Colt M5 — A Leveled Up M4

Talyn · Tuesday at 1:06 PM

Even with its upgrades, the Colt M5 is still a civilian version of the M4 at heart. Like its predecessor, it cycles from direct gas impingement action and remains chambered in 5.56 NATO. Its basic right-handed controls are unmistakably M4, ranging from the 90 degree safety switch to the magazine button release. But looking beyond those features, M5 ventures from the mediocre into the contemporary and beyond.

M5s have latch-style magazine releases located underneath the traditional bolt release (ping-pong paddle). There’s also an enlarged bolt release for left-handed shooters housed just under the dust cover. In a move that makes a lot of sense, Colt went the COTS route and ships M5s with Radian’s ambidextrous Raptor charging handles.