daltongarrett7117 oh it sure beats the cheap Turkish shotguns our soldiers use in Ukraine (yes, some units get assigned shotguns, see ХЛОПЦІ З ЛІСУ channel who talk about stuff and test weapons, there's one where they destroy building blocks and car doors with shotgun volleys and they LOVE any Western ones).
@@daltongarrett7117I own a SPAS-12 and the problems are exaggerated, honestly. Though a lot of aspects of the SPAS-12 to use it effectively, while simple once you know them, aren’t well known so it makes sense why it has that reputation even if it’s not actually true to the gun.
@@gameragodzilla the main thing about them is the import restrictions that make us in the US have to replace several parts with aftermarket American parts, my understanding is if you can get a law enforcement model that wasnt subject to the import restrictions they're top of the line from the factory, or were they stopped making them years ago.
i love how in depth you went with how many games the AR-15 platform has been in
Aside from games set during/before ww2 (kind of a given since the gun didnt exist in those times), and extremely sci fi games (with few exceptions like New Vegas and COD infinite warfare), I don't think I've played a single shooting game that didn't include an AR variant
I'd love to see John and Dave talk about the SA80 series of weapons. A weapon that rarely gets shown in games, so it be nice to see a popular channel talk about the weapon.
Jonathan is probably one of the best people to talk about the SA80s, given that he literally wrote a book on bullpups ...
Kinda reminds me how the icon for assault rifles in Blue Archive is actually the SA80. You'd think they'd use the AR platform to represent assault rifles, but for some reason the devs decided the SA80 would be better.
He would love that I'm sure. Doesn't get a huge amount of love in games, but is a weapon I'd like to cover!
@@IrregularDave perhaps an opportunity to talk about how the l86 is overrepresented
Small Arms Solutions has a video explaining his hate for the M14 and explaining on the Ordnance Corp essentially rigging the new weapons trials in the 50s against the AR-10
Yeah, Chris is THE expert when it comes to the AR-15 platform and its history
It was rigged against the FAL, because the suits didn't want a Belgian gun.
@@charlesboots6508 it was rigged against anything that wasn't the m14
It was the M-16 A2 that became the popular rifle! One of the most accurate and reliable rifles ever! Mine had a M203 grenade launcher attached to it! Man, they were amazing rifles!
A load out video on the MG 42 or M60 is a must
If you're planning on making more videos about iconic firearms like the AK and AR I feel like the Uzi's gotta get one, right? It's gotta be one of the most iconic SMGs in pop culture.
I think that's because of where you're from, אחי
There's a .50 beowulf version of the service rifle in New Vegas' Honest Hearts dlc called the Survivalists' rifle. In universe the guy who owned it was a US-Canada border guard which is why "Arret!" is carved onto the stock
12.7 mm in fallout is more like .50 AE. Survivalist's rifle is the only long barreled weapon in that caliber. So I think it's a caliber meant for short barrels.
@@GrimFaceHunter Josh Sawyer said the rifle was based on the .50 beowulf conversion of the AR-15 so that's what I assume it's supposed to be
@@GrimFaceHunter although the 12.7mm round is sorta supposed to be .50 AE so I think it's something you're not supposed to think too hard about
Its always fun to see how this series approaches the same topics slightly differently, with an update and style, to Ahoy's gun series. the Ahoy - M16 video is 8 years old and still holds up as well.
I like how ahoy's series is from the perspective of a gamer who also likes guns, while this series is from the perspective of a gun curator who also likes video games.
Funny enough, my first introduction to the M16 in gaming was in Tomb Raider 2 for the PS1. I immediately fell in love with the the design (even if it was in low poly form) and have used the weapon (or the M4 or Ar-15 variants) whenever I can.
I actually prefer it with the carry handle, it just looks better and is easier on the neck when aiming down the iron sights (Can make looking through optics a pain if placed on top of the handled instead of in place of it though.)
