The Deadliest Service Rifle Ever Fielded by The US Military; The M4A1
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- čas přidán 15. 06. 2024
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The M4A1 has done more to advance the small arms of both the Military and Civilian worlds than perhaps any other variant. Heavily issued, used, and vetted in combat for over 20 plus years it's a hard weapon to ignore. Hope you enjoy today's video.
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First time to watch a video of yours all the way through, I really liked it, and your down to Earth style of explaining, I did subscribe, FYI the little mistakes just make you more natural presenter, don't change a thing
We all know the reason we train.....Better dead than red.
US Marines 17:28
There is nothing more frightening than the Manscape 2.0. Nobody makes me bleed my own blood 🩸. Except for the Manscape 2.0. A tourniquet is required.
That opening though.
"If you've ever taken a six pound rifle and added 14 pounds of accessories to it, hit that like button." Really enjoyed the old format review. Thanks for producing great content.
Agreed
It's a wonderful throwback
He needs accessories that come with stacked Picatinny rails so he's not hampered by fore stock limitations.
Agreed
I was a 320 gunner in my first unit... As S6 in an ADA BN.
Long story short, they call it an M320, because it feels like 320lbs taped to the end of your rifle.
This is a certified M4A1 M203 classic
Banger
life is like roblox
-dj khaled
@SafouTop10gkfMy parents told me to not subscribe to an account flipper with a 2 month old account
@SafouTop10gkfi advise you to formulate a strategy other than begging, because that will both not reach your goal, or sustain your channel.
@jarjarbinks7303most over used Internet reply ever. 😛
As a active member of Call of duty I can confirm this is one hell of a rifle
Thank you for your service? 🤔
@@bendeleted9155🤣🤣🤣🤣. So true. There’s no force like the computer chair force!
@@talisikid1618 don't forget the elite gravy seals, including meal team six
Best gun tbh
Fedgru@@bendeleted9155
Great information! No doubt thousands of Internet "mall ninjas" have fantasies of having even 1 per cent of your knowledge and experience! :-)
Thanks!
Hi Hickok!!!
Really? What about "mall pirates?" And no, not those people who steal amazon packages.
paul blart is coming for you.
I wish I could have just 1 percent of both of your guys’s knowledge and shooting ability! Lol. You and garand thumb need to do a collaboration video!!!
Imagine saying "knowledge" and "1 per cent" in the same sentence 😂
As a member of the military, we get a lot of things wrong, this wasn’t one of them.
That's because it wasn't chosen through their usual channels, funny enough.
Clearly you've never shot anyone with it. "Deadliest" isn't the word I would use.
@@mattmarzula adrenaline is a hell of a drug.
@@mattmarzulauh...theres a lot of dead dudes in iraq and Afghanistan that might disagree with ya. I've seen some nasty wounds from it.
I think it’s funny how for decades people have brutally shit on the M4 and M16 acting like it’s the worst turd in the history of rifles but now that it’s possibly on its way out people are acting like it’s the best gun ever made and all the hate is now transferring to the XM7.
It’s the year 2077, Garand Daddy Thumb (he’s a great grandfather with 37 grandkids) is kicking off his final review ever. He starts with “If you ever hosted a popular CZcams channel and helped inspire generations of 2A advocates, go ahead and hit that subscribe button. Today we are going from tip to butt about the M1 Garand…”
I’ll be expecting to see your comment on the top when that day comes brother 🫡
Im 19 hopefully I see that someday
Army infantry vet here, M4A1 is near and dear to my heart. Saved my ass so many times in the sand box. Such a perfect rifle. Love everything about it.
If I may ask, why does he indicate the green tip is awful ammo? I thought it was Armour piercing, sort of? Why would in not be useful in our next SHTF where vehicles may come into play? TY in advance.
@MrCobb-rq8iv regular ammo will go through vehicles, and green tip has horrible terminal(inside the body) ballistics, ie does not cause nearly as much damage as is expected. Civilian stuff like 77 grain otms are *far* better for range ballistics, theyre more accurate, longer range and work better out of shorter barrels, and far better for terminal ballistics
@@MrCobb-rq8ivall we used is 62 grain green tip in Iraq and I have zero complaints about its performance, as mentioned I'm sure some of the hotter civilian rounds are more superior, but saying they suck is a stretch.
@@colefookI never had any issues 3 kicks to Iraq, 2 to AFG and one other shit hole…it did fine.
@@MrCobb-rq8iv
When it was adopted it had inconsistent terminal ballistics.
The older M193 would reliably fragment and tumble (out of the 20'' M16A1 & A2 barrel). M855 would sometimes "icepick" through unarmored targets. This was noticed and reported in the battle of Mogadishu.
Turns out the issue was largely caused by the angle at which the projectile entered a target. M855A1 (as well as stop-gap ammo adopted by the Marines) were designed to tumble more reliably, despite the angle of entry at the target.
Hope that helps!
When I was in the Army, I used an M16 in basic, then immediately got put on 240B in my unit. I used the 240b on back to back deployments. Of course when you get your stripes they take your machine gun away. It took me a bit to get used to the M4. The weight and operation on the move are of course completely different. My first tic after the switch I found myself reaching for my Beretta when entering a close quarters area (tight hallways in a cramped Baghdad apartment complex), and I had to think to realize what I was doing because my muscle memory response had been programmed over years.
