Gun Review: Springfield Armory’s SA16-A2—The M16A2 All Over Again?

The M16 was as iconic a navy weapon as there ever was. When launched in its unique model in 1965, it was a game-changer. We went from the M14’s 30-caliber spherical to a a lot smaller .22-caliber spherical. Some liked it, some didn’t. The rifle was new and principally untried; in some methods, it didn’t carry out. However the powers that be labored on it and introduced out the A1 and A2 variations, which elevated reliability. To at the present time, it’s a rifle that provokes dialogue wherever such issues are talked about. Springfield Armory jumped on the M16 bandwagon, of kinds, with their introduction of the SA16-A2. 

Many readers on the market have had expertise with the M16 in its varied navy variations…sadly, I used to be not considered one of them. My life went a special route, so I didn’t serve however I’ve the utmost respect for all who’ve served, or are serving, their nation. So, it’s a completely different perspective that I carry to the desk. I needed to say that upfront. Lots of you could have taken M16s aside and reassembled them blindfolded…I respect that. I’ll go at this evaluate from a civilian shooter’s angle – is that this specific rifle a great purchase for these searching for an M16-like AR? Let’s discover out.

Historical past

We are able to’t talk about the M16 or any spinoff with out taking a fast have a look at the unique.

The M16 was the navy model of ArmaLite’s AR-15 rifle. Adopted in 1964, the rifle was issued in amount the following yr and was headed to the jungles of Vietnam briefly order.

The report card got here again a bit dodgy. When issued to troops, the idea went round that the rifles wouldn’t must be cleaned as typically as different weapons. The unique M16 had no ahead help, and the chamber was not chrome plated. These components decreased reliability. Extra hits to reliability included rifles not being saved clear and the ammo and powder used on the time. Casualties amongst our troopers and Marines have been the tragic end result. With soiled chambers, instances may get caught popping out or wouldn’t chamber totally. The issue was with some rifles that there was no strategy to coax a brand new cartridge into the fouled chamber till the A1 model got here out. Finally, ammo was additionally improved by switching to a cleaner-burning powder, which aided reliability.

In 1969, the M16A1 changed the M14 because the standard-issue navy rifle. That model included a ahead help, chrome-plated chamber, a brand new flash hider, a small “dam” across the magazine launch to forestall a magazine dropping by chance and another upgrades. Lastly, the rifle got here into its personal. The A2 model was adopted by the Marines in 1983 with the Military following in 1986. The A2 had further upgrades over the A1, together with the power to fireside the brand new M855/SS109 5.56mm cartridge. 

For a whole rundown of the M16’s historical past, test it out right here. 

The SA16-A2

Discover proper up entrance that our instance has “A2” in its identify. The SA16-A2 is, as the web site calls it, a “trustworthy recreation of the M-16A2, probably the most succesful and iconic rifles in historical past.” Whereas I don’t have the expertise with the M16 a lot of our present and former navy readers could have, I admire the AR platform. I personal a number of and have all the time been within the M16. I’m sufficiently old that I may have served in Vietnam within the early ’70s, and I’ve buddies who did. So, it was with nice curiosity that I acquired this rifle from Springfield Armory to check.

Specs

BARREL: 20-in. 4150 CMV, Chrome Lined, 1:7

SIGHTS: A2

UPPER RECEIVER: Solid 7075 T6 Aluminum, Sort III Hardcoat Anodized,                                   Ahead Help, M4 Feed Ramps 

LOWER RECEIVER: Solid 7075 T6 Aluminum, Sort III Hardcoat Anodized, Accu-Tite Stress System

BOLT CARRIER GROUP: Enhanced M16 w/ 9310 Metal Bolt, HPT/MPI, Phosphate

GAS SYSTEM: Direct Impingement Rifle-Size, A2 Pinned Fuel Block

HANDGUARD A2 Polymer w/ Integral Warmth Defend

STOCK: A2 Fastened

TRIGGER: Mil-Spec

MUZZLE DEVICE: A2 Flash Hider

RECEIVER EXTENSION: Mil-Spec Rifle Size

RECEIVER END PLATE: Mil-Spec

BUFFER ASSEMBLY: Rifle

CHARGING HANDLE: GI Fashion

SAFETY: Single Facet 90 Diploma

TRIGGER GUARD: Mil-Spec

GRIP: A2

MAGAZINE: (1) GI Aluminum 30-Spherical

WEIGHT: 7 lbs., 8 oz.

LENGTH: 39.5 in.

MSRP: $1,249

Images

Listed here are a number of pics exhibiting completely different facets of the SA16-A2:

 Mud cowl. Word the SA brand on the bolt.

 Carry deal with and rear sight.

 Entrance sight from the highest and the flash hider.

 Facet shot exhibiting bayonet lug

 Receiver, left aspect. Word the engraving “Property Of U.S. Govt.” – fascinating!

Proper aspect of the receiver. Word the “Burst” marking. It doesn’t work – I attempted! Yeah, I want.     They’re simply attempting to be trustworthy to the unique markings.

Capturing the SA16-A2

We arrange targets at 50 yards, not 100, in my yard vary. My OEM eyeballs aren’t what they as soon as have been, particularly with the AR’s iron sights. 

In my protection, I’ve killed deer with an AR, in 7.62×39 of all calibers, however that was with a pleasant scope. The carry deal with negates the power to mount a scope within the conventional method, so in case you are a “seasoned citizen” because the late Rush Limbaugh used to name us with eyeballs to match, you would possibly need to bear that in thoughts.

I wasn’t involved in regards to the accuracy problem, Springfield Armory makes some good Ars, they usually have a popularity for placing bullet holes shut collectively on the goal. Heck, I’ve not met any AR in current historical past that wasn’t no less than a 1.5-MOA shooter by these with higher eyes or an optic mounted. The Picatinny rails on different ARs make mounting an optic simple. That’s one draw back to having a devoted carry deal with put in, as I simply talked about above. Carry handles that connect to a Pic rail provide the better of each worlds, for my part. 

At any price, I put bullets downrange. I shot three several types of ammo that I had available: two 55-grain manufacturing facility masses and one 50-grain FMJ handload. The manufacturing facility masses have been a Winchester 5.56 Goal & Apply load and an Armscor 55-grain ball load. The handload was a 50-grain Hornaday V-Max Moly over 25 grains of WC-846, a navy pull-down powder equal to BL-(C)2. They have been assembled on a Dillon XL-750 progressive press that had been despatched to me for evaluate. It did an awesome job cranking out these masses. 

Garmin Xero C1 Sidenote

I arrange my Garmin Xero C1 Professional chronograph on the bench behind and to the aspect of the muzzle. For those who don’t have this Garmin chrono, you would possibly contemplate saving your pennies and shopping for one. It’s by far the easiest-to-use chronograph I’ve owned, and I’ve owned a number of. No downrange sensors, no wires, no sky screens – only a Go-Professional-camera-sized plastic field on a tiny tripod in your bench that does all kinds of ballistic math magic and might export your information by way of Bluetooth to your cellphone, and thence your laptop computer. I’d dreamed of one thing like this for years, and I lastly was in a position to purchase one and fulfill that dream of proudly owning a wi-fi, radar chrono. 

As I mentioned above, I’m not the very best shot within the room with an AR and iron sights, however no less than you’ll get an thought of what the rife is able to in higher palms. The rifle carried out as anticipated. The set off broke cleanly with little or no take-up or creep and was higher than many different AR triggers I’ve encountered. 

Listed here are some targets and different data. I obtained ballistic information on two of the hundreds and can present that with the goal.

Some Outcomes

Winchester Goal & Apply – I didn’t acquire information for this load. By way of accuracy, we would need to preserve trying. This goal, no less than, was not the very best and consultant of others with this ammo.

 Armscor

Common Pace: 3230.9

Std. Deviation:          5.4 

A low SD helps preserve issues constant. This specific group might need been higher if I had been extra constant!

Handload

Common Pace:  3131.5

Std. Deviation:        49.1

The excessive SD works towards this load, however in some methods, with this goal no less than, it’s the most constant one.

Who Is This Rifle For?

With the forty-zillion AR rifles, carbines and pistols on the market now, how precisely does this SA16-A2 slot in? Who’s the supposed market? I feel the reply to the final query is pretty apparent. As I mentioned above, I’ve been within the M16 for years, and never having navy expertise with one solely made it all of the extra interesting to me. So, I feel I can safely say that this rifle will enchantment to shooters who’ve had expertise with the true deal – and in addition those that haven’t had that have however all the time needed to shoot one, like me. Despite the fact that this rifle has no “Burst” mode, it’s fairly shut in its specs, appears and dealing with to an earlier model M16. I’m certain that there are variations…those that have had expertise with the true M16, please be happy to remark beneath. However, for many intents and functions, this rifle will fill the invoice for a civilian model of the outdated tried ‘n true.

Summing Up

For those who, like me, have needed to personal a civilian model of the venerable M16, you would possibly need to give this Springfield Armory model a glance. By way of a shootable, well-made civvie AR within the M16 mildew, this rifle works. Even with out the standard 15-inch Picatinny rail on high, you will see equipment for this rifle that may improve your capturing expertise in the event you want to take action. The M16 has given “start” to a myriad of AR-pattern rifles…why not check out a rifle much like the one which began all of it? 

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