Is the AK47 an obsolete assault rifle ?

FW190

It is the best, that is why it has been around so long. The only reason the M16 was made was because of a political favor for a corporation who was a high paying lobbyist. That is how the USA does business,corruption and politics. It is a piece of crap too. It jammed in the jungles of Vietnam for my father and it jammed for me with the desert sand. It is junk. In Iraq now. Guys go into all the weapons caches we captured and they take AK-47's and the officers let them, I know I saw, my father saw a story about it on the news. So if it is so good why are troops dying to get rid of it. A-4, all it is a an M-16 with cosmetic surgery same piece of junk. You can bury AK-47's in the mud take them into a sand storm and they will always fire. Where the M16 is very touchy and need to be kept to clean for my liking to fire. That is because Kalashnikov made the parts to fit not as a tight fit as the M16, but with play in them, so they could fire under any conditions. The weapon was made in 1947 ( as in the 47 in AK-47) but was not adopted by the soviet army till 1949. It is the most used assault weapon in the world. It it not known for the best accuracy. H&K, L1A1's, M16's have better accuracy. But buy Kalashnikov making his parts with more play and not so tight fit. When you accurate rifle jams, you get mowed down by an AK-47. So reliability, it takes the cake.
The AK-47 was my secondary weapon as a sniper (I always carries at 1-assault rifle and a handgun as secondaries) I used the M-24 sniper system. But the greatest thing about having the AK-47 as a secondary, is it is not hard were you are operating to get parts, clips or ammo. They Russians are finally replacing the old workhorse the AK-47. Kalashnikov has now designed the new AK-74. The AK-47 has been around longer then any other countries military primary rifle (69 years 1949-2008), there is a reason for that. The next logest used has been the German Mauser (45-years).

Hopalong Cassidy

No. Reliable weapon. Simple in design and function. Manufactured in a myriad of configurations through out the world. Cheap and easy to produce. Functional in the hands of experts and novices alike.

More AK-47's will be fired in the next 24 hours than all the other assault weapons combined.

devildog

never

tim3000

hey well when you think about it if it shoots it can kill plus if memory serves it fires a bigger round than the m16 and the round doesnt fragment on impact unlike the 5.56mm nato round plus you can attach a grenade launcher under the barrel so its far from obselete

Jagermann

Nope. The AK-47 is still extremely effective even when compared to modern assault rifles. The Russians have even improved the design with the AK-108, which will walk circles around our M4A1s. The AK-108 is extremely accurate (even in fully automatic), yet still as rugged and reliable as the original AK-47.

briank

To the guy saying an M16 with an M203 is the best .. couldn't be further from the truth. Many tests have been performed with the M16/M4 and other weapons in its class and that are available (and designed for) the US Army ... and the M16/M4 is prone to a much higher failure rate, not to mention the weak 5.56mm round.

As far the the AK is concerned, it's realize, powerful, will shoot no matter if its dirty, rusty, and not lubed, its cheap, and it gets the job done.

Ben G

Would rather have an ak-47 then an m4 due to operational functionality. And dont listen to the guy that said the m16 was the best..however the 203 is quite impressive but can still be used on an m4

The Big Guns Are Upstairs

In a way, yes. The reason it is used so much is because it is cheap, easy to get, and reliable as all hell. Of course, guns can only get so advanced. Its quite a simple machine. In fact, most of the technology is in the ammunition, not the firearm. Of course, minor improvements help. Things that are needed in a modern firearm are not on AK weapons. For example;

-Mounting rails for optics, flashlights, aim assisting (laser)
-Adjustable stock
-adjustable sights
-accuracy
-speed
-lightweight

So yes, the AK is outdated, but that doesn't matter. If it hurts, it works.

David B

The AK-47, specifically, is definitely not "the best." It's very outdated, lacking many modern innovations, and fires what basically amounts to a "failed" cartridge, in some respects.

The AK series as a whole, though, which might be what you mean when you say "advanced variations," well then there's an argument. But it's pretty subjective, really. It all depends on what you consider to be the best features. AK's are cheap and reliable; that's what they were designed for, that's what they're good at. If those are the aspects you're looking for, then yes, AK's are the best for you. Those are the reasons AK-47's are so common; they were cheaply mass-produced and sold/given away by the millions all over the world, and remain popular since even the most poorly equipped and/or trained army can easily maintain them.

