SAW VS. RPK

            Light machine guns are any air-cooled machine guns that have a caliber not greater than 0.30 inches. A light machine gun (LMG) is a weapon that is meant to be employed by an individual soldier with or with-out an assistant gunner.  A light machine gun can also be defined by its tactical role these weapons are often used in support of an infantry squad, being capable of quickly laying down accurate and devastating suppressive fire for quick retro-grade if needed. The American widely used M249 SAW is a more superior weapon than the Russian RPK.

            The Ruchnoy Pulemyot Kalashnikova also known as the RPK is almost identical to the AK-47 for the exception of a few modulations. The RPK operates on the same principle as the Ak-47. It utilizes the same ammunition, 7.62x39mm, and has almost identical features including the upper and lower receiver and the magazine feed. The difference in the two is that the RPK has a much longer barrel for increased accuracy and effective range. It also has a stronger receiver to handle the sustain fire of an LMG. This weapon was designed in part to replace the out dated Russian RPD and to help standardize the Red Army’s armory. Even though this weapon has been modified to handle the attributes of a light machine gun, the key word is modified unlike most other countries where a weapon is designed from the ground up.  The RPK’s rate of fire is 600 RPM (rounds per minute) the effective range for this weapon is 100-1,000m.

            The M249 SAW (squad automatic weapon) is the American version of the Belgian FN Minimi. This weapon fires the standard NATO 5.56mm round same as the M16A4 assault rifle and the M4 carbine. What is really unique about this weapon is that its designed to use both belt fed ammunition and the magazine fed ammunition via a magazine well on the port side. This weapon also has the railing system which allows the gunner to equip different accessories such as the ACOG  (advanced combat optical scope), a  vertical forward hand grip, a PEQ-2 which is an infrared laser for target acquisition. The SAW also has many different variants of its kind. For example, the Para saw has a collapsible but-stock and a shorter barrel this is optimal for room clearing. The rate of fire for this weapon is 750-1000 RPM, and its effective range is 910m. Although this weapon has a shorter effective range than that of the RPK, this weapon is built for accuracy because the weapon fires the smaller NATO round that leaves less room for recoil. Contrary to popular beliefs that this weapon jams all the time, it’s wrong. Just like any other mechanical equipment like a car, one must maintain the weapon in order for it to function properly. This weapon is superior to the RPK because of its light weight and compact size for better maneuverability and less recoil for improved accuracy.    

GUN LAWS

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. This is a freedom that was provided by our forefathers in order for us to protect ourselves from each other and our own governments, both federal and state.  People these days do not understand that this is provided for us for self-defense, and with the passing of so many gun laws with all their stipulations, it is beginning to put pressure on our second amendment right. Weapons these days are not as easy for one to acquire with all of the laws that are in place. There are multiple hoops which one has to jump though in order for him or her to get a gun.  Gun control is an extremely divisive issue in America, and there is a clear divide between supporters of the gun laws and those opposed. The gun control laws now are fine and do not need to be escalated.

 “[T]he pro-gun lobbyists are out in droves bolstering up their hopeless case, notwithstanding that the massacres will carry on happening until individuals decide to say no to guns,” (Baker).  Even if the gun laws are increased, the people who commit the crimes are still going to be able to get the weapons one way or another, be it legal or illegal means. Within this month alone, a gun that was used to kill a U.S. agent in Mexico was actually purchased by a man in Texas that was a suspect in gun trafficking. This just goes to show that if someone is really intent on committing the offense, he or she will find a way even if there’s a record against him or her. There is an assortment of in placed regulations for a person to purchase a weapon. These laws vary in the fifty states. For example, in California, in order to buy a gun one has to take a weapons safety course on that particular weapon. They must also go through a federal background check, and there is also a ten day cool down period. The cool down period is a period that prevents the individual from acting on pure emotion rather than logic. 

If the gun laws are constantly increasing, people will no longer be able to defend themselves, which goes against our second amendment right, which we will be taking away from ourselves.  

