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Which is better AK 74 or M16. American M16 rifle versus Kalashnikov assault rifle: which is better. M16 automatic rifle

The M16 automatic rifle is, along with the Kalashnikov assault rifle, the most widely used small arms in service with various armies around the world. Over the course of half a century, it has gone through a lot of modifications, although initially it was predicted to have a short life.

Hollywood, Santa Monica Boulevard, #6567

The American M16 automatic rifle has one of the most scandalous and controversial stories in the history of US small arms. It began long before 1962, when the rifle officially appeared in the US Army. Back in 1958, Armalite, a California engineering company based at 6567 Santa Monica Boulevard in Hollywood, provided a magazine-fed, air-cooled 5.56mm AR-15 carbine. Its developer was the legendary gunsmith Eugene Stoner.

However, due to financial problems, Armalite was forced to sell the AR-15 to the Colt manufacturing plant. Soon, the Colt AR-15 small-caliber semi-automatic rifle appeared in gun stores. However, this name has survived to this day, although only for semi-automatic devices intended exclusively for civilian use.

The rifle was predicted to have a short life

A modification of the Colt AR-15 with single and automatic firing modes received the code M16. In the first years, a behind-the-scenes war was waged around it by powerful competitors, and experts predicted the Stoner rifle would have a short military life, a few years at most. It was hastily adopted as a temporary measure, but it has lasted for more than 50 years.

Its predecessor, the M14, despite good test performance, did not meet the requirements of the time in real combat conditions. The 7.62x51 mm cartridge was heavy and reduced personal ammunition to an unacceptably small amount. It was possible to fire accurately in bursts from the M14 only from a bipod or from a rest. At a distance of 100 meters, the third bullet in the queue went 5-10 meters above the aiming point. And this led to a catastrophic overexpenditure of ammunition.

Shooting tactics

The choice of the M16 rifle was predetermined by research from the Research Office Operations Institute conducted shortly after the Korean War. Among the presentations on this topic, one report turned out to be the most significant. It emphasized that most injuries in the Korean War were sustained by American soldiers in combat at relatively short distances (within 300 meters) and largely at random. Experts suggested increasing aimed shooting distances in order to guarantee hitting the enemy at distances of 500-600 meters. At the same time, it was said that only a bullet of a smaller caliber with a higher initial velocity could increase the probability of a hit compared to the bullet of the 7.62x51 mm cartridge used in the M 14.

Project SALVO

As a result of the discussion of this report, the SALVO project (1952-1957) was initiated, the task of which was to develop and approve a new concept for US military small arms. As part of this document, ballistics scientist Earle Harvey proposed the theoretical basis of the new bullet and calculated the parameters of the future rifle.

As a result, SIERRA BULLETS, based on the 0.222 Remington hunting cartridge, released a combat cartridge of a reduced caliber 0.223 Remington (5.56x45) with a bullet weighing 5.5 grams. This ammunition was designated M193 by the US Department of Defense. The conclusions and assumptions of the experts of the SALVO project turned out to be correct. Reducing the caliber immediately led to an increase in the muzzle velocity to 990 m/s.
In turn, this made it possible to simplify the sighting devices. As a result, minor errors in determining the distance to the target turned out to be unimportant. It was for this cartridge that the AR-15 small-caliber semi-automatic rifle was developed, but it was not Armalite that received the laurels and profits, but the managers of the Colt manufacturing plant, who bought Eugene Stoner’s design in time.

First experience

In November 1965, US special forces entered into a brutal and protracted battle with units of the 1st Division of North Vietnam. The commander of the American detachment, Harold G. Moore, said the following about the new rifle: “today the M16 brought us victory.” At the same time, he noted that high efficiency of automatic shooting was achieved at a distance of up to 200 meters, and at a distance of over 300 meters it was not always possible to penetrate the enemy’s steel helmet. “An M14 and 100 rounds weighs the same as an M16 and 250 rounds,” stated Harold G. Moore. “This means every combat Soldier and Marine can hold fire for significantly longer.”
The disadvantages of the M16 were immediately attributed to the difficulty of maintenance.

But the main problems appeared during the sudden stop of shooting at the most inopportune moments. This led to numerous casualties. “Out of 72 soldiers, only 16 remained alive,” one American Marine reported in the magazine “Defense: Under Fire,” “next to each killed lay an inoperative M16 rifle.” It wasn't until 1967 that a redesign succeeded in significantly reducing the failure rate. After this, the new weapon proved itself quite well. So, in 1968, when asked by the US Department of Defense what kind of weapon the Marines would like to have, the majority chose the M16.

