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AK-47
vs AR-15
which one is the better assault rifle
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M16/AR15
The first M16s
had all kinds of problems, most of which have been resolved.
The remaining problems mainly amount to jamming due to dust
or sand during long periods in the field. Since civilians
almost never spend weeks in the field, a civilian owner will
almost never see one of those problems. The M16 is different
from other military rifles in the following respects:
- The 223 ammunition it uses.
The rifle has enough power to kill humans or deer if not
bears and cape buffalo, is accurate out to several hundred
yards and, with heavy (75 - 95 grain) bullets and quick-twist
barrels, can shoot to 800 - 1000 yards. It is accurate and
allows rapid, well-aimed fire.
- The M16 does not use a
piston; gas blows back through a very small tube straight
onto the bolt carrier. This eliminates the movement of the
piston inside the rifle increases accuracy.
- The bolt locks into the
barrel rather than the receiver, simplifying several kinds
of things, not the least of which is cleaning.
- The lower receiver
with the serial number totally detaches from the
upper receiver and barrel, meaning that somebody
who owns one lower piece of an AR16 / M16 can buy
several differrent uppers, cheaply and with no further
legal requirements.
- The barrel-upper receiver
connection does not involve high torque as with some other
military rifles. This makes M16s basically easy to work
on.
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The US switched to 223 caliber rifles during the Vietnam
war; the M16 and civilian variants of it are the closest
thing there is to a real assault rifle which is also
a believable rifle and can hit things at significant
distances. In particular, in a gunfight at 500 yards
between a guy with an M16 and a guy with an AK47,
the guy with the AK would most often be SOL. |
"the M16 is by far the more superior weapon. It's lighter,
more accurate, more versatile, and with proper maintenance it is
very reliable. Indeed, it might be less sand proof then the Galil/AK47
series. However, all you need is to clean it once a day and it will
work properly. Since modern armies clean their smallarms on a daily
even during combat deployment this is a non-issue.
In fact, most of the myth regarding the M16 unreliability date back
to the Vietnam War when the M16 was first issued. The 5.56 ammunition
given then to the troops used a low quality sticky powder that caused
massive buildup of dirt in the M16 mechanism and eventually to jamming
problems. When the ammunition was changed, the misfire problems
disappeared as well."
M-16
Pros & Cons
Pros
- It's
lighter,
- more
accurate,
- more
versatile,
- allow
numerous modifications to be made
such as mounting various uppers
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Cons
- The
5.56 ammunition
- reliable
with proper maintenance
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AK-47
and Variants
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The basic Kalashnikov
rifle, the AK47 and variants, is the other common true assault
rifle. It uses a minimalistic 30 caliber cartridge (7.62x39)
and is meant to be easy to manufacture and maintain. Actually
hitting anything with one much past 100 yards is problematical.
The Vepr is Michael
Kalashnikov's ultimate civilian firearm. Made with Steyr tools,
it amounts to a medium-heavy, chrome-lined and hammer forged
barrel mated to a RPK (squad light machinegun) receiver which,
while stamped, is the strongest stamped receiver ever made.
The Vepr comes in 223, 7.62x39 (AK caliber), and 308, is stone
totally reliable under almost any imaginable circumstances,
and is accurate enough to produce inch or inch and a half
groups at 100 yards.
|
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"All Russian and Eastern Block semiauto military
rifles work pretty much the same way and are similar in their mechanisms,
with just a few exceptions. The most basic criteria for an AK if
I had to have one for some reason would be that it cost no more
than $250, tops. The idea of paying $500 for a Bulgarian AK with
a forged receiver makes no sense to me at all. One other thing which
makes no sense to me at all is wanting to own the very bottom end
of all Russian rifles, i.e. the SKS. The SKS was made to be so simple
to manufacture that anybody with a lathe could make one, and that's
about all there is to recommend it. "
AK-47 Pros & Cons
Pros
- The
AK-47 is a very effective weapon with great power
- It
has a very high rate of fire
- comes
at a very reasonable price.
- select-fire
- simple
to operate, clean, and repair
- reliable
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Cons
- Very
loud noise
- it's
heavy
- not
as accurate as most military rifles
- any
optics require special adapters
- Many
people don't like the AK safety mechanism
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One of the most common debates on the web
is the M16 Vs. AK47 issue
This page will take a while to load, the images are
large.
