M16 vs. AK47/ 5.56x45 vs. 7.62x39

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35 Whelen

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I don't know if this has been posted here before, but here's a link to an excellent video showing the M16 vs. AK47 and their respective rounds. The video highlights what I've always believed: the AR is the better (more accurate) rifle, while the 7.62x39 is generally the more effective round. Of great interst to me was the AK's barrel flopping about as if it were made of rubber.:D
Anyhow, have a look: M16 vs. AK47

Comments?

35W
 
some points that i would like to make about the above video.
1) i don't know what kinda ak the shooter is using and/or if he has any shooting abilities at all because i have no problem hitting the 5 zone of the exact same military e-type shilloutes at 200yds, from prone supported, unsupported, and sitting. using wolf ammo.
2) i would like to have seen them use a smaller target to aim in on, as the old saying is true, aim small miss small.though the ar is more accurate and i know that, not becasue i watch videos like this or follow the chit chat on forums about it, but i have done it, i have hands on experience with both weapon systems. and as you can see from the video the ar's groupings werent that good either, they were pretty spread out, if there would have been a smaller aiming point it would have been a better indication for both the ar and the ak. yes my ar is more accuarte than my ak, but still yet a humanoid size target at 200yds is easy to hit with the ak for me.
3) i agree the sights of the ak leave alot to be desired and the ar's are far better IMHO. the circle of the rear appeture draws your eye to the center, they are faster and easier to use in my experiences.
4) as far as which chambering is better is really mission dependant. if you are in an enviornment where you need the rounds to penetrate the enemies cover then the ak is supperior, however if you are in an enviornment where you want to keep penetration to a minimum the 5.56/223 is the better choice.
 
I'll agree the M16 is more accurate, but I'll take an AK any day. That video was kind of shocking (the barrel, like you said), but every AK I've used can hit a soda can at 50 yards even in the hands of a newbie, and that's good enough for me. I'll take the better round and arguably better reliability.
 
Wow...the AK looks like is was made of Rubber.
I aggree he should have been able to put it on paper.

But I think it may boil down to what they said ...the AK was primarily designed to be a machine gun.

The only thing I know is I like shooting and owning them both:):)
 
The video says basically zero about the ergonomics and fightability of the two rifles, which is where the M16/M4 really outshines the AK.

I'd agree that both rifles are easily 200 meter guns with no issues, or should be in the hands of competent shooters.
 
the main accuracy problems with the ak aside form the design flaws that make it so, is the human factors like lack of training and discipline that the men behind them normally have, as far as shooting is concerned.

training wise they just don't know how to shoot.

discipline, you give someone a gun that has the ability to be semi or full auto, that is undisciplined than he is gonna go to the auto setting and spray. that is just the way that it is.
 
The M16/Ar15 platform is an easier rifle to shoot well....when conditions are perfect.
The AK?Never perfect;but as far as my experience bears out; it just plain works.Gimme one that I have shot regular;and I'll put ht erounds center mass@200m.
 
Our guys seem to do alright with battlefield pick ups. My cousin in the 10th told me he slung his M4-m203 over his back and uses a Russian AK shortie when he goes into towns.
 
The guy using the AK is shooting it like you'd shoot a garden hose. He has no real form or trigger control whatsoever. Totally rigged.
But the AK does flop around a lot. If you don't like that, then you should buy a Yugo.
I love when he says:
"You've got three violent acts (with the AK)" when referring to the firing of the round and the reciprocating bolt.
As if the M16 doesn't have the same thing going on!
 
This is biased. Propaganda almost. They didn't even show how much the AR was jiggling around. Never showed the whole end of the barrel.

They got the cheapest worst put together AK they could find. Any well made ak will have a heavier barrel. If you really want a heavy barrel the rpk is a good choice. Is a squad support machine gun, but basically is just a heavy barrel AK.

AR for accuracy. AK for reliability. Any situation though. War like, I would take the AK. For a pretty gun, tacticool, AR.

Might be building an Ar soon, definitely won't be an "assault rifle" 24" bull barrel kind of takes away the Assualt part.
 
This has been posted about dozens of times and it's still pure, unadulterated BS. The AK barrel in the video doesn't flop around. That's the cleaning rod. The barrel itself is just following the motion of the gun. You can even put a straightedge up against your monitor and pause the video to verity this. The barrel does move as the gun recoils, but there is virtually no flex. The thing that's moving around like a snake is the cleaning rod.

This should be just common sense though. Barrels aren't made out of spring steel and if they did routinely flex in the manner this video implies they would quickly develop stress cracks and break. Anyone who has bent a barrel in a vice knows that they don't spring back very much at all.