M16 vs AK-47

The debate still continues about which weapon is better: M16 or AK. American educational films, as a rule, draw conclusions that are not in favor of Kalashnikov. Meanwhile, a number of experts note that the demonstrated purity of comparative experiments does not stand up to criticism, primarily because old, battered AK assault rifles are involved in the tests. And the US Army soldiers themselves complain that the M16 is too long and inconvenient in the hustle and bustle of urban combat.

In terms of reliability, the M16 is significantly inferior to its Russian competitor. But the accuracy of fire from it is almost two times better than that of the Kalashnikov. However, this also has its pros and cons: the AK open sector sight gives advantages in the smoky and dusty atmosphere of a street battle, while the M16 diopter sight is convenient at considerable distances. Currently, the M16A4, with a 4x Acog optical sight and an AN/PVS-14 night vision sight, is extremely popular among US Army soldiers. This rifle is capable of hitting an enemy at a distance of up to 1300 meters.

The Kalashnikov assault rifle, according to most experts, is more convenient, simple and reliable to use than the M16. But the American assault rifle has a number of advantages over the AK, which are often overlooked.

The history of the confrontation between Kalash and M series rifles stretches back to the early sixties. The two legends of small arms have repeatedly clashed on the battlefield and have been tested by experts, but there is no clear answer to the question “which is better?” it was never given. The thing is that the AK-47 and M16 have fundamentally different functions. The AK is designed for fighters who do not have much experience in handling firearms; the M16 was originally intended for professionals.

When comparing two types of small arms, preference was most often given to the Soviet machine gun. The advantages of AK are recognized not only by domestic, but also by foreign experts. A blogger and weapons expert from the United States with the nickname cokeman conducted a detailed analysis of two samples on his YouTube channel, in which he revealed a lot of advantages of the AK. In his opinion, even a person unfamiliar with weapons will be able to master the Kalashnikov very quickly, but this will not work with the M16, since the rifle requires a large number of settings and adjustments.

Soviet gunsmiths first became acquainted with the M16 at the end of 1967, when captured examples began to arrive in the USSR. Experts immediately identified a number of shortcomings of the M16, the main one of which was the low operational durability of the weapon: it could fail its owner at the most crucial moment. Domestic experts also came to the conclusion that the M16, unlike the AK-47, is not very suitable for hand-to-hand combat. Nevertheless, the USSR also appreciated the advantages of American weapons: the effectiveness of their firepower, high destructive power and good ergonomics.

The M16 assault rifle, developed by Eugene Stoner, had a lot of shortcomings and had one important advantage compared to the Kalashnikov - the length of the barrel. In the M16A4 model it reached 510 mm, which provided the rifle with increased accuracy at long distances and allowed it to fire in long bursts. Stoner, already familiar with the AK-47, consciously decided to create a smaller caliber weapon (5.56mm for the M16 versus 7.62mm for the AK) to improve shooting accuracy. It is noteworthy that the updated Kalashnikov of the 1974 model followed the path of the American rifle and received a reduced caliber of 5.45 mm.

The lighter M16 bullet also has a higher muzzle velocity than the massive AK projectile (900 m/s versus 715 m/s). According to experts, the resulting unsatisfactory ballistics leads to the fact that the AK bullet wastes a significant part of the kinetic energy at a distance, so it makes no sense to shoot from a Kalashnikov at long distances (over 600 m). It is important that the M16 has a diopter sight, and the AK has an open sight. This contributes to the accuracy of shooting from an American rifle over long distances, but it will be easier to shoot at moving targets from a Kalashnikov.

Due to the smaller caliber, the M16 has better performance in terms of accuracy of fire. According to gunsmiths, even in comparison with the AK-74, the American rifle is about 25% more effective in this regard. In addition, the ergonomics of the domestic machine gun, in particular, the downward displacement of the butt relative to the firing axis, hinders the accuracy of fire on the AK. In other words, this arrangement of the butt allows the shooter to aim better, but subsequent bullets will be much more difficult to send to the same target due to the rising barrel. Well-known firearms expert Maxim Popenker not only finds a large number of advantages in the M16, but debunks myths about those qualities that are usually attributed to the AK as advantages over the American model.

