Should I Add an M16 Forum Here?

[dalbert]

For many years I had a gentleman’s agreement with the owner of Uzitalk.com not to add firearm discussion forums that already existed on each other’s websites.  Since I now have owned Uzitalk for a while, I thought about adding an M16 forum here, though I have no illusions of it ever competing with ARFcom.  I’m open to suggestion as to whether it should be an NFA only or historical forum, mostly because those are my main areas of interest.  I don’t really want it to be a general AR Barbie accessories forum.  This site has a unique personality, and the level of expertise here is exceptional, and M16 topics often occur in the current Class III forum.  If I started the new forum here, I would try to transfer as many existing topics as possible that pertain to M16’s.  
 

Your thoughts?

David

[Got Uzi]

It would be nice to have something to reference here for the later Colt guns. I’ve been reading up on the Colt 635 SMG’s more and more but can’t find a few things out that I’m looking for 

[StrangeRanger]

I vote no.  There are plenty of other AR sites and adding an AR forum here might swamp this site with AR fanboys

[RoscoeTurner]

Plenty of AR15/M16 forums available as it is, I would not support adding another one here.  As Strangeranger said, it would probably flood this site with so many AR fan boys that it would overwhelm what is here already and I share that concern.  Once the flood gates are opened it would be extremely difficult to close them again.

[Mike Hammer]

I would be open to full-auto forum only. Mainly for historical purposes for those of us owning them. I don't believe that people on the huge AR board would bother coming here as they have already have everything in place on that board to discuss AR15 builds which I think takes up most of the space on that site.

[Rekraps]

1 hour ago, StrangeRanger said:

I vote no.  There are plenty of other AR sites and adding an AR forum here might swamp this site with AR fanboys

Agree. I have two M16's and the existing AR15 platforms are well established and populated by knowledgeable members. 

[Mike Hammer]

Ok, who's it going to hurt by having a forum here, nobody. We have every other category on this site. I say let's do it.

[Rekraps]

11 hours ago, Mike Hammer said:

Ok, who's it going to hurt by having a forum here, nobody. We have every other category on this site. I say let's do it.

Up to you guys! We can spend weeks talking about the Keosayian collection!

[StrangeRanger]

15 minutes ago, Rekraps said:

Up to you guys! We can spend weeks talking about the Keosayian collection!

I'm looking forward to the endless debate about FRTs.....NOT

[Robert Henley]

Absolutely, would love to have an NFA M-16 forum here.  I never particularly liked having to go over to the AR-15 site for M-16 information.

I asked about this years ago and understood the explanation repeated in the original post above, but since things have changed it would be great to see.

I do go over to the Uzi forum as I have a factory full size Uzi and a factory mini-Uzi (both were pre-sample guns reclassified to transferrable).  Love that site.

Given some don't agree whatever you decide of course is fine, but with M-16s being Vietnam era guns I think it fits in with the machine gun boards other guns.

Thanks for asking.

Robert

[Mike Hammer]

Do like he says....

Edited May 12 by Mike Hammer

[NFA amnesty]

Yes, would be awesome to discuss the M16 select fire here.  Please proceed.

[dalbert]

I’m still a bit conflicted about it, based on some of the feedback.  I actually agree with everyone’s sentiment about it here so far, both pro and con, thus my indecision.

I’ll be at the TCA show this Friday, and I think I’ll ask around there what people think.  Perhaps I should do a poll here?

If I created the new forum, I would want to focus on historical aspects of the platform, as well as NFA guns that we own.  I am also deeply interested in the paper associated with the M16 over the years.  

A converted SP1 was the first machine gun I ever bought in 1988.  Still have it and love it.

David

 

[StrangeRanger]

Are you and the other monitors prepared to constantly police the forum to remove posts that do not fit within the narrow guidelines you are proposing?

[Rekraps]

7 hours ago, dalbert said:

I’m still a bit conflicted about it, based on some of the feedback.  I actually agree with everyone’s sentiment about it here so far, both pro and con, thus my indecision.

I’ll be at the TCA show this Friday, and I think I’ll ask around there what people think.  Perhaps I should do a poll here?

If I created the new forum, I would want to focus on historical aspects of the platform, as well as NFA guns that we own.  I am also deeply interested in the paper associated with the M16 over the years.  

A converted SP1 was the first machine gun I ever bought in 1988.  Still have it and love it.

David

 

I will say that the M16 has a history as complicated as the TSMG. Maybe even more so as so many one-off's and oddities were produced, with endless variations, especially in the early years. I went to the AR15 Board extensively to help figure out how one of my guns came to be, along with the nuances physical attributes of the actual guns themselves. A perfect example that nobody would consider is my Factory Select Fire AR15 (1964 production). This gun should be, based on the Colt SN records,  a government gun (614) yet it is not. Fat end firing pin, slab side chrome bolt, stainless steel gas tube and other features that only become apparent when comparing notes with others. 

Up to you guys!

[Bridgeport28A1]

On 5/11/2026 at 6:47 AM, RoscoeTurner said:

Plenty of AR15/M16 forums available as it is, I would not support adding another one here.  As Strangeranger said, it would probably flood this site with so many AR fan boys that it would overwhelm what is here already and I share that concern.  Once the flood gates are opened it would be extremely difficult to close them again.

