The M4A1 Carbine is a shortened version of M16. It sports a shortened barrel and collapsible stock, making it the Special Operations weapon of choice. In contrast to the M16A2, with its 3-round burst mode, the M4A1 is capable of fully automatic fire. Thanks to the SOPMOD program, the M4A1 can be modified with a variety of special accessories, including optics such as the M68 Aimpoint and ACOG, an easily detachable suppressor, an M203 underbarrel grenade launcher, and many others.
The M4A1 is a gas operated, selective-fire carbine that is chambered to fire the 5.56×45 mm NATO round.
It loads from 30-round STANAG magazines and can attain a fire rate of up to 667 rounds per minute, and has a muzzle velocity of 850 m/s. The M4A1 features a suppressed sub-variant, and can also be fitted with either a red dot sight or ACOG riflescope.
A modular platform, the M4A1 serves as the standard-issue weapon of U.S. Army soldiers deployed to Sahrani. It is comparable to the longer M16A4 assault rifle, though its shorter-length barrel reduces its inertia penalty on the user and makes it easier to wield in close quarters.
Accuracy-wise, the M4A1 has almost twice the dispersion of the M16A4 at distances of beyond 300 metres. In all other aspects the M4A1 isn't that much different to the M16A4 nor its older predecessor, the M16A2.
Variants[]
M4A1 GL[]
The M4A1 GL is simply a modified variant of the baseline M4A1 carbine that has an underbarrel grenade launcher attached to it. The M4A1 GL is always equipped with an ACOG riflescope.
The M203 GL can fire a mixture of either 40 mm high-explosive (HE) or flare grenade rounds. It is accurate at ranges of up to 300 metres. The weapon itself is otherwise unchanged (performance-wise) to regular M4A1s.
M4[]
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The M4 Carbine is a shortened version of the M16 service rifle. It has recently begun to replace full-length M16 rifles throughout US Army. In contrast to the M4A1 used by Special Ops units, it is shipped with a 3-round burst mode, rather than a full automatic mode of fire. The M4 can be modified with a variety of special accessories including optics such as the M68 Aimpoint and ACOG, an easily detachable suppressor, an M203 underbarrel grenade launcher, and many others.
Library Description
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The M4 is another variant of the baseline M4A1 carbine.
Unlike stock M4A1s, the M4 is only capable of toggling between a semi-automatic or three-round burst fire mode and cannot switch to firing on full-auto. It remains otherwise unchanged to the regular M4A1.
M4 GL[]
The M4 GL is a modified variant of the baseline M4A1 carbine with an underbarrel 40 mm grenade launcher. It is fitted with an ACOG riflescope by default and cannot mount sound suppressors.
Performance-wise, the M4 GL remains identical to its full auto counterpart but is only capable of toggling between a semi-automatic or three-round burst fire mode.
The carryhandle on the baseline M4A1 (full auto) and M4 (burst fire) sub-variant share the same ironsights.
The M203 for both the M4A1 GL (full auto) and M4 GL (burst fire) variants share the same leaf sights.
Camouflage[]
Black - [M4 / M4A1]
Black - [M4 / M4A1 (CCO)]
Black - [M4 / M4A1 (CCO, Suppressor)]
Black - [M4 / M4A1 (M203, ACOG)]
1/4
Black: Standard matte black/grey finish.
Ammunition[]
Round name
Base damage value
Initial velocity (m/s)
5.56×45 mm NATO
8
930
5.56×45 mm NATO SD
7
320
For grenade rounds usable with the GL, refer to its dedicated article here.
All variants of the M4 carbine support being loaded with three types of magazines. They all require one free inventory slot to carry:
30Rnd. Stanag[]
Standard 30-round magazine. Does not contain any visible tracers.
30Rnd. Stanag SD[]
Specialised magazine loaded with subsonic 5.56 mm ammunition. Identical to regular 30-round STANAGs save for a much lower velocity of 320 m/s.
20Rnd. Stanag[]
20-round box magazine used by the Mk12 marksman rifle. Aside from its capacity it is otherwise completely identical to regular 30-round STANAGs.
Trivia[]
Armed Assault is currently the only main ARMA game in the series to feature burst fire capable variants of the M4 carbine.
The information below details unused, pre-release or removed content.