The first thing Popenker questions is the greater reliability of the AK compared to the M16. According to him, the roots of this belief are in the first batches of American automatic rifles, which used cartridges that were not originally intended for the M16 design. The second reason the M16 jammed was due to improper care of the weapon. Once these problems were resolved, the reliability of the M16 increased dramatically and today is practically equal to the domestic AK.

The next erroneous statement, according to Popenker, is the inconvenience of servicing and maintaining the M16. The expert writes that with incomplete disassembly, the M16 is no more complicated than the Kalashnikov, and in some ways even more practical, since it can be disassembled into fewer parts.

Popenker is also confused by the persistent opinion that the M16 is unsuitable for hand-to-hand combat. The specialist explains that all versions of the American assault rifle are equipped with a bayonet-knife mounted under the barrel, and given that on average the M16 is noticeably lighter than an AK, it will be more convenient in hand-to-hand combat.

The weight of the M series rifles is often cited as their main advantage over the AK. Even the new model, the M4 carbine, weighs 600 g less than the modernized Kalashnikov of 2012. This allows NATO soldiers to carry more interchangeable horns, which affects the duration of the battle. The M4 is also shorter than the AK-12. Soldiers who have tried both types of weapons note that in the limited space of dense urban areas, the American carbine is more convenient than the Russian machine gun. Experience also shows that M4 magazines are not as prone to damage as AK-12 magazines.

Experts in the field of small arms point out a number of other qualities in which the AK is inferior to the M series rifles. For example, when removing your finger from the trigger of a Kalashnikov, it is extremely difficult to prevent the release of several “extra” cartridges. And if you switch the machine gun to single-shot mode, it will lose its fundamental advantages.

A shooting instructor, US Air Force officer Dan Shany, recalls that when he first picked up an AK-47, it seemed to him like something from a “primitive savage” weapon - it was so simple in design. But when a 7.62mm Kalashnikov bullet pierced the brickwork, he changed his mind about the machine gun. Sheni nevertheless lists the main disadvantages of the AK in comparison with the M16, which he was able to discover: difficulties in attaching the magazine, lack of a bolt stop, not very convenient sight, short butt. However, one can adapt to anything, the American concluded.

Once upon a time, the weapons of a potential enemy were not available to the vast majority of our compatriots even in the form of high-quality images. Now it is quite possible to purchase “civilian” versions of assault rifles from countries in Europe and the United States, although this is associated with various kinds of difficulties, ranging from the high cost of weapons to purely bureaucratic obstacles during import. And after all, there is little of this shooting exoticism in Russia. But, as usual, there are more than enough of all kinds of fables and myths.

Therefore, it was impossible to ignore the opportunity to compare in practice the legendary “Black Rifle” with our AK-74. And at the same time, optionally, with the lesser-known, but no less interesting German G-3.


There is no point in describing the design of all three shooting participants - it is known to almost all readers and is available in numerous sources. It was much more interesting to compare weapons according to the main operational criteria - ease of use and efficiency in shooting, and at the same time to analyze the reviews of professionals: army special forces officers and GRU special forces. An important point was the opportunity to “torture” in practice the features of caring for the weapon described in the article.

Request to readers: do not consider the conclusions in this article to be the ultimate truth. We all have our own understanding of the design and operational priorities that determine the subjective assessment of any weapon, so let this article remain only a personal opinion.

AK-74, M-16 and G-3

On “our” side, a modified AK-74M, chambered for the standard 5.45x39 mm cartridge, took part in the test. It was the cartridge, as a direct competitor to the 5.56 mm NATO one, that determined the choice of this particular AK model for testing.

“Civilian” version of the M-16A3 (we had in our hands the “omnivorous” XR-15, which is superior in barrel quality to the original “Kolt” M-16, designed for firing both “civilian” cartridges. 223 Rem and military 5.56 NATO) does not have the ability to fire in bursts, but this was not critical (given some experience with automatic shooting from the army M-4).

All three copies were modified to one degree or another. The AK-74M was equipped with: an Israeli stock “a la M-4”, a forend with a folding front handle, an ergonomic fire control handle and an American-made “EOTech” holographic sight. Previously, only the domestic “Cobra” collimator was installed on the machine, but now there are many opportunities for “tuning” AK-shaped ones, so we attached everything possible to our copy. However, as the shooting showed, it was not entirely in vain.

