What Are the Parts of an M16? [Repairs You Can Make with a Parts Kit]

Say what you want about the M1 Garand, it is the M16 that is the longest-service service rifle in United States history.

There’s a lot to like about the M16. It is light, extremely modular, remarkably reliable, capable of full-auto firing, and straddles the middle ground between adaptation for long-range engagement and close-quarters battles. In fact, that’s how it was developed.

In the wake of World War II, in Korea, American soldiers were frequently finding themselves in CQB encounters with Korean forces. The M1’s .30-06 Springfield hits hard and shoots far, but the longer, heavy, wood-stocked M1 Garand just wasn’t well-equipped, or nimble enough, to serve in close quarters effectively.

The army set out on a mission to develop a lighter, more adaptable rifle, the M14. the M14 was lighter and more maneuverable than the Garand - but it was still heavy, expensive to produce, and produced uncomfortable recoil during periods of intense fire.

So the army took a page from the notes of civilian shooters, that were fond of the AR-15, which was lighter, more agile, and which produced much less recoil when firing automatically since it was paired with a lighter cartridge.

Thus the M16 was born (in a nutshell) replicating the likeness of the AR-15 that is still one of the most popular rifles in American today.

Like the AR-15, it is highly modular and contains a large number of moving parts - parts that you may want to keep on hand either severally or in the form of an M16 parts kit.

High-Level M16 Parts Overview
Externally, the major components of an M16 are these:

●Barrel

●Muzzle device (flash suppressor or compensator, A.K.A. muzzle brake): A flash suppressor helps aid in concealment by literally hiding a muzzle flash whereas a muzzle brake redirects ported gases, helping to reduce recoil and muzzle jump.

●Mounting hardware (bayonet stud, sling mounts, etc)

●Magazine: Original Colt M16 rifles were issued with a 20 round mag compatible with 5.56x45MM NATO ammunition.

●Stock: Unlike the AR-15, many M16 rifles were outfitted with non-modular, solid plastic stocks.

●Handguard: The M16 rifle’s handguard is typically made of molded plastic, in place of the modular rail surface of modern sporting rifles.

●Carry handle

●Front and rear sight assembly

●Pistol grip

●Trigger (and internal assembly)

●Charging handle: Used to manually cycle the action for the purpose of loading the first round into the chamber or for clearing jams,

●Bolt catch

●Selector lever

In addition to these, the rifle has numerous internal pins, detents, and springs that help hold the rifle together and allow the parts to communicate effectively.

What Parts Take the Most Wear and Tear?
As you might suspect, parts like the stock, handguard, carry handle and pistol grip are basically bombproof and indestructible. Being made from molded polymer plastics, these are immune to the weather, to moisture and corrosion, and are highly impact and damage resistant. They laugh at the elements (and to fouling, for that matter) and unless you really mess something up, you’ll never have to replace the carry handle or handguard on your M16.

Not every part is like that. Moving parts carry a lot of energy and experience a lot of wear and tear. These are the ones you should expect to have to replace every now and then, and they’re there one of the reasons an M16 parts kit can be so valuable.

●Gas system components: Cleaning the components of a gas system can restore operation, but in some instances, it may make more sense to replace the parts if they are no longer in good condition.

●Bolt carrier group: The bolt carrier group is the heart of your rifle. The lugs can fail, the bolt itself can break, or the gas rings can wear out, hindering cycling. Some of these parts, like gas rings, can be replaced piecemeal; other times it makes more sense to replace the whole BCG.

●Firing pin: Firing pins take a lot of abuse with each pull of the trigger and they can and do break.

●Extractor and ejector: Small, sensitive extractor and ejector springs are highly susceptible to damage, especially if you allow them to get dirty. Keeping these parts on hand can help you prevent your rifle from jamming due to failed extraction or ejection.

●Barrel: Has your M16 seen an excess of 10,000 rounds? Then suffering accuracy might not be in your head. Replace the barrel and you may notice an improvement in grouping at the range.

How Can an M16 Parts Kit Help?
An M16 parts kit is a valuable addition to your collection of parts and tools if only for the fact that a parts kit will contain most of the parts you need to restore an M16. If any of the parts mentioned above fail or you just want to have a spare on hand, an M16 parts kit will include everything if not mostly everything you need.

If you have any questions about our M16 parts kits or just need some guidance on how to fix an issue with your rifle, please contact us at 610-250-3960.