For gun nuts, there are some conversations that are never finished. For instance, a perennial topic on firearms boards is what is the best caliber for a defensive handgun. 9mm, .40 caliber and .45 ACP are all popular options. But .357 and .44 Magnum kill people just as dead.
The Lurker's is that it's all about finding the right tool for the job. Military police have far different needs than an undercover narc in Philly, to pick two examples at random.
Another perennial topic of discussion is whether the M-16 family of weapons (M-4, AR-15, et cetera) are better than the AK series of weapons. The answer is that they're both great weapons systems. The AK-47 and AK-74 are great short to medium range weapons that do not require a lot of maintenance. Both weapons are reliable manstoppers. However, everything mechanical will eventually fail, so have a backup plan when your rifle doesn't go bang when you pull the trigger, even if you're carrying an AK.
The M-16 family is lightweight and compact and accurate at long range, partly due to the few number of parts (and the direct impingement reloading method). It does require frequent maintenance, especially in dusty environments like Iraq.
The M-4 is essentially a compact M-16 and is very handy for commando type operations or close-quarters battle (CQB).
I think the M-16 series is perfect for police in the U.S., it doesn't have a lot of overpenetration when used with soft or frangible ammo. It's light and quick to point.
The M-16 with its 5.56mm round and the M-4 with its even shorter barrel lose much of their appeal in a mountainous environment like Afghanistan, to my mind. There you need a larger caliber for the longer distances. The SCAR or M-14 seem better suited.
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