Tokyo Marui M16A2 Review

images by Arnie, review by Ian Newson

	Stock Specifications
FPS	280fps (stock fps may vary)
Length:	999mm
Weight:	3100 Kg
Ammo capacity:	68 Round (Standard Mag) 300 Round (Hi-Cap Mag)

M16A2 technical manual | M16A2 Review #1 | M16A2 Review #2

Based on the most well known rifle configuration ever (bar the AK47 and its many cousins), the M16 comes in 6 flavours from Marui, from the ultra-compact Car-15, to the famous battle rifles of the Vietnam era, the M16 is the current US army offering for it’s soldiers.

Weighing in at 3.1Kg, the M16A2 is one heavy piece of kit, thankfully because of the abundance of metal parts, such as the barrel, front site, muzzle, bolt, bolt flap, rear sites etc. The weight, coupled with the length of this rifle, (99cm) mean this is not the gun for anyone with a small frame. I find the M16 very comfortable to hold and feels very solid, with a chunky fore grip, which fits the hand nicely, and a stock that fits perfectly into the shoulder. As with all Marui guns, attention to detail is obvious on this weapon, with colt trademarks and serial numbers.

Internally the rifle is set up perfectly for a support role, with its long barrel, and EG1000 motor, which whacks out 800 0.2g bb’s a minute at 280fps. It’s ability to take a bipod and scope rail straight from the box makes it even more perfect for the job. Cracking it open is very easy as well, thanks to the two takedown pins located at the front and back of the receiver. Mate all this with large capacity 8.4v battery, and it’s a potent beast. Once opened you’ll find that it’s gearbox is easy to open and upgrade to anyone with little experience and a will to do so. Once upgraded with a stronger spring, stronger gears and metal bushings it could be used in the sniper role, especially with the Bushmaster V-Match kits that give it a sleek sniper look.

All the controls on all of the M16 series are very well placed, letting you change the mode of firing or release the magazine without having to lose your aim. The 68 round magazine clicks into place positively, and rarely gets in the way, but if you still find it to obstructive Vietnam style 190 round hi-cap magazines are available as an alternative to the 300 round hi-cap. I have never experienced a jam with either of these hi-caps, but I have found one of my 6 standard magazines has been unreliable on occasion, but I assume this is a rare occurrence. The excellent ½ MOA (minute of angle) A2 sites are very precise and easy to modify for both windage and elevation without using any tools. HOP is very easy to change, simply by pulling back on the charging handle and moving the HOP dial. The infamous A2 barrel wobble is non-existent at first, and can be easily reduced if it becomes noticeable by tightening the large nut immediately behind the fore grip, as well as several of the grub screws at each end of the barrel within the fore grip. If barrel wobble really becomes a problem a systema outer barrel reinforcer is available for a low cost (~£35). Unfortunately a sling on the M16A2 can aggravate the problem, so its best to avoid them unless you install a metal body kit (of which several are available) or the aforementioned systema reinforcer.