Kalashnikov says Iraq shows his gun is still best


Mikhail Kalashnikov, chief designer of Izhmash Concern, a Russian firearms producer, poses with the latest model of his rifle during a news conference in Moscow April 15, 2006. Kalashnikov is the designer of the AK-47 assault rifle (an acronym for "Avtomat Kalashnikov model 1947") which became operational in the Red Army in 1949. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin (Sergei Karpukhin)

Apr 17, 2006 — MOSCOW (Reuters) - Mikhail Kalashnikov, designer of the world's most popular assault rifle, says that U.S. soldiers in Iraq are using his invention in preference to their own weapons, proving that his gun is still the best.
"Even after lying in a swamp you can pick up this rifle, aim it and shoot. That's the best job description there is for a gun. Real soldiers know that and understand it," the 86-year-old gunmaker told a weekend news conference in Moscow.
"In Vietnam, American soldiers threw away their M-16 rifles and used (Kalashnikov) AK-47s from dead Vietnamese soldiers, with bullets they captured. That was because the climate is different to America, where M-16s may work properly," he said.
"Look what's happening now: every day on television we see that the Americans in Iraq have my machine guns and assault rifles in their armored vehicles. Even there American rifles don't work properly."
Some U.S. troops in Iraq have reportedly taken to using AK-47s in preference to the standard-issue M-16. The Cold War-era gun, renowned for its durability and easy handling, is plentiful in Iraq.
Kalashnikov designed his first weapon in 1947 and is still chief constructor at Izhmash arms factory in Izhevsk in the Urals mountains.
The factory's director Vladimir Grodetsky told the news conference that around a billion rifles had been produced around the world using parts of Kalashnikovs or based on the same design, only 10-12 percent of which were made in Russia.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/...ory?id=1850517

lol Wow, he really has lost his mind.

Some units, esp. mech had taken to using the AK, and it had and has nothing to do with the reliablity of the M16. You'd be hard pressed to find more AKs in US personnel's hands over there than M16s/M4s.

I wonder what he's smoking, 'cause I want some!

Don't forget to share with the whole class.

I saw a report on CNN that said that shortly after the invasion, there was a shortage of M-16/M4 espically amongst 2nd line troops (non infantry roles) who were being used in foot patrols. Some guys on patrol had nothing but their M9 Service pistol. So certain people were given AK's as there was nothing else. But that was back in 2003, I havent heard of anything similar since then, certainly not of US troops trading their M4 for a AK-47.

And even if true, whats the big deal? Soldiers have been using captured equipment for years. In WWII, Many US troops acquired MP40s, prefering it to the M3. Germans were particularly fond of the PPsh-41, resistence movements relied heavily on pilfered German weapons...

Its a big deal to the man who's last "great" achievement was in 1947.

Well, you can't deny that AK-47 is the most used gun in the world!

Originally Posted by zander_0633

Well, you can't deny that AK-47 is the most used gun in the world!

Yea, because the most of the world won't spend much for defense so they go for the main advantage of the AK-47: inexpensiveness.

Think he's left in the Soviet time as of how he speaks about USA hehe

Yes,AK series is the best gun.
As long as the gunpowder system gun is used, AK series would be used eternally.
AK-202 may exist in the 22nd century.

Sandy the weapon is as accurate as a spitball beyond 150M how the hell can you claim its the "best"... or is this sarcasm?