The AK and the AR both have their pros and cons, but this video won't enlighten anyone as to what they might be.
 
once again, controls, constants, variables...

when you do a test, put them on the same playing field. Use the same skilled shooter, the same position, and what could be construed as the same build quality. Alot of AKs from the poorer com-bloc are PoS, whereas your wealthier countries that made AK variants make much, much, much better ones. Same can be said for bare-bones plinker M16/M4 models.

And if you look closely, both guns give out the perceived 'flex'. It's just the gun moving back and up at the same time that causes this type of illusion, but it happens with both guns. The M16 is less noticeable because of the lighter caliber and the three feet of foregrip on it.

The only thing I like about it is when it shows what an AK bullet does compared to the 5.56, and that is why I'd prefer the AK (that, and because I dont own and shoot an AR enough to have an unbiased opinion :D)
 
This has been posted about dozens of times and it's still pure, unadulterated BS. The AK barrel in the video doesn't flop around. That's the cleaning rod. The barrel itself is just following the motion of the gun.

I own neither rifle (and never will), so I didn't post this with an agenda. I just thought is was an interesting video and in my mind supports what most AK owners state: The rifles aren't all that accurate.
The narrator mis-spoke when he stated that the barrel is "flexing up and down". I think we all know that although barrels vibrate, a barrel cannot visibly flex that much. I'm sure that what IS flexing is the thin stamped receiver.
Watch the video carefully, and rather than look at the end of the barrel, watch the end of the gas tube. It very clearly dips at the same time the barrel does.
With regards to it only hitting the paper once, I took that with a grain of salt. I seriously doubt the sights were regulated before firing. Of the three Yugo SKS's I've owned, none of them would hit the paper at 100 yds. until I regulated the sights.
35W
 
Every gun has a good side to it and a bad side to it. The M-16 rifles are accurate but have a wimpy bullet. The AK-47 rifles are reliable and have a decent bullet but they lack accuracy. YOU are the one that picks the rifle that you like the best and which will meet your shooting needs. Do not be biased against one rifle or another because of somebody's video. Go to a shooting club and ask around to see who shoots what and see if they will let you test fire their rifles. Do your own research to meet your own specific needs. Then after you've test fired some rifles, do some MORE research and expand your options. Right now with new technology coming into play if you're looking for a rifle that has accuracy and a good bullet you might want to look at the 6.8 SPC or the 6.5 Grendel variants of the M-4. Heavier bullets fired from AR-15/M-4 firearms that are more accurate than bullets fired from the AK-47 rifles. So you have the best of both worlds but you have to make your own decision as to what you want to use and to which technology you will use. Personally, if it were up to me, I would seriously consider going with a 6.5 Grendel M-4 if I wanted the ergonomics of an AR type rifle with a heavier bullet and more accuracy. But that's my call. Your call may be different.
 
I have huge respect for both. But I like the idea of my rounds exploding as they hit the target, not just making a hole that is 7.62mm wide.
 
The M-16 rifles are accurate but have a wimpy bullet.

Not sure where you got that from, but it's not true, unless you are fighting an army of bricks and concrete.

As for accuracy and reliability, both rifles are accurate enough and both are reliable. Both are venerable weapons that will be deadly in the right hands.
 
an AK can walk through 30 inches of pine, concrete, modern armor, and many other things. Let's see an M4/M16 do that...

Also, the 6.8SPC and 6.5g sound like great bullets, but I'd rather wait and see how they work out for things other than just match shooting. Yes, I know... I'll never be shooting at zombies. But, it's just nice to find out whether or not something is gonna catch on commercially or not.
 
This is ridiculous.

This is the second thread on this topic in as many days. This thread was on page two, and was on page one as late as early yesterday evening.

Geez...if it pisses you off, only YOU have the power to NOT read the post.

35W
 
Quote:
I own neither rifle (and never will),

why not? they a little to evil for you?

Evil? LOL Of course not. There's no such thing as evil firearms. They're inanimate objects and as such they cannot have personality traits.

I personally have no use for these type rifles. I enjoy shooting bolt action rifles. The closest thing I have are a couple of SKS's that are stock except for their Tech Sights and the stock bedding jobs I did on them. And I haven't fired either of them since I regulated their sights over a year ago. On the other hand I shoot my bolt rifles frequently as I have a range here at the house and I enjoy bullet casting, reloading, shooting and hunting.
If I'm going to pay the price for a rifle that an AR or AK command, it's going to have to be more practical for my use which is primarily hunting.
But please don't let this come across as a condemnation towards those who like these rifles!
35W
 
Shouldn't this be a dead subject by now? Anyone new to rifles just has to do a google search fo find a thousand websites giving the same info.

Tighter Tolerances = More Accuracy
Looser Tolerances = More Reliability

Smaller Round = More Shots
Bigger Round = Less Shots Needed

Should we have another 9mm vs .45acp debate while were at it?
 
MTMilitiaman, calm down. It doesn't matter if it was posted before. I am sure you have brought something up that has been beaten to death.
 
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