Special Operations.Com
ACCESSORIES
& VARIANTS OF THE M-4
The M-4 &
M-4A1 are capable of taking a wide array of accessories,
one of the more common of these is the use of a removable
carrying handle found on the M-4A1 Carbine.
The use of this "flat top" allows
it to mount a number of optical sights depending on
the role needed, including both day and night sights
(see Figure 3-1). However it was felt that if
the main optic device were damaged the user might
be deprived of the sight arrangement, as such a special
set of flip up emergency iron sights have been installed
on the rear of the M-4A1 receiver (see Figure 3-1
& 3-5). With this flexibility the M-4 &
M-4A1 are quite capable of using most accessories
commonly reserved for the M-16A2 rifle, the user can
select what is needed on an individual basis and with
the modular upper receiver (Figure 3-3 shows the host
of possible attachments).
Other Companies
as well have attempted to design a flexible system
for the M-4 Carbine, GG&G in early 1997 announced
that they had developed what they called the "Urban
Warrior" system for the M-4. Key to
this system was the belief that the user need not
have to constantly change large, bulky optical sights
depending on the time of day. As such the company
mounted a pocket night vision scope of extremely small
portions on the rear most portion of the receiver,
looking through this into the M68 Aimpoint MOD at
night allowed the user to see using both devices.
(During the day only the pocket night vision scope
need be removed, the rest of the time the Aimpoint
MOD is used.) To fully capitalize on the night
vision scope a laser aiming module was affixed to
the front foregrip - this would allow the user to
"paint the target" with the IR beam.
However the "Urban Warrior" design
was ultimately beaten by FN's FIRM (Floating Integrated
Rail Mount) system, this design uses a sleeve which
fits over the foregrip which is comprised of a series
of slots across the surface which allow the user to
mount an array of optical and sighting systems.
FIRM has since become the standard for the United
States Armed Forces, its flexibility and optional
accessories such as a forward handgrip (see Figure
3-1) have won over the users of the M-4 Series.
One of the more
interesting items the new Carbines can mount is a
suppressor, it is designed to mount on the threads
of the barrel and in conjunction with subsonic ammunition.
Degree of suppression is rated at or above 30dB, the
effect of this is to reduce the sound signature of
the carbine to that of a 22 rimfire. For
Special Operations units the ability to mask their
shot has lead to suppressor being procured for usage,
so much in fact a leading civilian firm (Gem-Tech)
has produced a similar model which they hope can be
adopted in case the current producer (Knight) is incapable
of meeting the governments needs. It is important
to note here that subsonic ammunition is part of the
equation when using the suppressor, failure to do
so would be disastrous as the subsonic crack of the
report would not be reduced.
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Figure
3-1
Colt M-4A1 with FIRM Mount Handgrip and Trijicon
ACOG Sight
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Figure
3-2
Colt M-4
Carbine A1 Reciever, Old Style Sights with Brass
Deflector and Beta C-Mag (Model 723)
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Figure
3-3
M-4A1
Carbine with FIRM System And Accessories:
Top Row:
AN/PEQ-2, M68 Aimpoint, AN/PVS-2 Night Vision
Scope,
Middle
Row: Colt M-4 Carbine Shown With FIRM
Handgrip Below
Bottom
Row: Leaf Sight , PI M-203 Grenade Launcher
with Quadrant Sight (Right)
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Figure
3-4
M-4 Carbine Showing Suppressor and FIRM Handgrip
(sans magazine)
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Figure
3-4A
Colt M-4 Carbine With Commercial Suppressor
(Gem-Tech M4-96)
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Figure
3-5
M-4A1 Carbine shown with FIRM and Back-Up
Iron Sight Deployed (sans magazine)
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Figure
3-6
GG&G "Urban Warrior"
M-4 Design
Equipped With Pocket Night Vision Scope (Rear),
M68 Aimport COMP M (Middle), and PAQ4A Laser
Aiming Sight (Front)
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Colt M-4 & M4A1 (Model 720 & 723 et.
al)
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Date Of
Introduction:
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1988
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Cartridge:
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223 Remington
(5.56x45mm NATO)
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Ammunition
Capacity:
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20 &
30 round box magazines
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Barrel
Length:
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370mm
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Overall
Length:
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780mm (Retracted)
/ 861mm (Extended)
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Type Of
Fire (M-4):
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Selective
Fire: Semi-Automatic & Three Round Burst
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Type Of
Fire (M-4A1):
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Selective
Fire: Semi-Automatic & Fully Automatic
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Rate Of
Fire:
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45-65 RPM
(SS)
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Rate Of
Fire (Cyclic):
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700-950 Rounds
Per Minute
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Effective
Range:
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600 Meters
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Maximum
Range:
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800 Meters
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Weight:
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3.32 kg
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M4-96D Suppressor
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Date Of
Introduction:
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1997
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Diameter:
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1.50 inch
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Overal
Length:
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6.20 inches
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Degree
Of Suppression:
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32dB +/-
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Weight:
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20 Ounces
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