3:22
The biggest take away there is that Eugene Stoner didn't make a faulty product, the US government changed stuff and disregarded Stoners suggested ammo for reliable use, just getting rid of the chrome plating and changing the ammo was the cause for 90% of all problems
As a proud owner of an AR15, I’m glad these guys made it clear that the M16 is the military designation of the AR15 platform. The AR15 is NOT a military designation. One is a platform, and the other a standardized arm for military operations.
There's a special Place in my heart where the M16A1 resides it's the 1st AR I had to be trained albiet just ROTC and Marksmanship Subject we had.
Really enjoying the load out series guys! I love how you reference the games and pop culture while doing a factual deep dive with Johnathon’s commentary. Great format!
Really thorough, good work. This series has improved a lot.
Thank you!
If it wasn't for the M16a1I don't think the m16 family would have been so iconic. But I am super glad it is. One of my absolute favorites especially the M16a1!
I was searching the channel for a M16 video just yesterday. This is a pleasant surprise.
This is to me, alongside "Experts react", the best content on Gamespot for a long time. The passion and interest of all involved is clear in the product, be it @IrregularDave, the folks at the Royal Armouries or the editors splicing it all together. Gratz to you all and can't wait for more to binge through slow work days!
The Killzone series leaned *heavily* into the M16/AK duality with the main weapons of the two sides as well. The ISA's M82 is essentially a bullpup M16 (even with the iconic EOTech sight in 2 and 3), and while the Helghast's StA-52 resembles a FAMAS more than an AK, it still strongly incorporates that "mass produced" feeling the AK series does.
T'au: Firewarrior had an M16A1 autogun as an Imperial weapon your T'au character can pick up and use, even 38,000 years into the future, there are still AR-15s and M16s in use by PDFs and strung-out Guardsmen.
Please do a video on full auto and how it's portrayed. The way full auto is always the best in most video games but is that reflected in real life?
That would actually be a good topic. Games always have to strike a balance between how much damage they can do vs how much they really should do.
Some are quite controllable, and would be a giant advantage vs the same ammo used in a sidearm. So sidearms have to either have speciality roles or the full-auto gets nerfed.
Then again, the M14 and FAL are examples where full-auto isn't really worth it. So irl it's about using the small or mid sized cartridges.
But yeah, some games don't get it right. I love New Vegas, but autos aren't as strong as they should be cause they have lower damage per round for balance, but the way damage is calculated means enemies can end up tanking it too easily compared to powerful single shot weapons.
Funny you brought up the Drak from Deep Rock Galactic since I personally felt that the Lok1 actually resembles the AR-15 platform more aesthetically but less so from a gameplay standpoint.
I remember seeing the Aug in commando as a kid and being totally wowed anything else after that other rifles just happened. However the M16 in call of duty black ops just was absolutely everything you needed for any firefight , ranged, med and even cqc it was THEE all-rounder!!!
Not just the Service Rifle in New Vegas, but an M4 Carbine, and a Marksman Rifle
Glad someone remembers my babies, loved those beasts.
All American
Nice to hear the A3 get a call out. I encountered this variant aboard the Stennis in 2001-2002 and people will sometimes try to correct me, "You mean the A4?"
M16A4 has been my primary in Insurgency for years!
Great video!
There is also a inspiration of M16/M4/AR-15 in Star Citizen it is P4-AR which has a 10mm cartrige, auto/burst/single fire mode.
Also it is my main go-to weapon because it is somehow familiar to me because of a load of another games.
I would have liked to see more focus on the fact that all of the issues encountered with the early models were systematically addressed as the years went by. At this point, these are some of the most finely crafted rifles ever to exist.
The M70 would like a word
if anything 5.56 is the biggest limit for the guns. too weak
@@bradhaines3142 5.56 is still great at the ranges combat was usually happening at when it was adopted and is excellent for urban or forested environments. Within a couple hundred meters or so it will break apart inside a body and do a lot of damage. The reason the US army wants to move away from it now is because with all the desert and mountain warfare they're doing now they found they were having more engagements at longer ranges than that. 5.56 relies on its speed to have a good effect so there's not really a way for it to work well at those distances; it will slow down too much.
