The M16 (officially "United States Rifle, Caliber 5.56 mm, M16") is an family of American 5.56×45 mm NATO caliber assault rifles, based on the ArmaLite AR-15 designed by Eugene Stoner and produced primarily by Colt's Manufacturing Company.
The M16 has been the U.S. Armed Forces service rifle since 1964, with the base M16/Colt 604 being first de facto adopted by the U.S. Air Force. Subsequently, the XM16E1 variant was fielded by the U.S infantry during Vietnam War, before being de jure adopted as the M16A1 in 1967.
Additionally, there are various carbine variants. In James Bond media relevant context, these include: the Colt Commando series (607/CAR-15, 609/XM177, 733/M16A2 Commando, 933/M4 Commando), the Colt Government Carbine (Model 727), the M4 Carbine and the Mk 18 Close Quarters Battle Receiver.
The Colt AR-15 and M16 rifle family (to which the Heckler & Koch HK416 technically doesn't belong to) has been frequently featured in the Bond series.
Film appearances[]
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (film)[]
Irma Bunt (Ilse Steppat) firing her M16 at Bond and Tracy's car.
Irma Bunt fires a M16 rifle during the drive-by shooting and takes Tracy's life.
Diamonds Are Forever (film)[]
In the pre-title sequence, a M16 "SP1" is wielded by one of the two thugs that appear after Bond kills the man who was meant to be turned into a Blofeld double. Also, one can be seen in the hands of a USAF airman guarding the North Dakota Strategic Air Command.
The Man with the Golden Gun (film)[]
The guards at Hai Fat's estate carry M16 rifles (possibly the XM16E1 variant)
The Spy Who Loved Me (film)[]
M16 rifles (actually MGC M-16 Model Gun Corp Replica Rifles) are used by Stromberg's men on the Liparus. After Bond frees the British, Soviet and the US submarine officers and crewmembers, they acquire these rifles at the armory to battle against the Stormberg's men.
Moonraker (film)[]
M16 rifles are used by Drax's guards at the Moonraker launch base in Brazil. Like in The Spy Who Loved Me, these are actually MGC M-16 replica rifles.
Octopussy (film)[]
In the pre-title sequence, the South Americans soldiers under Colonel Toro have M16 rifles, which again are actually a non-firing MGC M-16 replica rifles. After Bond steals one of the M16 rifles (after pulling the parachutes) it momentarily turns into a blank-firing AR-15/SP1 to shoot the tires on a enemy truck.
The Living Daylights (film)[]
Brad Whitaker (Joe Don Baker) wielding a Colt Commando M733 with armored plexiglass attached.
- "You've had your eight, now have my eighty!"
- ― Brad Whitaker
At the end of the film, at Brad Whitaker's Villa in Tangiers, Whitaker fights off Bond with a Colt Model 733 carbine that's enfitted a transparent ballistic shield. Whitaker boasts that it has 80 rounds, while its evidently loaded with a 30-round STANAG magazine.
Licence to Kill (film)[]
In the pre-title sequence, Felix Leiter, along with DEA agents Hawkins and Mullens wield Colt Commando Carbines when they go arrest Franz Sanchez.
Later, M16A2 rifles appear in the hands of Miami SWAT officers, when they are escorting Sanchez into the prison van. M16A2 rifles are carried by soldiers of Isthmus, parading the city and later when raiding the safe house (where Bond is imprisoned by Kwang and Fallon). When the soldiers attack the safe house, the Chinese agent Loti uses a M16A2 to fend off against the Isthmus soldiers before she is killed.
The "M16A2" rifles in this films are actually M16A1 rifles that have been fitted with A2-handguards.
GoldenEye (film)[]
M16A2 rifles are carried by the U.S. Marines lead by Jack Wade at the end of the film, after Bond and Natalya end lying in the field after the Janus Satellite Control Centre has been destroyed.
Tomorrow Never Dies (film)[]
In the Atlantic Hotel parking garage sequence, Carver's goons carry both M16A2 rifles and Colt M727 carbines, with all of them fitted with M203 underbarrel grenade launchers and Beta-C and/or drum magazines. Later at the airbase, American airmen are seen with M16A2 rifles.
During the finale in Stealth Ship, Stamper is armed with a Colt M727 with M203 underbarrel grenade launcher enfitted, and a 30-round STANAG magazine.
The World Is Not Enough (film)[]
Elektra's security personnel carry M16A1 during the protests at the Azerbaijani building site.
Die Another Day (film)[]
M16A2 rifles are seen in hands of South Korean military. First by South Korean MPs when Bond and Zao are traded. Then later in the film when Bond and Jinx prepare to fly to North Korea to intercept Gustav Graves. When Bond and Jinx arrive in South Korea, several US military personnel in the underground bunker can be seen carrying Colt XM177 Commando carbines.
Casino Royale (film)[]
During the sequence where Bond tries to stop the attempt by "Carlos Nikolic" to explode the Skyfleet S570, the police at Miami Airport can be seen using Colt AR-15 Law Enforcement Carbines.
Quantum of Solace (film)[]
Colt Model 993 carbines are seen in the hands of the CIA Special Activities Division team that try to catch Bond when he goes to talk to Felix Leiter.
No Time to Die (film)[]
James Bond (Daniel Craig) with a Mk 18 at the Poison Garden.
James Bond uses a Colt Mk 18 Mod 0 during the finale at the Lyutsifer Safin's base, the Poison Garden.
Game appearances[]
GoldenEye 007 (1997 game)[]
A unspecified M16 variant appears as the game as the US AR33 Assault Rifle. It is amongst the most capable weapons in the game, being a rifle that's moderately powerful, has a fast firing rate, with a focused bullet spread and having the sniping/zoom function.
With exception to the "Control", it is featured in all of the Cuba Missions in the game, as well as the "Aztec" extra mission. Notably, it is wielded by Alec Trevelyan in "Cradle", the final mission of the main campaign.
The World Is Not Enough (video game)[]
A Colt 607/First generation CAR-15 carbine appears as the Mustang MAR-4. It is available with either a scope or an M203A1 under-barrel grenade launcher (as the Mustang MAR-4 GL), and is modeled with the selector switch on semi-automatic.
Agent Under Fire[]
Called the Windsor FSU-4, this rifle is a customized AR15. It has a short barrel, round handguards, and a long flash hider like the XM177, and a fixed stock like an M16. The plastic furniture is green like a Diemaco C7. The underbarrel grenade launcher may be either an M203 or a Cobray. It is used in two levels: "Night of the Jackal" and "Fire and Water". Carla uses the FSU-4 in Night Of The Jackal. The FSU-4 has an erroneous 40-round magazine, whereas real life M16 weapons use either 20 or 30 round magazines.
Quantum of Solace (video game)[]
From Quantum of Solace (video game), James Bond (Daniel Craig) with a M4A1
The Colt M4A1 appears in this game as the TND-16, as with other weapon designations in this game, it is named after a Bond film, in this case Tomorrow Never Dies.
It fires 5.56mm NATO ammunition and comes standard with an R.I.S.-styled rail handguard and vertical foregrip. It can be outfitted with a suppressor, an EOTech sight, and laser sight in the single player missions only.
Strangely, in the campaign, after inserting a new magazine, Bond feels inclined to rack the charging handle on the M4A1; in real life, when reloading, he could just release the catch with the push of a button instead of racking the charging handle, which during a magazine change is disengaged, due to the gun being automatically cocked. This gun is used in the levels Bolivia, Airport and Venice.
GoldenEye 007 (2010 game)[]
Colt AR-15A3 Tactical Carbine, Colt M4
007 Legends[]
Colt M4
Gallery[]
Film[]
Video games[]
Trivia[]
- Despite being generally liked by most whom have used one, the M16/AR-15 has a somewhat dodgy reputation attached to it. Not only is it known as the rifle of the Vietnam War - which is considered a national shame to Americans involved, and during which it was somewhat infamous for jamming under jungle warfare conditions - but also the civilian variants of M16/AR-15 have been used in various highly publicized mass shootings.
- According to some early development details, the M16 or the "AR33" that appears in GoldenEye 007 is meant to be a M16A2. However, in real life, M16A2 can only fire in and/or semi-auto -- with the AR33 being portrayed firing at full-auto.
See also[]
- Heckler & Koch HK416, an AR-15/M16 variant by Heckler & Koch, which has different operating/firing mechanism to Colt-made AR-15/M16 variants
- Kalashnikov Rifle
- Mk 12 Mod 1