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My take on he choice of weapons is that US Marines are famed marksman. The M16A4 is more accurate at longer ranges than the M4.
The Army has made the switch (though not completely, a lot of support units still have M16A2s) due to the fact that the more compact M4 is easier to handle and maneuver with when facing urban combat situations... as well as climbing in and out of vehicles.
I for one found it a pain in the arse carrying the 16 around getting in and out of an M1114 with a longbarrel musket getting caught up on the radio mounts while the muzzle is in the floorboards because it's so large. Excellent for picking off 300M targets, not so much for maneuverability.
I'm sure the Marine Recon and some special operations units have made the switch due to the advantage of having an assault rifle thats the size of a SMG for their TTPs. I just believe they stuck with the 16 for the aforementioned reasons of long standing stigma of being the best of the best when it comes to being a rifleman.
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"Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime." -Adlai E. Stevenson
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