'Iraq shows Kalashnikovs are still the best'

[AndyC]

"Moscow - Mikhail Kalashnikov, designer of the world's most popular assault rifle, says that US soldiers in Iraq are using his invention in preference to their own weapons, proving that his gun is still the best.

"Even after lying in a swamp you can pick up this rifle, aim it and shoot. That's the best job description there is for a gun. Real soldiers know that and understand it," the 86-year-old gunmaker told a weekend news conference in Moscow.

"In Vietnam, American soldiers threw away their M-16 rifles and used (Kalashnikov) AK-47s from dead Vietnamese soldiers, with bullets they captured. That was because the climate is different to America, where M-16s may work properly," he said.

"Look what's happening now: every day on television we see that the Americans in Iraq have my machine guns and assault rifles in their armored vehicles. Even there American rifles don't work properly."

Some US troops in Iraq have reportedly taken to using AK-47s in preference to the standard-issue M-16. The Cold War-era gun, renowned for its durability and easy handling, is plentiful in Iraq.

Kalashnikov designed his first weapon in 1947 and is still chief constructor at Izhmash arms factory in Izhevsk in the Urals mountains.

The factory's director Vladimir Grodetsky told the news conference that around a billion rifles had been produced around the world using parts of Kalashnikovs or based on the same design, only 10 to 12 percent of which were made in Russia."

Source: IOL

I think he's confusing contractors with US troops - I didn't see a single US soldier use an AK except for plinking on the range.

 

[Coronach]

Contractors and Iraqi forces. Oftentimes the only way to visually distinguish the US and Iraqi forces (on TV anyway) is that the Iraqis have the older camo pattern and carry AKs.

Mike

 

[Gun Wielding Maniac]

Many soldiers who are authorized to carry pistols, but for whom there are not enough M9's to equip with pistols, pick up an AK as backup. I know that was the case in my unit on several occasions.

However, I dont know of anyone who discarded the M16 in favour of the AK-47. They wouldnt have been authorized to do that, even if there preferences were in that direction.

Contractors are another story.

 

[bowfin]

"Even after lying in a swamp you can pick up this rifle, aim it and shoot."

Shouldn't "hitting" be considered in there somewhere? I think for a conscripted Soviet Army, the AK might be okay, but there are many U.S. soldiers who would run out of rifle before they ran out of skill on some shots if they were issued a standard military AK-47 with standard ammo.

 

[trbon8r]

Have another swig of Vodka Mikhail.

 

[Don't Tread On Me]

"Hitting" is an American thing. Part of the whole "rifleman" doctrine going all the way back to the revolution.



Mikhail is doing his job - promoting product image. This keeps reputation and awareness alive, and that leads to sales.

The AK is awesome, I love it, but it is far from "the best"...

The U.S. soldiers that used AK's in Iraq were tank crews and armored vehicle crews that were NOT issued an M16 at all. That was early on in the war.

Reliability in mud, snow and sandstorms might be wonderful for a soldier, but it doesn't apply to me - since my potential use of a firearm will not involve an environment or conditions like those. I'm also not a toothless, hairy, dirty, barefoot, illiterate conscript who's never seen a cleaning kit in his life. Like the Soviet Army trained their soldiers to clean their rifle after EVERY use, so do I. Regardless of a firearms reputation.

 

[USSR]

"Look what's happening now: every day on television we see that the Americans in Iraq have my machine guns and assault rifles in their armored vehicles."

Не правда.

Don

 

[Crosshair]

The AK is a good weapon. The problem is that there are Good AKs and there are Crappy AKs. If you have a good AK then you are set. The problem is that a crappy AK will still work and fire and they get mixed in with the good AKs. If you have a crappy AR, it won't work and those get weeded out. My Saiga AK will give any stock AR a run for the money. I get 1-2" MOA and hit the steel plate targets at 300 yards easy using a 6X POSP scope. If you have a scope with a drop compensator reticle (as I do) hits beyond 300 yards are easy enough to make. Not bad for a ~$470 setup.

 

[Shane333]

Remember the context of the comment.

Like Don't Tread ON Me said, Mikhail is now involved in the marketing of his wonderful design. This is marketing talk, and you remember rule #1 about salesmen....

I personally love the AK. It's a fantastic design for what it is.

There were a few instances where US servicemen used the AK in the past, and there are some instances now in Iraq. Kalashnikov is obviously exagerating the usage to hype his product.

Considering the little compensation Mr. Kalashikov has received over the years, except in honors, I don't really blame the guy. Let him have his moment in the spotlight. No harm done.

 

[Foxtrot427]

Ill take the scar over both. Oh say can you see...

maybe...not a swamp but hey, an ocean.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

"In Vietnam, American soldiers threw away their M-16 rifles and used (Kalashnikov) AK-47s from dead Vietnamese soldiers, with bullets they captured. That was because the climate is different to America, where M-16s may work properly," he said.

And he knows that because he was there, right?

 

[Correia]

Give the poor old guy a break. He did manage to design the world's most used rifle. If he wants to talk up his design, good for him.

