This popped up from a question about the rifles used in the movie Full Metal Jacket.

Did any service other than the USAF use slabside M16s, particularly in Vietnam?

The earliest M16s as used by Army Special Forces were true slabsides (Colt 601/602). Things like magazine release shrouds and forward assists weren't added to Army rifles until later (Colt 603, adopted as the M16A1).

This message has been edited. Last edited by: RogueJSK,

The Air Force initially used semi-slabside M16s (Colt 604s), which had no forward assist but a partially fenced lower, with a raised ridge between the ejection port dust cover and the mag release. (The USAF 604 eventually incorporated a fully fenced lower, but still no forward assist.)



Some of these early semi-slabside 604s were also used by the Navy, mainly seen in images of their Brown Water troops.





And there are occasional photos of Marines using similar semi-slabside early 604s:

This message has been edited. Last edited by: RogueJSK,

Regarding Full Metal Jacket, some of the actors used 603s/M16A1s, which was the more commonly used M16 by the USMC in Vietnam.



Whereas other actors used USAF-style semi-slabside early 604s, which while not as common, were occasionally used by the USMC as shown in the post above.


And sometimes an actor switches back and forth, likely between something like a 603 dummy rifle and 604 blank-firing rifle. Note that Cowboy has a 603 in the first image in this post, but is shown firing a 604 here:

Anyone else surprised to see Rogue chiming in less than 15 minutes after the question was asked with undoubtedly impeccable answers?

Come on Rogue, at least give the rest of a chance to get some wrong information out there

My bad. I'll try.

Thread drift...



This guy/scene, full of gun problems and continuity errors.

When he's done shooting the bolt and charging handle are back. Worn locking notch on the upper?
(I've been there, repeatedly whacked in the nose with the charging handle.)

A cut or two later his magazine is gone.
Then it comes back and he see him drop it and reload.

Shots from the front he's shooting right handed.
Shots from the rear he's shooting left handed.

Anyway.... back on topic.

quote:

Originally posted by MattW:
Come on Rogue, at least give the rest of a chance to get some wrong information out there

He did give us a full 42 minutes before finishing the three posts with multiple, and excellent, photos supplied in each. We just need to be THAT much faster. Me? I'm just glad he's here.

I served in the Air Force. When we deployed in 2006 with a bunch of guard guys from all over, many of them were issued GAU-5 without forward assists. These little rifles were old leftovers that were still FA, not burst.

I too was in the Air Guard and was issued a GUU 5-P. It was a FA, Fun rifle. Most of these rifles were a bastardized mixed bag of parts that were put back into service. I'll look for some pictures.

I like the carbines the ARVN troops have, particularly the M1A1 the guy on the left carries. They're all oriented the wrong way to see if any have selectors.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:

Those aren't ARVN soldiers. They're indigenous Mike Force irregulars, operating with 5th Special Forces Group.

if you enlarge the pic, it looks like the paratrooper carbine and the smiling guy have selectors on the rifles

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
Those aren't ARVN soldiers. They're indigenous Mike Force irregulars, operating with 5th Special Forces Group.

Montagnards.

quote:

Originally posted by crash:
Montagnards.

Close... They're Nung.