AK-47 vs M-16

Feeling a lot better than the last few days, but still not 100%. Thank you to those who wished me well. Now on to what is owed. 

 The M-16

 

Some facts about the M-16: 

It is accurate out to several hundred yards and when using heavy bullets and quick-twist barrels, can shoot to 800 - 1000 yards. This allows it to be accurate and allows for rapid, well-aimed fire. 

The M16 does not use a piston; gas blows back through a very small tube straight onto the bolt carrier. This eliminates the movement of the piston inside the rifle increases accuracy. 

The bolt locks into the barrel rather than the receiver, simplifying cleaning. 

The lower receiver with the serial number totally detaches from the upper receiver and barrel, meaning that somebody who owns one lower piece of an M16 can buy several differrent upper ends, cheaply and with no further legal requirements.

The barrel-upper receiver connection does not involve high torque as with some other military rifles. This makes M16s easy to work on.

Pros

• It's lighter,
• more accurate,
• more versatile,
• allow numerous modifications to be made
  such as mounting various uppers

Cons

• The 5.56 ammunition
• reliable with proper maintenance

 The AK-47 

 

 

Some facts about the AK-47:
It uses a minimalistic 30 caliber cartridge (7.62x39) and is meant to be easy to manufacture and maintain. Actually hitting anything with one much past 100 yards is problematical.

Pros

• The AK-47 is a very effective weapon with great power
• It has a very high rate of fire
• comes at a very reasonable price.
• light
• select-fire
• simple to operate, clean, and repair
• reliable

Cons

• Very loud noise
• is heavy,
• not accurate
• any optics require special adapters
• Many people don't like the AK safety mechanism

Source 

My favorite guy from Mail Call does a better job showing the differences, however the tests show slight preference to the M-16 (by the way they are holding it differently for the first Fully-auto test).

Here is another video from Discovery. A very nice video.

 What do you guys think is best? Personally, I like the M-16 more, but can see the major appeal associated with the AK-47. For anyone who has used both of them, which do you think "feels" better?



Edit 1: @ Athanasian Echo: The M-16 was known for jamming. They have fixed that problem since the war.  Also, The "reliable with proper maintenance" is a con because the gun is not reliable unless kept prestine and in near perfect condition. where as the AK-47 can fire even when filled with dirt and grime.