I spent a week doing movement drills, and practicing ready actions with my joes to firmly break the habit.
I learned to love my M4 in the end, and it is my standard for judging rifles.
Man how long were you on the gun - I spent most my time in weapons squad but only about a year as a gunner - assistant gunner team leaders have m4s - weapons squad leader m4, Gustav gunner has an m4. Usually they keep a fast joe on the gun, not some specialist with a deployment and 3 years in
@@nickhagedorn3002 Longer than most. First tour, got it immediately. During the first six month turn around went to the unit armorer course, 1SG grabbed me after that. He was using our commo sgt as his driver, so he used me as his gunner, and I pulled a lot of double duty for the CO as well who was using our company quartermaster, as his driver, and the TOC nco (An E6) as his gunner. Boarded and promoted during the second tour. Got back into a squad at around the one year mark. (Second deployment was about 19 months). This was still early days, and the Army was shitting itself because they didn't have enough 12Bs because of Clinton's draw downs. I was in a Combat Engineer battalion. By the book each squad was supposed to have 12+ men. Most of ours had eight or nine. The A&O platoon was at 5-6 guys per squad. Around the time I got promoted the points needed to hit E5 dropped by around two hundred points because the Army was realizing they didn't have enough NCOs to deal with all the Joe's they needed to bring in. Fun times. I think there are around 12,000 combat engineers now. In 2001 it was closer to 3,500-4,000. The numbers tripled between 03-06 if I remember correctly.
Thank you very much for the shout out. Greatly appreciate it. It is hard to believe a small arm can have the history this family does. But it is a fascinating story of how something can be on top and evolve for over 60 years.
Love your channel. Eugene Stoner was a genius.
Thank you for making so much of the AR platform history available on youtube. You didn't have to and yet you did anyway. And then everything you did for the books too. Simply awesome.
@@PARR53 don’t forget Sullivan…
So awesome the Garand Thumb sourced your channel Chris! Check out Small Arms Solutions guys! Especially Chris's video on the myth of the M16 in Vietnam; truly an eye opener!
Love your channel Chris!
M4A1 was the moment we crossed into the realm of diminishing returns as far as AR’s go. IMO, a revolutionary and iconic service rifle
Ironically with the M5 we are kind of going backwards. 5.56 is the best in terms of weight to capacity and fire and maneuver tactics rely on volume of fire. The Army even said it is redirecting tactics to more mobile hit and run tactics, so reducing capacity of the service rifle is like the worst decision if that's actually the direction they plan to go. As a DMR though, the M5 is ideal.
@@DaveSmith-cp5kjm7 now
@@DaveSmith-cp5kj To play devil's advocate for the XM7: you must understand it as a package with the XM157 "smart" optic. I think the better way to understand it, is effectively "with the smart scope, every man is not only a rifleman but a DMR." You can definitely make the argument that the XM157 could've just been retrofitted to existing 5.56 rifles but the 6.8x51 lets you take full advantage of the XM7's capabilities to hit further and defeat near-peer adversary body armor.
I think that this is kind of an even more aggressive application behind the M27 IAR's paper justification (in practice the M27 "replacing" the M249 was a paper excuse to get a new rifle). Whether this justifies the tradeoff in weight/fire volume/recoil: who knows. But I don't see existing 5.56/5.45/5.8 platforms becoming "obsolete" while gunpowder weapons are still not obsolete.
mmmm I believe my current stable of rifles are better than the M4A1. I shoot sub MOA, my SPR barrels are either haavy and strong or super light depending on what I choose to run, I have much better (comfy and light, speedy) free-float rails which takes away the problem of the fixed sight blocking the optic when doing high holds etc etc etc
@@robertmao9390 Yeah, that's why I see it more as a DMR replacement rather than a service rifle replacement. In fire and maneuver most of the rounds you fire are not going to hit the enemy purposely as the greatest expense of ammunition is in gaining fire supremacy which involves shooting so if the enemy exposes themselves from cover they will get hit. So the benefit of armor penetration is completely lost when most of that ammo is going to hit dirt and is just a glorified noisemaker.
The military was heading into good direction with the M249 select fire trigger packs (as semi auto cadence has a longer duration and same fixing potential as a short burst), but now with heavier and bulkier ammo we are kind of ignoring lessons learned.
Thanks for this. The M4A1 really did bring us the “AR15” we know and love in the civilian world today, great to see this conversation happening.
This also could have been the ar10 If the m14 wasn't pushed onto men by greedy generals
.......what?
@@ALovelyBunchOfDragonballzwhat's confusing you?
@@Epsilon-18 the entire comment.
The AR that most people have is well past the M4, the M4 came relatively late in the ARs life, and its popularity took off before the M4. Most people arent rocking 14.5 carbines either.
@@ALovelyBunchOfDragonballzCheck again, most people use 16" or 14.5 pin and welds.
I have missed this kind of format! Absolutely detailed review...perfect!
More to come!
This format is what made me fall in love with Garand Thumb!!
Mike, thank you for a return to your original format. Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy all of your videos and watch them all. But it’s your highly detailed, analytical and excellently presented reviews that initially established me as a consistent viewer. I’d love to see some more classic style reviews mixed in with your newer content. Would be a fantastic balance!
I second this
Third
fourth
Fifth
6th-- love the talk show vibes on the new stuff, but this is what got me into it.
