Regarding an assault rifle...

[TMAN10112]

*whoops double-post*

 

[Grospoliner]

Well production of the AN-94 seems to be geared up to replace the AK-47, as the AN-94 is designed to use the equivalent Bloc round to the NATO standard 5.56. However the AK-47 will probably never fall out of common use simply due to the sheer number of them available, as well as the sheer amount of 7.62x39 rounds that exist.

 

[Kargathia]

The AK will slowly cease to be used as soon as the ammunition isn't produced anymore. There are so many of the rifles stockpiled, and the average life-span is so long that the rifles will certainly last beyond the ammunition to feed it.

You do realise that there are manufacturers who still make ammunition for hundred-year-old rifles - commercially? .303 British, 7.62x54R and 7.92x57mm rounds are still being made today.

Aye. And there were multiple rifles chambered for 7.62x39 introduced this year.

As I said: you shouldn't hold your breath.

 

[Zaik]

When something replaces the 7.62mm round in both availability and power.

It'll be quite a while before anything like that though.

 

[octafish]

I remember reading a work of fiction where one of the main characters questioned why a terrorist group kept using AKs instead of more advanced and reliable weapons. The answer was "When people see the silhouette of a Kalashnikov, they know what it is instantly, they don't have to work out it is weapon, they know it is a weapon". I think they will be in circulation for along time yet.

 

[spectrenihlus]

The kalashnikov has nothing on the M2 Browning when it comes to longevity. Seriously that gun will probably be still used in 100 years.

 

[Simalacrum]

Sorry, I had to XD

But yeah, it has a huge cultural significance, really... I don't think it'll be gone any time soon.

 

[Wintermoot]

when they make something better.
just look at the M1911 it is longer around then the AK47 and served in two world wars,the vietnam war and is still in use by the US army.

 

[Nobodyman]

The thing about the AK 47 is that they made so many and theres so much ammo lying around, we could be seeing AK 47s in conflict for 20 years. Some countries are still making them under license. Basically, as long as there is bullets, we will still have them

 

[Wintermoot]

My Mosin Nagant is more versatile than an AK47... it can be a club, spear, boat oar, tent pole, or firewood

you can do the same thing with a AK47 if you put a bayonet on it.

 

[a ginger491]

M4 is the best assault rifle except for two things:

Damage, because it fires 5.56 instead of 7.62 for accuracy.
Reliability: the AK47 will almost never break. It is near indestructible.

You also forgot cleaning. You can shove an oily old wash cloth in an AK and that will suffice. An M4, while having a smaller range being a carbine if I may add, has many parts which all need to be cleaned regularly if you don't want it to blow up in your face.

 

[Gladiateher]

Well, lets see it's September second, 2011 so by my calculations about two months and twenty three days. Although I guess there are technically infinite numbers of alternate universes with different versions of humans using identical weapons. So who knows, maybe never.

 

[ecoho]

The AK will slowly cease to be used as soon as the ammunition isn't produced anymore. There are so many of the rifles stockpiled, and the average life-span is so long that the rifles will certainly last beyond the ammunition to feed it.

So, in other words: as soon as 7.62 rounds stop being crafted, you'll see the AK slowly being replaced.

Don't hold your breath.

not true as the AK-47 can use all current rounds (that includes 9mm) so yeah that dam thing will be around forever....

 

[JochemDude]

When the ACR is ready, all other guns are done. Straight up done.

So, because they US millitary is upgrading it's weapons stockpile (again) the best selling most widely used gun in existance is done?

 

[Jakub324]

Actually, a projectile is more effective at incapacitating a target than energy weapons ever will be, and it also keeps the target out of the fight for longer, because it won't also cauterise the wound at the same time. The only way I see Energy Weapons being used on a large scale is if they aren't really energy weapons, and utilise Hydrofluoric Acid fired. Either that or a sort of "Sun Gun" which is a concentrated UV Ray which will boil people from the inside out.

Quick question: why hydrofluoric acid? And how are you going to store it without it costing a bomb? (I ask because it can't be stored in metal, glass or ceramic, and plastic storage is silly in combat scenarios.)

