15 of the best, most powerful and reliable slot machines in the world

Automatic is a rather domestic concept. In foreign qualifications, as a rule, it is an assault rifle or assault carbine , depending on the size. Machine guns also include automatic rifles and submachine guns. The machine gun is capable of creating a high density of fire, which is an ideal individual weapon for defeating enemy personnel in close combat.

We often like to compare how good the Soviet Kalashnikov assault rifle is and how worthless the American M-16 is. But is this really so? In addition to the Russian Federation and the United States, there are other states that have their own weapons, which are no worse. Well, having studied the issue in depth, we present a list of the best of the best assault rifles.

Heckler & Koch G36

The most powerful machine gun in the world, which appeared in 1990 and became an excellent replacement for the HK G3 model. Its manufacturer, the German company Heckler & Koch, tried to create a convenient weapon that is suitable for quick military skirmishes and snipers.

G36 Specifications:

Structure weight – 3630 grams;
Compatible with 5.56x45 caliber cartridges;
Magazine capacity – 30 rounds;
The maximum shot distance is 0.8 km;
Bullet departure speed – 920 m per second;
Shots per minute - up to 750.

The main advantage of the Heckler & Koch G36 is considered to be low recoil. Also, the bolt frame is made of lightweight alloy, due to which the barrel bounce when firing is significantly reduced.

What is a circuit breaker?

A circuit breaker or machine is a device with which you can turn off or turn on the current in a circuit, so it protects the electrical network from emergency situations. For example, from overload, short circuit or voltage loss.

The first such product was designed by Charles Page back in 1836. It was a reservoir of mercury, where there was a contact rod. As the electromagnetic field increased, the rod began to rise and thereby opened the circuit. Later in 1880, Edison patented a fuse that resembled a light bulb. Inside there was an insert made of foil or wire, which burned when the network was overloaded, thereby breaking the circuit. By the end of the 19th century M.O. Dolivo-Dobrovolsky created a switch with automatic protection. The device had spring contacts that were held in place by a latch. When the electromagnetic field increased, the latch turned off the spring.

The patent for the switch that we are used to seeing in the modern world was received by German engineers. They invented a device that could protect not only from overload, but also from short circuit. Once triggered, such a machine only required turning on the button, and there was no need to replace the insert.

Steyr AUG A3

A small machine gun, recognized by the military as a universal and convenient weapon. Initially intended to arm Austrian soldiers, but later it began to be mass produced and exported to European countries and America. During the production of the Steyr AUG A3, a new “Bull-Pap” layout system was used, which ensures effective shooting in two modes - single and automatic.

Other weapon characteristics:

Weight – 3300 g;
Caliber - 5.56;
4 types of magazine – for 25, 30, 42 and 9 rounds;
Shot range (sighting) – 650 meters;
The speed of the bullet upon departure is 1 km per second;
Rate of fire – up to 750 per minute.

The difference between the Steyr AUG A3 and the classic design is the presence of a universal Weaver rail, which allows you to attach NATO standard sights to the weapon, and a folding front handle.

AS "Val"

A powerful, silent and reliable automatic machine, designed by domestic engineers in the mid-80s. The VSS sniper rifle was taken as the basis, which is why both weapons have a similar design. The design of the AS “Val” is collapsible. It includes a self-loading compact pistol and a scout knife.

Technical characteristics of the machine:

The weight of the structure is 2500 grams (with an empty magazine and without a sight);
Compatible with 9mm caliber;
Magazine capacity – 20 rounds;
Target firing range – up to 0.5 km;
Initial bullet speed per second – up to 295 meters;
Rate of fire – up to 900 per minute.

The advantages of AS Val are reliability and accuracy. Thanks to them, the machine gun is still in service with the army of Russia and some CIS countries.

The best circuit breakers

ABB S201 1P(C) 6kA

This Swedish circuit breaker is manufactured in Germany. It is a single-pole type C circuit breaker. “ABB S201 1P(C) 6kA” is designed to protect the circuit from overload and short circuit. To manually turn off the device, there is a lever located on the front of the machine. The device also automatically turns off when the voltage exceeds its rated value by 6-10 times. It is also made of high-quality materials, so temperature changes do not affect the operation of the device, in addition they provide protection from mechanical damage. The product is mounted on a DIN rail.

