Posted on 04/17/2006 5:35:46 AM PDT by jmc1969
Mikhail Kalashnikov, designer of the world's most popular assault rifle, says that U.S. 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 U.S. 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at haaretzdaily.com ...
I think old age is catching up to him.
Those Soviets! They invented the best rifle in the world! And also the airplane! And the electric light. And the telephone. And the ...
It must be the vodka effect. That thing was crudely made boat anchor. Give me an M14 any day.
A friend of mine got back 6 months ago. He told me straight out the the AK-47 was better for urban fighting then the M-16A2 or M-4. The round has better penetration and stopping power. But the accuracy is lacking, but urban is generally up close any way.
I would like to know the ratio of enemy killed by rifle fire versus air attack, artillery, etc.
If your goal is to keep them pinned in a building until the F-16 shows up, I imagine one rifle is as good as any other.
""In Vietnam, American soldiers threw away their M-16 rifles and used [Kalashnikov] AK-47s from dead Vietnamese soldiers, with bullets they captured."
I have a friend who was in vietnam (danang, not sure where else) and I specifically recall him telling me he carried both m-16 and ak, but preferred the ak.
was this common then?
Send me one of each and I'll let you know which is better :)
"you have not experienced Shakespeare until you've read it in The original Klingon."
yes but unfortunately the members of our military do not have the option to tote an M-14. they are saddled with that varmint gun, the M-16.
I would have gladly had an M-14 or my beloved M-1 over that .223 chuck gun.
Aye!
AK-47 ... "It was first introduced back in 1947, based on 'asistance' from captured German engineers (remember the MP44) with some Soviet assistance from 'Mike' Kalashnikov."
Kalashnikov is a bit bigger, in his estimation, than many others think.
Just do a search on M-16 vs AK-47.
Any backup firearm is better than none at all.....
I once heard the AK-47 described as 'the little black dress of assault rifles'.
In other words, classic.
That's not true. The AK does not have better stopping power.
I agree. But keep something in mind. The M16 variants used today are a big improvement over what we carried during the 60's. Still not the best for open terrain, such as in Iraq, but not altogether bad either. We'll just have to wait for the new 6.5mm round.
Tell that to the hog I shot with one last season. Dressed out at 160 lb. A buddy and I were taking down our stands when we saw him, my buddy hit him 3 times with a mini 14 and the hog was still getting up. 1 round from an AK he went down. All rounds were in the flank just behind the shoulder.
uh, the AK47 is vastly superior to the M-16. The M-16 has played catch up over the past 30 years. It might now be an equal to the AK47. The the Kalashnikov set the standard for assault rifle for the past 50 years.
Kalashnikov is not wrong.
"the best"...Laff, best?...No, but the most popular.. no doubt as in AK47.... Was Vodka thier thing?
If you are assulting, and killing a lot of the enemy, taking their gun makes your audio signature on the battlefield that of an enemy.
This is great for hiding the sounds of your own shots among other shooting enemies, but it's terrible for friendly fire.
Ok..
I carried both. I can tell you the ONLY way I would choose an AK over the A1 was after both had been "lying in a swamp."
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