The AK-47 and the M16 are two of the most widely used assault rifles in the world. Both gained popularity and fame for being the standard issue assault rifles used respectively by the Soviet and U.S. militaries during the Cold War. Their ubiquitous deployment today by military, police, security forces, revolutionaries, terrorists, criminals, and civilians alike make them the frequent subject of comparison.
Comparison chart
| AK-47 | M16 Rifle | |
|---|---|---|
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 |
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| Cartridge | 7.62x39mm | 5.56×45mm NATO |
| Type | Assault rifle (semi-automatic, full-auto available in US to certain federal licensees) | Assault rifle |
| Action | Gas-operated, rotating bolt (Long Stroke Gas Piston) | Gas-operated, rotating bolt (direct impingement) |
| Weight | 4.3 kg (9.5 lb) with empty magazine | 7.18 lbs (3.26 kg) (unloaded), 8.79 lb (4.0 kg) (loaded) |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union | United States |
| Sights | Adjustable iron sights, 100–800 metre adjustments, 378 mm (14.9 in) sight radius | Iron or various optics |
| Variants | AK-47 1948–51, AK-47 1952, AKS-47, RPK, AKM (most ubiquitous variant), AKMS | AR-15, M16A1, M16A2, M16A3, M16A4, XM16E1, M4, Mk12 |
| Effective range | 300 metres (330 yd) full automatic, 400 metres (440 yd) semi-automatic | 550 meters (point target), 800 meters (area target) |
| In service | 1949–present | 1963–present |
| Designed | 1947 (Originally designed in ’44-46, but it gets its name from the new 1947 model) | 1957 |
| Muzzle velocity | 715 m/s (2,346 ft/s) | 3,110 ft/s (948 m/s) |
| Manufacturer | Manufacturer Kalashnikov Concern (formerly Izhmash) | Colt Defense, Daewoo, FN Herstal, H & R Firearms, General Motors, Hydramatic Division, Elisco, U.S. Ordnance |
| Length | 870 mm (34.3 in) fixed wooden stock, 875 mm (34.4 in) folding stock extended, 645 mm (25.4 in) stock folded | 39.5 in (1,000 mm) |
| Barrel Length | 415 mm (16.3 in) | 20 in (508 mm) |
| Designer | Mikhail Kalashnikov | Eugene Stoner and L. James Sullivan |
| Rate of Fire | 600 rounds/min cyclic | 700–950 rounds/min cyclic |
| Wars | Vietnam War-present | Vietnam War, Invasion of Grenada, Gulf War, Somali Civil War, Operation Deny Flight, Operation Joint Endeavor, Iraq War, War in Afghanistan (2001–present) |
| Introduction | The AK-47 is a selective-fire, gas-operated assault rifle, first developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov. Officially known as Avtomat Kalashnikova, it’s also called Kalashnikov, AK, or in Russian slang, Kalash. | The M16 (officially Rifle, Caliber 5.56 mm, M16) is the United States military designation for the AR-15 rifle adapted for both semi-automatic and full-automatic fire. Colt purchased the rights to the AR-15 from ArmaLite. |
| Feed system | 20 or 30-round detachable box magazine, also compatible with 40-round box or 75-round drum magazines from the RPK | 20 or 30 round box magazine, Drum, Snail or other STANAG Magazines |
| Produced | 1947-present | 1960–present |
| Number built | approximately 75 million AK-47, 100 million AK-type rifles | ~8 million |
| General Purpose | Many applications | Military, Self-defense, Local Enforcement |
| Price | $350-$700 | $1500-$1800 |
| History | Developed in the USSR by Mikhail Kalashnikov in the late 1940s. | Made in the US by Eugene Stoner and L. James Sullivan in 1957 |
Contents: AK-47 vs M16 Rifle
History
An AK-47 assault rifle
The Soviets developed the AK-47 shortly after World War II. It was designed with emphasis on firepower, ease of use, low production costs, and reliability in keeping with the Soviet army’s doctrines of mobile warfare. By the early 1950s, it had entered widespread service throughout the Red Army.
