CAR-15

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CAR-15 XM177 Commando
GAU-5/A, USAF version of the XM177
Type	Assault rifle Carbine
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	1966–1998 (US Service) 1966–present (other countries)
Wars	Vietnam War Laotian Civil War Cambodian Civil War Sino-Vietnamese War Lebanese Civil War Operation Eagle Claw 1982 Lebanon war Salvadoran Civil War Guatemalan Civil War United States invasion of Grenada United States invasion of Panama Gulf War
Production history
Manufacturer	Colt Defense
Variants	XM177 (R610 in US Army service) XM177E1 (R609 in US Army service) XM177E2 (R629 in US Army service) GAU-5/A (R609 in US Air Force service) GAU-5A/A (R649 in US Air Force service)
Specifications
Mass	5.35 lb (2.43 kg)
Length	31 in (790 mm) (XM177E1, stock extended) 28.3 in (720 mm) (XM177E1, stock retracted) 32.5 in (830 mm) (XM177E2, stock extended) 29.8 in (760 mm) (XM177E2, stock retracted)
Barrel length	10 in (250 mm) (XM177E1) 11.5 in (290 mm) (XM177E2)
Cartridge	5.56×45mm NATO, .223 Remington
Action	Gas-operated, rotating bolt (Direct impingement)
Muzzle velocity	2,650 ft/s (810 m/s) (XM177E1) 2,750 ft/s (840 m/s) (XM177E2)
Effective firing range	400 m (440 yd)
Feed system	30-round box magazine or other STANAG magazines.
Sights	Iron sights or various optics

The Colt Automatic Rifle-15 or CAR-15 is a family of M16 rifle–based firearms marketed by Colt in the 1960s and early 1970s. However, the term "CAR-15" is most commonly associated with the Colt Commando (AKA: XM177); these select-fire carbines have ultrashort 10.5-inch (270 mm) and 11.5-inch (290 mm) barrels with over-sized flash suppressors.

The CAR-15 name was an attempt to re-associate the AR-15 name with Colt, since the AR initially stood for ArmaLite, the original manufacturer of the ArmaLite AR-15. Colt later abandoned the CAR-15 concept, but continued to make carbine variations, using the "M16" brand for select-fire models and the "Colt AR-15" brand for semi-automatic models. However, in present usage, "CAR-15" is the generic name for all carbine-length variants made before the M4 carbine.