The rated current of such a model can be from 0.5 A to 63 A. And the rated voltage is 220 V. It is possible to simultaneously connect wires of different cross-sections to such a machine. The maximum permissible cross-section is 35 sq. mm.

The average cost is 450 rubles.

ABB S201 1P(C) 6kA

Advantages:

Popular manufacturer;
Possibility of connecting two wires;
High-quality assembly;
Easy installation.

Flaws:

Price.

ABB SH203L 3P(C) 4.5kA

This device is a three-pole circuit breaker. Devices from this series are part of the Compact Home line, they are suitable for residential and small commercial premises. Also, the SH200 series machines are a simplified version of the S200 series. This was achieved by reducing the rated switching capacity, as well as by reducing the model range. But, nevertheless, this model is made of a durable plastic case. During installation or operation there will be no chips, scratches or other signs of mechanical impact.

The rated current value of the machine is from 6 to 63 A. And the breaking capacity is 4.5 kA.

The average cost is 690 rubles.

ABB SH203L 3P(C) 4.5kA

Advantages:

Does not respond to temperature changes;
High quality materials;
You can connect single-core and stranded wires.

Flaws:

Schneider Electric BA63 1P(C) 4.5 kA

The circuit breaker from the famous French company is part of the “Merlin Gerin” series of products, which indicates its suitability for home use, as well as use in small enterprises. The main purpose of the device is to protect the network from overload and short circuit. During a malfunction, the machine will turn off the current, and thereby protect the devices from burnout. Installation of "Schneider Electric BA63 1P(C) 4.5 kA" is carried out to a depth of 78.5 mm. It is also worth noting that the machine has a well-thought-out design, which gives protection class IP20, and will be reliable and durable in operation, thanks to the high-quality materials used in production.

The rated current of this can be from 6 to 32 A. The breaking capacity is 4.5 kA. The machine has an electromagnetic release mechanism. The connected cable can have a maximum cross-section of 35 square meters. mm.

The average cost is 263 rubles.

Schneider Electric BA63 1P(C) 4.5 kA

Advantages:

High-quality assembly;
Clear operation;
Easy installation;
Price.

Flaws:

The rated current does not exceed 32 A.

Legrand TX3 1P(C) 6 kA

This model is a compact device that protects group and distribution systems from short circuits and overloads. If a problem occurs, the machine stops supplying current, which protects the line from breakdowns, as well as the devices and lighting connected to it.

Installation of "Legrand TX3 1P(C) 6 kA" is quite simple, it is mounted on a DIN rail, the installation depth is 44 mm. The design of the machine complies with IP20. The materials used in the product ensure high strength and long-lasting operation of the device. The rated current in this model can range from 6 to 50 A, which makes the machine suitable for both residential premises and small businesses. The breaking capacity is 6 kA. "Legrand TX3 1P(C) 6 kA" has a thermomagnetic release mechanism. The maximum cross-section of the connected cable is 35 sq. mm.

The average cost is 220 rubles.

Legrand TX3 1P(C) 6 kA

Advantages:

Has a 2 year warranty from the manufacturer;
Quality;
Easy installation.

Flaws:

Some products may have manufacturing defects.

HK416

The design of the machine gun was adapted to work with the AR-15 system (USA), and in appearance it resembles the American M4 carbine. During the production process of the HK416, a high-strength alloy was used, which ensures the “survivability” of the barrel and the weapon’s endurance of over 20 thousand shots. The model is also equipped with an improved gas exhaust engine, which prevents the machine from overheating during prolonged burst fire.

Main characteristics of the weapon:

Weight – 3020 grams;
Compatible with 5.56 caliber;
The magazine holds 20 rounds (extended - 60 or 100);
Sighting range – up to 600 m;
Bullet departure speed – 730 or 917 m/s (depending on barrel length);
Number of shots in 60 sec. – up to 850.

