Description
WE M16A3 GBBR (Black)
The WE M16A3 GBBR is a full-length gas blowback rifle modelled on the M16A3, the long-barrelled US service rifle with a fixed full stock and a removable carry handle, finished in black. Every shot cycles the bolt for a sharp, realistic recoil, which is what draws many players to gas rifles in the first place.
WE (WE-Tech) is a leading gas rifle maker, and its M4 and M16 platforms are known for crisp recoil and realistic handling. The long barrel and full stock give the M16A3 a commanding presence and a long sight radius, ideal for players who like a classic full-size rifle and the immersion of gas blowback.
Build and design
Our listing for the blue version, based on WE’s published details, gives a steel and aluminium frame and outer barrel with a polymer handguard, full-length M16 stock and pistol grip, a length of around 1000mm, a weight of around 3.8kg and an inner barrel of around 509mm. This black version is the same rifle in the classic service finish.
The carry handle can be removed to reveal a top rail for an optic, so you can choose between the period iron-sight look and a modern optic set-up.
How it works
WE’s M16A3 uses an open bolt gas blowback system with a working bolt catch that holds the bolt to the rear after the last shot, just like the real rifle. It fires on safe, semi and full-auto, and the hop-up is adjustable. The rifle runs on green gas from a 32-round magazine.
Gas rifles perform best in mild to warm weather; in the cold, keep magazines warm in a pouch and expect fewer shots per fill. Gas the magazine in short, steady bursts, load BBs, seat the magazine firmly, rack the charging handle and test-fire at a safe target, adding hop a little at a time. Have the rifle chronographed at your site before play.
Key features
- Full-length M16A3 gas blowback rifle
- Open bolt blowback system
- Working bolt catch
- Removable carry handle with top rail
- Fixed full-length M16 stock
- Safe, semi and full-auto
- 32-round green gas magazine
- Black finish
Compatibility
Use WE M4/M16 GBBR magazines; other makers’ gas rifle magazines are often not compatible, so check before buying spares. Parts should be listed for WE’s M16/M4 open bolt GBBR system.
The top rail under the carry handle takes standard 20mm optics. Use good-quality seamless 6mm BBs; 0.20g or 0.25g is a sensible starting point.
Care and maintenance
Use the gas recommended in the manual and fill magazines in short bursts without overfilling. A drop of silicone oil on the magazine fill valve and seals now and then keeps them supple, and magazines are best stored with a little gas in them so the seals stay seated. Gas performance drops in cold weather, so keep spare magazines warm in a pouch or pocket on chilly days.
Gas blowback rifles have more moving parts than electric replicas, so keep the bolt carrier and nozzle lightly lubricated with a suitable silicone product and wipe away grit after each game. Run a cleaning rod through the inner barrel occasionally, use clean seamless BBs only, and store the rifle unloaded somewhere cool and dry.
Never use petroleum-based oils or lubricants on seals, and have the nozzle and bolt inspected if performance drops.
Who is it for?
The WE M16A3 suits players who love classic full-size rifles and the realism of gas blowback, reenactors of later twentieth-century US forces, and anyone who wants a long-barrelled rifle with real recoil. We also list the blue version.
Please note: Gas and BBs are not included, and the product name does not state the box contents, so please check with us before ordering. Always wear suitable eye protection, and full-face protection where your site requires it, when using or testing any airsoft replica.