I qualified on an M16 once upon a time, carried one for a little while. Fast forward a few years, and I'm a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division and I am assigned an M4. Had an M203 and later an M320 attached, but there was always my M4. Best 20 years of my life. Airborne! All the Way! Let's Go!
11:55
The M4A1 has always been my favorite gun and go to gun in shooters. Seeing it in all the SOCOM games and CoD campaigns fully decked out with the suppressor, nade launcher, red dot and lasers was always so much cooler than the other guns. Wanted to get my hands on an actual Colt civilian M4A1 but they stopped production and prices immediately skyrocketed so I had to settle on an off-brand.
This is not a video game discussion 🤣.... All jokes aside, don't get hung up on the size of rounds, shot placement is everything, you have to shoot something vital no matter if it's a pistol or a 7.62 rifle.
A whole bunch of the M4A1's in our armory when I was in the Navy still had M16A1 lowers. One of those lowers was made by GM. I thought that was pretty cool.
I had an M16A1 in Vietnam. Mine was pretty worn, but still worked if it was cleaned once in a while.
I missed the old style videos quite a bit. Thanks, Mike.
Same
@@WeaponizedAutismiii i like it when he isnt trying to be relatable by saying whatever zoomer buzzword of the week.
Yep.
⌚️ Europa the last battlè
I can’t thumbs up this enough
Chris at small arms solutions is absolutley the guru on anything m16 related.He is a fountain of knowledge.
facts
Chris goes to make a ham sandwich and accidentally makes an XM177E2
@@CircaSriYak Is that a gun that shoots sandwiches?
@@ghostsmoke11No, that’s his naggy wife
Except for the neo-fuddlore about the forward assist that he and all these other people irrationally hold to
Hands down the best rifle you can buy for doing it all. So much marketing has gone into larger calibers and shorter barrels, but you can do a lot with 14.5 / 16" and the 5.56 reigns supreme still.
Most researched and well funded armed forces in history carry it for a reason.
Would you take this rifle with 556 over this rifle with a 762 round? I’m still trying to figure out what one to get and I keep going back and forth and it’s annoying lol
Especially if you go to the 77OTM rounds.
For all the talk of "5.56 replacement" cartridges, high BC 5.56 rounds basically meet or exceed a lot of them, and for less money than wildcat rounds.
@@davidortman1872 For general purpose self-defense I choose 5.56. It has plenty of lethality, is light recoiling, effective to about 300 yards (more or less depending on barrel length and round variant). Most violent encounters are close range and mele distance (within 15 yards). And more often bad people operate in groups. Having a greater round capacity of the 5.56 with options for 77g OTM and other premium rounds are assets. I do like having a 308 option for greater lethality at range and better barrier penetration. It depends on what situation you are in.
@@realitychallenged4488and us of a lost many wars with it
This is a certified M4A1 M203 classic. I have missed this kind of format! Absolutely detailed review...perfect!.
Infantry marine here. The new M27's that have been pushed are absolutely worth their own video as well. They punch out just a little bit further but the gas piston blowback makes cleaning much easier. Great video!
I’ll take an extra 2-3 lbs to turn in my rifle first try any day.
M27 is good for sustained fire, however for a standard issue rifle (like the marines are using it) a lighter M4 derivative is probably better.
M14 is still the rifle needed for infantry.
@@weasle2904 they are already working on a shorter version i believe
What about with the suppressor?
If you've ever been so hyped for a Garand Thumb video that you broke numerous traffic laws to get home to watch the video, go ahead and hit that like button.
“Allegedly”
In GTAv. Not real life of course
I cannot confirm or deny these allegations
Ever heard of a cell phone dude? Just watch it as you fly down the freeway. Simple as.
I just watch flannel daddy while driving….in gta of course.
Loved this return to an older format of content! To be clear I love every format you have been using, especially the .22 man video. It was very upbeat and lighthearted, was awesome to see an old format : D
I can remember the first time seeing one of these in 03. An Army guy had one while he was on gate duty and I ask him about it and when I held it, it felt like a toy to me compared to my m16a2. We didn't have all the cool guy accessories at the time. After that I thought of my M16 as a long sword and the M4 like a dagger while serving in Iraq. Those 2 will always be my favorites.
When I was in the Corps ‘02-‘06, I shot a lot of things from the M9 to the MK19. My absolute favorite was my M16A4. Loved that full length baddie.
Same with me back in 88, I believe ours were A2 version.. oooohraaaah
@@Thousand_yard_King '88 would have been the A2 unless your rifle had the old-style triangular handguard, then was the A1. Sweet rifle!
'91-96, 1/3, A2's rockj
M16A4 is awesome. I'm not kicking in doors nor do I want to. Much rather have a M16A4 slinging 5.56 in its most lethal form.
The amount of resistance to up grades was sickening. Moving away from iron sights was painful, the old guys wouldn’t budge. If you had a history in SOCOM you were ignored. Glad you guys won
I was "fighting" that battle since late 80s though the 90s. I had one of those original Colt scopes for the rifle and 2 different configurations of 3x9 scopes mounted on M16a1 and a2 though them times, but the old guards... "That's not authorized" you can't do that, then to be telling me a combat veteran that none of them were. Funny was when I was a PVT in unit with 1 SGT, and PSGT's being Vietnam veterans it was OK, but not with post V.N. NCO's I really felt vindicated at end of my military life seeing optics as standard issue.
