Well, I know what gun I want next.

[RickEJ6]

The xm8 is pretty exciting, I've only heard about it from articles in magazines, but still pretty cool, assuming it works as predicted.

as for the whole ak/m16 thing.

I have not fired an m16, but I have put many rounds through my ak.  I've never had a problem with it, actually, the only thing I have against it is that you can't force the chamber to stay open.

I am probably more accurate with my ak's irons than most people are with scoped m16s, I have never had a problem with them, even at 100+ yards.

no, I haven't been in the field, so I really can't put that perspective in it, but I have heard nothing but praise for the ak's reliablility.

as for the m16, from what I've heard from friends of mine who fire it, they are excellent weapons.  Naturally the older ones were pieces of s***, but I think we can move past that, it was almost 40 years ago.

I don't know if I could really say one is better than the other, because they are so different that each have their own qualities that make them "better" or "worse" than the other.

there are also some things that some would see as an advantage, but others would see as a disadvantage.

one example, from what I've heard, the ak weighs substantially more than the m16.

obvious problem is that its harder to carry, less effective in close combat.

the advantage is that slight muscle twitches will move it less while trying to aim long range.

The XM8 got the can.  Not gonna happen for quite a while if at all.