The XR-15, also produced by the American-British company SDI, had only a more comfortable fire control handle and a LEAPERS SCP-420M-B optical sight, which was developed specifically for weapons of caliber .223Rem (5.56 NATO). The sight is equipped with a bracket for a Weaver rail and can be easily mounted on any weapon equipped with this rail.

In addition, the sight is equipped with a quick-release Quick Lock Handle mount (on the rail) for installation on self-loading rifles such as M16 (AR-15) and analogues.

The XR-41 was also equipped with a standard optical sight, mounted on the weapon using the original bracket.




On the firing line

XR-15 (M-16)

Many of those who pick up the M-16 or its analogues for the first time note that the “black rifle,” contrary to all expectations, is not so light and comfortable. It’s certainly not lighter than the AK-74M. Regarding convenience, everything is also relative: the most important positive point (especially for tall people) is usually the long forend of the rifle, convenient for any grip and any palm. Everything is done very high quality and carefully (although the seams from casting on some parts are very visible). The rifle is good, beautiful and aggressive, you can’t take that away from it.


Our XR-15 had an improved fire control stick, but it didn't feel particularly comfortable. The connection of the standard 20-seater magazine did not cause any difficulties, but it had to be pushed into the shaft with the palm of your hand, otherwise it would simply fall out. The 30-round magazine had to be put aside altogether - it refused to be fixed in the rifle. Then I had to saw it with a file, but, oddly enough, this didn’t help either. But here the fault most likely lies with the store manufacturer.

Gate. Probably, almost every Russian teenager will be able to twist the bolt frame of the M-16 - now everyone plays American computer “shooters”, and there the loading algorithm for any known “shooter” is displayed very well. But the game is a game, and pulling the frame with a two-finger grip from behind and strictly along the axis of the barrel is not as convenient, unlike a weapon with a reloading handle, usually located on the right side - no one has yet canceled biomechanics.






I didn’t like the descent of the XR-15 – it was hard and not as clear as I would like. Of course, the trigger on a military weapon cannot be “sporty”, but in order to at least partially realize the potential of the “rifle-cartridge” complex, in this case at least minimal skill is required.

After shooting several magazines, we get a lack of firing (the forced shutter locking button justified its presence), and then a sticking. All this can be attributed to domestically produced cartridges (during the famous war of 08.08.08, M-4 failures were also attributed to the “wrong” manufacturer and either Turkish or Greek cartridges). A similar situation was observed on M-1, which we talked about a year ago. But somehow it has long been ingrained in the subconscious that a weapon should fire any more or less high-quality cartridges, of which Russian .223 Rem ammunition is completely included.

When you first pick up a weapon about which you have read so many enthusiastic and negative reviews, you expect something special. Interestingly, the author knows of only one positive opinion about the M-16, privately expressed by one domestic designer. Moreover, the positive concerns only the operational properties of the rifle, when firing in bursts, and in shooting range conditions. Of the military acquaintances who are well acquainted with the M-16 and its clones, for some reason no one has the desire to take it “to war.” Of course, the habit of using AKs plays a role here, and the psychological aspect is also not in last place. But... these people cannot be called pragmatic enough, so it’s not that simple.

The disadvantages of the M-16 are known to everyone and there is no point in repeating this for the hundredth time. There are also plenty of advantages, but there is no 100% confidence in this weapon. And this factor is one of the most important.

XR-41 (Heckler-Koch G-3)

This rifle, with its “oakiness,” is reminiscent of German weapons from the period of the end of World War II: just as heavy, clumsy, with the widespread use of non-standard technical solutions. Our sample differed from the combat G-3 only in the trigger and minor changes in the bolt frame. There are currently two model ranges of these weapons in Germany: the Saber Defense XR-15 from Waffen Schumacher and the OA-15 ​​family from Oberland Arms from Upper Bavaria. Schumacher imports its XR-15 from England, from Saber Defense.




The magazine lock is akin to Kalashnikov's. The reloading handle is foldable, motionless when firing, located on the left and moved forward. One can argue a lot about the advantages of this technical solution, but such a scheme is justified only when shooting from any position, but not lying down or in cramped conditions. And all the now fashionable “gadgets” in shooting techniques that came from practical shooting, to put it mildly, are not always adequate for combat use. Sport is a sport, it should not be confused with war or even hunting. So we will consider the “left-handed” weapon reloading scheme only a feature of the G-3, nothing more.