@@DB-yj3qcTo some degree, that old logic still existed even into the mid 2000s. My uncle told me that at some point in his deployment to Ramadi Iraq 05-06; that someone above in the chain of command thought it was a good idea to issue out a hunk of useless metal that would fit into the lower that would prevent burst/auto fire. Semi auto only.
Him; being a 1SG, Former Ranger with combat jump wings (one of the few left in the Army at that point) from Panama made it a point that he would never let any of the troops below him ever be issued it.
Somewhere in Ramadi, there exists a hole in the ground with potentially hundreds of semi auto limiters that were "lost" for M16s and M4s
Back in MY Army, we shot with iron sights -- and wondered why we were still doing so.
@@gp556by45 That's wild. I was in Iraq during that time, and we got all the shiny new optics and accessories from our supply. I'm talking the latest mounted Surefires, that were discretionarily paid for, so we got to keep them. Still have mine. Our brand new M4s didn't have full auto though, only semi or burst. They came from the factory that way.
@@fmrscout33I can't speak from personal experience having never served, but from what I could see from the outside looking in as a kid, inconsistent crap like that was normal between different units. I was in high school in NY at the time playing school sports, and the mom of one of our hockey teammates organized a fund drive for her older son who was serving in Iraq as one of the lower officer ranks (I want to say Captain but it's been so long now I'm not sure, though no chance it was higher because he was very young but not green).
She had sent him the best-possible body armor at the time after he told her his unit hadn't received the promised govt-issued ones, that he had previously told her about in order to reassure her that he was technically about to be safer despite the increase in violence across Iraq. Yet when it actually arrived unannounced as basically a surprise present since the govt wasn't doing what he told her they'd made official, he refused to even open it unless every single one of the men in his unit also had body armor. He told her he'd be a hypocrite and a coward asking his men to do anything with less protection than he had.
I don't know if he was in Ramadi, but I know it was mid high school for me (class '08) so it would have been the same time period, and he was 100% serving in an Army infantry unit in Iraq. Thankfully, the cross-county fundraiser she led reached its goal and they were able to buy enough of the same armor set to outfit the rest of the group equally; with a little leftover for whatever comfort items were at the top of their list.
If something like body armor that protects the investment the govt put into an individual soldier gets distributed unequally and erratically thanks to bureaucracy, I've got to imagine it would be even worse for something like optics that many back then saw as expensive toys
I love how in depth this is. Sort of clears up why our MK18's didn't have the short barrels. I never realized how much mix and matching takes place. I was a Gunner's Mate in the Navy. We had M16A2's and MK18's, however our MK18's had 14.5" barrels. I'm guessing we had MK18 lowers with M4A1 uppers.
Really appreciate the old school review style for going in depth about the topic at hand.
I feel like the M4A1 is the 1911 of military service rifles... it will be in use for a very long time
Until someone bribes someone in the pentagon to sell a replacement.
@@user-ff4ex7ll7wThe M4 is the only rifle I've ever had a man get up after shooting him with it. The sooner we replace it, the better. By the way, I get my new Army rifle some time next year. So it's already happened.
@@mattmarzula blame your lack of accuracy. stop making excuses. Sgt Benavidez took multiple rounds from an AK-47 and still never went down. There are plenty more stories from numerous wars since WW2 of vets taking multiple hits from 30cal weapons and still fighting on and surviving.
the ONLY thing that counts is shot placement. You failed to hit anything vital, stop making excuses.
@@SoloRenegadeexactly, no one got back up after I shot them with this weapon.
Except the marines, who will still be fighting space invaders using m16s with parts from Vietnam in 500 years.
Sorry honey, we're gonna have to go to second service today. Garand Thumb just put out a cinematic masterpiece and it's 40min long.
God will understand. After all, the M4A1 has sent a lot of people his way.
You don't even need old Jesus anymore. We have Gun Jesus.
You got your priorities mixed up bro.
@nookied3735 Sabbath ended last night, my friend.
Forty mike mikes long . . . .
Mike, I'm really glad you're going back to this content. I'm a big fan of the longer overview videos of modern combat weapons. Do you think you could do a video on the M16A4, comparing it to the M4 and covering the attempted modernization with the A5 system? I've always been interested in it, and I'm sure with your connections you could bring some more knowledge to the concept.
I hope you go back to doing the tactics videos as well. On that side, I think a video on civilian support weapons, like battle rifles, DMRs, and binary triggers, would be a good topic to cover.
A5??
@@EDOGZ818M5
I enjoy all your videos. I am an ex army reservist (Australia) who is having a go at writing a novel, so your precision and detail is really appreciated. Also that manscape ad had me laughing for a while. Excellent. Really excellent. also on a serious note, you've been through a lot, so I wish you and your family very good health, happiness and a well deserved peace.
Former Army armorer and now currently DoD contractor at NTC. Met a sniper team with a HK417 a couple days ago. This was the first time seeing a HK417 (used to seeing them with M2010 or M110). I hope you make a video on the HK417 in the future.
I’d love a video on one too, but i would like to buy a mr762 prior to the airing so I don’t have to pay the GT mark up
That would be great.
If you can't say I get it but what does NTC stand for. I'm aspiring to be a DoD contractor and only know triple canopy.