An M16 assault rifle
After World War II, the U.S. Army initially focused its firearms development on semi-automatic rifles, which resulted in the M14. By the Vietnam War, during which the AK-47 and M14 were pitted against one another, deficiencies in control and fire superiority led to the need for a replacement for the M14 that, through a series of refinements, eventually resulted in the M16.
Design
The AK-47 is a select-fire, magazine-fed rifle compatible with 7.62x39mm cartridges. It is air-cooled and long-stroke-piston gas-operated with a rotating bolt. Designed to be a simple, reliable automatic rifle that could be manufactured quickly and cheaply, it utilized mass production methods that were state of the art in the Soviet Union during the late 1940s.
By contrast, the M16 is a select-fire, magazine-fed rifle compatible with 5.56x45mm cartridges. It is air-cooled and direct impingement gas-operated, with a rotating bolt and straight-line recoil design. It was designed primarily as a lightweight assault rifle, and to fire a new lightweight, high velocity small caliber cartridge to enable users to carry more ammunition.
Cartridge
The 7.62x39mm cartridge lends the AK-47 more weight and greater penetration when compared to the M16. Differences between AK-47s using forged or milled receivers and stamped receivers lend forged or milled variants better accuracy, while AK-47s using stamped receivers tend to be more resistant to metal fatigue.
The 5.56x45mm cartridge gives the M16 better range and accuracy when compared to the AK-47. Its minimal recoil, high velocity, and flat trajectory allow shooters greater precision than the AK-47.
Barrel
The AK-47 has a barrel length of 415 mm, while the M16 has a standard barrel length of 508 mm.
Action Type
The AK-47 is a gas-operated, rotating bolt (Long Stroke Gas Piston) rifle. The M16 is a direct impingement or a rotating bolt rifle.
Magazines
The AK-47’s magazine features a pronounced curve that allows it to smoothly feed ammunition into the chamber. It has a heavy steel construction with “feed lips” to make it resistant to damage.
As the M16’s magazine was designed to be more lightweight and less durable, it is made of pressed/stamped aluminum, and its feed lips are weaker than the AK-47’s as a result.
Weight
Ranging between 3.26 and 4.0kg, the M16 is lighter than the 4.3kg AK-47.
Ergonomics
The safety (selector) of an AK-47 is designed to be easily hit with the index finger while the middle finger remains on the trigger. Magazines are inserted and removed by a simple rocking motion. The AK-47 is extremely friendly to left handed users in terms of controls and ejection.
The M16’s safety (selector) switch is easily manipulated without losing sight picture. Its smaller size makes it more difficult to use under stress. The M16 is unfriendly to left handed users both in terms of controls and in terms of shell ejection.
Dependability
The AK-47 is renowned for its ruggedness and reliability. It has a malfunction rate of one out of 1000 rounds fired and is designed in a way that even untrained individuals can use it. It is also built with generous clearances, which enable it to function in dirtyenvironments with minimal maintenance. These clearances enhance AK’s reliability at the cost of accuracy.
With an early reputation for poorer reliability, the M16 has roughly twice the malfunction rate as the AK-47, at two rounds per 2000 fired. The M16’s design requires copious and frequent use of compatible lubricants on its receiver, and lack of lubrication is the most common cause of stoppages or jams. Newer iterations of the M16 have been improved to increase service interval times.
Service Life
The Soviet Union did not control the production of the AK-47 with copyright law or patents. As such, the AK-47 is manufactured in many countries, by many manufacturers, to varying degrees of quality. Because of this, the AK-47’s service life can range between approximately 6,000 to 15,000 rounds. Designed as a simple, inexpensive, and easy-to-manufacture weapon, it is often easier to replace than to repair.
The M16, on the other hand, is manufactured to high standards that allow for a service life of up to 20,000 to 50,000 rounds for cold hammer forged barrels. Unlike the AK-47, the M16 was designed for servicing, and lends itself to field maintenance and repairs.
For both the AK-47 and M16, smaller parts require replacement every few thousand rounds fired.
Prices of AK-47 vs M16 rifles
Although many variants are available for both the rifles, when comparing the base models, the AK-47 is significantly cheaper than M16. The government price of the AK-47 can range from $150 to $200, depending on manufacturer and contract. The government price of the M16 was $673 per a new unit as of the U.S. Army’s 2012 contract.