@@andrewmoore7014 Being fired out of shorter barrels (14.5, for example) certainly doesn't help matters either. I much prefer the C7A2 configuration myself
@@kylebrady969 Yeah a 20-inch barrel was what the 5.56mm round was actually designed for; that's what gives it the velocity it needs for maximum effectiveness.
The 3-round burst also found it's way into more fictional guns.
Like the Burston from Warframe of the Pulse Rifles in Destiny.
One of my favorite variants is the AR-15 Varmint Rifle from Killing Floor 2, chambered in 9mm and with a 3 round burst or semi auto.
As a Russian, I love the style and the design of the M16.
It's just so gorgeous and elegant
As an American I also like the Ak47
The gas system for pushing it is pretty cool
Congratulations
from personal aesthetic preference, in games I like for m16s to have the carry handle rear sight and burst fire, while m4s having the post rear sight and full auto fire
Btw the reason the forward assist is flipped on the version in cs1.6 is because it literally was since the creator of the models was left handed, so they were modeled and animated as if the character was left handed, so they just flipped the view model for right handed players
M16A1 is my favorite variant of AR-15 type rifles and from newer AR types the KE Arms KP-15 WWSD 2020.
Ironic considering the WWSD 2020 lacks chrome lining of the bore and chamber, which contributed to issues with the early Colt 603 (XM16E1) and early Colt 604 (M16), but the lower is still innovative
@@fourleaf7570 I like the overall concept and especially the light weight but I agree that chrome lined bore and chamber would be better.
M16 and AK47 are so over used in games that I legit avoid using them at any and all costs. I do recall the 3 round burst being *chefs kiss* in Battlefield 2.
I do find it amusing and typical politicking how much the US Army tried to make the M16 fail in trials cuz they had such a hardon for the M14. Then did the same thing to the FAL.
I also find it amusing how the biggest issue early on of the M16 was it jamming up cuz they said it was so advanced it didnt need cleaning........so it jammed. Simply giving soldiers cleaning kits and instructions fixed that issue lol. Or, at least alleviated it somewhat.
The M8A7 of Black Ops 3 is based off the M8A1 from Black Ops 2, which was based on the XM8
Funny about the M8A7, I always thought it was a "what if" the XM8 had been adapted and become a staple weapon in the future.
Still waiting for Loadout video on the history of the HK416 and it’s pop culture appearances
13:24 The Carry handle of the fictional M8 doesn't harkon back to the M16 but the weapon it's based on, the XM8.
Nice video
What gets me with the M16 is how so many real would guns feel the need to imitate the M16 ergonomics guns like the MPX or even the Lewis Machine tools carbine all feel the need to be the same shape. I once even saw a company that sold grappling guns mention the fact it used the M4 buttock as a selling point.
I think it's something to do with how much soldiers have to train with weapons and how western militaries and police cross train buts its interesting how those practical factors create a kind of cultural identity
Funny you should mention Mass Effect. The M8-Avenger (it's predecessor, M7-Lancer) is that universe's M16 equivalent, with it being the standard infantry rifle of the Systems Alliance Navy (basically NATO + NASA, 100 years in the future). It's also a popular choice amongst mercenaries, making it one of the most common 'rifles' (really gauss weapons) in the Galaxy.
I always imagined the Mattock (mentioned in the video) was an M14 equivalent, though I've only seen the M14 in Hitman: Blood Money and know nothing about how it actually works.
Mattock even _plays_ like M1 Garand in most WW2 shooters so it IS like futuristic M14 indeed. ME3's Lancer being an old M16 model and current Avengers being the latest variant. Design-wise Mattock/Harrier does have the AR carrying handle thingy.
BTW, he said "hint of familiarity in bizarre world of Mass Effect"... excuse me, the game is full of real life parallels and allegories, from racism you see against quarians on Citadel, to Geth panic satirizing post-9/11 Islamophobia, to alt right space MAGA wanting to post with Shep in the first game, to Council not believing it was Reapers like everyone before 24th of February last year telling us "it's not russians, just some separatists". To all other planets not joining the fight and telling you to survive on your own after the full scale invasion... The game hits TOO close to home. Any Council talk is like our diplomacy for the past decade.
