Which firearm has a practical range described as 550 m for point targets and 800 m for area targets?

Which firearm has a practical range described as 550 m for point targets and 800 m for area targets?

• A. FN FAL
• B. M4
• C. AK-47
• D. M16

Answer: (D)

Understanding practical range comes down to how far the rifle can consistently deliver accurate hits on targets of different sizes, given the bullet’s velocity and trajectory. The M16, using the 5.56 NATO cartridge with a relatively long 20-inch barrel, produces a high-velocity, flat-trajectory round. That combination lets a shooter reliably hit a single point-sized target out to about 550 meters and still impact a larger area target out to about 800 meters with standard sights or optics. The shorter-barreled M4 loses velocity and has more bullet drop sooner, reducing its point-target effectiveness at those distances. Heavier-caliber rifles like the AK-47’s 7.62x39 or the FN FAL’s 7.62x51 have different ballistics and recoil characteristics, so their practical ranges don’t align with these exact figures. That alignment with the 5.56/.20-inch barrel setup is why the M16 is the best match for those ranges.

Understanding practical range comes down to how far the rifle can consistently deliver accurate hits on targets of different sizes, given the bullet’s velocity and trajectory. The M16, using the 5.56 NATO cartridge with a relatively long 20-inch barrel, produces a high-velocity, flat-trajectory round. That combination lets a shooter reliably hit a single point-sized target out to about 550 meters and still impact a larger area target out to about 800 meters with standard sights or optics. The shorter-barreled M4 loses velocity and has more bullet drop sooner, reducing its point-target effectiveness at those distances. Heavier-caliber rifles like the AK-47’s 7.62x39 or the FN FAL’s 7.62x51 have different ballistics and recoil characteristics, so their practical ranges don’t align with these exact figures. That alignment with the 5.56/.20-inch barrel setup is why the M16 is the best match for those ranges.