AK-47
vs AR-15 which one is the better assault
rifle
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 M16 can buy several differrent
upper ends, 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.
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.
Check out our head to head shootout with
the .223 and the 7.62x39
"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
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.
"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. "
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.
light
select-fire
simple
to operate, clean, and repair
reliable
Cons
Very
loud noise
is
heavy,
not
accurate
any
optics require special adapters
Many
people don't like the AK safety mechanism
One of the most common debates on
the web
is the AR-15 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.
Side by side with their scopes attached.
Both mounts are solid to the reciver
Both mount & remove easily, with no tools
The AR-15
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
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
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
AR-15
Smaller
.223 allows more compact magazines
Fully
loaded magazines are lighter
Magazines
are less curved
The
AK-47
Magazines
are much stronger
Magazines
are wider and longer
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
but
folding stock is an issue when thrusting with two
hands
Canvas
- Metal - Fiberglass sheath
Snap
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
Included are the newest AK-74 bayonet
Russian AKM-74 bayonet & M-7 US Issue Bayonets
The
M-16
See
above
The
AK-47
The
newer AK-74 bayonet is all plastic
Retains
the wirecutter w/ sheath
Dagger
style blade design
Unique
two layer construction
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
Looking at the barrels at both rifles.
Note lack of flash suppressors / bayonet lug
The
M-16
Heavier
barrel
Bayonet
lug requires one hand to open catch on bayonet for
both on / off
Sling
under foregrip
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)
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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