U.S. troops using confiscated Iraqi AK-47s (favored over M-16s)

boston.com ^ | 8/24/2003 14:00 | Andrew England

[Destro]

BAQOUBA, Iraq (AP) An American soldier stands at the side of an Iraqi highway, puts his AK-47 on fully automatic and pulls the trigger.

Within seconds the assault rifle has blasted out 30 rounds. Puffs of dust dance in the air as the bullets smack into the scrubland dirt. Test fire complete.

[Shooter 2.5]

As for pistols, I think a 6" barrel ruger chambered in 44 mag would do if your big enough to shoot it one handed rapidly and accurately.

What are you doing with your other hand or am I afraid to ask?

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

*** The FAL is all around better.****

BANG BANG JAM. BANG BANG JAM.

[Righty1]

At least our pinhead officers corp is letting them have live ammo.

[mamelukesabre]

"In brief, the AN-94 works as follows. First, let's assume that the full magazine is inserted and the chamber is empty, receiver / barrel assembly is in the forward position. When one pulls the charging handle, the bolt carrier goes back, unlocking and retracting the bolt. At the same time, the rammer, which is linked to the bolt carrier via the thin steel cable and a large pulley, goes forward, stripping the first round from the magazine and placing it into the feedway in the receiver. Another action that takes the place the same time is the cocking of the hammer, which is also located in the recoiling receiver. When the charging handle is released, the bolt assembly goes forward, slamming the cartridge from the feedway and into the chamber, and locks the barrel. Now, the gun is ready to fire. "

source: http://www.world.guns.ru/assault/as08-e.htm

[mamelukesabre]

non of your business

ha

[u-89]

>In Nam the AK round was heavier and appeared not to deflect so much in jungle but nobody was anxious to hump 200 rounds of 7.62 vs 200 rounds of 5.56 and Charlie ducked just as much from a 5.56 as a 7.62

A friend of mine was in Nam and said that he prefered frag grenades to his rifle because once a shot rings out everyone hits the ground and you end up shooting over someone (plus as you mention the bullets deflect in heavy foilage). Those frags are a lot more effective than small arms. He also said that you can take cover from bullets and feel sort of safe even when bullets hit close or zip by but nearby explosions are unnerving.

Just an aside he taped one grenade to him so he wouldn't throw his last one in the heat of things. He wanted to save one for himself just in case - he wasn't going to be taken alive if things got sticky. He spent all his missions behind the lines doing recon and ambushing and such. He had a camera with him and took some amazing photos. He smuggled the film out and developed it all when he got home. Those pics could get guys in real trouble if they ever got out - documenting things that aren't suppose to happen, etc.

[Destro]

Statue of limitationd--find an author and get him published!

[PatrioticAmerican]

Why? Because of ergonomics. The M-16 fits like a glove to me and its aim point is a perfect fit. The AK feels and shoots like a club, and is about as accurate. OK, they are better than most give them credit for, but I like precision.

[PatrioticAmerican]

"What if they held an election and nobody came?
"

More than half don't.

[PatrioticAmerican]

"you ever seen the pasty mounds of leavened dough that walk our streets these days?"

Hey! Let's not insult bread...it's not as fat!

[Centurion2000]

Nice! A single shot mastadon gun. Never seen one before!

If you thought that was a mean rifle try this one. 4 Bore Double rifle, modern manufacture. The rifle on the right is a .465 double rifle.

Now THAT's a BIG gun.

[cavtrooper21]

JUST..... DAMN!!!!!


Old saying about 4 bore rifles and hunting big tuskers:
"When you shoot a big one with one of those guns, who ever gets up first wins...."

[GladesGuru]

Perhaps you didn't realize that the "lower 48er" was planning to shoot himself rather than be eaten alive. So the real question is "How big a round is needed to penetrate the abnormally thick skull of a numbskull"?

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

I actually know a guy up here who shot a grizzly with a .38 Special one dark night- it took quite awhile to put him all back together- you can hardly see where they sewed his scalp back, or mended the leg the bear bit clean through...(well, actually, yes, you CAN see the impresive and multiple scars).

MORAL: Don't be too anxious to shoot a big, aggressive animal with a teeny-tiny little gun. Also- "Hunting and alcohol don't mix well"

[u-89]

>Statue of limitations--find an author and get him published!

My friend wanted to go into special forces as he figured he had a better chance of surviving the war with a bunch of professionals who enjoyed their work than with a bunch of f*ck ups who got drafted and didn't want to be there (his words). He claims that when he was there probably half our casualites should not have happened - Idiots doing things wrong like a patrol returning through a zone they weren't cleared to enter and recieving friendly fire, drug overdoses or some stoner running a truck off the road and things like that.

Actually this guy could narrarate an interesting book. Once you get him going you can't shut him up - he saw a lot of action and he liked it, some guys are like that - it was the best time of his life. All his missions were insertions behind the lines in small teams and he has photos to back up all his stories. He has pictures of the strings of ears they used to collect. He even has a pic of his sarge in the act of cutting an ear. Photos like that are unique. You're right his stories should be recorded.

[jospehm20]

I went to the OPFOR weapons course taught by FMIG. The AK-47s we shot were 7.62x39. The AK-47M is just a cheaper, version of the AK-47, using a stamped receiver. The AK-74 is a newer weapon and is chambered for a newer 5.45mm round. The USSR also liked the idea of a lighter round.

[cibco]

"Basic load for a infantryman is 120 rnds in mags (plus 30) in the weapon (if he has any brains at all!!) and 100 to 200 in bandoliers in his ruck."

Gee, our basic load in VN was 20 mags loaded and any extra you chose. Bandoliers weren't considered. You wouldn't have time to reload during combat. The M-16 was a piece of $hit in combat then. It couldn't handle the dirt in combat.

The improved version in the 80's still didn't hold up in prolonged firing. Accurate rifle when it did fire. In the dirt and dust of combat a reliable weapon is much more desired than a temperate jamable one. The Ak47 just needs better sights. It is good for combat but not a good prairie dog rifle. ;0)

[Natural Law]

The article does not state that soldiers prefer the AK-47 over the M-16. Having fired both I prefer the M-16. It is lighter, it's ammo is lighter, it's cyclic rate of fire is higher and it is more accurate beyond 100 m.

[ccmay]

For urban combat, however, I don't think you can do better than the MP-5.

Well, you are the veteran and I am not, but from what I have heard, it is hard to beat one of these:

Loaded with 000 buck alternating with slugs, you have the ability to bend any mob to your will.

-ccm

[ASOC]

I'll second that vote. 9 X .38 cal slugs for one trigger pull.
You can put more lead in the air (or the bad guy) with an auto shotgun then nearly anything else.

I also prefer a good nail gun (bloop tube + flecheets)