The demilitarized Puerto Rico Police Bureau Colt Model 601 kit as it arrived on April 4, 2020. Photograph by the author.

Always a good idea. (U.S. Army) In 1967, the M16A1 was introduced, and the newest iteration included a number of fixes intended to address the problems noted by U.S. troops in combat.

The original CQ rifle was a copy of the M16A1, and had a 20-inch barrel and fixed stock. The CQ-A carbine is a copy of the M4 carbine, with a 14.5-inch barrel and collapsible stock.

Here’s What You need To Remember: The Chinese copy of the M16A1 rifle, the CQ, is an odd weapon. It is a faithful copy of the original M16A1, with a handful of very visible differences.