Key Points - The M16 rifle's introduction during the Vietnam War was deeply controversial despite its "on-paper" advantages over the M14—lighter weight, higher ammunition capacity, and lower recoil.

In the 1980s, the U.S. Army found itself grappling with a startling problem: under the stress of combat, soldiers armed with the M16 rifle were hitting their targets at a dismal rate – only 10% of the ...