When I was in service in my country the M16 wasn't accepted for service, too expensive and too finicky for infantry service, BUT, some spec ops units and naval infantry servicemen actually used the A2 and the M4 (or the CAR-15, I saw one in the armory), here was regarded as a "cop and criminal gun", even the federal police use the G-36, the Airforce used the HK43, but the army was the good old FAL, same with the Minimi and the Mag, but since I left they adopted a new rifle made here, we also make M4s, but as long as I know, still not fit for general service, mostly spec ops and some police units.
Very fond memories of the M16A1. When I joined the USMC back in mid '85, we were the last platoon to be issued the old rifle. Other than the hand guard needing to be replaced and rattling like crazy, I thought it was a great rifle. Accurate, light weight, and (for me) better ergonomics since the pistol grip didn't have the annoying finger groove like the A2. We got issued the A2 with the faster twist barrel as soon as we got out into the fleet since we were also phasing out all the old 55gr ammo as well for the heavier 62gr slugs.
Suggestion for next loadout video: The whole history of the Heckler & Koch HK416 aka the M416
I love the M16, my only qualm is that every game depicts it with burst only, like yeah it's accurate, but I'd like to shoot the full auto M16 not be babied by the slow chugging A2/A4 designs that all shooter fans are familiar with
Exactly its so annoying on any close range map
Good video as always
A great video topic could be the Thompson SMG
I would say a great option, (and I am far from the only one thinking this) is the MP5, with so many variants and having a dominating presence in Call of Duty, Battlefield, Resident evil and tons of other franchises it is definitely one of the most iconic weapons in gaming alongside the M4, AK, SCAR and 1911
I'd love an episode on the FAL and/or G3! It's not for no reason the FAL was called the "Right Arm of the Free World", being even more of a NATO counterpart to the AK than the M16 was.
The M16 had a bad reputation for reliability because some numnut thought it was a good idea to call it a self cleaning rifle in the field manual. Most guns don't work that well when you stop cleaning and maintaining them
I don't know much about guns but I have to say that's got to be the dumbest thing someone ever wrote, I mean it sounds like they were deliberately trying to sabotage the rifle
@@rosfell00 The Army brass were, in fact, trying to sabotage the rifle, and were extremely biased against it, favoring the M14. The M14 had just been adopted as the standard service rifle, and the first deliveries were in 1959. Said rifle was adopted to replace the M1 Garand, the M1 Carbine, the M1 and M3 submachine guns, and the M1918 BAR, a task the M14 utterly failed at, as while semi-automatic fire was as accurate as the older rifles, automatic fire was impossible to control. The idea though was to have one weapon fulfill all those tasks to simplify logistics, something the AR-15 was superior at. Anyways, the Army brass preferred their battle rifle as it was familiar to what they were issued with, and criticized the M16 as a Mattel toy. Up until McNamara had the weapons tests investigated, the Army ensured the M14 remained the dominant rifle, while lying and downplaying the AR-15. However, the Air Force and Special Forces loved the M16 because it was light, and because it used a smaller round, more ammunition could be carried in the field. The 5.56x45mm cartridge also inflicted more grievous injuries because the round would tumble and make wound cavities much larger than the larger 7.62x51mm. The Army didn't want to standardize the new round after browbeating the rest of NATO into accepting the 7.62x51mm, and replacing it would be costly, and that's after all the money and years they had poured into developing the M14. In the end, they improperly trained soldiers on how to use the M16, didn't issue cleaning manuals or kits, and waited for the M16 to fail in the field. Personal bias killed a lot of soldiers before intervention finally saved the rifle.
Especially when it first came out they claimed it was self cleaning
The gas tube is self cleaning, maybe that's what the manual was referring to and people assumed it meant the whole gun?
