[goodwithagun]

I was on the University of Akron's Rifle Team- an NCAA sport. The summer between my freshman and sophomore year I shot highpower for my private club. I never shot an AR15 that didn't jam. That summer I met the man that I now call my husband and the father of my son. He has an AK47 that has never jammed. I would like to know what other FReepers think.

[Perdogg]

I would take the M16 anyday over the AK47

[MrEdd]

Neither of those make my shortlist.

[cripplecreek]

[2banana]

The M16 is more accurate than the AK-47

The AK-17 will fire when caked in sand and not cleaned for a year while the M-16 will jam if not cleaned daily.

Take your pick.

[Dead Dog]

There was something terribly wrong with the rifle teams AR15s, they are very very reliable.

AKs are reliable, and accurate enough out to 200 yards. Beyond that the AR as a clear advantage. IMO, also, the AR has an advantage is CQB...but I will defer to the guys in the service for that call.

[real saxophonist]

You want us to trash talk each other like they do on that show?

Not like we don't do that anyway...

[mamelukesabre]

As long as us civilians are limited to semi auto only, and are not allowed to have a full auto rifle, the AK47 is crap. A semi auto version of a “spray and pray” weapon is not worth buying, imo. The AR is a precise rifle and performs very well as a semi auto. Not to mention there are countless aftermarket accessories and upgrades to make it even better.

But beware, the more precise you make it, the more finicky it is. Keep it clean and keep spare parts. In fact, it’s not a bad idea to keep a spare rifle. I have three. And spare parts for each.

[edpc]

All I really know about the AK vs AR argument is this: Whenever US personnel take their AR versions into battle, they end up killing way more AK carrying opposition than they lose.

[jz638]

Deadliest warrior is (like mythbusters) science-ish entertainment, not actual science. Comparing the effectiveness of the AK-47 and the M-16 is subjective, and lends itself to a science-ish comparison. Does the environment require accuracy or distance to target? M-16 is preferred. Is the weapon going to be operated in non-urban environments or for extended periods without opportunity to field-strip and clean? Advantage AK. In the haphazard melee that Deadliest warrior presents, I’d lean toward an AK only because of its “spray and pray” feature.

[yarddog]

I have owned a large number of AR-R-15’s and semi-auto variations of the AK. I have never had a jam with either tho I haven’t fired a huge number of rounds and also keep all my guns clean.

One can get an impression of a gun, some just seem like they will eventually jam and others seem to run like a sewing machine. The AR-15 is one of those sewing machine guns.

In my experience, the AK is more accurate than many claim but still not even close to the AR’s. The AR-15 is often more accurate than a bolt action. I have no idea why but they are.

I would personally prefer the AR-15 H-Bar over any other gun except maybe the FAL. Also really like the HK-91.

[cyberaxe]

....SOPMod M4....

[Joe 6-pack]

I'm surprised at Spike TV. Perhaps the rifle that came to be most associated with the IRA was the AR18...kind of an early effort to correct some of the M16's deficiencies...

[piytar]

An issue they didn’t address well: How many rounds can you hump around and fire before your riffle becomes an expensive club (what a riffle without ammo is)? You can carry a LOT more AR-15 or M-4 rounds than AK-47 rounds. So if you don’t have great resupply or are going to be in the field a long time, the AR-15 or M-4 wins hands down.

[Travis McGee]

I never shot an AR15 that didn't jam.

What an idiotic statement, or writer.

[PugetSoundSoldier]

Given the choice, I'd take the M16. But I'd prefer one of these:

Bullpup configuration, .308 caliber, 18" barrel, what's not to like? CQB from the bullpup (26" OAL), and 600m effective range for reaching out and touching someone WAY out there.

[randomhero97]

Wow, 30+ posts and there hasn’t been a 5.56 vs. 7.62 argument yet.

[CodeToad]

I have fired more rounds than I could count out of AR platforms. The ONLY jams I have had has been with one of those crappy 40 round steel mags or bad ammo that was improperly manufactued. If an AR is jammming it is manufactured improperly or worn enough for depot level servicing.

[PubliusMM]

Well..given that the AR is semiauto and the AK is full auto, I’d take the M16 over the AK for full auto use, and the AR for semi auto.
While the AK can fire even when extremely dirty, gritty, and such, if you can’t hit the target, the weapon is nothing. And, I never had issues my M16 (back in the day), or any of my AR’s, for that matter. I’m not meticulous about cleaning them, but they are decently clean, and I’ve found them to eminently reliable.

[Hammerhead]

Bushmaster is making an AK like gas operated system for their ar’s

[ASOC]

FWIW, while active, I carried an GAU-5 (CAR-15 but full auto possible) iron sights and all - it was OK.

IF I had to choose an end-of-the-world as you know it rifle, the pick would go to the Ak-47 in 7.62 x.39, with the SKS as a close second.

But, as they say, your mileage may very.