[Brio]

The AK-47 can work on alcohol, can fire little rocks and can make strong black coffee in less than 5 minutes. It's also a wonderful conversationalist and well-learned in the sexual ways.

Now thats what I call an assault rifle.

Can it also make a sandwich for me after its done pleasing me sexually?

[Godstud]

FN C1A1 (FN FAL)
Now that is a great weapon! Reliable, sturdy, accurate, easy to maintain and break down. You could fire it after knocking dirt out of a plugged barrel without it blowing up. Sure it was 13 lb but you knew you could club the crap out of someone with it if you ever ran out of ammo!

I tried the SA 80 and found the bullpup design awkward in mag changing and breaking it down for cleaning was a real pain. Not good for bayonet fighting either...

FN FAL? 7 pieces in total after breakdown, including the single pin which holds both halves together. Simple.

Simplicity in design has its advantages. AK-47 being a good example too.

Pretty guns tend to be PiTA guns.

[War Angel]

Now that is a great weapon! Reliable, sturdy, accurate, easy to maintain and break down. You could fire it after knocking dirt out of a plugged barrel without it blowing up. Sure it was 13 lb but you knew you could club the crap out of someone with it if you ever ran out of ammo!

Israel had the FN FAL. We replaced it because... well, it doesn't agree with the Middle East.

Probably good for temperate Europe - not so much for dusty, sandy places.

Not good for bayonet fighting either...

I'd advise using a rifle to shoot, and a knife to cut - not the two in combination.

[ingliz]

The British L1A1 was a modified FAL built to cope with adverse conditions.

[MB.]

The most robust and reliable weapon ever made was the Browning Automatic Rifle.

[Demosthenes]

FN is king, not just the FAL, but the P-90...though I guess it is more submachine gun, and bullpup. Still, 5 pieces.

HK must be respected. As must any AK.

[Thunderhawk]

The AK-47 ... well-learned in the sexual ways.

According to some dreams of Boons, it is.

[Godstud]

The most robust and reliable weapon ever made was the Browning Automatic Rifle.

For its time it was very good, although because of its high muzzle climb it was very inaccurate when fired on fully automatic. Later on better models came in that were considerably lighter and more accurate. The BAR was originally made in 1918 so it is only natural that later firearms would be superior.

9.0 kg (20 lb) - not if you wanted to carry it for any length of time.

AK-47 and the FN FAL are just as robust and reliable but weigh in at around 10 pounds less and fire the same or similar ammunition.
AK-47 -4.3 kg (9.5 lb)
FN FAL - 4.0–4.45 kg (8.8–9.8 lb)

Note: There are a great many good firearms and depending where you use them and what for determines how good they are.

The Kriss Super-V is an exceptional design that actually has reduced muzzle-climb and recoil because of the original design of the bolt that directs the recoil downwards behind the magazine. The barrel being in line with the hand really has little to do with it. -I just saw it on Future Weapons the other day

[MB.]

AK-47 and the FN FAL are just as robust and reliable but weigh in at around 10 pounds less and fire the same or similar ammunition.

This isn't true. At least not about the AK47.

[Godstud]

I said or similar ammunition. The AK-47 uses 7.62mm short ammunition.
The FN FAL uses 7.62mm ammunition, the same as the BAR used.

[MB.]

I meant the part about 'robust and reliable as'.

[MB.]

Also the BAR's primary cartridge was the .30-06, not the NATO 7.62x51; though apparently the BAR can fire the latter, according to Wiki, which I think further demonstrates my case about the unmatched reliability and ruggedness of the BAR.

[Godstud]

I meant the part about 'robust and reliable as'.

I fired around 200,000+ rounds with my FN C1A1 during my service in the military without a misfire, jam, misfeed or anything of that sort. I even fired with dirt in the barrel without problems and the rifle I had took a beating over the duration of my service. The FN FAL (C1A1 just being a variant) is valued for its workmanship, accuracy, reliability and ease of maintenance. The FAL is made out of forged and machined steel blocks and will not take second seat to any rifle in production for durability.

The AK-47 has always enjoyed a reputation of rugged reliability.

Ooopsie- sorry- yeah .30(30-06) not 7.62mm. I was thinking 30-08 which is equivalent to the 7.62mm round.

Obviously there was a reason for the BAR being replaced...

[MB.]

The best proven automatic-loading action is that of the short-action BAR Mk II (I like Benelli's R1 more, but it is unproven). Like the Kalashnikov, it is so rugged that you can pour sand down the barrel. Unlike the Kalashnikov, it is very, very accurate. The BAR is perhaps the only automatic-loading action (aside from, once again, the unproven R1) which is every bit as accurate as bolt-actions. The original M1918 BAR had a problem where its spring would overheat, but in 1937 that was corrected with a heat shield, and in 1964 the problem was eliminated altogether by manufacturing the spring out of a molybdenum alloy.

BAR wins more in this thread

viewtopic.php?p=488523#p488523

Anyway I'm sure the FN is great and all but the BAR is older and cooler and has been in use for longer and helped win WW2.

[Demosthenes]

Anyway I'm sure the FN is great and all but the BAR is older and cooler and has been in use for longer and helped win WW2.

You mean the Russians used the BAR?

He isn't wrong about the FAL, though.

[MB.]

Apparently the FN FAL design was based on the SVT40.

btw Hugo Chavez?

[Godstud]

Anyway I'm sure the FN is great and all but the BAR is older and cooler and has been in use for longer and helped win WW2.

I agree with all except with the 'cooler' part.

[War Angel]

The most reliable weapon is a knife. I've yet to see one jam.

[ingliz]

The most reliable weapon is a knife. I've yet to see one jam.

I've seen one break.

[War Angel]

I've seen one break.

I've seen a broken knife cut stuff.