Today the arms market is represented by a wide variety of small arms. Of the rather large assortment, special attention is paid to the Soviet Kalashnikov assault rifle, the American M16 rifle and the Mosin rifle, developed back in the years of the Russian Empire. Each of these units was used in several wars and proved to be the best. All three models of weapons are unique and differ from each other in technical characteristics. A comparison of the AK-47, M16 and Mosin rifles is contained in this article.
Years of operation
To compare the AK-47, M16 and the Mosin rifle, you should first pay attention to the years in which these rifle units were adopted. The most “ancient” weapon is considered to be developed by the Russian designer and Major General S. I. Mosin.
His product has been in use since 1892. A little later, namely in 1947, Kalashnikov developed an automatic machine, which in the technical documentation is listed as AK-47.
Small arms were also designed in the United States. In 1962, the U.S. Army was armed with a 5.65 mm Rifle automatic rifle, known as the M16. The serial production of Mosin rifles lasted until 1965. In total, more than 37 million rifle units were manufactured. Subsequent modifications of the AK-47 are available today. In total, more than 100 million made them. How much is the AK-47 assault rifle? According to experts, on the black market it can be purchased for 350 US dollars. The M16 rifle is also available today.
The price of this rifle unit is much lower and ranges from 100 to 125 US dollars. To compare the AK-47, M16 and the Mosin rifle, you can use parameters such as caliber, ammunition used, weight, size, sighting range, etc.
About calibers and ammunition
From a Kalashnikov assault rifle of 1947, the target is struck by a 7.62 mm cartridge. The caliber of the Mosin rifle is also 7.62 mm. However, the machine gun shoots an intermediate cartridge of 7.62x39 mm, with a protruding edge. The AK-47 cartridge was developed in 1943, and in the next serial production was started. For Mosin's product, a rifle ammunition of 7.62x54 mm is provided. R. It differs from the AK-47 cartridge in that it has a sleeve with a protruding rim. The diameter of the projectile is 7.92 mm. The indicator of its muzzle energy is 3500 J. The total length of the ammunition is 77, 16 mm. The cartridge in the Kalashnikov assault rifle is shorter - only 55.5 mm. Caliber M16 5.56 mm. This rifle shoots a low-pulse intermediate cartridge of the NATO standard 5.56x45 mm. In the first version of M16, the fired bullet to the target flew at a speed of 990 m / s. In M16A2, this indicator was reduced to 930 m, and in M16A4 - to 848 m. In AK-47, the projectile has an initial speed of 715 m / s. In a Mosin rifle, a bullet overcomes from 865 to 870 m per second.
Weight
The Mosin rifle weighs 4.5 kg. In this parameter, the M16 automatic rifle is much different, since without a clip with ammunition and a belt its weight is not more than 2.88 kg.
The magazine itself without cartridges weighs 11 g, the curb one - 45 g. The AK-47 with an empty magazine weighs 4.3 kg, with a full one - 4.8 kg.
Operating principle
The characteristics of the Mosin rifle from the rest of the samples differ in that this rifle unit belongs to the type of rifle. M16 is also called a rifle, but this model functions as an automatic machine. AK-47 works by removing powder gases. The same principle is used in the American M16, which is also equipped with a rotary shutter. Unlocking and locking the barrel channel is carried out by turning the shutter left-right. This element is equipped with special combat protrusions, with the help of which it engages with the corresponding protrusions in the receiver. The Mosin rifle has a sliding bolt. In order to open or close the barrel channel, the arrow needs to produce a translational shutter movement along the barrel axis.
USM Kalashnikov assault rifle
When comparing the AK-47, M16 and the Mosin rifle, the device of their trigger mechanisms should be taken into account. Kalashnikov assault rifle equipped with trigger trigger. This unit has a trigger rotating on the axis and a U-shaped combat spring, for the manufacture of which a triple twisted wire is used. The trigger mechanism allows for continuous and single firing. Using the only rotary part in this assembly, the shooting mode is switched. It is used as a translator and a flag fuse, since it blocks the bolt frame, partially blocking the groove between the lid and the receiver. As a result, with a locked trigger and a sear, the bolt frame cannot move backward.
