M4Gery

Cloning the M4 Carbine and Its Variants

- John Scott

In recent years, replicating service rifles has become one of the hottest trends for both military collectors and firearms enthusiasts alike. Some wish to recreate the weapon that they were issued while serving in the military while others simply want to clone a favorite rifle variation that they’ve seen used by our nation’s armed forces. Regardless of the reason, choosing which rifle to replicate is the first step.

Fans of the AR-15 platform have more than a few choices as far as which direction to go. Being America’s frontline weapon for going on five decades, the AR-type rifle has been modified by the military every which way to serve a variety of purposes. From the lengthened and accurized Navy Mk12 to the compact and agile CQBR, each different type of AR-style weapon has a fascinating history.

One of the most widely used carbines in the U.S. military is the M4. Developed over years but finally officially adopted by the U.S. military in 1994, the M4 is essentially a shortened version of the M16. Treading the middle ground between the performance of a longer rifle and the agile compactness of a close-quarters battle sub gun, the M4, with its 14.5-inch barrel and collapsible stock, became the do-all carbine of choice. Since it first went into service, the M4 itself has itself given birth to many a variant.

CLONE BUILDING

Before we delve any deeper, let us clarify that when we use the term “clone,” what we mean is to replicate, within reason, the details, attachments, accessories and components of a service weapon that was used by the military at a particular point in time. Just how accurate you want to get is up to your budget and parts procurement skills.