 

[V4Vendetta]

"In Vietnam, American soldiers threw away their M-16 rifles and used (Kalashnikov) AK-47s from dead Vietnamese soldiers, with bullets they captured. That was because the climate is different to America, where M-16s may work properly," he said."


I played a "VietCong" demo on my computer & the first thing I did after being shot down was to grab a AK & ditch the M16. I did this for several reasons.

1. The M16 held only 18 bullets per clip while the AK held 28.
2. I fired the AK better for some reason.
3. You could pick up the ammo off the dead VC instead of running out of M16 ammo & having to use a knife.

I understand that reality is different but that's what I did in the game. A SAR1 was my very first gun so I'm probably biased anyway. The only time I've ever fired a AR like gun was at the state fair. I was trying to shoot out all of the target to win a stuffed wolf. I lost $40 at that game & never did get that wolf.

 

[SpookyPistolero]

I agree, Correia. If I had designed something so ubiquitous and utilitarian, I'd hardly be able to shut up about it.

 

[Rampant_Colt]

The M16 held only 18 bullets per clip while the AK held 28.

....huh??

i'm not trying to be a d*ck, but the term 'clip' just annoys the crap outta me...there's a distinct difference between 'clips' and magazines, and a bullet is an inert object

back to the subject at hand:

let's not forget that the AK is used by more army's thoughout the world then any other main battle weapon.

 

[V4Vendetta]

The M16 may hold more bullets* now than it did in the game I don't know.


*I know you may want to be more technicly correct but I'm not that kind of guy. Sorry. You know perfectly well what I meant.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

If your rifle only holds 18 bullets, that's all you need -- they'll find all 18 of them still in your magazine lying next to your body.

Now, if you had those bullets loaded into cases, with powder and primers, it would be different.

 

[MagnumCaliber357]

Vern Humphrey, you had me rolling

Its very importaint to use the correct terminology when discussing these thing. Not to offend you or anything, but learn your terms! Like he said 18 bullets are only good for the distance you can lob them !

As far as AK goes, its an excelent design and has stood the test of time for over 60 years now and has been adopted by countless countries, but its not "the best" as far as im concerned or the US government is concerned. If it was "the best" we would be using it insteads of the M16

And no its doesnt hold 18 "cartriges", this is a common misconception. If your reffering to 20 rd mags used in vietnam there called 20 rders for a reason. You dont put "18" in them or "28 in an ak mag to save the spring. The spring will work just as efficently with 20, its designed for 20, some beg to differ. BTW cartridge compacity is only measured by the magazine and NOT the rifle in this case. I can go out tommorow and get a 100 rd beta clip ( )and it would be able to hold 100 rounds. Get it! Well i lied i live in Peoples Republik of New Jersey so im limited. BUT YOU CAN! luck SOB's :banghead: :banghead:

 

[hillbilly]

Why does AK talk always get so many people so riled up?

Why can't folks just see what the AK for what it is?

It is the Big Mac of the rifle world. It ain't prime rib, it ain't foie gras, it's a Big Mac....as in cheap, greasy, and readily available.....over 40 billion served.

For a cheap, greasy rifle that's so utterly reliable, it's a great tool.

However, it will never be a good rifle for getting sure hits on targets much smaller than the proverbial bread box or much farther than about 150 yards.

I used to own a MAK-90. That thing would shoot, off a bench, 9 inch groups at 100 yards.

I've now got an SKS that takes AK mags because the SKS is inherently more accurate than the AK.

I like to hit what I shoot at.

But if I were in a situation where I'd have to shoot at bad guys up close in a dirty, dusty, or swampy environment, I'd go scratch up an AK and bunch of magazines if I could.

Appreciate the AK for what it is. But also realize its limitations.

hillbilly

 

[ghost squire]

I think he's confusing contractors with US troops - I didn't see a single US soldier use an AK except for plinking on the range.

I agree that the Ak-47 doesn't fit in with the rifleman concept that the US military has. With the M-16A2 the hits you make at over 300 yards may not do much but at least you can make them.

However, I will say this, I have seen plenty of photos of US troops with AK-47's, AKM's, and mostly short little variants of both and the AK-74, using them for urban combat and building clearing. You don't need fantastic accuracy there.

 

[Correia]

Yep, those crappy AKs. Can't hit anything.

You guys do realize that modern Russian AKs are 2moa or better guns right? Just because your WASR shoots 9 inch groups, don't assume that there aren't good AKs out there.

 

[Kevlarman]

How many of these 2MOA AKs are out in Iraq?

 

[Correia]

Not too many of course, but the broad generalizations about how you can't hit anyting with an AK get really old.

Probably most of 100,000 or so new ones that we're buying for the Iraqi military will be 3moa or better though.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Isn't the acceptable level of accuracy for an issue m16 or m4 something like 4" at 100m?

Not all m16 rifles are varmint/match ready guns either.

 

[Rampant_Colt]

you don't need MOA type accuracy for combat...
with my SAR-1 Romanian AK, if i can see it i can hit it - period. and thats with crappy Wolf ammo.

I also think the 7.62X39mm cartridge is harder hitting than the 5.56.
The AK-74 has the best muzzle brake and can be fired on full-auto not just three shot burst. With an AK-74, i can write my name in the dirt on full auto