The weapon of choice for the Army special forces is the M4 carbine rifle.  The M4 has its roots in the M16 carbine rifle, which can trace its design to the AR-15.

The M4 has exceptional utility and can be modified specifically for the mission it is to be used on.  Components that can be interchanged on the rifle include scopes, lights, and more (search “M4 Carbine”).

Another benefit of the M4 carbine is its light weight – only 5.9 lbs. when empty.  Just for comparison, an average 12-gauge shotgun weighs about 7 lbs.

The M4 has the option of having a semi-automatic or three-round burst firing system.  The M4A1 has the “full auto” option instead of the three-round burst.  The M4 carbine is definitely a very customizable military surplus firearm.

To see the different options available for the AR-15 (which the M4 design is based on), you can make your own AR-15 by going to the custom AR-15 builder.  You can also buy an actual M4 carbine right here.

Check out other special forces military surplus here.

Written by Craig Kent, member of the Best Military Surplus team