To check the chamber, the infantryman can pull the moving parts back. According to experts, this move will not be enough to send new ammunition to the chamber. Designers compactly mounted all elements of the trigger and automation into the receiver, which is thus used as a housing for the trigger. For this node, there are three axes on which the trigger, self-timer and trigger are located. In civilian versions of the Kalashnikov assault rifle there are only two axes - there is no self-timer, since this weapon does not provide for firing in bursts.
Mosin rifle device
The trigger has a trigger and a trigger spring, which is also used as a sear, hairpin and screw. A rifle with a rather tight and long descent without a “warning”. The fact is that for him not two stages are characteristic, which would differ from each other in different efforts. Ammunition is sent to the chamber by means of a bolt, with the help of which the barrel channel is locked during the shot, the shot or misfit sleeve is extracted. Structurally, the bolt group includes a stem with a comb and a handle, a combat larva, a trigger, a hammer, a combat spring and a connecting bar.
In the sniper version of the Mosin rifle for more convenient reloading and the ability to install optics on the weapon, the bolt handle was lengthened and slightly bent down.
The bolt is equipped with a hammer and a twisted cylindrical combat spring. To compress it, you need to unlock the shutter by turning the handle. During locking, the drummer rested in a sear. If the shutter is closed, and you want to cock the hammer manually, you need to pull the trigger back. Then it turns counterclockwise. In this case, the rifle will stand on the fuse.
Trigger mechanism in M16
This rifle unit has air barrel cooling. Automation uses the energy that powder gases form. They are removed from the receiver channel through a thin tube. Further, the gases interact not with the piston, but with the bolt frame, shifting it back. That, in turn, acts on the shutter. As a result, having turned around, he leaves the barrel gear. As a result of the movement of the shutter and the bolt frame, the return spring is compressed and the fired cartridge is extracted. When straightened, the spring pushes the shutter and frame back. At this stage, the new ammunition is removed from the holder and sent to the chamber. After that, the cycle is considered completed. After firing, he starts anew.
To facilitate the infantry reloading, the developer equipped the rifle with a slide delay in the rear position. Thus, when all ammunition is exhausted in the clip, the soldier will not need to pull on the handle, which is located in the rear end of the rifle. Now a new store is just put in and the button that activates the shutter delay is pressed on the left side.
Dimensions
The length of the M16 rifle, depending on the modification, ranges from 99 to 100 cm. This rifle unit with a 55.3-centimeter barrel (if a muzzle compensator is installed). Without this component, the length is 50.8 cm. The total length of the Kalashnikov assault rifle is 87 cm. If equipped with a bayonet, this figure will increase to 107 cm. Weapons with a 415 mm barrel, of which 36.9 cm are rifled. The infantry version of the Mosin rifle without a bayonet has a length of 103.6 cm, with a bayonet mounted - 173.8 cm.The Dragoon model has 123.2 and 150 cm, respectively. The infantry rifle unit is equipped with a barrel 80 cm long, the Dragoon 72.9 mm.
Rate of fire
According to experts, the first modification of the American M16, namely the A1 rifle, had a rather low rate of fire. Within one minute, the infantryman could fire from 650 to 750 shells. In M16A2, this figure was increased to 900. From M16A4 per minute, up to 950 rounds can be fired. From a Kalashnikov assault rifle, a fighter in the single-shot mode produces up to 40 shots. A queue can produce up to 100.
The rate of technical rate of fire 600 rounds per minute. A very low rate of fire is inherent in the Mosin rifle. Within a minute, only 10 shells are released from this weapon.
Sighting range
The M16A1 rifle is a danger to the enemy infantryman at a distance of up to 450 m. Effective shooting at an area target is possible from a distance of not more than 600 m. In subsequent modifications, this indicator is increased to 600 and 800 m, respectively. For the Mosin rifle, the aiming range is 2 thousand m.
From a Kalashnikov assault rifle, the target is hit from 800 m. The fired bullet retains its slaughter properties at a distance of 1, 500 m. The maximum distance that it can cover is no more than 3 thousand m.
About ammunition
The Mosin rifle is equipped with an integral store designed for five ammunition. Equipped weapons through clips. For the AK-47, a box-type magazine is provided, which holds up to 30 rounds. In M16, ammunition in quantities of 20 and 30 pieces is also contained in box stores.