Based on unused strings within the game files, all variants of the M4A1 would have supposedly had their own specific magazines rather than drawing from a generic pool shared by all 5.56 mm weapons.
The two magazines, named "M4 20rds mag." (string name: STR_MN_M4_20) and "M4 Mag." (string name: STR_MN_M4) would have been 20-/30-rounder magazines (respectively).
Gallery[]
ArmA 2[]
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The M4A1 Carbine is a shortened version of M16. It sports a shortened barrel and collapsible stock, making it the Special Operations weapon of choice. In contrast to the M16A2, with its 3-round burst mode, the M4A1 is capable of fully automatic fire.
Thanks to the SOPMOD program the M4A1 can be modified with a variety of special accessories including optics such as the M68 Aimpoint and ACOG, an easily detachable suppressor, the M203 under barrel grenade launcher, and many others.
Returning from Armed Assault, the M4A1 still serves as an alternate counterpart to the M16A4 assault rifle used by the U.S. Marines.
It still loads regular 30-round STANAG magazines used by other 5.56 mm weapons like its rifle counterpart, and has the same fire rate of its predecessor.
Its muzzle velocity has been increased to 930 m/s however, and now has several variants fitted with different optical sights ranging from the CCO red dot sight as well as holographic sights. In addition, there are laser pointers and flashlights attached to certain models, along with variants fitted with sound suppressors.
A USMC Corpsman (left) and Force Recon operator (right) armed with M4A1s.
Primarily wielded by USMC vehicle crewmen, Navy Corpsmen and Force Recon operatives deployed to Chernarus, the M4A1 features a wide variety of accessories for the operator to choose from. Both ironsights and non-magnified optics give the M4A1 an effective range of up to 300 metres.
Like in Armed Assault, its carbine configuration results in the M4A1 being less accurate than its rifle counterpart at distances of beyond 300 metres. As a result, it shouldn't be used to engage targets that exceed 400 metres (even with the ACOG-equipped variants).
In addition, suppressed variants of the M4A1 such as the M4A1 CCO SD, are restricted to using subsonic 5.56 mm ammunition and cannot utilise non-subsonic 5.56 mm magazines.
Variants[]
M4A1 M203[]
The M4A1 M203 is a modified variant of the baseline M4A1 carbine that has an underbarrel grenade launcher attached to it. As with its parent counterpart, it is chambered to fire the same 5.56 mm NATO round.
The underbarrel M203 launches a variety of 40 mm grenades, ranging from high-explosive (HE) rounds to non-lethal smoke grenades and less-than-lethal (LTL) flare shells.
The M203 has a conventional leaf sight that is accurate at ranges of up to 300 metres. In every other aspect, it is identical to the M4A1.
The M4A3 is the newer version of the M4A1 carabine. The difference is that the M4A3 has a removable carry handle allowing access to a Picatinny rail for mounting accessories. This one features additional improved grip and the M68 red-dot Aimpoint gunsight.
While stated to be a different weapon, the M4A3 is actually functionally identical to the baseline M4A1 in virtually every way, save for using a desert finish, the flashlight accessory, and is always equipped with a CCO red dot sight.
However, it does have one unique attribute in that it is able to utilise magazines with subsonic 5.56 mm ammunition (whereas the M4A1 is incapable of doing so).
It also has a foregrip attached just like USMC Force Recon M4A1s, though it is merely cosmetic and does not affect its handling in any way. It does not have any variants that can be fitted with muzzle suppressors.
The M4A3 is the newer version of the M4A1 carabine. The difference is that the M4A3 has a removable carry handle allowing access to a Picatinny rail for mounting accessories. This one features additional M203 40mm grenade launcher and the RCO (Rifle Combat Optic).
Just like the M4A1 M203, it is functionally identical in every aspect aside from using a desert camouflage finish and a laser pointer. The M4A3 M203 is always equipped with an ACOG riflescope.
Along with the baseline M4A3, it does not have any variants that can be fitted with a muzzle suppressor.
Camouflage[]
Black - [M4A1]
Black - [M4A1 (CCO)]
Black - [M4A1 M203 (ACOG)]
Woodland - [M4A1 (CCO)]
Woodland - [M4A1 (CCO, Suppressor)]
Woodland - [M4A1 M203 (HWS)]
Woodland - [M4A1 M203 (HWS, Suppressor)]
Desert - [M4A3 (CCO)]
Desert - [M4A3 M203 (ACOG)]
1/9
Black: Standard matte black and dark grey paint finish used on regular USMC M4A1s.
