[jmp8927]

To a degree you're right.

Quote:      

In the 1974, Soviet Army officially adopted the 5.45mm ammunition and the appropriately chambered AK-74 assault rifle as its new standard shoulder arm. The AKM, however, was never officially removed from service, and is still in Russian army stocks. many non-infantry units of the Russian Army are still armed with 1960s vintage AKM assault rifles. There's also an increasing interest in the 7.62mm weapons since many troops were disappointed by the effectiveness of the 5.45mm ammo during the local conflicts in the 1990s. Some Russian special forces troops (mostly police and Internal Affairs Ministry), currently operating in Chechnya, are using the venerable 7.62mm AKM rifles.

Source: Modern Firearms - Kalashnikov AK-47 AKM Assault Rifle

That's basically another case of a country's government switching to another caliber and the soldiers not liking it, similar to what some of our soldiers feel towards the 5.56x45(note I said some. Not all). I personally would feel more comfortable shooting a 7.62x39 at ranges under 150 yards(most combat situations these days are about at that range or less) just because I can be sure I will put that person out of commission, and the 7.62x39 will punch through more material than the 5.56x45mm.

And the AK-47 "blowing up", that is the first time in my life I have ever heard of one of those messing up in any way to cause injury to the shooter. I still can't figure out what's happening. It sorta looks like the firing pin got stuck forward in the bolt and when it went to chamber another rd, it prematurely detonated before the rd was in the chamber. Like a slam fire, but before the rd is in the chamber. It doesn't seem like that would be possible, but I don't know.

As for the other post above of the spinning bullet not puncturing, that most certainly is not true unless you're earing 6 inches of clothes or have body armor. That bullet is still traveling at least 1000 fps when it comes spinning out of that wood, and then when it does get into your body, it carries a bunch of tiny splinters from the wood with it. I do agree however that accuracy is lacking in general. Every now and then there is an AK that will shoot accurately enough to hit a body target every shot at 200 yards. It also depends on the shooter and how steady they are.

[Rex Kramer]

Quote:       Originally Posted by jmp8927

I personally would feel more comfortable shooting a 7.62x39 at ranges under 150 yards(most combat situations these days are about at that range or less) just because I can be sure I will put that person out of commission, and the 7.62x39 will punch through more material than the 5.56x45mm.

Works for me!

[Cyrano]

Quote:       Originally Posted by FISHPOND

I have read the .223 was accepted for use in the military because it does not kill, but wounds. The thought behide this was, that if you wound one solider then it would take two to drag him out and thus three soilders are not firing / in the range of fire.

That's an urban myth attributed to Robert MacNamara, the Secretary of Defense who ordered the adoption of the Jam-A-Matic. No one has ever found a memo or any notes proving that was the reasoning behind his ordering the adoption of the M-16 with its inadequate rifle round. The business of the tumbling 5.56 NATO round, I believe the ones that are called "green tips," came much later. I first remember hearing about it in the 1980s. I would, however, like to know if anyone has ever seen a test with ballistic gelatin that proves the tumbling. Is that bullet behavior for real or just more urban myth?

You may correctly infer I am not a fan of the M-16/M-4 in 5.56 NATO. I keep remembering that Eugene Stoner designed his rifle to shoot 7.62 NATO rounds. And I've heard too many stories about the M-16 jamming in action, starting with the guys on my cousin's hospital ward during Vietnam and continuing through to friends of mine who put in a year in Iraq, to doubt that they are fact. When it comes to reports on firearms, I trust the guys who shoot them, not the reports of pencil-pushers and reporters who don't. Our military needs a newer, better battle rifle shooting a cartridge that has a longer reach. That new Masada would do. So would a Tavor scaled up to 7.62 NATO. So would a shorter-barrelled M-14. I'd even be willing to look at the AR-10 in 7.62 NATO. But the failings of the M-16 are getting our troops killed. It has to go.

[jmp8927]

I still think the 6.8mm would be a great alternative. I think the 7.62x51mm is a tad big for just the regular soldier to be carrying around. Its works well for short range designated rifleman's rifle such as the Marine's have with the M14. It would cost more to manufacture 6.8mm and then to replace all the 5.56mm, but its a good intermediate round with enough power to get the job done and still be controllable enough from what I've seen. I've yet to try it out myself though.

[sell33]

Ok that 200 yd test for the AK was bad. I have seen it before...

BUT i wonder if the shooter contributed to all 5 missing? i wish they would have had the same guy shoot both guns. Also in the scene where they shot the wood did you notice the AK guy basically "jerked" the trigger? if he was doing that at 200 i am not surprised he missed all of them....maybe a better marksman would have done better. I am sure the M 16 is more accurate but i can't help but wonder if the guy shooting the AK didn't contribute to its inaccuracy....

[jmp8927]

Exactly what I was thinking ^

[YugoM59/66]

yeah i'll agree the video sucked. and everyone has the right to there own opinion. I would obviously be happy if they gave us a weapon that had more stopping power, just as accurate and is easy to get on target . I would love a bullpup. The AUG truthfully wouldnt be a bad choice. Now i dont know much about it but it sounds like a nice little weapon. But until they give me a weapon that is just as good as my M4, I'm sticking with it. I have an AK, i love it to go out shooting with but i would never want it in battle.

[Ferroflame]

I think I'd rather have something like a Kel-Tec RFB or if you wanted 5.56 just because it's so common, I'd use a Tavor T.A.R.-21...

Mostly just because they're bullpups... ^_^