Oh, and if there was question, iraqi and afghan army are fielding brand new FN M16a2 (maybe a3s as well, i don,t remember; either way, they're sticking to iron sights). Just for clarification, they're not vietnam surplus a1s that are fifty years old (those are still used in ROTC, at least as of 6 years ago, hence my only working familiarity with them). They're literally fresh from the box, newer than what the non-combat US Military have slung on super-FOBs (arguably even better maintained). As for the US Army's M4 carbines--the only rifle I've fired in anger. It may as well be a wholly different gun than the a1.