I once had the occasion to handle the Stoner prototype of the original M16 that’s stored in the archives at Anniston Army Depot circa 1968. I was impressed with the light weight and handling of it. Given my familiarity with the M1Carbine and others, I really liked it.
I never could warm up to production M16’s due to butt stock dimensions and looseness of upper to lower receivers and hand guards.
Yes! I was 12yrs old and my Dad was #2 in the Comptroller office and it was an annual open house for employees family’s. Coincided with Memorial Day iirc. The M16 and M2 Browning were on open display. My older brother was 17 and knew more than I did and steered us in the right directions.
The small arms section wasn’t the highlight at the time. It was watching Atomic Annie (280mm Howitzer) fired with a training round, and riding a M60 tank chassis through a water test tank.
But handling the spun fiberglass stock, Aluminum receiver (in the white) M16 is what sticks with me..
The Carbon 15 was (Pro Ordinance) was the closest thing I’d handled to the original Stoner concept.
My favorite personal AR15 has a polymer receiver, DPMS flat-top upper w/16.5” light weight barrel and Magpul forend and locking collapsible butt stock and detachable sights.
It’s my bump in the dark , go see what it was, gun. Typically with a 20rd Magpul magazine with 20rds of 62gr PtSpt’s.
My best friend/college room mate firing it......
My other AR sporter has a similar set up but a DPMS UPPER/lower w/CMMG light weight aluminum hand-guard with a 1.5-4.5x illuminated recticle scope. It’s a sub MOA shooter and is my hunting AR in 5.56. It gets swapped off with a Bear Creek Upper in 6.5 or a .300BO M4 upper.
I like em lightweight!