Все зависит от целей применения и условий. Например, вот что пишут сами солдаты:
After being in Iraq, Id have to say that Id prefer to have been issued an AK, vs the M-16A2...
I was rarely allowed to go off of our compound in Iraq so I didn't get to see much combat. We mostly encountered mortars and occasional small arms fire in camp and small arms and RPGs while on helo missions. During training missions (target practice), M-16s did jam regularly so I developed a personal dislike for them. For some reason they attract excessive amounts of dirt and sand and have to be cleaned often.
И еще:
"For example I would carry an AK under some circumstances. Why? Well my primary responsibility was as a designated marksman (DDM - Defensive Designated Marksman in corporate parlance) and my primary weapon was a modified M1A (think M14). It weighs about 12lbs (without ammo) and is almost 4 feet long! If we were out doing vehicle patrols, or I was puttering around in the compound, then I'd have an AK close at hand or slung. It was shorter, lighter and easier to utilize if I needed to on short notice.
The AK is a good weapon and has advantages and disadvantages just like every other weapon. It's not a magic bullet spewing machine without flaws.Кстати интересный факт пр марксмена, в свете дискуссии в комфоруме.
Ну и вот:
In my own experience, the AK-47 is the most dependable assault rifle in the world. I carried one for only a few days in a combat environment but I have have to say that I prefer it to the M-16, CAR-15, M-14, etc. Its simple, durable operating system is virtually indestructable, and combined with the rifle's balance, steady rate of fire, and heavy impact ammunition make the AK-47 the most effective overall of any rifle I have used in the field.
Having said that, I have no problem with our own assault weapons, including the M-16. I have always thought that the 16 has gotten a bum rap. Aside from a few very early problems, well documented by Taos earlier in the thread, the M-16 series has performed reliably and well in a variety of war zones over time. As did its predecessor, the often underestimated M-14.
I personally never had a problem with the M-16 and never served with anyone who did. The bottom line is that if you keep clean what you need to keep clean (chamber, bore, functional firing system parts, magazines, etc.), all of these weapons will do the job.