The AR-15 and the AK-47 are built
in different ways. But which gun is better?
The following pictures will help illustrate
the differences and similarities of these two rifles.
| The M-16
(AR-15) |
- American
Manufacture
- Designed by
Stoner
- 40 round Magazine
- Detachable Scope mount
- w/ bayonet lug
- Millitary issue bayonet
- Collapaslbe stock available
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| The AK-47 |
- Romainian Manufacture
- Designed by the USSR
- 40 round Magazine
- Detachable Scope mount
- w/ bayonet lug
- Millitary issue bayonet
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Side by side with their scopes attached.
Both mounts are solid to the reciver
Both mount & remove easily, with no tools
| The M-16 |
- Scope mount requires the scope
to attach to handle (on this model AR-15)
- Mount
is much higher
than the AR-180
- M-16s
also have a scope mount attached to the reciver in place
of handle
- Sling
typically attaches to rear of the stock
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| The AK-47 |
- Scope mount requires the device on the
side of the AK
- Mount
is much higher
than the AR
- AK-47s
also have a scope mount attached to the dust cover
- The
top of the reciver (dust cover) AK mounts are much more
sloppy
- Sling
typically attaches to rear of the stock
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Pictured are a 10 - 30 - 40 round AR-180 magaznes
(Same as M-16)
and 10 - 30 - 40 round AK-47 magazines
Disassembly of magazines is basically the same
.223 & 7.62x39 ammo is between the magazines
| The
M-16 |
- Smaller
.223 allows more compact magazines
- Fully
loaded magazines are lighter
- Magazines
are less curved
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| The
AK-47 |
- Magazines
are much stronger
- Magazines
are wider and longer
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Russian AKM-74 bayonet & M-7 US Issue Bayonets
| The
M-16 |
- Standard
US bayonet, same as the M-16 uses
- Dagger,
single use blade
- Not
designed to be sharpened
- Solid
on the rifle
- folding
stock is an issue when thrusting with two hands
- Canvas
- Metal - Fiberglass sheath
- Snap
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| The
AK-47 |
- Bakelite
- Metal - Leather
- Clip
point blade
- Saw
/ serated back
- Wire
cutter w/ sheath
- Can
be used as a knife / survival tool
- Detach
sheath from belt easily
- Leather
Slit & Peg catch
- Very
solid connection the the rifle
- Folding
stock is an issue when thrusting with two hands
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Included are the newest AK-74 bayonet
Russian AKM-74 bayonet & M-7 US Issue Bayonets
| The
M-16 |
|
| The
AK-47 |
- The
newer AK-74 bayonet is all plastic
- Retains
the wirecutter w/ sheath
- Dagger
style blade design
- Unique
two layer construction
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Bayonets on rifles close up
Use a two point attachment:rings around the barrel
and a clasp at the end of handle (Shown
on AR-180)
| The
M-16 |
- Metal
is softer
- Lends
it's self to dings & dents which could cause nasty tears
vs clean cuts
- Dagger
style lends it's self to thrusts
|
| The
AK-47 |
- Metal
is very strong, rigid, not brittle
- Blade
up position allows for multiple strike angles
- Saw
blade / serration down allows for strong pulling attacks
- Difficult
to sharpen
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Looking at the barrels at both rifles.
Note lack of flash suppressors / bayonet lug on civilan
versions
| The
M-16 |
- Heavier
barrel
- Bayonet
lug requires one hand to open catch on bayonet for both
on / off
- Sling
under foregrip
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| The
AK-47 |
- Bayonet
goes on without need to open the catch
- Cleaning
rod stored under barrel
- Sling
on left side of foregrip (So rifle lays accross your back
with the bolt out)
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Not
Pictured
| The
M-16 |
- M-16
style flash suppressor / muzzle brake
- Front
sight is on the end of the foregrip
- Bayonet
under front sight / Foregrip end / sling, all in one peice
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| The
AK-47 |
- Removable
flash suppressor / muzzle brake
- Threaded
barrel end
- Cleaning
rod storage under barrel
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