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Originally Posted by 47MartialMan  Simply any automatic weapon using a large capacity magazine is not a assault rifle, as small machine guns fit in this category. |
That is the idea of an assault rifle, to give machine gun like function in a rifle form. Few Machine guns the M60 and the 249 Squad Automatic Weapon, offer a machine gun which can be carried and used by an infantry soldier.
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Originally Posted by 47MartialMan I believe, because of trajectory and ballastics, that the 7.62 fired from the AK, verses the 5.56 from the M-16, that the AK is not as nearly a "rifle" as the M-16. My books/references and speaking to many gun people about this seem to agree. |
The ballistics are different, the AK/SKS round will punch through and the M16/M4 round will tumble when hitting a target. The AR15 was the civilian prototype and was predicessed by the AR14 (not to be confussed with the M14) which fire an American 7.62 (308 cal) round. The reason for the change to a smaller round was the the military version of AR14 was hard to control at full auto due to the recoil of the weapon.
All rounds essentally travel the same way, they arc up when the leave the barrel and begin to desent after a certain distance. The AK/SKS round is heavier and can be used for plunging fire, were an 5.56mm (.223 cal) round can not be.