Quote Originally Posted by DemonArchangel
Charging handle on M16 is in a slightly more convenient position, and magazine release is quicker, as well, the M16 is lighter.
I think the AK/Galil charging handle is fine, but I do see your point. Yes, the mag release is quicker on the M16. On the other hand, the AK/Galil mag release feels much more solid, though the rocking motion of mag insertion is slower than a sraight up push.

Quote Originally Posted by DemonArchangel
And yes, the Galil is made of win Beirut. Just that the recoil on that thing's gonna be a little harsh... and is the bipod, is that really necessary on your average infantryman's rifle?
Sorry, not sure what your first sentence means.

I never found the recoil on the Galil harsh. The rifle isn't a lightweight, no, but the weight and gas action do soak up a lot of the recoil.

As for the bipod, perhaps it is a bit surperfluous when moving around a lot, but if you're maintaning a prone position it allows you a much steadier shooting position, the ability to keep the rifle in a firing postion for longer times without fatigue, as well as keeping it in a firing position while you are distracted with other things like eating, drinking, or any number of things a soldier might do while laying prone for an hour (or a day) covering an area of fire.

The Galil bipod folds back into the foregrip and is unobstrusive. I never noticed it unless I was using it. The carrying handle, on the other hand, could be removed anytime.

Finally found a pic of my old Valmet M78. (I could have sworn it was a M77 that's why I couldn't find a pic - but I sold that thing at least ten years ago, my memory must be going.) This was an extremelly well built rifle, but as I said, I had trouble finding spare mags, and the gun was very heavy for a .223. Lots of fun to shoot, though!




Now here's a good rifle - the AR10.


The US should have adopted these instead of the gopher gun M16. Took me a while to find one (mail order, gotta love that), and the one I did find was in very used condition, but it shouldered well, felt right, and fired a full power cartridge. The magazines were pretty flimsy though, thin aluminum, and it only came with one. The model I bought was converted from a full-auto to semi. I can't magine hanging on to this thing in full auto. It would be completely useless.

I don't remember mine having holes in the foregrip, though, but again, this was another gun I bought and sold ten or fifteen years ago.