I am a Vietnam "Combat" Vet. (2/502 Inf, 101st Abn Div. 67-68).
I used the M16A1 in ground combat in Vietnam.
Now a little of "my" background. I entered the Army in July 1966. Attended Basic and AIT using the M14. Right out of Jump School I was sent to the 82nd Abn Div, which at the time were using the M14. I never had a problem with the M14, qualified the first time and every time after with the M14.
When I got my orders for Vietnam, we were taken to the range for familiarization with the M16. We were suppose to go through the whole gaggle, zeroing, engaging targets, etc etc. But being the young paratroopers we were, and not having much experience with full auto rifles, we just let her rip, shooting every round we could get "full auto". Didn't learn much but we had a heck of a lot of fun.
So after a leave I was off to Never- Never land. There again we went through an indoctrination with the M16. Only being scared poop less, we paid a bit more attention.
I had heard rumors about the M16, lack of cleaning supplies, etc etc. So I took my own cleaning equipment.
It didn't take me long at all to realize there wasn't a damn thing wrong with the M16A1. It was light, fast, and RELIABLE. I never had a problem with mine in Vietnam (or my years of service since).
Most all of the 'A1s I've seen were General Dinamic, and a few colts. What I really liked was the weight, and the weight of the ammo, I carried a basic load of 460 rounds. No way I could carry that much 308. I know, I carried a M-60 for a period, a 50 round assualt belt, plus an additional 400 rounds. 308 '60 ammo weights 11 lbs per hundred.
The way we worked, we went to the field for months at a time, getting re-supplied about every 5-7 days. You wasn't always sure you could get a re-supply of ammo or not so I like carrying as many rounds as I could. Taking into account we had to carry other equipment, LAWs, gernades, 7 days rations, 5 courts of water, extra MG ammo, radio batteries, etc etc. Weight matters when infantry WALKS.
As for reliability, THEY WORKED. I don't recall hearing any proplems about the failings of the M16a1 until years later when the internet came about.
They were accurate. I never had any problems hitting a man size target to 450 yards.
Like anything else, a heavy dose of full auto fire could give any rifle problems, That's why you see so many pictures of Vietnam soldiers (infantrymem) with little plastic bottles of LSA on their helmet. If we got into an extended firefight, as it progressed we'd squirt the LSA onto the bolt and bolt carrier. But it would take a lot of rounds full auto before that was necessary. In reality, in extended firefights, (and we had them that lasted all night), you didn't fire that many rounds.
I was in some pretty nasty mud and stuff, the silt from rice paddy mud gets into everything. There was no way to keep it out. Just remove the big chunks and the A1s would go.
I don't know about the politics of the gun, and I don't care, it saved my life more then once and never failed me. Nor did I see it fail any one else. My 'A1 got me my CIB and got me home.
There are some things I thought needed changed and that was done with the 'A2, mainly the 3 round burst, the the ability to make elevation changes on the rear sight.
One change I didn't like was removing the three prong flash hider. The 3 prong hider allowed us to use it as a wire cutter to cut the wire on C-Rat cases. Couldn't do that with the bird cage hider. We had enough crap to carry without carrying wire cutters. Of course that was changed with the new bayonet.
I do like the faster twist barrel of the 'A2, allowing for heavier bullets and shooting long range. This didn't come into play for me until after I got into the NG and started shooting competition.
The M193 (55 grn ball) worked great for Vietnam, most of the combat was under 300 yards. Seldom did we need to shoot farther. The 'A1 would work, up to about 450 yards. You have to under stand that the average range of the Vietnam snipers was just a bit north of 400 yards.
I just (a couple weeks ago) did an interview for a guy who was writing a book about the weapons of the Vietnam war. I relayed the info above and he told me that was about the same story he got from other INFANTRYMEN from Vietnam. Prior to the interview I called my brother. He did a tour with the 173 Abn Bde and 1st Cav. His experience with the M16 was the same as mine.
I had no problems with the M16A1, if I was to go back to SE Asia, I would have no problems picking the 'A1 as my primary weapon. If I was to go to the desert, I'd want the 'A2.
As an unrelated side note, I joined the Alaska NG in 1973, retired in 1992. I used the M16a1 quite a bit in the Arctic. It also works quite well in sub-zero temps. I'm talking as much as 70 below.
I also never had a problem putting down bad guys with the M193. In fact it was the round I picked for my Counter Sniper Rifle when I was in LE. Only it was out of a bolt gun. Extended range would be better for competition, or Afghan but for the jungle, or Urban LE, it works.
While in the the guard, I shot Combat Rifle Matches where we used the arms room M16A1 and the M193. We shot 100, 200, 300 & 400, they were quite accurate at those ranges.
I would just like to add that I am not american , don't have a lot of knowledge of the vietnam war or the US military except from what is sometimes shown on tv. But I have seen a lot of people complaining about this rifle and was wondering why the armed forces put up with it if it was/is not really that good.
)had to bump it on the floor hard some mornings to have bolt open looking back we were not trained on needed maintenance.