How were early M16 jamming problems addressed?

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Semiautomatic pistol — small arm Glock .40-calibre semiautomatic pistol.

Early reports of the M16 rifle jamming during the Vietnam War were not caused by a single design flaw, but rather a convergence of factors. To address these reliability issues, the U.S. military implemented several critical changes:1

Ammunition: The composition of the powder used in the rifle's ammunition was changed to reduce fouling and improve cycling.1
Maintenance: The military increased the distribution of cleaning kits and provided improved training to soldiers to ensure the weapon was properly maintained in harsh field conditions.1
Design Adjustments: Based on recommendations from combat troops, minor mechanical adjustments were made to the rifle.1

These improvements significantly reduced the rate of malfunction. The updated version, designated the M16A1, was subsequently adopted as the standard infantry weapon for the U.S. military in 1967.1