The Assault Rifle (formerly known as the M16 and M4) is, as the name implies, an assault rifle appearing in Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories.
In all of its appearances, the weapon is designed after the real-world M16 rifle, M4 carbine, or one of their variants. The weapon goes on to appear in the HD Universe where it is named the Carbine Rifle.
Description[]
The M16 has appeared in almost all games in the 3D Universe. The weapon's name on the HUD has changed various times as it recurred through the series:
- In GTA III, the rifle is named M16.
- In GTA Vice City, GTA San Andreas and GTA Liberty City Stories, the rifle is named M4.
- In GTA Vice City Stories, the rifle is named Assault Rifle, conflicting with the name given to the AK47 in GTA Advance.
Across the 3D Universe, the M16 was always regarded the more powerful assault rifle, as opposed to the more traditional AK47, as well as being the preferred choice of weapon for tactical law enforcement and military throughout the games.
Design[]
The M16's design has undergone many changes throughout its appearances in the 3D Universe of the series, but has always retained its rather streamlined appearance compared to the AK47. The weapon generally features the same black/dark grey skin and the same carry handle-iron sight attachment.
Grand Theft Auto III[]
The Grand Theft Auto III rendition resembles an ArmaLite AR-10, judging by the handguard and the overall shape, even though it is called 'M16' in-game. The fact that the AR-10 fires 7.62x51mm ammunition as opposed to the less powerful 5.56x45mm ammo of M4/M16 rifles possibly explains why this weapon was far more powerful per shot than the M4-type rifles of later games, and the 7.62x39mm AK47. This is a rather odd choice, since the AR-10 is a considerably old rifle that was mostly in service in European countries (Such as Germany, Portugal and Italy) during the 50s and the 60s, and is therefore considerably hard to find in America. The weapon has a 60-round magazine (which was unrealistic at the time of the game's release), even though the in-game magazine model looks like a regular 30-round AR magazine.
In the PlayStation 2 version of the game the AR10 has a green aiming cursor, but in the PC, Xbox and mobile versions of the game, the green cursor is replaced with a circle and a dot.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City - Liberty City Stories[]
The Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories rendition is modeled after a Colt Model 733, but with the front sight facing backwards. It is called 'M4' in-game (which is not only incorrect for the model, but also anachronistic, as the M4 was not mass-produced until 1993[1]).
In the original PlayStation 2 release of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (v1.40), the M4 was modeled after the longer-barreled Colt Model 723, but with the front sight facing the correct direction. Like many weapons in the original v1.40 release, the weapon was updated to remove any similarities with the real weapon. The old model is still kept as a cutscene prop in later versions.
The M4 seen in the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas mission Stowaway has what appears to be digital desert camouflage at first glance. However, it actually simply uses the "dirt64b" texture as a placeholder, as it does not have a proper texture in the game files. This is because the weapon's model is a leftover from Manhunt, and the proper texture can be found in the Manhunt game files. This is the case with several other cut weapons found in the GTA San Andreas game files as well, such as the PSG1, Nail Bat (cut from Manhunt as well), and a beta version of the Sawn-Off Shotgun.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories[]
The Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories rendition is modeled after the XM16E1.
Performance[]
Grand Theft Auto III[]
In Grand Theft Auto III, the rifle differs from any other variant for how powerful it is: featuring an exceptionally high rate of fire and a 60-round magazine, it is most of the times a one-shot kill against any enemy, and can easily destroy most vehicles with a few bursts, making it arguably the most powerful firearm in the game. One might even compare it to the Minigun, the M60 and the M249 seen in later games. Similarly to the Sniper Rifle and the Rocket Launcher, the rifle can be aimed in first person, resulting in a stationary view with the crosshair on the center of the screen. Due to its incredibly high fire rate, the M16 in GTA III suffers from wild and nearly uncontrollable recoil when being aimed in first person. The weapon can be auto-aimed at enemies and pedestrians by setting oneself on fire and holding the targeting button.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City[]
In Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, the weapon is a far less powerful than its GTA III predecessor, and despite still being a one-shot kill in many occasions (such as shooting at the head, legs or the shoulders), it now features a slower rate of fire and a 30-round magazine. On the other hand, the recoil is also much lower this time around, making it useful for more precise shots. Like in GTA III, it can also be aimed in first person.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas[]
In Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, the weapon has an even lower rate of fire, and also has considerably less power, only being a one-shot kill weapon if aimed at the head. Even then, it is still highly effective, featuring a 50-round magazine and a smaller crosshair than that of the AK47, making it useful for more precise and accurate shots. It is nearly recoilless compared to the AK47 and has a 20 meter range advantage over it. The M4 is outranged only by the Country Rifle and the Sniper Rifle. It does not feature a first person aiming mode like its predecessors did, and neither do any of the following games have it. Depending on the weapon skill, the lock-on range, accuracy and strafe speed increase.
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories and Vice City Stories[]
In Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, the weapon performs similarly to the GTA Vice City version, having the same power and rate of fire, and the same 30-round magazine capacity. The only difference is that it cannot be aimed in first person.
