Weapon Comparison

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Weapon Comparison (WiP)

To anyone who might still visit this site, or to those who somehow found this, this page is still under construction, and might remain so for quite some time, but hopefully I'll get around to doing something with it. The general idea for this page is a comparison guide of modern weapondry both from my personal experience and from what I've read.

AKM

The AKM, a modernized variant of the AK-47 is the most widespread weapon in the world today, and looks poised to hold that title for some time, but it is getting old, originating in 1947, it is the second oldest assualt rifle design after the STG44/MP43, however it's design still holds up easily against modern rifles, even if it shows it's age at times. I am going to attempt to be objective and judge this weapon and others to see which one would appear to be the best.

Stopping Power: 6 - The AKM fires a powerful cartidge but suffers from overpenetration with FMJ's, taking its score down.

Firepower: 7 - The AKM fires a round that is capable of penetrating cover more easily than smaller caliber assualt rifles.

Accuracy: 5 - It is accurate enough to hit a man sized target out to around 100-400 meters (depending on user skill).

Short Range (0-50 M): 6.5 - Powerful round with a good rate of fire, however it is somewhat hard to control in full auto.

Medium Range (50-400 M): 7.5 - Designed for these ranges, the gun is accurate and powerful and scores well.

Long Range (400-1000 M): 2 - Inaccurate, but still holds enough power to kill out to 1000 M.

Portability (Weight of gun plus weight of standard ammo load): 7 - Wieght of standard gun is 6.8 pounds, weight of ammo is 1 pound per 30 rounds, roughly. The weapon is also short enough to be easily brought on target.

Reliablity: 9 - The weapon is almost unjammable under normal conditons, and even under bad conditions it performs well.

Ease of Use: 8 - Very easy to use, dosen't need any complicated training, easy to maintain.

Rate of Fire: 6 - Somewhat high rate of fire of 650 rounds a minute, but hard to control.

Ease of Production: 10 - The numbers built should speak for themselves here, stamped metal, easily mass produced.

The AKM averages a 6.73 on the scale.

M16

The M16 was a state of the art weapon devolped in the late '50s/early '60s for the US Army by Eugene Stoner (part of Armalite). It is a composite assualt rifle chambered for the 5.56x45 mm/.223 round, an intermediate round. It went head to head with the AK-47/AKM of fame during the Vietnam war, and altough it did not live up to expectations it was a succesful rifle, it and variants are still in use today with the US army and a handful of other countries.

Stopping Power: 8 - The M16 has a small cartidge but it tumbles and fragments in flesh increasing its killing power.

Firepower: 4 - Easily deflected by heavy foliage, cover and loses effectiveness quickly at longer ranges.

Accuracy: 8 - Highly accurate rifle capable of being accurate outside of 500 meters.

Short Range (0-50 M): 7.5 - High rate of fire, and controllable as well as having high stopping power at close ranges. However it has trouble penetrating even thin cover.  

Medium Range (50-400 M): 8 - Accurate and still retains good stopping power for the most part.

Long Range (400-1000 M): 1 - Capable of hitting out this far, however it is very ineffective at longer ranges.

Portability: 7.5 - Gun weighs 7.8 pounds and ammo weighs roughly 8 pounds per 30 rounds. 

Reliability: 5 - Unreliable in bad conditions or when not cleaned often enough, it is reliable when properly maintained.

Ease of Use: 5.5 - Complicated to train use, many small pieces, reliability suffers greatly without proper training.

Rate of Fire: 8 - High rate of fire of 900 rpm, also controlable in automatic fire.

Ease of Production: 6 - Somewhat easy production, but price brings down rating.

The M16 averages a 6.23 on the scale

STG44

The grandaddy of them all, the STG44 was first designed in 1943 and put into full scale service in 1944. It fires the 7.92x33 Kurz round. It was designed by Nazi Germany in WW2 and is the first mass produced assualt rifle, it was in service for just over a year until the fall of Nazi Germany in May of 1945. It played a large part in future weapons devolpment. Being its short history there isn't to much to go off of, but I'll do my best.

Stopping Power: 5 - Going off of the 7.62x39 M63 round (rated a 6) which was designed to tumble, this was not, which is why it is given a 5 (still well above pistol cartidges).

Firepower: 7 - Once again going off of the 7.62 round being that there isn't much in the way of reliable data on penetration.

Accuracy: 6 - The accuracy is slightly better than the average AKM, capable of hitting out to similar distances.

Short Range (0-50 M): 5 -While a decent close range weapon it does suffer from weight and length problemsas well as the fact that it can be damaged easily.

Medium Range (50-400 M): 7.5 - Accurate, and powerful enough at combat ranges.

Long Range (400-1000 M): 2 - As with all intermediate rounds, a poor performer at long range.

Portability: 5.5 - Not sure on the weight of the ammo, but the gun weighed in at a hefty 11.5 pound, which is more than most full sized rifles.

Reliability: 5 - It has major weaknesses with its bolt system and reciever, which is easily dented and therefore rendered inoperable.

Ease of Use: 7 - A pretty simple weapon to operate, it required more training than your average bolt action rifle however.

Rate of Fire: 5.3 - At a rate of fire of 550 rounds per minute it suffers in this category.

Ease of Production: 8 - The category in which it stands out is ease of production since it was made from stamped metals and minimal amounts of parts.