M16 VS. AK-47

An assault rifle is a rifle capable of both automatic and semi-automatic fire. It utilizes an intermediate cartridge with a detachable magazine. These weapons are the standard infantryman’s rifle in most modern armies. For weapons to fall under the category of an assault rifle it must have these five functions or capabilities. One, it must be an individual weapon with shoulder fire capability for example a butt-stock. Two it must have a selective fire function. It must have an intermediate powered round; more power than a pistol round but less than a standard rifle. Its ammunition must be stowed in a detachable magazine, and it should at least have a firing range of 300 meters. The M16 is the standard issue assault rifle of the United States military which is by far a better weapon than the world renown AK-47.

The M16 and its variant’s (A1, A2, and A4) are an air cooled, gas operated, magazine fed weapon with a rotating bolt. The M16 is the main U.S. infantry fighting weapon, first introduced in jungle warfare in South Vietnam in 1963. It soon replaced the M14 and became the standard issue rifle by 1969. It fires a 5.56mm cartridge in which once it impacts its target it then ricochets off bones in the targets body and rips through vital organs.  On the other hand, the AK-47 is the M16’s counterpart on the battlefield, originally designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov in the Soviet Union after World War II in 1945. The Kalashnikov is known as the first true assault rifle. This weapon has a selective fire switch, but unlike the M16 the AK-47 has a fully automatic function.  It is gas operated and fires a larger round than the U.S. standard assault rifle a 7.62mm. Due to the larger round, the projectile produces relatively minor wounds because it impacts and exits almost immediately.

The M16 is a far superior tool than the AK-47 for several reasons. First of all these two weapons were designed to serve a completely different function; the Russian mentality was that if they had more larger bullets going down range on the battlefield they would win wars whereas the United States military believes in accuracy which is why the M16 has single fire and a 3 round burst function and the AK has the fully automatic option. Another reason why the M16 is better is because this weapon is designed to have multiple attachments on it; for example the M203 grenade launcher, the ACOG 3x zoom scope, and a PEQ-2 infrared laser. This is due to the rail system the M16 has and the AK-47 does not. Opposed to popular beliefs that the Kalashnikov can be buried in mud, picked up and still be used is false. I have personally fired plenty of AK’s both dirty and clean and have had weapons jams. This goes true with all weapons the tool must be kept clean in order to function properly.     

Topic

My subject topic over the next few months, is going to be about weapons. I will be going into intimate details about these weapons, and I will be letting you know which of these tools I think are the best. I will be discussing multiple types of Weaponry from standard issue assault riffles to heavy Machine Guns and if time permits we can go into battle tanks, air assets etc. etc. I feel this topic is important to readers and my self for several different reasons. One reason for the readers, being that they can learn and understand specific characteristics about these weapons for knowledge such as “what would be the best home defense weapon for my family”? The reason why I chose to do this is topic because I am passionate about weapons and this knowledge will be useful when going up against a foe and knowing his or her weapons max range and that my weapon can reach out and touch that said being. Here is a preview of what you have to look forward to.

The M16 and its variants (A1, A2, A4) are an air cooled, gas operated, magazine fed weapon with a rotating bolt. The M16 is the main U.S. infantry fighting weapon, First introduced in jungle warfare in South Vietnam in 1963. it soon replaced the M14 and became the standard issue rifle by 1969. It fires a 5.56mm cartridge in which once it impacts its target it then ricochets off bones in the targets body and rips through vital organs. The Soviet weapon on the other hand, the AK-47 is a selective-fire, gas-operated 7.62x39mm assault rifle, first developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is officially known as Avtomat Kalashnikova. It is also known as a Kalashnikov. Opposed to the standard assault riffle of the United States, the Kalashnikov was built and designed for a completely different mission. The Russian mind set was that a lot of big bullets would win wars. Which is why this weapon fires the larger 7.62mm round and is fully automatic. Opposed to popular beliefs that the AK can be buried in mud picked up and fired this weapon cannot actually do this I have fired plenty of Kalashnikov rifles and had plenty of weapon jams.

These weapons are only part of what you will learn about and you the reader can discover which weapon I think is better than the other.