A Question for Limey Defence

[Voyager13b]

Alex,

I'm in the middle of composing a reply to a different thread, but I saw you mention the AN-94, and without commenting on your other choices for right now, I agree that the AN-94 is a breakthough weapon. If I were given the choice, I'd take the 94. It's been my favorite for some time now, and in the field of small arms, I am not an just an armchair quarterback (so to speak), as I have recent history in evaluating small arms, and making recomendations (for police use), as well as having a friend in Russia with more than first hand experience with the 94 who has visited me here in the US, and spent time "playing" with, and discussing various small arms systems. The AK-74 is nice, as are most all of it's peers, both east and west, but the AN-94 stands alone at the next level.

Later,

Vyager

Voyager,

It's very hard to choose best Russian rifle today. Besides AN-94 there's "balanced" AK-107 and "super balanced" AEK-971. But I really like AN-94's double-shot mode and two stage full-auto mode. That's why I "chose" Nikonov's rifle.

[Voyager13b]

Originally posted by Alex_Ivanov
Voyager,

It's very hard to choose best Russian rifle today. Besides AN-94 there's "balanced" AK-107 and "super balanced" AEK-971. But I really like AN-94's double-shot mode and two stage full-auto mode. That's why I "chose" Nikonov's rifle.

Alex,

There are many great rifle systems and designs today. I doubt that troops armed with most of them would think they were missing out on anything. Choosing one design over another might not buy much, if any of an edge, but I think Nikonov made a big step forward with the AN-94 action. Having two bullets head downrange "nose to tail" in the air on an aimed first shot, and to do it accurately, with a single recoil impulse, is damn near magic.

I like it.

Voyager

[TITE]

Are AN94's sold in the U.S.?

[limey_defence]

Really, what is the point of this double shot? If you and your gun are good enough, you'll be ending them in one shot. Is this AN94 a 5.56mm?

Put a SLR in my hands and I'll be happy. In fact most rifles would be good enough, except the SA-80. I'm glad Britain is getting rid of them for the G36. Seems like America has the same idea with XM-8 which is a G36 basically, but they don't like things under a foreign name. Even though H&K are making the G36 and the M-8.

[Voyager13b]

Originally posted by TITE
Are AN94's sold in the U.S.?

Tite,

No, they are not.

Voyager

[Voyager13b]

Originally posted by limey_defence
Really, what is the point of this double shot? If you and your gun are good enough, you'll be ending them in one shot. Is this AN94 a 5.56mm?

Put a SLR in my hands and I'll be happy. In fact most rifles would be good enough, except the SA-80. I'm glad Britain is getting rid of them for the G36. Seems like America has the same idea with XM-8 which is a G36 basically, but they don't like things under a foreign name. Even though H&K are making the G36 and the M-8.

Limey,

It isn't that America doesn't like things with a foreign name. There is a tradition in the US military to use it's own convoluted nomenclature, and it still holds true today. Considering the pedegree, I would think that most US troops would stand in line for anything built by H&K.

As for the AN-94, caliber isn't really an issue, as the action can be scaled to suit either a .22, or a .30, depending upon which was in favor at the moment. There are also more complete "systems" available than the 94, but again, that is a minor point, as it is normal for system options to be added in an evolutionary manner to an officially adopted rifle action.

The point of two bullets is that two bullets, accurately placed, can well mean the difference between pissing someone off, and killing them. Infantry are not snipers. Most special ops are not snipers. Urban combat is not usualy a well controlled target match. "One shot, one kill" does not apply in most situations. Selective fire was introduced in weapons as a way to send more hot lead at one target, in an effort to better the odds at stopping that target, without wasting ammo in full auto bird shooting.

It was an improvement, but even with good recoil supression, and high rates of fire, it can be difficult to paint three holes in a man sized target at 30 yards or so. That's where Nikonov comes in. His design is not easy to build, but is not as complex as others that have been offered. It seems to be reliable, and it does things that no other rifle can do. In the case of aimed fire, or just a quick shot, it can send two full power rounds accurately to within inches of the point of aim, and before the shooter senses recoil after pulling the trigger. It also has a dual burst rate in auto fire, and a rather good device to suppress muzzle climb in full auto. Other rifles have some of these features, but Nikonov came up with the hyper-speed two shot burst, and put it all together. In a sense, Nikonov gave birth to the concept of "one shot, two bullets, one dead enemy".

Like I said before, there are many good small arms on the table, and some troops prefer a .50 cal bolt or semi auto rifle, but I think the AN-94 offers a real world edge in the unworldly arena of combat.

Voyager