The Rise of M16
I loved the M-4 during my time as a grunt.
Operation Flashpoint was my first encounter with the M16!
The only critique I have is that "AR" merely stands for "Armalite." Armalite's entire catalogue of the time began with "AR-" whether it was a rifle, pistol, or otherwise.
I miss my M16A2. I loved that rifle. I was issued a brand new FN model and she was as sweet as could be.
There's a very good series called "the forward assist vindicated" by a youtuber named "FullSpectrum" that is worth a look, that goes over the misconceptions and down right dangerous slander against the forward assist that is well worth a watch.
The reason why the M16 had so many malfunctions during the Vietnam conflict was due to the new gunpowder that heavily fouled the action. Also, many of them were received without cleaning kits and most of the men issued the new rifles were not trained in how cleaning the new weapon system. Government beuracracy kills again.
I was issued the M16A2 in boot camp and the iron sights are phenomenal. The modern M16 is extremly accurate, reliable, lightweight, soft shooting.
When I went thru bootcamp they showed us AHOY’s video on the M16 in one class but not Heat’s shooting. But I was west coast and east coast does stuff different.
My game includes a weapon called the “Carbine” loosely based on the M16 family of rifles. It fires a triple burst of high damage but hard to find “Heavy Bullets”. Upgrades include a fully automatic mode and an underslung 40mm grenade launcher named “Undertaker”.
4:29 The forward assist wasn’t related to the early reliability issues. The Army insisted on the feature from the outset and the XM16E1 initially issued to the Army & Marine Corps had the forward assist but didn’t have a chrome lined bore or chamber. The initial reliability issues were related to corrosion of the barrel and especially the chamber causing stuck cartridges, ie failure to extract. A forward assist would not help a failure to extract malfunction. In addition the new ball powder increased chamber pressures and rate of fire.
4:26 This is wrong too. The Forward Assist was ordered by the US army in 1963 one year prior to the Gulf of Tonkin incident in 1964 and two years prior to the landing of the first US army troops in 1965. The Weapon the US army troops had was the XM16E1 that already had got the forward assist. The FA was an army requirement and not a reaction to problems with the weapon. Source: Black Rifle 1
The AR10 was developed by Eugene Stoner.
The .223 Remington was developed by Stoner and Remington
The AR15 was designed by James Sullivan as a shrunk down AR10 (still at Armalite)
The rifle was ignored by the US Army but picked up by the US Air Force
Finally adopted by the Army
Sabotaged by the Ordnance Board
Misunderstood by Colt
Still went on to become a rifle that other rifles get judged by and adopted by a lot of countries, some with minor tweaks and some with large but not fundamental changes, and still going strong today. Anyone who thinks the XM7 is going to outright replace the M4 has a very idealistic world view. I'm sure we'll use the XM7 a lot, it'll likely replace the MK17 and MK20 rifles if all goes well, but the AR15 is hear to stay for a long time.
Not quite ignored by the US Army wholly as there was division between the Ordnance Corps and the Infantry Board (CONARC), which commissioned the AR-15 in the first place under the Small Calibre High Velocity programme in 1957, beginning with unit XAR1501
Imma go play The Division 2 now, thanks for the inspiration.
Do a vid on the FAL, Glock, or 1911 next
I have a DDMk18. Hopefully one day I'll be able to afford an M16.
An Episode on the SA80 would be great thank you
I'd argue it's less of a "good guy" gun and more a forces of "order" deal. Lots of bad guy henchmen in movies/games use them. Especially when they're guarding "The Man".
Like the Matrix shoot out scene
@@commanderwookiecopc806 exactly, it feels like any time the bad guys is an established presence in the (western) world thier goons uses some version of an AR15.
I'd argue calling the US armed forces good in almost any context is hilarious.
"Remember, it's faster to switch to your sidearm than to reload the rifle" -Price
Pulling on the forward assist 😭
M16: Pop Cuulture's "Good Guy" Rifle
Vietnamese people: Yeah about that...
