US to Send Kalashnikovs to Iraq

M-16s must cost the government close to $1000 a piece....

Right around $500 actually.

AK's are THE gun of choice in difficult 3rd world situations. Maybe not pinpoint accuracy but R E L I A B L E.

Accuracy has never been the problem -- that is something of a strawman. The problem with AK actions is that they have TERRIBLE handling characteristics in rapid fire situations. The primary strength of the M16 system, particularly in later variants, is that it has really excellent handling in rapid fire scenarios that give you a significant advantage if you are a competent operator. Forget accuracy, I need to be able to hit the other guys faster than they can hit me, and the M16 platform really delivers in that regard and is one of the very best .223 military rifles around for rapid multi-target engagement due to the various unusual design choices it makes.

When both the good guys and bad guys have guns, the only thing that matters is the average Time-To-Hit per target. Nothing else really matters. The reliability of the M16 is on par with most other military rifles and WELL within the range of acceptable. Rule of thumb in the field was that the rifle was always good for at least 1500 rounds before filth starts potentially affecting reliability i.e. several full ammo loadouts. I've seen AKs jam, and I've seen ARs jam, but never in the hands of a competent operator for either.

The Marines resisted the most in the introduction of the M-16 which is inferior in distance and accuracy.

Distance, arguable. Accuracy? You've got to be kidding. The AR platform is easily the most intrinsically accurate semi-auto platform in military history. Tests of M16s randomly pulled off the rack during Vietnam using general issue ammo showed an average precision of 1.1 MOA, and all M16s are generally sub-MOA with reasonable ammo selection.

The average rack M14 was good for a military rifle, but never THAT good. You have to work on a Garand or M14 to guarantee the kind of accuracy that is normal for an M16. Not that I'm sure it really matters, as the US military has always produced rifles that were plenty accurate for the job.

" The disadvantage of the M-14 was that it was virtually uncontrollable when in full automatic mode..........A soldier who used it on automatic fire was likely to get a nosebleed.

Pure bull..
The author must have been a 110# pansy.
The ONLY problems with the M14, were weight of weapon/ammo and length when in close quarters.

Semper Fi

All well and good, I'm only familiar with the retail market. If M-16s cost $500, I'm sure AK's in quantity can cost $200 or less. For guys in the developing world used to the AK (like the Iraqis) its still probably a better gun for them, even given the superiorities of the M-16. There are probably huge stocks of 7.62X39 ammo available in Iraq too...which shouldn't be wasted.

Besides, if we have to fight them again in a few years, we may as arm them with an inferior weapon!

Here we go:

(A Russian made VEPR--current AK varient...)

Or if you want to buy American, how about:

"Our latest project, the RAV02 MC (Pronounced "RAVE") was very successful. It can be chambered for 5.56 NATO; 7.62x39mm; and 5.45x39mm. It was developed and tested to current military specifications. Soldiers who have shot it prefer it hands down over the M4 Carbine. Even using the 7.62x39mm round, it is as accurate as an M4 Carbine. it can digest steel or brass cased ammunition fed through AK47 magazines and drums. The Rifle Features the S.I.R. (Swan Integrated Rail System) which give the rifle Accessory Rails (Picatinny Rails) at the 3, 6, 9, and 12 O'clock positions. The reliability also surpasses the M4 Carbine."

Sounds lovely, eh?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/962730/posts?page=28#28

"Cpl. Wayde Broberg, whose SAW machine gun had jammed in the firefight at al Gharraf, fought with an M-16 rifle. ... The company's only big gun, the [MK19] grenade launcher, could have punched sizable holes in buildings where snipers were firing down on the platoons. But it jammed back at the soccer field ..." More at:http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Aug/08032003/utah/80817.asp

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