It’s always pretty interesting to see what other military forces are working with, so Maps on the Web has graced us with this baby, which takes a look at the military rifles of all the countries.
Each color signifies a particular “family” of guns with variations signified by shading of the same color. For example, M16s are all the same color blue with variations like the M4 and C7 in different shades of blue. For the AK varients and clones, everything is shades of red. Obviously, these aren’t the ONLY guns the military uses, but it’s a decent generalization.
Representing the US of A, you’ve got the M4, a shorter, lighter variant of the M16A2, which has been used since 1994 in everything from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to the Syrian Civil war and the Columbian Armed Conflict. Manufacturers include Colt Defense, US Ordnance, Remington Arms Company and FN Herstal. The Colt version weighs in around six pounds with an overall length (stock extended) of 33 inches, a 14.5 inch barrel length, range of 600 m and rate of fire of 700 to 950 RPM. It was chosen because it’s lightweight and easy to maneuver.
Our neighbors to the North favor the C7A2, manufactured by Colt Canada, which was also chosen for its lightweight design. It’s capable of automatic or single fire, air-cooled, gas-operated, and magazine-fed.
Over in Russia, you’re looking at an AK-74M, the most modern version of an AK-47, officially adopted by Russia in 1991. As you can see from the map, variations of the AK are popular around the world, particularly in Africa. The AK-74M, made of a lightweight strength polymer, weighs in at just under 8 pounds. It features a barrel of just over 16 inches and an overall length of 37 inches. It also offers lightweight magazines to reduce overall load.
Overall, a pretty interesting look at some of the technology and popular guns around the world. For a bigger version of the map, visit Maps of the Web.
Filed Under: Aerospace + defense