This is for Serb or "What's the best rifle"?

[Sikander]

The early M-16s had some teething troubles that were exacerbated by the weapon being rushed into combat. These problems were largely worked out within a year, but the weapon sustained an undeserved reputation for unreliability. I assume this is what Kalashnikov is referring to.

During the Vietnam war the U.S. was sneaking into the enemy arms pipeline and placing defective ammunition and arms in an effort to create much the same reputation problem the M-16 was suffering for the communists. Because of this U.S. soldiers were strongly discouraged from using captured weapons.

Finally, things that suck about the AK (I have one btw) are it is heavy compared to the M-16, inaccurate compared to the M-16 and for the equivalent weight you can carry a lot less ammo than the M-16. I do strongly prefer it was a club though, and I like its slower rate of fire, though the lack of recoil absorption reduces the utility of the slower rate of fire somewhat.

[Kropotkin]

The AK 47 is a cheap and durable weapon that is easy to maintain. That's an important reason for its popularity amoungst irregular rebels in the jungels (urban or not) around the world.

The american soldier is educated in his weapon, a leading world economy backing him and excellent service and logistics. There's not much need for the AK's qualities.

[Frozzy]

Originally posted by Platypus Rex
clip behind the trigger ????


trying to immagine exchanging clips

Well, actually, the SA80 outperformed the M16, M4, AK-101, FAMAS and G36 in reload speed (physically changing magazine on the move and static)

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by Platypus Rex
clip behind the trigger ????


trying to immagine exchanging clips

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullpup

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by Sikander
The early M-16s had some teething troubles that were exacerbated by the weapon being rushed into combat. These problems were largely worked out within a year, but the weapon sustained an undeserved reputation for unreliability. I assume this is what Kalashnikov is referring to.

IIRC, it was an ammunition problem. Something like, the manufacturer made an unauthorized switch over to an inferior quality bullet, which caused a lot of rifle jams.

[Dr Strangelove]

I thought that most real snipers preferred bolt action rifles?

There are a billion AK-47s lurking around the world? Holy moly, someone deserves the Nobel prize for world-wide destabilization.

[Mr. Harley]

Zkribber almost had it correct. Here is a germane quote off the web.

What was the M16's jamming problem all about?


Answers
A-
(100%, 4 ratings) submitted by Pointeman1 (A-, 91%, 75 ratings), Jan 28, 05

(Answer last edited on Jul 28, 05)
The major problem of the M-16's jamming can be traced to an idea that the then Secretary of Defense Robert MacNamara and some of his top Generals got; Since there were so much old ball power left from WW-1, WW-2 and the Korean War, why not substitute the original powder used in the 5.56mm round with this old ball power? That's what they did against the advice of Mr. Eugene Stoner; the iventor of the weapon. This change upped the cyclic-rate of fire from about 300 rounds per minute to well over 1,000rpm! This much higher chamber pressure was the cause of much higher cyclic-rate which in turn was the cause of many double-feeds; no-feeds; failure to feed; failure to extract and worst, rim-sheers! The ball powder also left considerable residue after firing which contributed to clogging the weapon and especially choking off the thin gas tube which directed cartridge gases to operate the weapon.

Making matters worse was the fact that it was deployed in the middle of a war. Something that you don't do unless you absolutely have to.

Initially troops in Vietnam were told that the M-16 needed no cleaning and those early production M-16s were issued to the troops in the field without any sort of cleaning kit.

Still another problem was that when a jam occured in those early weapons, because of the unique design features of the M-16 soldiers and Marines could not clear the jammed round easily.

These problems were solved eventually by modifications to the weapon;... (read full answer)

Plus the prototype barrel was originally designed with an expensive chromed barrel to resist corrosion and heat issues. McNamara's Defense Department decided to use a cheaper alloy and that exacerbated the problems with the ammo switch. Even today the M4 carbine version has problems due to shorter barrel length, as demonstrated by this document from the Armalite website.

A change in the cartridge (bullet weight or powder), the length of the barrel, or the location of the gas port along the barrel can substantially change the pulse of gas that enters the carrier group and drives the rifle action. Short versions of the M16 (including the M4) suffer from relocation of the gas port and changes in barrel length.

entire article

[Vince278]

XM8/XM320 with smart hyperbaric rounds. This non-smoker needed a cigarette after holding one.
(I'd only use it for hunting deer, of course )

[Lawrence of Arabia]

no problem with jamming with the sig 550 - a loaded 550 with ice frozen in the open bolt can be made ready to fire in 30 seconds at 4000 m (13,000 feet) at -20C. plus adjustable gas regulator for when it gets really fouled up.

http://www.biggerhammer.net/sigamt/550/idr550/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sig_550

[Mr. Harley]

Reference what Patroklos said - the shotgun is even nicer with one of the chokes that produces horizontal oval patterns, loaded with flechettes. I believe, though I may be wrong, that the US can use shotguns with flechettes (or is it only recoilless rounds?) - we didn't sign off on the Geneva conventions banning shotguns