In any event, you're better off with sulphuric acid, as its pH decreases upon an (exothermic) addition of water. And you may as well just throw cannisters of the stuff at the enemy, 'cos the vapour will burn/corrode them from the inside out.

Store it with electro-magnets. Keep it in suspension and it can't do shit.
OT: As long as there are 7.62x39s kicking around, they will see use (as someone else said).

 

[Funkysandwich]

I remember reading a work of fiction where one of the main characters questioned why a terrorist group kept using AKs instead of more advanced and reliable weapons. The answer was "When people see the silhouette of a Kalashnikov, they know what it is instantly, they don't have to work out it is weapon, they know it is a weapon". I think they will be in circulation for along time yet.

Most assult rifles look like weapons. You don't see someone pointing a gun at you and think "That's a funny looking camera", you think "Oh shit, that guy has a gun."

Still, plenty of old weapons are still in use today. Appently they still manufacture the M1 Carbine, and that's still a great gun. Technology can only do so much for firearms, and a lot of people don't really need that stuff anyway. Terrorists just want lots of guns and ammo for as little cost as possible, and most hunters or farmers don't need a red dot sight to shoot rabbits or deer.

 

[Smokej]

i had the opportunity to test an akm (as far as i know the greatest difference to the 47 lies here in a different working slide) during a comparsion shooting during military service (with some US Troops as well as guests, who were stationed in Germany at that time). So in contrast to all those keyboard warriors i know what i'm talking about... Sorry but it pisses me off big time reading all those assault rifle xyz is the best from some kids whose military equipment training relies mostly on playing an online shooter and reading crap on wikipedia...

At first glance the AK family looks totally mediocre at best and pretty cheap outside, but if you look closer it is well manufractured where it counts (the inside with a solid barrel and only a few moving parts) and most important of all it was easy to shoot with it

this weapon family is built to win wars (conventional wars of course...), technical peak performance and high long range precision aren't really needed by a normal trained soldier but reliability and easy handling is, i mean come on the 47 has become a worldwide symbol and even made it on national flags...

btw concerning US Assault Rifles of M16 family, all of our US troop guests would have traded their rifles for the G36 or even the G3 without hesitation after they tried them, so yeah best assault rifle of the world my *ss...

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

In a very long time. Aside from being cheap and widely available, it's also pretty iconic. It's literally on the flag of Mozambique.

 

[Thaluikhain]

IIRC, the USSR gave away the copyright to the AK47, and possibly some derivatives.

That means, if I was a weapons manufacturer, I could make AK47s (maybe create my own derivatives, not sure), without having to pay for the rights to do so. If I wanted to make FALs, or G36s or AUGs, I'd have to pay to do so.

Likewise, there's serious brand recognition. The AUG is used by the Irish, Australian and New Zealand militaries, and the US customs service. The AK is used by half the world. On the other hand, though, the FAL was used by more or less the other half of the world, doesn't have the pop culture connotations.

I remember reading a work of fiction where one of the main characters questioned why a terrorist group kept using AKs instead of more advanced and reliable weapons. The answer was "When people see the silhouette of a Kalashnikov, they know what it is instantly, they don't have to work out it is weapon, they know it is a weapon". I think they will be in circulation for along time yet.

Most assult rifles look like weapons. You don't see someone pointing a gun at you and think "That's a funny looking camera", you think "Oh shit, that guy has a gun."

Though that's true, remember the camera crew killed by Apache helicopters because their cameras looked like AK47s and RPGs? In black and white low res images taken at great distances, admittedly, though it was odd that they said "AK47s", and not just some kind of weapon, or even AK derivative, if they were really good.

 

[Sami Veillard]

When the ACR is ready, all other guns are done. Straight up done.

The thing is a beast. It can be an SMG, an assault rifle, and a sniper rifle. Switching between the three is quick and easy. The US are planning to make it there primary weapon for ground forces once its fully developed, which wont be long.

It might not be as cheap and reliable as the AK47 if we are talking just assault rifles, but the whole package is much better. Forces looking for a cheap and sturdy option, on the other hand, will continue to use the AK 47.

Austrian Steyr does all that, and a LMG. Oh and it's 30 years old.