Gallery[]
The M4 in the PS2 version of GTA Vice City, resembling a Colt Model 723. This model is also used in cutscenes of all versions of the game. The most notable differences are the longer barrel and the more-appropriately modeled front sight and collapsible stock.
An assault rifle resembling the M4 appearing during Stowaway in GTA San Andreas. The weapon model itself is borrowed from the Defender Mark 1 Assault Rifle in Rockstar Games' Manhunt, but with a generic dirt texture instead of the texture used in Manhunt.
Tommy Vercetti and Lance Vance holding M4s during Rub Out in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.
Buying the M4 from Ammu-Nation in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
Carl Johnson with an M4 in Grove Street.
Toni Cipriani using the M4 in Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories.
HUD Icons[]
HUD icon for the M16 in the PlayStation 2 version of GTA III.
HUD icon for the M4 in GTA Vice City.
HUD icon for the M4 in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City - The Definitive Edition.
HUD icon for the M4 in GTA San Andreas.
HUD icon for the M4 in GTA Liberty City Stories.
HUD icon for the Assault Rifle in GTA Vice City Stories.
Official Screenshots[]
Artwork[]
Phil Cassidy holding an M16 in Grand Theft Auto III.
8-Ball holding an M16 in Grand Theft Auto III.
A gunner using an Assault Rifle in a Maverick in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories.
Locations[]
Grand Theft Auto III[]
- Rockford, Staunton Island – Available to buy from Phil Cassidy's Army Surplus after completion of Arms Shortage.
- Bedford Point, Staunton Island - In the walled off area in the southeast part of the Liberty Tree Offices, where the mission Kingdom Come takes place. (Use the nearby Moonbeam, park it by the lowest part of the wall, climb the Moonbeam, and jump over the wall to access).
- Cedar Grove, Shoreside Vale – On the back porch of the pink house (fourth from the west) at The Homes.
- Cochrane Dam, Shoreside Vale - Near the top of the stairs for the west dam platform (not the top of the Cochrane Dam power house) at the base of the Cochrane Dam.
- Delivered to safehouses after collecting 90 Hidden Packages.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City[]
- It is used for the first time in the mission Rub Out, where Lance gives Tommy an M4 to kill Diaz.
- During the mission Cop Land, a police officer and two soldiers are seen using the rifles.
- Prawn Island – In Studio B (behind the moon lander) at the InterGlobal Films complex.
- Starfish Island – In the small room at the bottom of the Vercetti Estate's stairwell east of the main entrance after the completion of Rub Out.
- Downtown – Available to buy from Ammu-Nation after completion of Rub Out ($5,000).
- Little Haiti – In the middle of a cluster of shacks in the center of the North Haitian Neighborhood (just south of Auntie Poulet's house behind the house with the Voodoo in front).
- Little Havana – At the west side of the red and white building directly across the street west of Cafe Robina (where Tommy took Phil to during Boomshine Saigon).
- Fort Baxter Air Base – Used by the soldiers. Careful, attacking the soldiers inside the base will result in a wanted level and soldiers spawning inside to attack Tommy.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas[]
M4's locations map
- Los Santos International Airport, Los Santos – Next to the runway, there are three white and yellow striped "ramps". Between those which are placed at the end of the runway is a Carbine Rifle.
- Palisades, San Fierro – Behind the northernmost house next to the beach.
- Area 69, Bone County – Behind a staircase leading to a control tower, southwest side.
- Pilgrim, Las Venturas – On the roof of the hotel.
- The Four Dragons Casino, Las Venturas - In front of the casino if all 50 Horseshoes are collected.
- Easily acquired from soldiers. Those from the Area 69 and seen in wanted levels are carrying this weapon, ready to neutralize Carl.
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories[]
- It is a very rare weapon during the course of Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, being used only by Forelli Crime Family hitmen in Love & Bullets, Kazuki's guards in Cash in Kazuki's Chips, and by Massimo's guards in The Sicilian Gambit.
- Newport, Staunton Island – Among the containers at the docks and east of an unique stunt jump. It's located between the containers that are placed towards The Big Shot Casino.
- Bedford Point, Staunton Island - Available to purchase from Phil Cassidy's Fully Cocked Gun Shop for $5,400 once the player beats the mission "Friggin' the Riggin'".
- Available at each safehouses after collecting 60 hidden packages.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories[]
- It is used in various missions (most notably when Lance uses it in Blitzkrieg Strikes Again).
- Vice Point – Behind the building next to northernmost empire site.
- Vice Point Mall, Vice Point - Available to buy from Ammu-Nation for $5,400 but the price is decreased to $4,050 when the player beats Phil's Shooting Range.
- Fort Baxter – Used by soldiers.
Beta Content[]
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City[]
Both the 10th Anniversary edition and The Definitive Edition of GTA Vice City feature an unused HUD icon closely resembling the M16 as opposed to the M4 used in the original game.
An unused HUD icon for the M16 in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City - The Definitive Edition.
See Also[]
- AK47 – Another rifle appearing throughout the Grand Theft Auto series, named "Assault Rifle" in GTA Advance.
- Service Carbine – Another M16-inspired rifle in the series. Added to Grand Theft Auto Online as part of The Criminal Enterprises update.