PBS's piece on the M16 calls it an inferior weapon system that hasn't evolved in 50 years and includes a picture of an M249. My friends and I thoroughly debunk it here: http://jiujitsutalk.com/index.php?topic=5937.0;all
I don't ordinarily talk hardware here because it's not my thang, but it's always interesting to see those in the know take on "authorized journalists."
8 comments:
Armed with my M-16, I have personally killed more than 6 persons armed with the Ak-47 or the ubiquitous SKS. And the PKM. As T.J.Jackson said, get there firstest with the mostest. Kim du Toit refers to the M-16 as a poodle shooter, as I do. Words cannot express my contempt for the damned thing, as it is a wussy, .223 caliber plastic rifle. But the sonofabitch works. It may be a sonofabitch, but its MY sonofabitch. It's like a lot of things in life. It irritates you, and baffles you and bedevils you till your stomach explodes and fireballs come out of your eyes, and you swear that this is the last GD time you'll have anything to do with this piece of crap. Then you go clean the !@#$!! thing and put it away. My M-16, for the record, double fed a couple of times and failed to fire once or twice, but since I had immediate action in the event of a stoppage drilled into me like an artificial hip, I cleared it and was back in action EVERY TIME, in less that two seconds. I have staked my life on it numerous times, and it never let me down. I doubt if anyone at PBS has ever had to use immediate action in the event it was needed, while actually being shot at, or killed anyone with and M-16, so it's a case of the man with the rifle who knows. Bet I get flamed a lot for sticking up for the black bitch, but go to any decent gun show this weekend and count coup with the number of buyers for the M-16 and derivatives and then the AK,SKS, etc. Got my CIB in Cambodia, 1970, with the 199th Light Infantry Brigade, 5th Battlion, 12th Infantry, Combat Support Company, Recon Platoon, 1st squad, carring that GD radio. So flame away, boys, you ain't gettin' no cherry.
The piece is full of inaccuracies, and opinions presented as fact, or at least we're supposed to get the impression an authority has spoken.
The AK-74 is not the third generation, nor is it the latest version of the Kalashnikov combat rifles. It's over 30 years old, and it's simply an AKM that's chambered for the 5.45mm round. It has been followed by the AK-100 series.
I would say that the AK-107 represents the first major changes in the design since the AKM. That is my opinion.
But don't take my word for it, go research it. You'll be doing something that PBS failed to do.
Thanks for linking to us David. I try to check your blog every day.
Will "wannabe" Myers
http://jiujitsutalk.com/ Administrator
Arlington, VA
TJH reminded me of an excellent point that I failed to raise.
"ERGONOMICS"
The AK is TERRIBLE "ergonomically" speaking and the 2000s-era AK 103 that I have is EXACTLY the same (and as bad) as an AK from 1947, the only difference is the plastic furniture and the barrel:
AK:
- No drop-free mags (forcing operator to remove one magazine before inserting another, which one does with an awkward multi-directional canting motion, SLOW)
- No bolt hold-open (forcing operator to rack the bolt after changing magazines. (SLOW)
- Charging bolt on wrong side of the weapon forcing operator to reach across in an awkward manner unless he's a lefty (SLOW).
- Safety actuator requires moving hand off of pistol grip and is disengages with a loud "CLACK" (slow, dangerous)
The AR15/M16 on the other hand addressed all of these issues decades ago as part of the initial design:
- Drop-free mags (frees operator to only need to handle one mag at a time, you simply slam it home in one direction, FAST)
- bolt hold-open (allows operator to charge weapon with a simple button push in a convenient and intuitive location after the mag change)
- Ambidextrous Charging bolt good for righties OR lefties.
- Safety actuator convenient to the thumb of the pistol-grip hand, makes a small clicking sound, (intuitive, fast, safe)
If there is a faster, more intuitive rifle system out there than the AR/M16 I don't know what it is.
One more thing:
The AR is accurate out of the box to 1 MOA (Minute of Angle). That is accurate to ONE INCH at 100 YARDS or SIX INCHES at 600 yards.
That is VERY accurate.
The AK on the other hand is just about as accurate at PBS's story.
The AK is pretty much perfect for its designed purpose. All of the aforementioned flaws are not actually flaws when one looks at who/what the weapon was made for. As a fully automatic weapon designed for minimally trained peasant conscripts the AK shines. It is a rugged design that can be heavily abused and still fire. The lack of a drop free magazine not only enhances the reliability by positively seating that mag, but it also slows down maga changes thereby reducing the amount of ammo burned by the conscript, ditto the lack of bolt hold open device. The accuracy, or lack thereof, is again a non-issue, untrained or poorly trained troops tend to not be accurate, and the AK is more accurate than a smoothbore musket. When your doctrine includes mass assaults of conscripted peasants the accuracy of the individual is of no concern. Remember the russian quote "quantity has a quality all its own."
That being said, I think that the AK is a fantastic weapon for its designed purpose. I also think that the M16 is a fantastic assault weapon. However, it is not the best battle rifle out there in my opinion. I don;t like the caliber or the way the magazine is retained in the well. Yes, I know that a more positive seating removes the drop free feature. However, except in an assault I would be more than willing to give up that feature.
The accuracy of an AK in 7.62x39 is just average, but my Tantal in 5.45x39 looks like it can pull off consistent head shots at 150 yards. I'd love to compare MOA stats, but first I have to resolve some nagging front sight issues. I'll take an AK in 5.45 or NATO 5.56 any day.
That said, however, I have a lot of respect for the AR-15/M4 family. Neither the AK nor the AR is a perfect firearm, but I hope I never have to look down the barrel of either one.
I've yet to see anybody bother to chamber a Kalashnikov variant in 6.5 Grendel like my current favored Mattel toys. What kinda numbnuts says that the people that buy A-10s and Raptors don't know how to buy a useful battle rifle? Oh, PBS, never mind...
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