Apparently, the entire country is Northerners, and South Vietnam didn't exist, eh?
Even then, VIetnam was invaded by China as well so basically everyone is a villain for them.
I remember finding a variant of the m16 in MGS snake eater. I thought it was pretty cool.
Bringing back so many good memories classic game I wish they could rerelease it
Cleaning my M16A1 clone as I watch this! Cheers
Johnathan just needed two more lines when discussing the reliability of the M16 in Vietnam. The SF community loved their privately purchased M16s and variants thereof, and the stubbornness of the ordinance corps led to the intentional sabotage of the M16 and needless deaths of thousands. Also 20" barrel and carry handle gang.
Robert McNamara dissolved the Ordnance Corps for its criminal negligence ツ
@@TheSundayShooter Too bad actual justice wasn't served...
The main reasons why the M16 rifles had problems in Vietnam were poor quality ammo and insufficient maintenance training and kit.
I have a signed photo of Al Pacino holding his little friend that hangs right above where my AR that I furnished to look like the M16A1 sits. Easily my favorite variant of the AR-15 ever
Could you do a video on comparing the M4 & HK416? They seem so similar but are used in very different scenarios
I'd love to see an episode on the Five seveN or on the Tokarev TT-33 for the handguns, and of course the legendary Mp40
The problem with the M16 three round burst was that you have to hold the trigger until all 3 rounds were fired. If you let go after 2, the next burst fired only 1 bullet to complete the cycle and they needed to pull the trigger again for a full burst. If I'm not mistaken, they removed the burst mode in the next generation of the gun because of that
i had never even heard of the colt 9mm smg until i saw mozzie from r6 siege with the little baby m16 looking gun and i thought at first that it was some custom modified version made by him but i only later learned its a real gun.
It's just so oversaturated is the issue from an aesthetic and game perspective. The Spear sure isn't gonna replace it though, that's just the fallacy of More Power again, like 7.62 rifles.
There’s a weird irony of Neo throwing his M16 on the floor at the end of the review at 16:01
You should check out the Forgotten Weapons channel. Ian did a video about the AR 57 which uses the P90 round and magazine. It's a pretty cool channel.
Could you do the Benelli M4 during the next episode of Loadout? I'll gladly subscribe if you do!
can we have an episode on weapon customization like we had for silencers? red dots, scopes, and so on
Link above is to that very episode idea! Hope you enjoy!
Search for "Loadout - attachments"
Here where I live M16 have never been a weapon of a "good guy", quite the opposite often.
Global audience!
That’s because you’re the bad guy.
Let’s hope the new rifle gets its problems fixed faster than the M16’s problems
Not often mentioned:
1) First AK-47 we’re both extremely unreliable and not durable.
2) First Toyota Corolla we’re both extremely unreliable and not durable.
The pattern is very simple: any mechanical device which is not extensively tested under field conditions is often both unreliable and not durable.
But let's not your facts get in the way of disproven myth of "AK rugged, dependable, more power" and " M16 weak, breaks and doesn't shoot in mud".
Don't forget the arcade adaptation of the comic book cadillacs and dinosaurs. Although it is a rare weapon in the game
Just like M16 is considered a "Good Guy weapon", M4 was considered to be an American weapon in Metal Gear Solid 2 and Metal Gear Solid 4.
M16 was also in Metal Gear Solid 3 and Portable Ops.
As for guns, probably do the Beretta M9, HK VP 70 Matilda, MK22 Handgun, MK23 SOCOM, FAMAS, PSG1, Mosin Nagant and/or an Bullpup Automatic Rifles.
They desperately need Jonathan to look at the arsenals from the series. MGS4 had some of the most authentically depicted and detailed firearms for it's time.
@@inspectortequilayuen1245 I see.
Here in Philippines we just call it "armalite"; & is an umbrella term for any AR-based platform. AR-15 name is getting used a lot now here, but still, armalite is the common name
That moment when you're watching a commentary video about the M16 and you briefly get some Dubai flashback.
Classic bad guy-rifle irl