M4 Carbine

The M4 carbine, developed as a fusion of the XM177E2 Colt Commando and the M16A2 assault rifle, has become one of the defining military firearms of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. It is adopted by military and law-enforcement personnel of more than 60 countries and has been tested and proven in major combat operations worldwide. This study describes the development process in detail, from production of the first XM4 prototypes in 1984 through numerous modified types until it emerged into official use as the M4 in 1994. The weapon is 1lb lighter and 6in shorter than the standard M16A2 and can deliver precision semi-auto and full-auto firepower up to an effective range of 500m.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 80 pages
Publication date: 18 March 2021
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

The M4 carbine has emerged as one of the most iconic military firearms of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Developed as a fusion of the XM177E2 Colt Commando and the M16A2 assault rifle, the M4 offered a more convenient battlefield firearm than its full-length M16 variants. The US Army adopted it as the standard infantry weapon in the 1990s, and today, military and law-enforcement personnel from over 60 countries have adopted either the M4 or the M4A1 variant, both of which have been extensively tested and proven in major combat operations worldwide.

This study provides a detailed account of the development process of the M4, from the production of the first XM4 prototypes in 1984 to its official adoption as the M4 in 1994. The M4 was designed to be lighter and shorter than the standard M16A2, yet it retained the precision semi-auto and full-auto firepower of its predecessor. Over time, its capabilities have been enhanced through various modifications, including the M4A1 modifications and an extensive range of tactical accessories.

The M4/M4A1 has received high levels of approval from front-line combat troops in a variety of contexts, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Colombia, India, Israel, and the Philippines. This study investigates these combat operations to reveal the reasons behind the weapon's widespread adoption.

The book is extensively illustrated with photographs and artworks, and it draws its research from the latest declassified documents. It is a comprehensive guide to one of the most important and widely distributed tactical infantry weapons of the last quarter-century.

Weight: 262g
Dimension: 185 x 246 x 7 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781472842275