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One of the biggest firearms debates in history is to crown the world’s best Assault Rifle. The two main rifles competing are from two former Cold-War enemies. They are the Russian AK-47 and its variants and the US made M16 and its variants.

The AK-47 has such a colorful history, to tell you the full story would require a novel and I don’t have that kind of time. Same goes for the M-16, both have wonderful story’s and many, many wars fought. Some against each other.

The name:

1.Automat: means automatic (go figure)
2.Kalashnikov: the name of the creator/designer Mikhail Timofeyevich Kalashnikov
3. 47: first finished product created in 1947

The AK-47  is perhaps the most well known assault rifles in the world. Developed during the Second World War to protect Russia, the “AK” is the most affordable and widely available light-weight rifle in the world with a devastating 7.62mm, powerfully recoiling rifle with over 400m kill range.

The gun, sold from $50-300, is a weapon of choice for many state and non-state armies. It requires minimum maintenance and pose a grave threat to those using the M16/AR15 platform of rifles due to the 7.62NATO rounds they use, which are more powerful than the common 5.56MM rounds used by the M16/AR15.

The AK-47 is very well known for its reliability and, being gas operated, uses the gas from the barrel to push the piston attached to the bolt carrier to operate the action. The gas tube is quite large and can be seen in the first picture below just above the barrel, the rear of it being encased in wood. If you look closely the vents in the gas tube are there to allow the excess gas to escape without affecting the action. The AK47 is built with generous clearances, allowing it to function easily in dirty environments needing virtually no maintenance. It is very simple to disassemble and clean, and very easy to keep in working order.

Absolutely stunning 24 carat gold, high gloss finish, AK47 Assault Rifle

The AK-47 was one of the first true assault rifles, it is in fact more of a machine gun than a rifle. Even after more than sixty years, due to its bomb-proof durability, ultra low production cost and remarkable ease of use in the field, it’s still the most widely used and popular assault rifle in the world today. It has seen action with armed forces as well as terrorist groups worldwide.

Ak-74M (Official assualt rifle of Russian Armed Forces and all the branches)

The AK-74 is the 1970’s update of the classic AK-47 chambered in 5.45 x 39mm.

The M16 is in use in many NATO armies as the main Tactical Assault Rifle. It is a highly accurate, light-weight rifle capable of firing from 5.56mm rounds to 7.62mm rounds and even 40mm grenades when equipped.

The M16 5.56mm Carbine is a lightweight, gas operated, air cooled, magazine fed, selective rate, shoulder fired weapon with a collapsible stock. The weapon is still affordable and available to terrorist groups at $586 per gun.

The M16 entered United States Army service as the M16 and was put into action for jungle warfare in South Vietnam in 1963, becoming the standard U.S. rifle of the Vietnam War by 1969, replacing the M14 rifle in that role.

M16A1, M16A2, M4, M16A4, from top to bottom