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.

[Uncle Jaque]

Re your #23 -

"...an M14. Maybe the finest (Battle?) rifle in history."

Well, IMHO if it isn't, then it's not far behind the FN-FAL or the H&K G-3.

7.62 X 51mm is, again IMHO, the MINIMAL personal battle weapon round.

Of course were I in charge of such things, I might go with the 7-'08 (same round necked down to 7mm) for better sectional density, or for a lighter assault weapon a 6.5 or 7 X 45mm.

That "New" 6.8 X 43(?) round has potential - but is limited by mag and action length. I say ditch Jenny and build a system around a slightly more robust round.
Perhaps a G-3 / CETME (recoil op) sort of thing scaled between the G-5 SMG and the full size G-3.

But then again, methinks that you and I may be considered a little "obsolecent" these days.

[Mathews]

3/4 in steel, huh? I have a hard time believing that one.

[mad_as_he$$]

Always cracked me up to see him on "Tales of the Gun" get so agitated about it. So what if you stole you got a medal!

[TalonDJ]

They look similar for the same reason many pistols look similar. Design principals are similar. Those MP44s were used on the Russian front so maybe there was some influence in the design but it is pretty clear looking at them that the guts are significantly different. At least as different as they can be for both having the same general operating principle.

[Mathews]

Well, should hope so. The forward assist came into being because the rounds FAILED to fully seat on occasion. Any good rifle wouldn't need an "assist."

[Mathews]

Okay... Now you I believe. Mr. 3/4 inch... not so much.

[dljordan]

"3/4 in steel, huh? I have a hard time believing that one"

This was 3/4 inch mild plate steel at 50 yds. The .223 made a little volcano looking hole through it.

[dljordan]

"Wrong. I have shot 1/4 inch plate at 25 yards with an ar15 and my ak. The ak goes through, the 223 dents it with maybe a one or two millimeter hole."

Here's the difference for me. The .223 was copper jacket and went right through the mild plate. The .30 cal was a hunting round. I suppose if it was copper jacket also it would have went through but instead it made a large round dent.

[Franz Liebkind]

Now we're talking.

7.62 * 51 is THE cartridge.

Everything else is just prelude.

[Uncle Jaque]

#49 - "...I finished him with a 7mm Mauser - through and through."

My favorite HP rifle round!

A very accurate and effective round - as it has been since about 1883!

The much newer 7-08 is probably not far behind it; I really don't know, personally.

[TXBSAFH]

the 223 was a M193 55 gr FMJ
the 7.62X39 was a wolf 123 gr FMJ

[G.Mason]

I'd use the tired old ... de nile ain't just a river in Egypt, but I wouldn't want to bore you.

[dfwgator]

" This is the AK-47 assault rifle, the preferred weapon of your enemy. It makes a distinctive sound when fired at you. So remember it. "

[Uncle Jaque]

Re your #74...

OR an M-60 LMG, M-79 Grenade launcher, or perhaps even an air strike.

If we'd had to rely on Jenny alone, America would have been a colony of the PRC 30 years ago.

[Lx]

Is his name Pavel Chekov?

[Mike Darancette]

Americans using AK-47s in Iraq have deniability.

[R. Scott]

"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.

That is correct, but its accuracy is only good at short ranges. I know of no Americans who threw away their M-16s (even the originals) in favor of the AK-47, although some did use the AK. It was sometimes good to not be identified by the sound of your weapon.

[Armed Civilian]

[P8riot]

...., but one hit by a 7.62 goes down... DOWN HARD!!

I don't know about that. I took an AK round through my right shoulder (just missed my collarbone) in January of 1991, and I was still able to fight until I got medical attention about 20 minutes later. The guy that shot me wasn't so lucky. I had an M-14.