The Eternal Debate: Which Is Better, the M16 or the AK-47?: Rest assured, no matter which you think is better, the M16 and the AK-47 are both weapons that will get the job done on the battlefield. A one-to-one comparison is not the purpose of this particular discussion.
In this article, I will take a look at each weapon, what it was designed for, and how good each is at those tasks.
It is a testament to each weapon that former military members who have had a chance to fire both frequently own a copy of both—although that is usually a sport version of the weapons, and not one of the actual military variants.
We’ll start with the AK-47 and its history.
The AK-47, The Iconic Weapon of Communism and Terrorism
The AK-47, which stands for Avtomat Kalashnikova (Kalashnikov’s Automatic), is a Soviet-designed assault rifle developed by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It became a symbol of the Cold War and is now one of the most recognizable weapons in the world.
The actual design is inspired by German weaponry, not Russian. Mikhail Kalashnikov was a Soviet tank driver during World War II, not an engineer or a designer. However, during the war, he came across the German Sturmgewehr 44 (StG-44), sometimes referred to as the MP-44, and was very impressed by it, as were the Soviets.
During and shortly after the war, Kalashnikov set up in his shop and hammered out a design remarkably similar to the German gun. The 47 in the designation is the year the weapon was made. The Soviets adopted it in 1949.
About 75 million AK-47s have been made worldwide. Several countries produce them, but the quality can vary substantially depending on where they are made.
The AK uses a long-stroke gas piston above the barrel. The upper and lower receivers were combined into a single receiver. The selector and safety were combined into a single control lever/dust cover on the right side of the rifle, and the bolt handle was attached to the bolt carrier. This simplified the design and production of the rifle.
The weapon’s major draw is its simplicity, which leads to robustness in operation, and effective use even by poorly trained combatants in actual combat conditions.
The Soviets and Russians have always considered infantry rifles to be almost throwaway weapons. The Russian Army is a conscripted, mainly peasant army. The simple design and the long-stroke gas piston, which aids in firing the weapon after it gets dirty and muddy, are why it is so popular with revolutionaries and terrorists.
However, it isn’t extremely accurate, also due to the long-stroke piston, and it is about 30 percent heavier than the M16.
The M16 and Variants, The US Rifle For 60 Years
While the AK-47 has been around longer, the M16 also has an extremely long service life. It has a slew of variants, including the AR-15, M16A1, M16A2, M16A3, M16A4, XM16E1, M4, and even the Mk12.
The M16, like the AK-47, is also a gas-operated rifle and features a rotating bolt with direct impingement. The M16 had a higher rate of fire, 700-950 rounds-per-minute (rpm), compared to the 600 rpm of the AK-47, and most shooters, including those who have used the weapons in combat, have tended to agree that the M16 is more accurate.
The M-16 fires the 5.56x45mm NATO cartridge, while the AK-47 was chambered for the 7.62x39mm. Both feature iron sights. The M16 has superior range, with the AK-47’s 300-meter range bested by the 460-meter reach of the M16.
There has also been a long-running debate about the ammunition each weapon uses. Most consider the Russian 7.62x39mm a superior cartridge, with better penetration than the 5.56x45mm NATO cartridge of the M16/M4. It should be noted that the Russians changed their cartridge to 5.45x39mm ammunition, which is remarkably similar to the M16’s NATO ammunition.
While the myth of the M16 constantly jamming has existed since the earliest days of the Vietnam War, it simply isn’t true anymore. Soldiers are trained to do maintenance, and the M16 does require more maintenance than the AK. But unlike the Russian military, the U.S. military is a professional one. Its soldiers are taught much better marksmanship skills and basic maintenance.
So Which One Is Better
The AK is a simpler weapon to build and maintain. That’s why conscript armies and terrorists love them. They are cheaper to build as well. But sometimes you get what you pay for.
Call me biased (I am), but while AKs are fun to shoot, give me an M16/M4 every time. They’re more accurate, lighter, and put down much better firepower than an AK. If you doubt this, try firing an AK on full automatic, and try to hit anything. The M16 has it beat there by a long shot.
About the Author
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing for 19FortyFive, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications
