TROY M16A2 SFOD-D Carbine

Meanwhile, the rounded, ribbed, six-hole, A2-type handguards have a small piece of Picatinny rail at the 6-o’clock position forward. This was used to mount a flashlight and/or broomstick-style forward grip. Another popular accessory was the Redi-mag, which attaches to the lower and allows the user to mount a spare magazine directly left of the mag well for rapid mag changes. The Redi-mag is not included with the standard TROY SFOD-D package, but is available from Brownells and similar establishments. My copy of the TROY M16A2 SFOD-D came with a 30-round metal AR mag, a 20-round AR mag, and the nostalgic, cartoon-illustrated M16A1 maintenance manual. TROY also provides an authentic, two-point-style sling with parachute cord ends, as operators of that era would have fashioned. 

Continuing to add to the authenticity level TROY strived for, “PROPERTY OF U.S. GOVT.” is stamped where you’d expect to find it on the left-hand magazine well. TROY’s actual manufacturers information is cleverly hidden underneath where the trigger pops out of the lower.

It is always interesting to see how older things operate and compare them to generations that are now the norm. Not having an early series Aimpoint to mount, I settled for an updated Aimpoint Comp M3 with 2-MOA dot for accuracy testing. This was done mainly from 50 yards supported on a bench. To be historically correct, I utilized standard military 5.56mm Federal 55-gr. XM193 ball and the Federal 62-gr. M855 “green-tip” used during combat in Mogadishu, with some MFS 55-gr. ball as sort of a control group. Average groups came in at around 2.0 to 2.5 inches for all rounds fired, often trending a bit right of POA, even from 50 yards.

Like the Brownell’s rifle, the TROY SFOD-D shot a best 50-yard five-shot group of 1.25-inchs, only this rifle preferred Federal/American Eagle XM855 5.56mm 62-gr. FMJ “green tip” ammo, which—coincidentally—would have been the load used during combat in Mogadishu.

Not really surprising given the MILSPEC 6.5 pound trigger, tiny stock and sub-optimal cheek weld. The M16A2 SFOD-D was not designed to be a sniper rifle, but is efficient at close range. To prove this, I went to 20 yards and put five rounds at relatively rapid speed into the center of the head box of an IDPA target once I established proper holdover, sans cheek-weld and all.   Extending to 100 yards, the TROY SFOD-D grouped at about 5-inch center of mass with the M855. To compare, the Brownells’ XM177E2 shot about the same at both distances, but using anything heavier than 55-gr. was out with the low 1:12” barrel twist, and slower with iron sights. Reliability was perfect throughout, utilizing five different modern metal and polymer-type magazines.

In summary, the TROY M16A2 is a worthy carbine to commemorate the service of our spec ops warriors in “the Mog”, and fill the desires of the contemporary collector.  See the SFOD-D Carbine at your nearest retailer ($1,299), or for more information, contact Troy Industries; Tel: (866) 788-6412; Web: www.myservicerifle.com