@@kal9908 National Training Center @ Fort Irwin
⌚️ Európa the last battle
Im glad to see this style of commentary again Garand Thumb. as an OG follower, I miss the gear videos like this. Still a fan of all the goofy shit you guys do out in the field as well but this just hits home. Thank you.
Agreed
Be nice if he rolled the different styles throughout the month each month.
100%
Great laughs with the guys, but I’ve missed the engagement in the studio.
@@warrenharrison9490 I like this format for the weapons/gear reviews, I like the outdoor open area format for the multiple person videos covering concepts, such as the deadly in the mountains etc.
The return of Flannel Daddy!!
Happy your channel is growing, appreciate your detail
The intro with him shooting…. I never realized how accurate SOCOM US Navy Seals (PS2) got the sound PERFECT. Sorry that nostalgia hit me hard. Great video.
I didn't realize how much I missed this form of GT review, it's so analytical and well thought out, don't get me wrong the new stuff is entertaining, but I feel like I learn way more with his backdrop videos
The two guns that will still be seeing extensive service even a century or two from now, possibly against aliens: The M4A1 and the AKM
It would probably be the AK-74 instead and it’s variants as the AKM is a bit dated now. Like comparing the AK-12 to the M16A1.
@@snipernipernipe4261cool story bro
@@snipernipernipe4261 While true, I'd say volume alone ensures the AKM will keep chugging along for centuries.
@@nextcaesargaming5469well the blueprints are out there I think people will just keep making the guns and the ammo. new production akm variants will always be made
I expect some aliens to get shot with SMLEs in Afghanistan, in fact 😅
The history of military weapon iteration can be a fascinating one, if presented properly. To me, your talk on the M4A1 is an exemplar of that.
38:50 right on with the comment / observation!!!!! I get it and so should all the listeners, thanks for having a huge set
Charlie is missed. But I bet I'm not alone in saying it's good to see Mike get back to the roots of his success! I've missed these "stand alone weapon review" vids
😁👍
no hes not
@@ireilly2000Charlie is missed 😢
Mike adopting Charlie as his autistic son was his way of coping with leaving the airforce.
@@The53732 It often happens with Air Force vets. Usually it's a puppy, sometimes it's a Charlie
Charlie made me fall in love with the channel. The channel without him feels like a loveless marriage lmao
Thank you for being such a good representation of our community! We look up to you and I’m so grateful for what you do.
What's that sucking sound?
I go to his ranch "I live here now " 😂
textbook example of SIMP
@@mattmarzula Prolly a sucking chest wound from an M4A1
⌚️ Europa the last battlè
Great video man. I miss my M4 so much. It was a great rifle. Got a colt civilian M4 now and life is good
Mike, congratulations once again for providing information that the true patriots of the world want, need & absolutely LOVE! Absolutely top-notch commentary with all the practical experience to back it up.
I toted an M16/M203 combo back in '85 - '89. The first time I fired the grenade launcher, I dropped that penile looking-pow-pow it right into the bucket...& what a rush that was! I thought I was a real bad-ass, but my buds thought I was just lucky. From the first round I fired, I didn't even care about humping that extra weight around because I knew I could do some serious tactical damage with that bad-boy...and proved it several times!
Thanks for bringing back some great memories, and for even more added respect for all the soldiers/airmen & operators that came to the fight behind me.
I had it pretty light compared to "Operators," but every time someone like you has information to offer that's backed by experience, I lean in and put my ass on the edge of my seat...the leading edge that is! No sitting back for those pearls-of-wisdom man, I'm leaning in for every word, brother!
One nit-pick...get your volume equalized via audio software, your volume tails-off a lot after a paragraph worth of words. I have to consistently turn my volume up to 100% to hear those words in the video. Sorry, but I'm trying to be constructive.
KOKO!!!!!
Mike,
I just wanted to say. The tacticool stuff is awesome, but everyone genuinely appreciates the thought and effort that goes into every single one of these videos. Your work ethic shines through man. Thank you
My (Infantry) battalion received the M4s and replaced the M16A4 in 2003-2004 in their run-up to their first Afghanistan deployment. They did so much shooting in that 13 month deployment that when I arrived in 2006 as a replacement after their redeployment leave, my M4/M203 had a worn out M4 extractor AND worn out M203 firing pin. Had to wait for months to get the whole thing back from the armorers. Carried the M4 through 2x 15 month Iraq deployments and honestly never had any other issues with it, as long as I cleaned it properly.
As was our Engineering battalion, (12B) felt bad for the Marines still packing the M16A4, I had a M16 with the 203.
Always amazing to hear everyone say that the M4 was standard issue early in GWOT, it wasn't. I got out in 04 and we were just getting ACOGs
@jw5297 I didn't see many Marines with the A4. The ones who did have it were Recon or something like that- a lot of them were toting the A2 musket and that made me shake my head. Lol
@@tmmccormick86 Agreed.
But they/we cleared buildings anyway, and iron sights, 20" barrels.
@jw5297 oh its absolutely doable- the Army did it for decades before we got the M4. But the carbine was a nice addition to the kit.
Marines received M4/M4A1 in 2005/2006. Especially those operating in Ramadi.
With M203/ACOG/Eotech/PEQ-15 and some other stuff.
Way to shout out your sources of knowledge! Thanks for everything you do!