I agree with RoscoeTurner and not support adding a M16 forum.

[Mike Hammer]

5 hours ago, Bridgeport28A1 said:

I agree with RoscoeTurner and not support adding a M16 forum.

I cannot fathom this attitude. If the other site covering the AR 15 and  M16 is so all great and encompassing, the members there will not be particularly interested in coming here. I think David's point is key in distinguishing that this would be directed towards more of a historical aspect of the gun. I don't belive those interested in semi builds and FRT devices would be interested in what we have to offer.  Some  members here own full autos and don't go to that website, this would make it convenient for a one stop shopping venue. Look how many different guns we have discussions on this site, one more will not hurt. My 2cents.

[RoscoeTurner]

11 hours ago, StrangeRanger said:

Are you and the other monitors prepared to constantly police the forum to remove posts that do not fit within the narrow guidelines you are proposing?

That was one of my main concerns, policing people trying to sell on here who do not meet the requirements would probably turn into a nightmare.

[Bridgeport28A1]

18 minutes ago, RoscoeTurner said:

That was one of my main concerns, policing people trying to sell on here who do not meet the requirements would probably turn into a nightmare.

8056 currently online @ AR15.com

One of my concerns is that RKI's and other eligible members may lose the ability to occasional sell something here if just a portion of the AR.15 community comes over to try to sell and results in no sales here period. 

Edited May 13 by Bridgeport28A1

[StrangeRanger]

It's not like any of our current members would be disadvantaged by not having an M16 forum here. They could join Uzitalk if they haven't already

[Mike Hammer]

I wouldn't think in my wildest dreams that the board would be besieged with new people coming here to do sales or things of that manner. Please remember that David, our esteemed host, could at any time define the constraints of the new thread, and also that he could outright cease it's existence if it became problematic in any way. Bend a little and maybe give it a chance.

[inertord]

A organized forum here dedicated to preserving the history of the M16 and related literature and accessories starting with Armalite would be great. I vote yes. 👍 

 

Edited May 13 by inertord

[Mike Hammer]

33 minutes ago, inertord said:

A organized forum here dedicated to preserving the history of the M16 and related literature and accessories starting with Armalite would be great. I vote yes. 👍 

 

Yes, starting with Armalite. I know we have closet Armalite fans here waiting in the woods, I am one of them. Let's start some new content. 

[68coupe]

I most certainly can understand y'all's concerns about the "Tacticool" fanboys trying to take over. My 2 cents: 1) Limit the discussions to NFA registered firearms. 2) The first violation results in a STERN warning. 3) A second violation results in a one week suspension. 4) A third violation results in a ban. 5) This all needs to be spelled out in a mandatory "Must read" introduction to the forum.

In my humble opinion, that address the concerns and provides another forum for us to enjoy. Thoughts?

V/R, Karl

[dalbert]

There’s a lot of FRT discussion on Uzitalk, which I’m fine with there.  I would not want to duplicate that here.  If I decide to start an M16 forum here, I would watch it closely, and keep it suited more to what I see as the unique personality of this site.  I would want it to compliment our other forums, and add value to the site.  We have some M16 discussions here now that could be better focused for interaction in a dedicated forum.

Usually I just start a new forum after hearing interest from members here, but I realize this potential M16 change summons some strong feelings, which I understand and respect.  I am approaching a potential new M16 forum much more cautiously than I have with other forums I’ve added here in the past.
 

Here’s mostly what I would want to explore in an M16 forum here.  I would probably put a sticky topic at the top of the page indicating the intent of the forum in detail, and move or hide any topics that didn’t conform to the desired forum personality.  

1.  NFA M16 discussion (Including NFA AR conversions and registered trigger devices)

2.  The history of the development of the AR15 platform in the early days of Armalite and subsequent Colt and licensed M16 manufacturer iterations.  I would want the forum to become a respected resource.

3.  I am particularly interested in the early XM16E1 issues which resulted from deviations away from the original powder design, shortage of cleaning equipment and appropriate training, sales and political missteps involving the implementation by Colt and Ordnance and use in Viet Nam, and the Kennedy and Johnson administrations.

4.  I want to better document the multitude of paper items associated with the AR15 and XM16E1, M16, and later variants made by Colt, H&R, and GM Hydramatic.  I would also encourage M16 related book reviews.

5.  I want to document and explore military accessories for the early XM16E1 and M16, M16A1 + Rifles. (Maybe include Knight’s Armament accessories, but not include the plethora of civilian accessories that are in use today)

6.  I’d like to document actual GI experiences among our members who were issued the various M16 variants since the early 1960’s, as well as some law enforcement use from a historical perspective.

7.  Sales would have the usual forum restrictions, and would be limited to NFA MG items.  No SBR’s, etc.  I would expect sale posts to be extremely limited.

Back in 1999, my brother documented some early collector information regarding magazines and other stuff that became a great subject matter resource for many at that time on Biggerhammer.net.  I would like to gather and post some niche collector data like that if a new forum is started.

Obviously, I have interest in starting a new M16 forum.  But I really want to vet it well before I decide whether to proceed, and I value each and every opinion of members here.  I really do.

David