The STG44 averages a 5.76 on the scale

Mosin Nagant M91/30

The M91/31 is a bolt action rifle designed in 1891 in Russia. Altough it may seem strange to compare it to a modern rifle as I am, it's defineatly more interesting this way. It has had a long history and is ussualy left out, despite having an entirely differant action to the Mauser and the Enfield. It served as a service rifle for many years and fires the 7.62x54r round and has a 5 round intergal magazine. It also has a bayonet which is designed for stabbing as opposed to other service rifles which had slicing bayonets.

Stopping Power: 9 - A full power rifle like this has to score high in stopping power, it ranks with the most powerful handheld weapons around.

Firepower: 9 - Another high mark, this round won't stop for much in the way of cover.

Accuracy: 8.5 - A very accurate rifle, however not as accurate as some bolt actions.

Short Range (0-50 M): 3 - Scores low because of slow rate of fire, but the fact that it has a good bayonet and buttstock for close in fighting brings it up a bi.

Medium Range (50-400 M): 6 - Accurate and powerful but slow rate of fire brings it down.

Long Range (400-1000 M): 8 - Still accurate and powerful even at long ranges. With a scope is easily capable of shots out to an astounding 1200 meters. The bullet itself, when used in volley fire, can be effective at 2000 meters (over a mile!)

Portability: 6 - The weapon weighs in at 8.5 pounds and so does not weigh the soldier down, it is a bit long, but still manageable, the ammo is much heavier than intermediate rounds, however less of it is used so it evens out.

Reliability: 9 - As with all bolt actions there isnt much in the way of moving parts, so it is quite hard to jam.

Ease of Use: 9 - Once again, a bolt action, very simple to operate.

Rate of Fire: 1 - This is were it is let down in the score, even fast firing it has a slow rate of fire.

Ease of Production: 7 - Easy to produce, and cheap, however nothing spectacular in this department compared to others.

The Mosin Nagant scores an average of 6.86 on the scale, suprisingly beating both the M16 and the AK-47, ofcourse that dosen't mean all the armies should switch back to bolt actions, however it cannot be denied at long ranges there is few more effective weapons than a good bolt action.

M1 Garand

The M1 Garand, the most important battle implement of WW2 as said by Patton (Ya I know not exact words, but close enough). A powerful, semi-auto, gas operated, 30.06 (7.62x63 mm) battle rifle with 8 round internal fixed magazine fed with enbloc clips. Millions were made, and it was one of the most important rifles of WW2. Also notable that it was the only standard issue semi auto at the beginning of the war.

Stopping Power: 9 - It is a 30.06 so it has to rate high in this, it will knock down just about anything on this planet. Similar power to the 7.62x54r.

Firepower: 9 - Once again, not much will stop this round.

Accuracy: 8 - Almost as accurate as a bolt action, but the semi auto action takesdown accuracy just a bit.

Short Range (0-50 M): 4 - Semi auto action makes the Garand better at close range than bolt rifles, but not to controllable in rapid firing. Also a strong weapon with a good bayonet.

Medium Range (50-400 M): 7 - Good at medium range because of hitting power and accuracy at range, as well as a decent rate of fire.

Long Range (400-1000 M): 7 - The round is still effective at 1000 meters, however the lower accuracy of the Garand versus a bolt starts to show more at these ranges.

Portability: 5 - The gun weighs in at a hefty 10 pounds plus the fact that it uses more ammo than a bolt, and the ammo is heavier than intermediate rounds. Portable, but not that portable.

Reliability: 7 - Although a reliable weapon, it has problems with different types of ammo. Heavy ball can bend the gas piston.

Ease of Use: 7 - Takes a bit of training for proper use, if improperly loaded thumb can get stuck in the action causing "Garand thumb, which can easily break your thumb.

Rate of Fire: 5 - Semi-auto and quick loading allows a fast rate of fire. Heavy weapon weight and gas operation reduces recoil so that it can be fired accurately and rapidly.

Ease of Production: 6 - While not the most easily mass produced, it was easy enough that they could outfit the entire army.

The M1 Garand scores a 6.73 on the scale.

Karbiner 98K

The K98 is a carbine version of the Gewehr 98 (1898), chambered in 8 mm mauser (7.92x57). It was the primary rifle of Germany in both WW1 and WW2. It is an effective, accurate, reliable weapon fed by a 5 round internal magazine. It can be loaded either via stripper clip or single round. It is considered to be the most accurate military bolt action.

Stopping Power: 9 - Another full power rifle round, comparable to the 30.06 and 7.62x54r. Plenty of stopping power.

Firepower: 9 - Goes through most cover easily.

Accuracy: 9.5 - Said to be the most accurate military bolt action.

Short Range (0-50 M): 2 - Slow rate of fire brings it down, but it is a heavy rifle with a bayonet so good in a really close quarters fight. However bayonet design is not as effective for average soldier as stabbing bayonet design such as Mosin.

Medium Range (50-400 M): 6 - Same as Mosin, since it uses similar round and at this range accuracy is not so much of a concern. Both rifles will hit there target every time with a good shooter (or should atleast)

Long Range (400-1000 M): 8.5 - Takes a slight edge because of better accuracy.

Portability: 6 - Weapon weight is 8.7 pounds, basically the same as Mosin, so not much of a difference.

Reliability: 8.5 - Reliable, but not as much as the more rugged Mosin action.

Ease of Use: 9 -As with all bolts, easy to use.

Rate of Fire: 1 - Same as most bolts.

Ease of Production: 6 - More complicated than Mosin bolt, so harder to produce.

Overall the Kar98k scores a 6.78 on the scale.