The distinctive feature of the M16A2 was the fire selector: SAFE, SEMI, BURST. Full automatic — the standard M16A1 setting — had been removed. Marine Corps and Army trainers had lobbied for the change after Vietnam-era studies showed that soldiers on full auto tended to hold the trigger down and empty a thirty-round magazine in about two seconds, hitting almost nothing. The three-round burst mechanism forced fire discipline: pull, three rounds, stop, reacquire, pull again. In practice, most Rangers in Mogadishu fired on SEMI — aimed single shots, one per target — but the BURST setting was there when a target justified it.

The figure stands with feet planted, body squared to the target, M16A2 shouldered with iron sights aligned, left hand supporting the handguard, right hand at the pistol grip and trigger. Three-color desert combat uniform, tactical vest with magazine pouches, Kevlar helmet with cover and ballistic goggles pushed up. Pair the figure with the Ranger NCO Shouting Orders directing his target, with Ranger Kneeling Firing as the shooting partner in a two-man element, or with the Ranger Radio Team keeping the squad tied to higher.

King & Country model BHD003. 1/30 scale (approximately 60mm), matte-painted metal. Single foot figure standing firing M16A2 rifle, on sculpted groundwork base. Boxed.