AK-47 inventor: U.S. troops in Iraq prefer my rifle to theirs

Reuters ^ | April 17 2006

[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.

[denydenydeny]

There's a story in one of David Hackworth's books where his troops in the Mekong Delta were reconfiguring a firebase.

The engineers were moving a berm around with bulldozers, and out rolled the body of a dead VC that had been entombed in the berm when the firebase was first built six months before. The corpse still held his AK.

Hackworth pulled the weapon off the body and fired off a round.

The success of the AK, especially in jungle and desert environments, is its ability to be filthy with grit and mud, and yet still functional.

[Wiz]

There is no other assault rifle that comes close with variety of add on options than the M-4/M-16 family. That provides multi-role capabilities and flexibility. Availible underbarrel options are: non-lethal taser rail, M234 Riot Control Launcher, 140mm Brunswich RAW HE Rocket, MasterKey Shotgun, M203 Grenade Launcher, and even more. There are also great options such as Beta C 100 round drum.

[Praxeus]

"does not want to deal with the discipline of accuracy"

lol

[mad_as_he$$]

There was a time when the Army in it's infinite wisdom shipped ammo to VN that did not meet the design specs set out by Stoner. It burned to slow and caused jams and fouling. In addition, ALL M-16's were sent back to the States to have the breech chromed to make it tougher. When the correct ammo was used it was a very reliable weapon.

[mad_as_he$$]

he very loudly denies any German influence from the Strumgufger(sp?).

[verity]

In an accompanying story, the inventor of the Yugo claims that.......

[Disambiguator]

Sturmgewehr.

[G.Mason]

Yeah ... right. He is a regular Ruski genius.

And BJ Clinton didn't have sex with that woman.

[mad_as_he$$]

Sounds like that hog got hit in the armor plate. They have a gristle patch over the ribs behind the shoulder. I have seen one take three rounds from a 30-30 at 75 yards and twitch. I finished him with a 7mm Mauser - through and through.

[mad_as_he$$]

lol

[dljordan]

"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."

It's a .30 caliber round versus a .223. It would have more power. The .223 is a varmint round and has more velocity though so this give it's a flatter trajectory. I've fired both at a piece of 3/4 inch sheet steel and while the .223 went right through the .30 cal bent the sheet. More kinetic energy.

[x1stcav]

I agree. The AK47 is an antigue.

[Praxeus]

plus they only had a 1 in 12 twist. the later 1 in 7 could shoot a 69 grain bean with no problem.

[dljordan]

"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 think some of the special operators are getting the Springfield Armory SOCOM M1A.

[Praxeus]

Now, the 7mm is a ROUND.

[SauronOfMordor]

Having shot both AR-15 and (semi-auto) AK, I agree with him, for the case of urban combat. At ranges over 100 yards, I would take the AR-15 (then again, at ranges over 100 yards I would prefer something in 7.62 NATO).

The AK has a deserved reputation of reliable cycling under any conditions. When you're looking at an armed bad guy 10 feet away, that's kind of important

[x1stcav]

A lot of dead Marines can thank Robert Strange MacNamara for that decision.

[Vaquero]

I read something to that effect in a gun mag recently. seems that the city fighting in around cars and building require a little more punch to penetrate obstacles and that they have dusted off some M-14/M1A1's to do the job. bravo.

[manwiththehands]

One of my clients is a Russian who thinks he knows better than everyone about everything. He does know a lot if he would just stick with what he knows. I would just laugh at him if he did not know just enough to be DANGEROUS to us and himself.

This is hilarious. The arrogant Russian know-it-all stereotype is not a "stereotype" at all. I want to hear Kalashnikov's claims validated by just one of our troops.

[x1stcav]

The Forward Assist helped a lot too.