Greatly appreciate the classic Garandthumb style. content. Its been missed.
Was a SAW gunner at my first unit (1/503 INF). Only Squad Leaders and up got an M4. Then I went to the 82nd (2/504 PIR) and got issued an M4. Noticed a difference for sure from the M16 I had previously used. During my tour in Iraq (2005), my M4 served me very well.
What's the word?
@@Rooster72 bird
@@TroutButter Ahhhh… A-well-a everybody's heard about the bird!
Bird bird bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a bird bird bird, bird is the word
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A-well-a bird bird bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a bird bird bird, well-a bird is the word
A-well-a bird, bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a bird bird bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a bird bird bird, well-a bird is the word
A-well-a bird, bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a don't you know, about the bird?
Well, everybody knows that the bird is the word!
A-well-a bird, bird, b-bird's the bird
🦅
😁
TIEN BIEN, ALL THE WAY!
Same
15:45 I will give a deeper explanation of what was happening. In the late 1960s the Military came up with an inspection standard for a new type of barrel steel designated 4150CMV. This was a hardened mixture called chromoly vanadium alloy. The inspection standard was MIL-B-11595(updated to E) The reason they needed this standard is because When 4150CMV is heated to greater than 1100 degrees the vanadium molecules COULD separate. It will cause micro-fractures. If those micro-fractures link together they form chains, if one of the chains connects the bore to the outside, you have a pipe bomb.
So in 1988 when that steel was being specified for the full auto version of the M16 platform the Military made sure the inspection was updated to limit or stop that from happening. It worked until, as always, people stopped doing the inspection and just pencil whipped the check box. They just assumed the steel was good because it had always been good.
A few barrels would pop here and there and the Military always said it was due to over-heating and melting the barrel.
Then a group of SEALS had an M4 blow up after just 3 magazines. They had come back from Lunch, started their training again and in minutes the Sailor was being rushed to medical. There was a huge investigation and the Military basically called the SEALS a bunch of liars. They "tested" an M16 and M4 showing both 14" and 20" barrels melted at the same temp at about 600+ rounds (I think it was the inspection is still on line to look it up). Case closed there is no way you can melt a barrel in 3 magazines. The inspection noted ...MICRO-FRACTURES in the barrel. It was determined that poorly manufactured steel had a major issue. Once these micro-fractures form as the weapon cools, then heats up again the chains will form, very very quickly. Just getting normal hot along with pressure forces open the chains to link together... boom.
A behind the scenes shit-storm started when the SEALS refused to back down on the incident. The Military did a secret test of the other M4s in that shipment and found poorly manufactured barrels.
An entire year of M4 deliveries were requested to be turned in for administration purpose and those rifles were never seen again.
The same time frame saw the Military training manual decrease the full auto fire rate for training and a second chromoly vanadium alloy inspection point was added.
This is one reason why you never ever want a cheap 4150CMV barrel. You are better off with a non-CMV if you dont have a top of the line CMV barrel in your AR. Sure very few are gonna heat that thing up, but why have a CMV in the first place then? To look cool?
Very informative, thx for the insight man.
Freaking stellar info. Thank you
This series of events deserves its own video. You tell it well, in brief, here. Imagine how proper visuals and interviews with shooters, armorers, and manufacturers could do this justice.
@@Gyrfalcon312i honestly imagined an entire movie with this story as i read through it. corrupt government officials trying to bury it, the SEAL guys’ families being threatened, a great american hero movie
Reminds one of the problems with the Mark 14 torpedo in World War 2. Bureaucratic incompetence and a refusal to listen to reports from the field meant we had the worst naval torpedo of the Second World War for half the war. It wasn't until later in 1943 that they forced through tests in Hawaii and finally determined the problem in the torpedo. They made mods to the existing torpedos and came out with new models, but it was not uncommon for a sub to go out on missions and have mostly all duds.
Ultimately it was also found that the torpedo was never tested because the service wanted to save money between the wars. It was all the fault of Naval Ordinance.
Thank you for this great info and history!!!
Got a Ruger 556. My friend has the MPR version and the trigger it comes with is very nice. Mine is mil spec but it still has a clean break and reset. Hes got a light, sling, dot sight, grip. Ive just got MP furniture with iron sights and a sling. Mine still needs some work but itll get there
First of all, it was a great experience to enjoy an old school style Garand Thumb video. Your newer content is fantastic, but we’ll always hold a special place in our hearts for your classic reviews Mike.
The M4A1 changed and matured dramatically within the first few years that I had been in. In my time I’ve been fortunate enough to be issued variants of the M4 all the way from the standard M4A1, the Block II (the superior M4), to the URG-I. Every single iteration has been just an excellent piece of American engineering and has really been of the best military implements I’ve seen. I think you spoke perfectly to it’s prowess and it’s overall legacy within the DOD. The M4 will always hold the special place in my heart as my favorite weapon.
Keep up the great content Mike! You’ve done some great things for the 2A community.
I didn't realize just how much I missed the old style of videos. This was a wonderful throwback
I actually dont watch all of the outside vids, this version i never skip
The production value of these videos are amazing!!
Love the return to the old video style! Thanks Mike!
As a circa 1994 to 1999 Marine I was extremely jealous that M4s got optical sights. Being born and raised on iron sights and qualifying expert 4 years out of 5 I feel like I missed out on easy mode. Then I think about the cleaning and upkeep and was happy about my old school rifle.
