The M4A1 is an American Carbine variant of the M4 Carbine. It is unlocked by default.
History[]
The M4A1 is a variant of the M4 Carbine, which in turn, is a variant of the M16A2 assault rifle. Unlike the M16A2 or M4, which are burst-fire weapons, the M4A1 is fully-automatic. The weapon was designed for special operations usage, as fully-automatic fire is considered to be more effective than burst-fire for clearing rooms and other close-quarters-combat (CQC) scenarios. A newer bolt carrier was also developed to increase the durability, making the M4A1 more robust to withstand sustained fire. The fully automatic trigger gives a more consistent trigger pull, which leads to better accuracy, mostly for the semi-automatic fire. Another addition is an ambidextrous selector lever for easier use with left-handed shooters.
In the last few years, M4A1s have been refitted or factory produced with a heavier barrel. This was for multiple reasons, such as better heat dissipation when firing in full-auto, and better accuracy, which is a byproduct of barrel weight.
The U.S Army since 2014 has been converting M4s into the M4A1, with the aim to convert all U.S. Army M4s to the automatic variant by 2019. Though still in service with special forces, combat in Afghanistan showed the need for providing automatic suppression fires during fire and movement for regular soldiers. Each carbine upgrade costs $240 USD per rifle.
The M4A1 is predominantly used by commandos, paratroopers, special forces, and SWAT teams as their weapon of choice.
In-Game[]
General Information[]
The M4A1 has decent statistics across most areas. It has a good rate of fire (RoF), at 780 RPM. It also sports good damage for a carbine, with a three-shot kill (3SK) up close and increasing to a 6SK at the end of its damage drop off. With the exception of its first shot recoil, the recoil of the M4A1 is quite low and the recoil pattern is relatively tight and accurate for medium range combat. It is fairly easy to control, meaning that a user can hold down the trigger whilst still remaining on target at a considerable distance. It is able to fire in either fully or semi-automatic.
It does have a below average muzzle velocity, at 2200 studs/s versus the average 2500 studs/s for most 5.56×45mm NATO carbines and assault rifles. It has a fast reload time, being one of the fastest reload times in-game, like the other AR-15 family members.
Usage & Tactics[]
The M4A1 is quite effective as a close-medium ranged weapon, generally being good as an offensive weapon like other carbines. The good RoF and damage allow it to compete relatively fine in CQC and medium range. Furthermore, the M4A1 is also mobile enough to get behind enemy lines with ease. The weapon tends to have poor performance at longer ranges, with a 6SK and having less than average muzzle velocity. In most cases, using the M4A1 at longer ranges should be avoided, however, it can work decently given the low recoil and if the user is skilled enough. Unfortunately, the M4A1's damage falls off to a 6SK to the body at this range, meaning users will likely be exhausting most of their magazine just to secure a kill.
The M4A1 is highly customizable, and so its characteristics. There are many good combinations of attachments for any playstyle. Users can spend time fine-tuning the M4A1 to their specifications, as it is extremely versatile. For a more close quarters oriented build, suppressors and low-magnification optics such as the Reflex Sight would work well. A Vertical Grip can also work well with such setups, improving on the M4A1's well rounded hipfire performance. If one wishes to focus more on mid-range combat, a slightly magnified optic like the PKA-S would be preferable, along with an Angled or Stubby Grip to lower the already controllable recoil along with some form of muzzle attachment.
Conclusion[]
The M4A1, like most starting weapons, works well as an all-rounder weapon. It is able to perform to an acceptable level in most situations, neither being the best or worst carbine in any given situation. However, it has no unique attribute compared to other carbines; its lack of specialization is both its strength and downfall. It is a versatile weapon, able to do anything a user requires it to do to a satisfactory standard. Its only real drawback is the poor ranged performance.
Pros & Cons[]
Pros:
- Good RoF.
- Good minimum range.
- Fast reload time.
- Extremely versatile.
- Good maximum damage—3SK up close.
- Mild recoil.
- Common ammunition type.
Cons:
- Longer time to kill (TTK) at long range.
- Poor minimum damage—6SK.
- Short maximum range.
- Modest horizontal recoil.
- Lower than average muzzle velocity.
- Quite obstructive sights.
Trivia[]
- Before the release of the M4A1, the original M4 had a different model and had three fire modes: Auto, Burst, and Semi. This M4 was then split into the M4 and M4A1, most likely to be more realistic.
- The M4A1, along with the M4's animations were changed in the 2024 New Years update (see Change Log).
- This was previously unlocked at rank 14, but is now unlocked by default. It switched places with the M4's original unlock rank.
- The M4A1 is the only starter primary weapon that is available to all classes.
- Before the 4.0.0 changes, the M4 and M4A1 could be differentiated by the color of their magazines. The M4A1 had a black magazine where the M4's was gray. This is no longer the case.
- After the Crimbo Update, using the .223 Rem ammo type increases the magazine capacity to 40. This happens with most AR-15 platform rifles that fire 5.56x45mm NATO, excluding the HK416.
- This was removed in the 5.7.0 Update.