Springfield Armory SA-16
By: Guy Coursey
Some things never go out of style
It’s a bit hard for me to accept, but I am now officially old. I can remember things clearly from over 40 years ago that have younger people giving me blank stares when I reference them. I was alive when the Vietnam War was going on, when gas was less than a dollar, phones still had cords, TVs had aerials, and the only digital things were at NASA. But, in Vietnam, most American troops were armed with what was at the time a truly revolutionary, space-age rifle — the M16A1. Made of aluminum and synthetic materials, the M-16A1 used direct-impingement operation to fire a high-velocity bullet in .22 caliber and was very light compared to its predecessors. It was effective in jungle combat but had problems, mostly ammunition and training related, but some with the gun itself.

By the time I was in high school in 1983, the U.S. military, led by the U.S. Marine Corps (who else?), had developed an improved version – the M16A2. Though superseded today by multiple variations of the M4 carbine, with over eight million copies the M16A2 has become one of the iconic small arms of history. For those who like to collect historical small arms but may have a hard time locating or affording the real thing, you are in luck because Springfield Armory has come out with a nearly identical clone of the M16A2, the SA-16A2.

As the rifle I initially trained on as a Marine back in the late 1980s and early 1990s, I have a particular affinity for the M16A2. Only a very experienced eye would be able to distinguish between a genuine M16A2 and the SA-16A2, either in aesthetics, quality, or performance. The semi-auto SA-16A2 is a faithful reproduction of the M16A2, with very minor differences. While space prevents a full review of its pedigree, some things should be mentioned. As noted earlier, the M16A2 is an improvement over the M16A1. Outwardly, the A1 can be recognized initially by a triangular forward handguard, a three-prong flash hider, and a pistol grip less the finger bump now standard. All of these were replaced in the A2 by the familiar round ribbed handguard, “birdcage” flash hider, and Mil-Spec pistol grip with the finger bump between the middle and ring finger. On closer inspection, one will also note the thicker barrel forward of the sight tower, the modified forward assist plunger, and the brass deflector aft of the ejection port to make life easier for those operators unfortunate enough to be wrong-handed. Like the M16A1, the A2 has an aluminum lower and upper receiver with a fixed carry handle. However, the A2 carry handle has an improved set of aperture rear sights with finger adjustable turrets, versus those that needed a bullet tip or tool to adjust, and an A-frame sight tower which has a four-position adjustable sight tip for more refined adjustments. Rounding it out, the SA-16A2 has a fixed stock, which, like the M16A2, is 5/8” longer than that of the A1, made of stouter synthetic material, and contains a butt trap for a cleaning kit (or smokes, or pogey-bait …). Markings on the left side of the receiver show the SA logo with a “Property of US Government” stamp, and markings near the safety that include “Semi,” “Safe,” and the non-functional but true repro 3-round “Burst” function, which replaced full auto in the A1.

Internally everything in the SA-16A2 is nearly the same as a standard M16A2, including the 20-inch, 1:7 twist chrome-lined barrel and chamber, which was an important upgrade due to lessons learned the hard way with the M16A1. The few differences between the SA-16A2 and the genuine M16A2 are there, but minor; an SA logo on the receiver and bolt, M4 feed ramps to facilitate better operation with different types of ammo, and an Accutite tensioner in the rear receiver to assist with accuracy. The SA-16A2 comes in a quality SA-marked soft case with one 30-round aluminum magazine, cable lock, and manuals.

Based on my previous experience with the real thing I knew almost exactly what to expect from the SA-16A2, with one exception. Back in the day we used iron sights. Our initial zero was set at 300 yards and we were taught to adjust the turrets and apertures as necessary. This usually worked fine at distance when firing from a fixed position in decent weather with a target that was cooperating, such as on the known-distance (KD) course of fire. But times have changed, and now everyone has an optic on their service rifle.

In 2009, we were issued four-power Trijicon RCOs before a journey to the mountain paradise of Afghanistan. These optics are force-multipliers at distance, so I was gratified to receive a Trijicon ACOG 3.5×35 with a green BDC reticle on my copy of the SA-16A2. Less gratifyingly, it was mounted by necessity to the fixed carry handle on the SA-16A2 versus on a Picatinny rail on upper receivers of most modern AR-type rifles. This arrangement placed the optic over an inch higher than was optimal. Added to the problem was the fixed stock, which is great for shooting with irons from prone at cooperating Dog or Echo targets on a KD range but much less so with a magnified fixed-power optic due to difficulty obtaining good eye relief in average-sized humans such as myself. Therefore, I knew that despite my best efforts I would be fighting the rifle to an extent to get the best intrinsic accuracy. All that said, the SA-16A2 performed well.

A sniper rifle it is not, but it is perfectly capable of shooting 2-4 MOA with most types of military-issue 5.56 NATO and .223 ammo, which is what I used. This included Federal and IMI 55gr M193, Federal AE 5.56 x45 green tip, Federal AE .223, and some Freedom Munitions 55 gr FMJ reman. Firing from a rest, with the mil-spec single-stage trigger breaking at a hair under six pounds, the winner was Federal XM193 with a five-round group at 2” at 100 yards, with the best four at just over an inch. Just to see how things would go shooting a bit faster under slightly more realistic conditions, I got into prone ala the KD course, and using the 30-round mag to monopod from, I shot 10 rounds (actually 11) in just over 10 seconds on an IDPA target. The result was a 3.5” group smack in the high center chest area, printed with a mil-spec trigger, sub-optimal cheek weld, and neck straining for proper eye relief on the ACOG. Not bad, and certainly enough to give bad guys pause inside 500 yards downrange. Reliability with the SA-16A2 was flawless throughout, using both metal and several types of synthetic magazines.

The M16A2 was and is an effective infantry rifle. For collectors who want to wax nostalgic with iconic firearms from the “old days”, you would do well to consider the Springfield Armory SA-16A2 if your historical collection must include a near exact yet improved copy of the M16A2. Check out the SA-16 ($1249) at your nearest dealer, or for more information, contact Springfield Armory; Tel.: (800) 680-6866; Web: www.springfield-armory.com.

Specifications:
Caliber: 5.56 NATO
Action Type: Direct Impingement Gas Operated
Trigger: Mil-Spec
Rate of twist: 1-7
Barrel: 20-inch 4150 CMV, chrome lined
Finish: Black anodized
Handguard: A2
Grip: A2
Magazine/capacity: 30 rounds
Sights: Adjustable A2
Overall Length: 39.50”
Weight: 7 pounds, 8 ounces
MSRP: $1,249