The "cleaning and upkeep" of an ACOG? You mean hitting the glass with compressed air or wiping it with a cloth when it gets dirty sounds like too much?
it is not hard to maintain
91-96, 1/3, ooh rah
You call it easy mode until you consider that an actual war got fought by the guys who used optics. Then suddenly it's not easy mode any more.
@@Anoneemus_Noenayme tell me you were never in the military without telling me you were never in the military...
P.S. of course he's still here. We weren't at war in 1994.
I carried a 249 the first two years I was in while I was on a COLT team but switched to an M4 when I deployed as I was pushed down to the line to be a platoon FO. I was SO happy I didn't have to hump that saw, barrels and ammo around anymore haha. The M4 will always hold a very special place in my heart.
The M203 always looked kinda funny on the M4a1 lol the M320 is pretty much what’s fielded w the M4a1 these days, and I definitely loved using it in my time as a grenadier. That’s what’s so great about the platform to me is that there’s so many different options as far as force multipliers go. Great work!
I carried an M203 with a barrel that was about 3" shorter than the one in the video, definitely fit the M4 profile/length better.
It's crazy to me (but sadly not) that there was a solution for some of the M4's reliability problems but it took around 10 years to procure the right components. This was during my service as well. But then, it was the same thing with the piece of crap magazines from the Vietnam-era that we were issued. About a fifth of the ones in our Troop didn't work (they'd cause feeding jams and/or not seat properly). Yet trying to get new magazines for our weapons required us to spend our own cash in 2005-2009 (the years during which I deployed). Meanwhile, in the Pentagon, they were paying $45 a pop for toilet seat covers.
Russia is far from the only military that's mired in inefficiency and corruption. Ours might not be as blatantly on display, but in my eyes it's still at an unacceptable level. Priority should go to getting warfighters the equipment that they need to fight, survive and win. Not to staff officers sitting in DC.
Same with the M9s.
Started sending magazines, and replacement parts to my buddies still in Afghanistan before the withdrawal.
Medics often carry the M-9. Of course a lot of guys carry an M9 along with their long arms
Parts wear out. Especially since they've been in service since 1986.
There was also an issue with magazines that were issued that were not made by Beretta,
40 minutes of classic style Garand Thumb?!? Yes please. We are blessed.
I do miss the old format
As someone who got out of the military back in the mud 80s. This is a very interesting video. So much changed with the old m16 platform that we used back then. Of course anyone who is in the firearms world will see changes to the platform. But it's great to hear an in depth history of the changes. Thanks for the great history lesson!
The failure has always been the 5.56. Don't matter what platform. Funny how soon after we got out of the sandbox wars the Army up gunned.
This is a beautifully shot video. Excellent technical values.
Brings back basic training memories I miss mine so much even with how badly the saftey pins barely held together
Its crazy that the M4A1 has been in service for nearly 30 years maybe even 30 years (I cant remember when it entered service)
1994 IIRC.
Ranger Regiment started getting them in 1994. We turned in our M16A2s and drew out M4s in late 1997, right before we deployed to Panama for JOTC.
Thank you both of you for letting me know
You could just Google it.
Gen X
Love the return to form. Classic Garand Thumb. Hope you and your family is well.
You got to just love the differences between units when new equipment comes out. I served in the National Guard from 2000-2006 When I went to basic I used the M16A2 and used the old LCII suspenders for my belt but when I got to my unit they still used the M16A1 (with a block from going full auto)(wasn't updated to the A2 till 2002) and the enhanced load bearing vest.
I've really missed these detailed gun and gear videos. Thanks flannel daddy!
The XM7 will be great for the situation it was made for. But you can't use an XM7 like a submachine gun. You can do that with an M4 or a Mk18. That's the difference between a full powered and intermediate rifle.
Disagree xm7 is only 1 inch longer than an m4 and if you have to use your full length service rifle as a sub machine gun then you either fucked up or trained enough to deal with the situation.
I really hope they buy enough of the XM7 and whatever the M240 replacement is called (blanking atm) to field them should we ever be in another Afghanistan-like situation where there are 500+ yard engagements. I don't own a 6.8x51/.277 Fury, but the civilian version is essentially the 7mm-08, which I do own, and man is that a fantastic improvement over the .308 at distance, especially with enough barrel to really let it stretch its legs. Let alone the hybrid case, 80k psi, giving .270win performance in a short barrel...
But I have selfish reasons: I want cheap 6.8x51 Lake City ammo to hit civilian shelves around a buck a round, lol. I know it'll take a decade or more for the military to stockpile enough for us to get surplus deals, but still, I want it! Love the .308/7.62 NATO, but man it would be nice to have another widely-available, cheap rifle round.
But to your overall point, totally agree. I don't think anything can truly replace the the M16/M4 in 5.56 as you're never going to find a better system while keeping the same light-weight ammo, ability to carry more of it, virtually no recoil... It's the closest to a "do all" small-arms cartridge we're going to see until technology advances past gunpowder-propelled projectiles.
I think they just need to retire the 7.62 NATO, switch everything over that uses it to 6.8x51, and then the XM7, etc can cohabitate with 5.56 without screwing up supply logistics too much (since 7.62 NATO would just be replaced in the supply chain. Our allies can supply their own 7.62, lol)
@@ghostloco6741he was talking about recoil bro. You can melt with auto 5.56 from the shoulder. Not so much from the XM7. That round is punchy.
