Which weapon is more reliable in combat? The M-16 or AK-47?

Answer 1

The AK-47, but for extra protection pack a Glock 17.

Answer 2

The M16 has a 300 yard effective range over the AK-47 and while the Russians dropped the AK-47 for the AK-74 which fires basically the same .223 round as the M-16. The AK-47 uses straight iorn sights unless one taps the barrel to put on a scope. The AK-47 has major parts that are made out of the wood and wood out in the field doesn't last long. I would say the butt or stock would crack or fall off after 10 years tops in the field even with care. That's why the Russians have moved to fiberglass.

Answer 3

The M4 which is a variant of the M-16 has a number of problems with gas venting, which the AK-47 does not. This affects reliability, However as the article below talks about there are steps that can be taken to make an M4 and i would assume with some ingenuity an M-16 reliable enough to be equal to the Ak-47.

Answer 4

Depends what you mean by reliable.

The AK-47 can be abused, thrown around, slammed into a tree.. and it will still work. Not the case with an M-16.

But, the M-16 will more reliably hit a target than an AK-47.

But.. the AK-47 will more reliably take something it hits down.

They're both very good weapons, that have proven themselves time and time again.

Answer 5

the M-16 is good in the hands of a trained solider, but you can leave an ak-47 in the dirt all week and pick it up and it will fire. the m-16 can put rounds on target, but so can the ak-47. it all depends on the training of the person firing the rifle. the AK is so popular because a 9 year old can pick it up and shoot it, and reload it. i would still pick the m-16, because other than the orignal problems, it has proved itself in many combat situations.

also the 7.62 mm bullet the ak47 fires has some more stopping power than the 5.56 NATO round the m-16 uses.

Answer 6

the ak 47 is a much more reliable weapon than the m 16. and is much cheaper to produce.

Answer 7

The AK is as reliable as a rock, and with 7.62 ammo, has devastating firepower.
Eugene Stoner's Genius piece of work (M-16) was screwed up by McNamara and the boys at the pentagon.
They eliminated chroming the chamber and replaced the stick powder with ball power for greater range, which gummed up the works even worse.
The M-16 has become an extremely reliable weapon (even in the sand box) but not enough to unseat the champ AK.
The 5.56 ammo of the M-16 wont cut down trees like the AK, but you dint want to get hit with one either, it is a super high velocity round and just like a speck of dirt in space going through the shuttle, it imparts tremendous energy when it hits.
Rifle and rounds are also a lot lighter, and that makes a difference in the amount of ammo you can carry, which could end up saving your life.

Answer 8

The AK-47 will even fire with sand in the chamber. It is the best! Why do you it is preferred in the sandy areas of Iraq and Kuwait? It is the most reliable of the two!

Answer 9

The Ak. It is better in hand-to-hand, unlike the plastic M-16. The only problem with the Ak is that in 'Nam, soldiers would often kill a Vietnamese soldier, and with doing this, taking their Ak. The Ak has a distinct sound, and it easily draws friendly fire.

Answer 10

M16. Half of a soldier's duties are cleaning and that includes your weapon. If your weapon is dirty then its not reliable. If it jams you know how to clear it fast because that's what your trained to do. the AK sucks for accuracy and range. Like what was said before, what good is a weapon if you cant do damage with it?