What if the M16 never happened? The T44 vs. T48 Edition.

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What if the M16 was never adopted and we kept our promise to our allies and adopted the FAL? What rifle would the US military be using today in 2022? This is a two part series about the M16, T44 (M14) and the T48 (FN FAL).

#M16 #FAL #M14

[nathanrogers]

Given the airforce interest in the m16 I believe we would’ve still ended up using it just at a later point. Maybe trickling in as a rifle for rear echelon and officers like the M1 carbine was used

[retailwarrior]

PSA acquired H&R and announced a series of retro rifles are in the works. M16A1, M14, and M1 Garand clones were all mentioned. I hope we will see a T48 at some point too.

[MaverickHeloPilot]

Assuming we eventually transition to a smaller intermediate cartridge, probably either the FNC or the Harrington and Richardson T223 (US made Hk33). It's crazy to think about because the butterfly effect from this scenario could have far reaching implications on ALL infantry rifles and small arms that would follow.

[ComradeCole]

I think Stoner would still have been playing around with his designs, maybe not for US use, but hoping for smaller military contracts. Basically what was hoped for with the AR-18 series. So I think the AR-15 would still exist in some form, possibly the AR-18 as well. The question as too what the US would adopt to replace the FAL, I'd guess something derived from the AR-18, thinking something SCAR-ish. As for the cartridge, I think the US in this timeline would still love a .30 cal projectile, just an intermediate. 30 cal. Something akin to .300 blk.

[Destroyer]

I wonder if we still would have looked at the ar10 for military service. Seeing as it has most of the benefits that at ar15/m16 has as far as function, reliability, and weight. We also wouldn't have changed the ammunition at the beginning of service witch was what gave the m16 its initial issues so we may have never saw the introduction of the forward assist. Definitely an interesting topic.

[armisteadlucascolemanii]

I am assuming we would have the FN, FNC... a very much over looked weapon that was very innovative for the time. I wish someone would reproduce them.

[newpeupyoass]

The FAL wouldn't have gotten the DMR treatment the M14 got on account of its tilting breech.

[petesheppard]

Given the problems with weapon bulk and weight in Vietnam, we probably would have gone to the M16 or similar rifle anyway--UNLESS we had also gone with a mid-velocity .270-.280 load, but the US was still obsessed with long-range aimed fire...
Interestingly, the M14 was the 'official' service rifle of the Marine Corps until around 1975 even though combat units used the M16; I was issued one at OCS that summer. At my second OCS increment in '77, armorers still preferred the M14 ('cult'?). Even in '90, there was consideration to re-issue M14s to Marines heading to Saudi.
The only reason M14s were deployed during the GWOT was that there was nothing else in the US armory that fired 7.62 NATO and was available in quantity.

[partdt]

We would have ended up with a phased plasma rifle in the 40 watt range and internet experts would be arguing about how good or bad it is.

[timbaskett]

I kind of think it's funny that the 7.62x51mm isn't really an intermediate cartridge, but then in my mind the .270 Winchester would have been a better military caliber than the excellent .30-06.

[NoLies]

Interesting topic. That .280 Brit looks like it'd be a nice cartridge. A bit more potent than a .223. I can only imagine all the wildcats we'd have by now.
If we would have adopted the .280, I think we'd probably just have transitioned to a lighter rifle like the M16 but hopefully with an FAL left side charging handle. Maybe just a Mini-FAL.

[snowflakemelter]

FAL in .280" would have been the ideal combination if performance was the deciding factor and not politics.

[madogllewellyn]

We would've gone from the FAL to the SCAR 17s lol!! Never breaking away from .308 battle rifle cartridge.

[tsflyer]

Very interesting vid Mac. Looking forward to the series.

[SOJACjac]

I feel they would have landed on something like what we are doing now with the 6.8 or 6.5. probably go down the ergonomic router quicker due to weight.
As the Americans want that home brew we would have probably gotten. An American riffle in the 80's rather than the 90's. I also think things like the G36 wouldn't have happened so guns might look very different today

[ReidMerrill]

There definitely would have been less interest in switching to an intermediate cartridge right away. Maybe something in a 6mm SAW

[jimh]

Good thought-salad MAC. Enjoyed the history and the *what if.

[toddfeltman]

I enjoy these videos - even when you're talking about a gun I'm honestly not interested in, you make the story compelling enough for me to want to watch and learn anyway.

[edwardanenberg]

Can’t help wondering if even the M14 would have been more controllable in auto in a .280 chambering

[jessicasimp]

If the US were to adopt the FN FAL, I think the best guess is the FN FNC.