@@mfallen6894XM7 and the XM250.
XM250, there it is. As much as I like the idea of the XM7, especially as a DMR/specialty arm, the XM250 is where this round will really be a game-changer. Accurate withering fire at 800m (probably further...) that still has quite a bit of energy left & at the squad level? That's over-match!
God I missed this style of video. The block II m4 video is one of my favorites because of the simple presentation and great information, bring backdrop videos back
More to come!
I regularly go back to watch that intro on the block 2 video
In 2009 my unit first got some pmags issued.... by 2010 many of them were broken. Slamming mags home a bit too rough for them was usually the problem and missing lips obviously presented problems. They did however continue to function even when the windows blew out.
Love this video. Strong work Brother and thank you!
The 14.5" barrel just happens to be the SHORTEST length barrel you can use that a regular, USGI bayonet will fit on. THAT is the real reason.
Morgan
Best part of getting in during the mid 2000’s was seeing all the upgrades and things for this. Going from the m16 to a m4 and then the m27 was cool. Lots of things were bad like the PEQ-18 m203 sight or the peq-16. But still cool to have used and be apart of a generation that brought ideas and changes for this in now.
Cry for us Brits that still use 1980's L85s. Used it in 2003 as a cadet, issued it in 2011 in Phase 1 (Basic training)
STILL USING THEM NOW WTF
He wasn’t wrong when he said getting issued an M4 during Tri-Color GWOT days was almost as badass as having a spray painted M4 in theater.
Wow I can’t believe how much I learned this was very educational. Thank you truly
You need to get your hands on the M16A4, which is what you saw Marines with in 2018. Thing is a beast.
What a nostalgic hit. The M16/M4 was the rifle I used through out my military career. Great rifle when fully optimized by development.
This feels like old school Garand thumb and I’m here for it
You are correct about the invention of the anti tilt follower! It changed the game with 30 round mags.
And just the other day I was missing the old style videos… I guess a father really does know what his children want and need.
An epic, detailed, 40 minute love letter to a rifle. Bravo.
Phil
Love your fun and humorous vids where I learn a lot, but this more strictly educational vid about the system was awesome!
Fantastic breakdown and presentation, thankyou 👍👍👍👍
Thanks for all your service to this country fellas! As a naturalized American citizen, I thank all of you! 🇺🇸 🇺🇲 🦅
Thanks to my fellow American.
In Afghan as an infantry Marine, I was issued (2005) an M16A4 with IRON SIGHTS. Only the LT and Plt Sgts received an M4 with an ACOG. Lol. I actually like the M16A4, just wish it had an adjustable stock while it was issued as the length of pull was just a tad too long with gear on.
You spent alot of that time behind that beast!!! your control was mad impresive!!
Amazing job! Well done brother.
I was at the 58th RQS. All of our rifles had Daniel defense RIS II rails. A lot of dudes used MK.18 as well.
Nice
another great video, keep them coming. keep up the great work
Kolbe
Love the subtle pushing daisies nod that you portray a while shooting an m4 in a field of daisies
3:49 _”Here on Garand Thumb… we do a lot of dry fire…”_
Would *love* a video demonstrating a dry fire practice session. How to progress? How to make those range gains?
I would like a video on this too
"it has seen so much action over the last 22 years and we'll probably see more action in the future as the world continues to crumble" so subtle yet so funny and terribly true all at the same time lol love this dude
I didn't realize how much I missed this format until I saw it again. Can we have more as a treat in your line up?
The M16A2 I was issued in basic was ancient and couldn't cycle blanks. It would sometimes double feed, stovepipe, occasionally have cycle failures.
The M4A1s I got issued were all great (even a converted one), rarely any issues outside of crap range ammo misfires and the rare stovepipe. Maybe one double feed.
I dig the change-ups in how this channel stays fresh and I never really know what to expect, yet am never disappointed by an episode.
Thanks, Mike! 🇺🇸
Janko is your name ?
@@lauramcelhiney correct.
@@coryjanko Where ya from ? Howdy 👋 from Texas ? What social media do you have ?? 😎
Used the M4 for 4 years in the Marine infantry (0341) never had a single malfunction was/is an incredible rifle
Really? Marines I've known didn't like it in Iraq. Jams and they had to dump entire mags into insurgents to get them to stop.
Unless they were fighting literal Terminators the second part is just a lie @@ryannolfe9051
@ryannolfe9051 within 300 meters its fucking debilitating.
Marines shoot at 500 meters routinely and at such ranges the critical killing mechanisms are not there. The velocity is low and its basically shooting someone with 22wmr
@kane357lynch that's my point. Only they would say that even at close ranges, insurgents would keep fighting after being shot multiple times because they were so doped up.
@@Riorozen I'd rather have less ammo and shoot a larger round.
Never noticed backlighting before. Nice addition. A small detail but it is chef's kiss
Would love to see a ballistic damage comparison between low and high pressure cartridges -
Cowboy load vs standard vs +P
44 or 357 maybe?
Epic. Missed this format. Love the new format, but this is perfect for this rifle. Nice. How the hell we ended up with the 80 while this was being fielded on the other side of the pond is completely beyond me man.