Woodland: Woodland spraypaint camouflage finish. Used on M4A1s carried by USMC Force Recon operators.
Desert: Three-colour desert spraypaint camouflage finish. Only used on Czech 601st SFG M4A3s.
Ammunition[]
Round name
Base damage value
Aerodynamic velocity
Initial velocity (m/s)
5.56×45 mm NATO
8
-0.001425
930
5.56×45 mm NATO SD
7
-0.0006
320
For grenade rounds usable with the M203, refer to its dedicated article here.
The M4A1/M4A3 support being loaded with six types of magazines. With the exception of 100-round drums, all others require only one inventory slot to carry (the drums occupy two slots):
30Rnd. STANAG[]
Standard 30-round magazine.
Does not contain any visible tracers.
30Rnd. STANAG SD[]
Specialised magazine loaded with subsonic 5.56 mm ammunition. Identical to regular 30-round STANAGs save for a much lower velocity of 320 m/s.
This is one of the two magazines which can be loaded by suppressed variants of the M4A1.
20Rnd. STANAG[]
20-round box magazine. Remains otherwise identical to regular 30-round STANAGs.
G36 Mag.[]
Plastic magazine used exclusively by the G36 and XM8 families of modular rifles.
It is mostly identical in most other aspects compared to regular 30-round STANAGs, but their rounds have a slightly reduced muzzle velocity of 920 m/s instead.
30rnd G36 SD[]
Loaded with subsonic 5.56 mm ammunition. It fires rounds with greatly reduced velocities of 320 m/s, but remain otherwise identical to regular plastic magazines.
This is one of the two magazines which can be loaded by suppressed variants of the M4A1.
MG36 Mag.[]
100-round Beta-C drum used by the MG36 light support weapon. Aside from its capacity it is completely identical to regular 30-round plastic magazines.
Trivia[]
The ArmA 2 M4A1 models (not the M4A3 variants) are simply updated ports of the Armed Assault M4A1.
Both the M4A1 and its long barrel rifle counterpart are shown to have been completely replaced in U.S. military service by the SCAR series sometime before 2012 in the Armaverse.
This is completely unauthentic to real-life however, as neither the 5.56 mm nor the 7.62 mm variants of the SCAR were considered for adoption at any point by conventional U.S. forces.
Some special operations units did end up adopting the SCAR platform in limited numbers, but simply to complement the M4A1 rather than fully replace it.
Some of Colonel Aziz' elite bodyguards are depicted utilising the M4A1, though no other Takistani troops wield the carbine in regular gameplay.
Following the release of the Community Configuration Project updates for the Steam version of ArmA 2, all variants of the M4A1 which featured non-functional laser pointers and flashlights were fixed and now work as expected. Prior to the update, pre-Operation Arrowhead M4A1s could not utilise their side rail accessories despite having said attachments modelled onto them.
The information below details unused, pre-release or removed content.
Unused M4A3 variants.
The M4A3 has several unused variants that are not configured for use in-game.
Notably, this includes a variant that has no optics mounted and lacks a carryhandle, another that uses an ACOG riflescope and laser pointer, as well as a variant that uses a Trijicon "RX-01" reflex sight that can also be found on the Sa-58.
Gallery[]
Sergeants Patrick Miles (rear) and Matthew Cooper (front) of the USMC Force Recon, callsign 'Razor Team'. Both are armed with the grenadier variant of the M4A1.
ArmA Tactics[]
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The M4 carbine is a family of firearms tracing its lineage back to earlier carbine versions of the M16 rifle, all based on the original AR-15 rifle designed by Eugene Stoner and made by ArmaLite. The M4 is a shorter and lighter variant of the M16A2 assault rifle.
Armoury Description
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The M4A1 is used by the Operators and several REDFOR factions in ArmA Tactics.
Overview[]
The M4A1 is unlocked by default and is the standard-issue weapon of the Operators.
A jack-of-all-trades and master-of-none, it possesses less attack range than the M110 sniper rifle and reduced lethality at close ranges compared to the M1014 shotgun.
