I'm doing some research on military weapons.

[AICfan1989]

Hi, my name is Ben, I'm doing some research on military weapons and I'm wondering if anyone knows what the factual decibel levels are for the M4 carbine in 5.56 and for the Kalashnikov rifles in 7.62X39? And if anyone has any opinions or personal experiences with firing both weapons could tell me what they think. Thanks for your time.

[Feanor]

I've fired both. Accuracy wise, I can't fire the AK accurately to more then 200m. The M-16 I'm good with out to 500yds. Also the M-16A2 has a much easier trigger, and the recoil on it is non-existant. On the AK-74M the recoil is notably more, and the trigger takes a little more force to pull. Those are the two things that jumped out at me the most.

[AICfan1989]

I've fired both. Accuracy wise, I can't fire the AK accurately to more then 200m. The M-16 I'm good with out to 500yds. Also the M-16A2 has a much easier trigger, and the recoil on it is non-existant. On the AK-74M the recoil is notably more, and the trigger takes a little more force to pull. Those are the two things that jumped out at me the most.

What about noise? Anything different with those two?

[Karl-XII]

Hi!

Since ear-protectors are sternly enforced in Sweden (as I guess in all other European nations) You don't get much "straight to the ear" experience. I have fired the AK-47 a few times, and since it has a larger caliber, the 7.62:mm bullet, it gives a deeper and more "booming" sound to my ear. I have never fired the M4, we use the AK-5 in Sweden (a variant of the FN FNC), and it is of the 5.56:mm caliber also, the AK-5A and AK-5C I have fired alot, the recoil is very moderate and the trigger operates extremely easy in my opinion.

I hope someone who knows this by heart can help you more!

[Feanor]

What about noise? Anything different with those two?

I didn't wear ear-pro when firing the AK. I did wear it when firing the M-16A2, so I can't accurately compare.

[joseph_jj]

Hi,

Does anyone have experaince in using Ultrasonics for cleaning hand Guns, AK 47's etc.?
Lately I came across a company who provides precision cleaning using Ultrasonic equipments and cleaning solution. If you know anything more please do let me know.

Thanks,
JJJ

[Haavarla]

Hi, my name is Ben, I'm doing some research on military weapons and I'm wondering if anyone knows what the factual decibel levels are for the M4 carbine in 5.56 and for the Kalashnikov rifles in 7.62X39? And if anyone has any opinions or personal experiences with firing both weapons could tell me what they think. Thanks for your time.


Hi Ben.

I have not had the pleasure of shoting the M4 nor the AK-47.

But serving in the Norwegeian National Guard, i've tried both the HK-3(AG-3 7.62mm) and the new procured HK 416 rifle 5.56mm.

There is a world of different in both recoil and sound level.
I don't have any decibel figures.
It actually hurts to shot the 7,62 HK-3 without ear protection.
I wouldn't recomend it at all..
The 5.56 HK-416 on the other hand have much lesser sound level and is truly a easy weapon(accuracy) to operate.
I hope this compairison can be of any help.

Thanks

[Karl-XII]

I've fired both. Accuracy wise, I can't fire the AK accurately to more then 200m. The M-16 I'm good with out to 500yds. Also the M-16A2 has a much easier trigger, and the recoil on it is non-existant. On the AK-74M the recoil is notably more, and the trigger takes a little more force to pull. Those are the two things that jumped out at me the most.

Feanor, I was wondering if you had any explanation for the recoil differences between the
5.56 x 45 M-16 and the 5,45 x 39 AK-74M, as you stated that in you opinion the 74 had worse recoil effect.

I have fired the AK-74, not the M-series though, but only a light test, and I didn't really think about any differences. Seems to me, if anything the recoil should be lighter in the 74, since it has a slightly smaller caliber, plus I think anyway, a slightly smaller propellant charge. Differences in the gas-operation or perhaps in the spent shell casing ejection + fresh round reloading cycle???

[Feanor]

The AK-74 and 74M will have less recoil then the regular AK-47, if that's what you mean. But it felt distinctly then the M-16A2. I'm not a small-arms expert, so I can't comment on why, just what my experience happened to be.

[F-15 Eagle]

Hi Ben.

I have not had the pleasure of shoting the M4 nor the AK-47.

But serving in the Norwegeian National Guard, i've tried both the HK-3(AG-3 7.62mm) and the new procured HK 416 rifle 5.56mm.

There is a world of different in both recoil and sound level.
I don't have any decibel figures.
It actually hurts to shot the 7,62 HK-3 without ear protection.
I wouldn't recomend it at all..
The 5.56 HK-416 on the other hand have much lesser sound level and is truly a easy weapon(accuracy) to operate.
I hope this compairison can be of any help.

Thanks

The H&K G3 is in 7.62X51 which is basically a .308 and is a ballistic twin of the American 30-06(7.62X63). And the 7.62NATO has a lot more powder than the 5.56NATO and the 7.62X39 which in turn creates more gas pressure leaving the barrel at around 2800 ft per second.

So a G3, or an M14 or a M20 in 7.62 NATO will be a lot louder than an AR-15 or an AK-47.

Sorry I don't have any dB ratings for the M4 or AK-47 but I assume its around the same. However the 5.56 has a higher pitch than the short 7.62X39 so its much harder on the ears, so the dB level may be the same but the AK is pretty mild while the M4 will make you go deaf after just a few rounds if you fire it without ear protection just because of the different pitch.

The dB level on a 7.62 NATO is higher than the 5.56 NATO or 7.62X39 but it does not hurt my ears as much as the 5.56 does, again its a different pitch. The .308 is still loud but its a different kind of loud.

[F-15 Eagle]

Hi, my name is Ben, I'm doing some research on military weapons and I'm wondering if anyone knows what the factual decibel levels are for the M4 carbine in 5.56 and for the Kalashnikov rifles in 7.62X39? And if anyone has any opinions or personal experiences with firing both weapons could tell me what they think. Thanks for your time.

I did some research the SPL sound level for a 5.56mm M4 Carbine is 165 dB 1 meter to the side of the barrel.

http://www.spearpointtechnology.com.au/products/products/suppressors_assets/Ase%20Utra%20military%20and%20law%20enforcement%20 products.pdf

And I'm not 100% sure but I think both the M16 and AK-47 are around 163 dB with the shooters being exposed to 155-159 dB depending of barrel length.

[Marc 1]

never mind.

[AICfan1989]

So if I am 200m away which one would sound louder from a distance, an M4 or an AK-47?

[Gremlin29]

Feanor, I was wondering if you had any explanation for the recoil differences between the
5.56 x 45 M-16 and the 5,45 x 39 AK-74M, as you stated that in you opinion the 74 had worse recoil effect.


This is a bit late but the felt recoil is less in the M16 family versus the AK/AKM family for several reasons. The M16 has a buffer (think counterweight,) attached to the buffer spring, the AK only has the spring and and the bolt carrier slams into the back of the receiver. Secondly, the mass of the bolt and bolt carrier on the M16 is much less than the bolt, bolt carrier and gas piston on the AK which means more mass is banging away against the back of the receiver (recoil). The M16 buffer acts like a shock absorber and the bolt never slams into the back of the receiver.