The G-3 diopter sight requires a specific attachment, and the ease of its use, especially for close and moving targets, is also a very controversial point. But the standard optical Hensoldt FERO-Z-24 turned out to be quite good. We must admit that the accuracy of our sample was excellent, and there were no problems with operational reliability (given the shooting conditions, this was not surprising, although the XR-15 “pleased” us here too). Cartridge.308 Win. has noticeable recoil, which is partly mitigated by the 4.5 kg weight of the rifle.






The descent is disgusting. Here we can draw a direct parallel with the myths about the “bad” trigger of our three-ruler and the “good” trigger of the Mauser rifle mod. 1898. In practice, the Mauser trigger usually works at least no better than the release of our three-ruble gun. So here too - the “oaky” and unpredictable descent of the G-3 forced us to focus more on fighting it than on aiming. But here “the West will help us” - “sports” triggers have already been ordered for both “foreigners”, which, if it does not improve shooting performance, will at least save the shooters’ nerve cells in the future.

Just in case, I’ll mention the “Revelli grooves” in the XR-41 chamber, for which our SVT-40 is so vehemently criticized, considering their presence as a sign of design imperfection. Apparently, the presence of Revelli grooves in German weapons is not so critical...






AK-74M

The AK is familiar to many readers thoroughly, so I’ll immediately give a few facts and figures: from a machine gun with an installed holographic sight, from a “standing” position (using a belt), standard army chest and height targets were confidently hit at distances up to 600 m inclusive. To hit small targets it was enough to take a more stable position. With open sights, of course, more effort and ammunition were required to hit distant targets, but this was true for all rifles tested.

Optionally, the AK-74M was fired in automatic mode, as well as with rapid fire, transferring fire along the front and in depth. As expected, when shooting at single targets at distances greater than 100 m, burst fire loses its meaning, but you also shouldn’t expect miracles from the M-16 and its clones when conducting automatic fire.

Thanks to its traditional layout, the AK-74M is easy to control and reload. Compact, well weighted, with good ergonomics (this also applies to the standard configuration) and absolutely normal weight. Nothing superfluous, no small buttons or knobs, everything is logical and intuitive. Minimal recoil and minimal barrel bounce. At distances up to 500-600 m, it is not inferior to the M-16 in practical accuracy. What else is needed?


Summary

It was difficult to draw conclusions here. If only because it was clear that they would not be objective, although they were a kind of generalization of many opinions about the tested weapons. But there was also no reason to repeat the hackneyed “perestroika” cliches about the “American miracle rifle”.

Everything is clear about the AK-74M - simple, reliable, familiar and accurate. No less accurate than an American rifle. Once again there is no point in talking about ease of maintenance. The AK-74 is much more convenient and lighter than the G-3, although the latter has some advantages, but this is only due to the .308 Win cartridge. It is the German rifle, equipped with optics, that can be seriously considered as a kind of analogue of our SVD: in this incarnation, the G-3 is, first of all, interesting due to its compactness and cartridge. Firing in bursts from the G-3 can only be interesting from an educational perspective.


It is unlikely that anyone will deny that victory is often achieved not by the design of the weapon, but by the level of training of the fighter and his competent control on the battlefield (it is also obvious that the level of training of the shooter is one of the most important in hunting).

At distances further than 100 m, usually few people shoot in bursts even from the M-16, so it is worth objectively evaluating the tested rifles based on the results of firing with single fire. And here, even when shooting in “greenhouse” conditions, some of the advantages of the M-16 design are reduced, if not to zero, then greatly minimized.


In practice, the “obsolescence” of the AK scheme acquires advantages that cannot be overestimated. Here, the words of one of my acquaintances are very appropriate, who briefly and succinctly described the emotions of a fighter who, located in an open area, is being “pounded by an inaccurate Kalash.” Let me mention once again that those of our specialists who have the opportunity to choose weapons when going to “combat” stubbornly prefer AKs.

Of the three rifles we talked about today, the M-16 inspires the least confidence among those who constantly use weapons to carry out their tasks: reliability in weapons and in people has been and remains the most important criterion.

Yuri Maksimov
Master gun 03 - 2012

  • Articles» Assault rifles / Assault rifles
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The Kalashnikov assault rifle (AK74) was developed as a reliable weapon for a not very trained soldier, while the combat mission of the weapon was primarily reliability on the battlefield and long-term operation without additional maintenance in special workshops.

