The AK was best described by Col Hackworth in “About Face”. In comparison with what was then dubbed the “Matty Matell” and is now calkled the AR-15, the AK-47 is far more reliable, works when the trigger is pulled pretty much regardless of cleaning, mud, sand, ice, whatever.
The AK-47 ansl originally came chambered in the 7.62X39, not the .223 the AR-15 fired. The 7.62X39 gave the ability to penitrate cover far better than the .223 which was originally a varmint gun caliber(think woodchuck), or as Hackworth put it “if only America’s enemies were all about three feet tall.”
With the return of the skilled rifleman/sniper to teh military planning room, it is interesting to note that the battle rifle cartridge(.308, and larger) may return due to the range/penetration it offers.
PS The AK-47 was derived from an earlier German weapon, but that is another story.
“...the battle rifle cartridge(.308, and larger) may return due to the range/penetration it offers.”
I doubt that .308/7.62 x 51mm rifles will be issued to the grunts. Most squads now have “designated marksmen” with re-fitted M-14’s or AR-10 pattern rifles. However, now that the DoD - in its infinite wisdom - has decided that all military calibers must shoot “green” bullets all bets are off. A 62 grain projectile made without lead is going to make a very long bullet which may diminish room for powder in the case. I’m sure that the EPA will approve of it though.
***the “Matty Matell” and is now called the AR-15,***
Back in the late 1960s, a men’s adventure magazine had a cover painting of a wounded US soldier and a beautiful nurse fighting against the VC. The weapon the soldier was using was an M-16. A copy of the Matell toy M-16.
I had a gun shop owner tell me that some M-16s were made by Matell. I tried not to laugh in his face.
The .308 is still in my mind the only battle rifle round worth chambering now.