M16's

[MrBlonde]

What year did the US trade the M16A1 with the Three Prong flash hider for the "Birdcage" flashider, for some reason 1969 is what my mind tells me...

[MITHRANDIR]

we changed our pronged one out for a birdcage in Nov 68...(I Corp, Phu Bai, 101 ABN)

cannot answer for the other areas

[MrBlonde]

Why did the get rid of the three prong one?

[ModIMark0]

The reason for replacement of the birdcage for 3-prong was the open construction would make it more likely to catch vegatation in the suppressor's open prongs and create a muzzle obstruction.
On a related note, I had heard that their were two versions of the three prong flash suppressor. The first was a stepped (two diameters) affair, and the more known second version had the gradual taper from the bottom to the top (muzzle end). Anyone with a copy of "The Black Rifle: A Retrospective" that can confirm this?

[Rex Feral]

REMF's were also using the prong type surpressor to break the bands on packing crates, bending the barrels in the process.

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Cry "Havoc!" and let slip the dogs of war.

[K80Geoff]

The real reason was that troops in the field were using the three prong supressors to open C ration crates that were held together by wire. After a few AD's and several wounds the supressors were redesigned.


Geoff Ross