Accuracy of combat was not initially the strong point of the AK. Already during the military tests of its prototypes, it was noted that with the highest of the systems presented at the competition, the Kalashnikov design did not provide the required accuracy conditions (like all the presented designs to one degree or another). Thus, by this parameter, even by the standards of the mid-1940s, the AK was clearly not an outstanding model. However, reliability (in general, here reliability is a set of operational characteristics: reliability, firing until failures occur, guaranteed life, actual life, life of individual parts and assemblies, storability, mechanical strength, etc., for which the machine gun, by the way, is the best and now) was recognized as paramount at that time, and it was decided to postpone the adjustment of accuracy to the required parameters for the future.

The range of a direct shot at the chest figure is 350 m.

The AK allows you to hit the following targets with one bullet (for the best shooters, prone, with single fire):

head figure - 100 m;

waist figure and running figure - 300 m;

To hit a “running figure” type target at a distance of 800 m under the same conditions, 4 rounds are required when firing with single fire, and 9 rounds when firing in short bursts.

It must be said that the M16 and M4 are not machine guns, they are assault rifles that can fire in bursts.

The M16 and M4 were not originally intended for intense shooting. It is generally not recommended to release more than four to five magazines at a time.

It is based on the principle of high-precision weapons with a small amount of firing before cleaning. The effective range is 450 meters for the M16A1 and 800 meters for the M16A2. The M4 has an effective firing range of 500 meters against single targets and 600 meters against group targets.

The M4 is essentially an M16A2 with a shortened barrel and a shortened telescopic stock.

Powder gases are vented directly into the receiver, so the M4 and M16 are very demanding on the quality of the cartridges and only fire cartridges from certain manufacturers.

After each shooting, the mechanism must be cleaned, and complete disassembly is only possible in a specially equipped workshop.

The use of the M16 and M4 characterizes the general concept of the use of weapons in the American army.

If an American soldier needed to shoot a lot from a rifle, this means the entire military operation was planned incorrectly. To solve different problems there are different weapons and there are many of them, from pistols to strategic bombers and aircraft carriers. With normal planning and organization of a battle, one fighter should not spend more than a couple of magazines at all; if prolonged fire contact occurs, he must immediately retreat or call for reinforcements with another weapon. Using this concept, the M16 truly makes the ideal weapon for the American infantry fighter.

The command knows perfectly well what weapons their soldiers have and how to plan operations using them. And this command, in theory, should not even have the thought of sending soldiers into a meat grinder, where they may not have enough standard ammunition and where they may encounter problems with their weapons.

American soldiers are also well aware of the shortcomings of their weapons and, therefore, when faced with a situation that could lead to intense firefight, they do not act as heroes, but call for reinforcements, tanks and aircraft.

This approach always minimizes the loss of manpower, which qualitatively affects the morale of the army.

Thus, for a regular army fighting on foreign territory with good logistics and air support, weapons developed according to the concept of American assault rifles are better suited.

When conducting defensive combat or partisan actions, preference should be given to the more “hardy” Kalashnikov assault rifle.

Watch the video comparing AK74 and M16.

Fans of small arms have compiled a unique rating of AK and M16.

Power. An AK bullet will penetrate 30 centimeters into an oak trunk. The M16 can score 300 points with 30 shots at a paper target.

Service. The AK will work even if it was cleaned with a shoe brush last year. M16 requires manufacturer recommended synthetic oil with Teflon at $9/oz.

Repair. To repair an AK you will need a hammer and pliers. Repairs to the M16 can only be performed at a certified weapons workshop.

Shop. An inexpensive 30-round magazine for an AK is easy to buy. The M16 manufacturer does not recommend using cheap magazines - they can lead to jamming of cartridges.

Bayonet. By attaching a bayonet to an AK, you will scare your enemies. The bayonet on the M16 will make your enemies laugh.

The main trend in the global market for automatic small arms is determined by the competition between the AK and the American M16 assault rifle. Both assault rifles are in service with dozens of armies around the world. We will look at their advantages and weaknesses.