Assault rifles are all different, they're all designed with different goals in mind. You can't really just proclaim one to be "the best." But the truth is, it doesn't really matter, that much. The assault rifle is a mature technology; all assault rifles do the same basic job about as well as any other.

So, basically, "no," "it's a matter of opinion," and "it doesn't matter," are really all valid answers. Pick whichever one you want.

heritage b

Since the AK is 60 years old and still in regular use and production with very little issues I would see it as the top military weapon along with the browning .50 cal and FN MAG GPMG. Other more modern rifles from the M16, SA80, Steyr AUG are more accurate with finer tolerances, lighter and are more modular to accept bolt on components such as scopes, grenade launchers but are normally seen to be more prone to jamming and failing in use. The AK was built for a conscript army to be simple,robust and cheap but on full auto is a beast to fire accurately where the newer weapons are made in mind for a professional army who shoot better and train harder. The M16 and SA80 took years to develop into fine weapon but still have issues where the AK has worked well from the start!

Pagan Queen

still very popular

rickinnocal

Heck no.

You pick up an AK, point it down range, squeeze the trigger, and it goes bang. Squeeze again, it goes bang again.

Every time, over and over and over. Drop it in the sand, drag it through a creek, issue it to an illiterate Pushtun tribesman who is too scared of breaking it to ever dissasemble it to clean it, hide it in a dusty flour sack, pull it out without even looking at it, squeeze the trigger.... you guessed it - "bang".

When it all boils down to it, that is all you really want from your rifle. Is it as high tech as an SA-80, or even an M-4? No, it isn't.... but in combat would you rather be firing an AK, or repairing an M-4?

Richard

Mr Puma

It's estimated that there were at least 500 million produced, however there is no way to confirm that number. But there was a s*** load of 'em.

atrak

Kalashnikov is very common assault rifle..especially at the 3th world countries, because easy to made and easy to use ( a 10year old boy can use it .. and they use it ) ..that's why "cheap" ; but AK47 and variations had too old technology, like type 56 - chinese replica's(from1940's) .

AK47 a heavy weapon for carry around at all day long ( around 6kg with standard magazine ) and too noisy ( with so characteristic noise ) and always loves to jump up - right. ( hate that )

That's why u can't aim easy with it. (I'm talking about non - pro's)

But cheap,everybody can buy one easily ( If u wanna buy a brand new Type56 u shout give half barrel rice or 5 chicken at sudan = about 25USD~ worth materials ) and simple (u can repair it with a simple pocket knife or a moron can learn to use it with 10minute lesson)

Other problem is ammunition .. ammo really (7.62x39mm) far away from reliability at this day's , especially u can't reach original russian sources ( some chinese made ammo isn't bad, but I'm still suspicious rest of it .. especially n.korean ones )

As u know ; ammunition are very important matter about rifles at the real combat .. and If u are a AK47 carrier who live / fight at 3th.world country conflicts/wars .. u shout spend lot of effort to find "decent" ammunition for your rifle. Cuz .220 cartridges isn't grow at the trees.

I always prefer HK417 (5,56) , half size and almost half weight .. short body with enough barrel long. U can trust that ..

Kalashnikov are a classic like a 66 Chevrolet Camaro, a historical figure but too old for today's battlefields.

edit: 5,56 isn't weak. U can open a "Thumb" size hole at hardened steel plate (3,5mm) from 600m~ with standart combat ammo.

might be low caliber number sounds weak at minds but ammo powder and cartridge design makes it really efficient.

standart 5,56 left the barrel with good velocity ( around 920meter/sec .. almost 100meter/sec speedy then good old 7,62 ) this velocity makes it deadly enough.

Curtis

The AK-47 is a good reliable weapon, but it was made to kill Americans, and it is the chosen weapon of the terrorist, so I say no dice.

The American made M16 with 40mm grenade launcher is the best.

Rafael T

the only reason its still around is because its so cheap (in africa you can buy them for $10) and because they are so reliable so u dont have to replace any parts or the gun and will work in the worst of conditions. basically its for poor people

ZacharyMclaren

Curtis is a retard because the AK-47 wasn't made to kill Americans and Mikhail Kalashnikov didn't like the idea of terrorist like Osoma Bin Laden Using it in one of his Videos so shut the Fu(k up.M16A1 Sucks.M16A2 sucks.M4A1 sucks. and its XM22/E1 Sucks @$$.There are better Ak types now like 101,103,etc.

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: