Tell that to a Nam VET! Didnt you say you are exmilitary?
:shock:
WOW The m16s days are numbered, We are already field testing the 6.8spc and a new battlerifle
Actually I will hapily telll that to a 'Nam vet since the M16 he used is no longer a valid measure of the comparison. As a combat veteran myself, having faced the AK47 in the field and bsted it with an M4, I can speak of a comparison that is current.
The level of maintenance required for an M16 to function is much lower today than it was then although people still like to refer to it as a high maintenance rifle, they are clinging to the past and to rumors. Clean it once a day and it's fine.
The other aspect of the platform that makes it superior to the AK series, is ergonomics. For an AK user (right handed) to switch from safe to semi to auto is much less convenient and makes noise, changing magazines with one hand is very difficult, and then you have to charge which is done at the push of a button on the M16.
The bottom line is that the M16 was designed fopr and developed over time for use by a trained army of marksmen. The AK47 is the exact opposit, designed and developed for a massive army of ill trained conscripts. There is a reason that an M16 goes from safe to semi to auto, and an ak goes from safe to auto to semi. It was designed to employ volleys of inaccuare lead. Much like the russian tank, the idea was to hurl a wall of metal at the enemy and win by numbers.
I admit the AK is reliable, no question about it but even in it's own field it isn't the best, Galil and Baretta variations on the platform are far superior. That said, it is still sexy.