Developers strive to modernize products and add new properties. The goals are to equip the armies of their countries with reliable, reliable weapons, and to strengthen their position in global markets. There are enough opportunities to prove the superiority of products during use in combat conditions. Sometimes the AK47 is used to compare assault rifles. This is due to its use in conflict zones in the Middle East, Africa and Latin America. However, objectivity and correctness of assessments can be maintained by comparing the latest modifications of the AK74 and M16. The AK74 is viewed as a new weapon that has only external similarities with its predecessor. Not only the caliber has changed, but also the general principle of operation.

Main technical characteristics of the machines

The AK74 and M16 use comparable caliber cartridges, 5.45 mm and 5.56 mm, respectively. Changing the caliber from 7.62 mm allowed the AK74 to increase the muzzle velocity by 25%. At the muzzle of the barrel it is 900 m/s, which is comparable to the M16 (960 m/s). But due to the design features of the cartridge, the effective firing range reached 1000 meters, which is 20% more than that of the M16 modification A2.

The M16 has a high destructive power of the projectile due to its destruction in the enemy’s body. The AK74 bullet is also destroyed, but the damaging effect is less.

The M16 has a high rate of fire. In the modernized versions A1 and A2 it reaches 850 and 800 V/m, respectively. For AK it does not exceed 600 v/m. The M16 is unique in terms of accuracy and accuracy of fire. For a short burst from a distance of 100 yards, the spread does not exceed 2-3.5 inches. This is the best indicator for this segment of automatic shotguns. The AK47 has an accuracy of 6-7 inches. AK74 leveled the disadvantage by reducing the spread by 2 times (3-3.5 inches). At 400 yards using a scope the result is 4 inches. Standard 7.5 inch (20 cm) target, fully covered. The effect is achieved due to the muzzle device, which performs a triple function: flash suppressor, brake and compensator. Barrel displacement and recoil during shooting are minimized.

Key innovations in the AK74 and M16 that strengthened their competitive abilities

The problem with the AK47 was its heavy weight caused by the use of metal. The loaded weight of the AK47 is 5.1 kg, the latest modifications of the M16 are 3.6 - 3.8 kg. AK74 has 4.0 kg. The modernized version of the AK74M uses high-tech polymer composites. The folding stock is made of plastic, the fore-end and the guard are made of fiberglass-reinforced polyamide. Metal products are treated with anti-corrosion coatings. The threaded forend helps to securely hold the weapon. Innovations have reduced the weight of the rifle unit to 3.9 kg. Shooting from it became convenient and comfortable. Reduced risk of burns.

As for the M16, claims about the unreliability of the rifle are not substantiated. In Iraq, it demonstrated high operational strength. It uses innovative materials and unique metal alloys. The unit is not difficult to disassemble, as some analysts believe. The machine's shortcomings are conceptual, not structural. Easy removal of the magazine was intended by the designers. The point that it would be removed from an accidental touch was not taken into account. In the AK74, the magazine is inserted and removed using force. But he is held firmly in the weapon. The M16 has a faster and easier barrel change, and it is possible to install a Picatinny rail. The stock is made in a straight design. On the AK74 it is slightly tilted downwards. This allows you to not stick your head out too much when shooting from cover. But the M16 has higher aiming accuracy and the shooter’s head does not experience negative loads.

Overall, the M16 is reliable, durable, and highly efficient. The main difficulty of the machine is that all the parts are very precisely and tightly fitted. Therefore, the ingress of dirt, sand and other foreign objects can jam the weapon. This implies the need to clean the rifle multiple times. Disassembly of the M16 should be carried out indoors in the absence of dust. Only special materials from a specific company are used for lubrication. In war conditions, it is not always possible to comply with all requirements.

Wars in the Middle East have shown that the AK is preferable to the M16 in the modern period. Its advantage is provided by 3 components:

  • Ease of handling weapons. An unintentional fall of a machine gun to the ground or a hit against an armored vehicle does not affect the operation of the weapon.
  • Possibility of continuous shooting. Practice has shown that even when hot, an AK is able to continue firing.
  • The AK is quickly brought into combat condition. The machine does not need to be put on safety. The design is designed in such a way that an involuntary shot is practically excluded, even from a strong blow. In street fighting, such weapon capabilities play a key role.

Other characteristics of the machines are identical. The minor differences are academic. They are detected in laboratories and shooting ranges. But they are not decisive. American gunsmiths are aware that their position in world markets is weakening. They protect their interests by creating new types of weapons. For this purpose, it is planned to switch to new caliber cartridges (6.8 mm).