Service Carbine

The Service Carbine is Leonida's military-issue workhorse - a full-length M16-pattern rifle that feels like it rolled straight off a Fort Leonida armory rack. In GTA VI it sits between the modular Carbine Rifle and dedicated marksman guns: longer barrel, tighter mid-to-long-range groups, and a service-weapon aesthetic that screams National Guard and federal response rather than street crime. Expensive and unlocked later than the standard Carbine, it rewards players who want accurate burst or full-auto fire when fights stretch across highways, docks, and open marsh approaches.

Visually inspired by the M16A1 / M16A2, the Service Carbine features a triangular or ribbed handguard, a carrying-handle upper (or flat-top on modernized variants), a fixed or A2-style stock, and a longer barrel than the compact Carbine Rifle. Finish options lean military - olive drab, black phosphate, and desert tan - with optional tactical rail kits that bolt on modern attachments without fully erasing the classic service silhouette. Compared to the sleek HK416-like Carbine, the Service Carbine looks older, longer, and unmistakably issued rather than customized.

Excellent accuracy and range for an assault rifle, with controllable recoil that favors burst fire at distance and disciplined full-auto up close. Per-round damage is competitive with the Carbine, while the longer barrel extends effective engagement distance before spread becomes unreliable. Slightly slower handling and ADS than compact carbines make it less ideal for tight interiors, but outstanding for mid-to-long range mission set pieces and open-world pursuits.

Supports tactical attachments including optics, bipods or foregrips, suppressors, and extended magazines once unlocked through Ammu-Nation or military surplus channels. Attachment options may be slightly more limited than the fully modular Carbine Rifle, reflecting its service roots, but still cover the essentials for stealth, range, and sustained fire. Cosmetic kits include National Guard liveries, Fort Leonida stamped receivers, and muted cerakote patterns.

Expected mid-story at select Ammu-Nation locations or as a reward from law-enforcement / military-adjacent missions. Also recoverable from National Guard and federal units during high wanted levels near Fort Leonida, found in armory rooms during heist finales, and sold by surplus dealers once military weapon access opens in the campaign.

• The Service Carbine's high price (~$14,500+) positions it as a mid-to-late unlock rather than an early Ammu-Nation staple.
• Its M16A1 / M16A2 inspiration distinguishes it from the shorter AR / HK416-style Carbine Rifle in both silhouette and role.
• National Guard NPCs near Fort Leonida are among the most common carriers of this rifle in the open world.
• The longer barrel produces a distinct muzzle report compared to the compact Carbine - audible in stereo mix during highway shootouts.
• Players who prefer accuracy over mobility often keep the Service Carbine as their primary even after unlocking more exotic rifles.