However, in contrast to other weapons, the M4A1 retains a decent hit probability regardless of the user's proficiency with assault rifles, making it suitable for all Operators no matter their skill level. It also doesn't require the user to be right up close to enemies to score kills (unlike the M1014) and has relatively cheap upgrades which scale well throughout both campaigns.
Lastly, it is one of the only two weapons which can be suppressed, making it ideal for missions where stealth is required for completion of the scenario.
Ideally, either Salazar or Dodds should be utilising the M4A1 whilst the other members of the team have their M4A1s swapped with the M110/M1014 to balance out the M4A1's drawbacks (lack of range/low damage).
Advanced Combat Optical Gunsights (ACOG) provide fixed power magnification levels from 1.5x to 6x. The reticles are illuminated at night by an internal phosphor.
Armoury Description
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Increases the Operator's hit probability by +5%. Costs 250 credits to acquire.
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Allows the operator to shoot more rounds before the weapon needs to be reloaded.
Armoury Description
»
Increases the M4A1's magazine capacity by +2 rounds (to a maximum of 9). Costs 250 credits to acquire.
«
Silencer (more accurately Sound suppressor) is a device attached to or part of the barrel of a firearm which reduces the amount of noise generated by firing the weapon.
Armoury Description
»
Suppresses the M4A1 but lowers its range and damage output.
This upgrade is acquired by default and does not need to be purchased.
Trivia[]
Tactics' rendition of the M4A1 has several oddities with regards to its appearance and classification:
It is strangely referred to as an assault rifle despite its carbine configuration. This is even lampshaded by its own Armoury Description, which accurately states that it is a carbine.
The in-game model is loaded with 20-round STANAG box magazines whereas its icon depicts it with a curved 30-round magazine. Furthermore, its Extended Magazine upgrade in reality would store the same amount of rounds as it is also a 20-round box magazine.
Equipping the ACOG upgrade will not visually alter the in-game model. It will continue to show the carryhandle fixed onto the upper receiver. Likewise, the Weapon Silencer isn't visually mounted onto the M4A1's muzzle either.
![Black - [M4 / M4A1]](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/armedassault/images/c/cd/Arma1-render-m4a1ironsights.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/300?cb=20200328080030)
![Black - [M4 / M4A1 (CCO)]](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/armedassault/images/1/1b/Arma1-render-m4a1cco.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/300?cb=20200328080027)
![Black - [M4 / M4A1 (CCO, Suppressor)]](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/armedassault/images/4/49/Arma1-render-m4a1ccosd.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/300?cb=20200328080028)
![Black - [M4 / M4A1 (M203, ACOG)]](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/armedassault/images/8/87/Arma1-render-m4a1glacog.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/300?cb=20200328080029)
![Black - [M4A1]](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/armedassault/images/a/ae/Arma2-render-m4a1black.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/300?cb=20190930185418)
![Black - [M4A1 (CCO)]](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/armedassault/images/e/e7/Arma2-render-m4a1ccoblack.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/300?cb=20190930185419)
![Black - [M4A1 M203 (ACOG)]](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/armedassault/images/a/a3/Arma2-render-m4a1glacogblack.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/300?cb=20190930185420)
![Woodland - [M4A1 (CCO)]](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/armedassault/images/6/63/Arma2-render-m4a1ccowoodland.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/300?cb=20190930185420)
![Woodland - [M4A1 (CCO, Suppressor)]](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/armedassault/images/d/d0/Arma2-render-m4a1ccosdwoodland.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/300?cb=20190930185420)
![Woodland - [M4A1 M203 (HWS)]](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/armedassault/images/9/96/Arma2-render-m4a1glhwswoodland.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/300?cb=20190930185422)
![Woodland - [M4A1 M203 (HWS, Suppressor)]](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/armedassault/images/7/70/Arma2-render-m4a1glhwssdwoodland.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/300?cb=20190930185421)
![Desert - [M4A3 (CCO)]](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/armedassault/images/4/45/Arma2-render-m4a3ccodesert.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/300?cb=20190930185422)
![Desert - [M4A3 M203 (ACOG)]](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/armedassault/images/b/b4/Arma2-render-m4a3glacogdesert.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/300?cb=20190930185422)
U.S. Army - Armoury (ArmA: Armed Assault)
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ACR - Armoury (ArmA 2)
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