Almost every infantryman around the globe knows the name of the world’s most famous assault rifle, the M-16. The M-16 rifle was designed by Eugene Stoner as the AR-15 and had a significant impact on military firearms when it was introduced into U.S. military service. Designed and developed in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, the M-16 represented a departure from traditional rifle designs, incorporating several innovative features. A key feature of the M-16 was its gas-operated, direct impingement system, which utilized gas from the fired cartridge to cycle the action directly. This design choice contributed to the rifle's lighter weight and increased overall efficiency.