Principle of operation

The operation of a circuit breaker is based on thermal and electromagnetic principles. During normal operation, electric current flows through it. If we consider the thermal principle, then first the current passes through the electromagnetic coil, then it hits the bimetallic plate. When the current begins to exceed its permissible value, the plate begins to melt, resulting in its deformation. So it affects the release. After this, the circuit opens. And in products with an electromagnetic operating principle, there is a solenoid and a spring mechanism holding the core. If the current value increases, the core overcomes the force of the spring and is pulled into the solenoid. After which decoupling occurs.

During a network overload, the current exceeds its limit value. If the machine has thermal protection, then disengagement does not occur immediately. Here we must take into account that it takes time for the plate to melt and deform. The time will depend on the extent to which the current has exceeded its rated value. This principle of operation makes it possible not to immediately break the circuit during a short-term overvoltage. The minimum limit that the current can exceed is set at the factory. The temperature of the room where the device is installed can also affect the deformation of the plate. At cold temperatures, the plate can begin to deform only when significantly exceeding the nominal value. And at high temperatures, on the contrary, it will work prematurely. Having eliminated the cause of the overload, you should not immediately turn on the machine. We must wait for it to cool completely, then the plate will return to its previous state.

When a short circuit occurs, the current in the circuit increases so much that it can begin to melt the insulation of the electrical wiring. In this case, an immediate break in the circuit is necessary; this is what the electromagnetic release does. The core is immediately pulled into the solenoid and disengages the circuit. This process occurs in less than a second. The devices also have a grid of metal plates, which is designed to extinguish the electric arc. After such a shutdown of the machine, it should not be turned on until the cause of the short circuit is eliminated.

TAR 21(Tavor)

A popular assault rifle of the 21st century, manufactured by Israel Weapon Industries. Enters into mass production from 1993 to the present time. Developed as a replacement for the outdated Galil model and has become a good alternative to the American M16. During the design process of the Tavor, the “Bull-Pap” system was used, as in the Austrian Steyr AUG A3 assault rifle.

Characteristics of TAR 21:

The weight of the classic model without magazine is 3.27 kg;
Caliber – 5.56x45;
Magazine capacity - 20/30 and from 60 to 100 rounds in an extended type magazine;
Target firing range – up to 0.55 km;
Initial speed – up to 910 m per second;
Rate of fire - from 750 to 900 per minute.

Second place. M-16

The second position after the Soviet Kalash was taken by the American M16 assault rifle. The first samples of these small arms, according to the military, were very unreliable. However, thanks to the design improvements of the automation, this model still managed to “stay afloat” and take second place in the ranking of assault rifles after the legendary “Kalash”. From 1960 to the present day, this American rifle has been widely used as the main weapon on two continents: North and South America and Australia. In addition, the M16 assault rifle is used as a backup weapon in more than a hundred countries around the world. The model is also called the “black rifle”, or the “black brother” of Kalashnikov. Over the entire history of the M-16, about 10 million units of this rifle model were produced.

FN F2000

A modern compact assault rifle manufactured in Belgium by the arms company FN Herstal. The main purpose of the model is to fire while performing military missions in local armed conflicts. The design of the FN F2000 itself was developed back in the 90s, but the weapon entered mass production only in 2001.

Machine characteristics:

Weight with magazine without cartridges - 3800 grams;
Compatible with 5.56 caliber;
Magazine capacity – 30 rounds;
Firing range (sighting) – 500 m;
Bullet departure speed – 0.9 km per second;
Rounds per minute - 850.

HK G36 assault rifle

“Favorite” of mercenaries and military special forces. Externally it makes a dual impression thanks to its unusual design. Futurism can be seen in the clarity of the lines and the softness of the plastic from which most of the body is made. Despite its apparent lightness, the weight of the product is 3.6 kg, which is quite unexpected for those who pick up a rifle for the first time. This is explained by the presence of metal stiffening ribs inserted along the entire length of the butt. Thanks to this “safety net”, the weapon is resistant to damage and mechanical deformation.

The developers and creators of the rifle are . The initial model was announced to the general public in the late 90s, immediately receiving approval from military experts not only in Germany, but also in other countries of the world. It is used as an infantry weapon by the armies of Latvia, Spain, Poland, as well as a number of Asian states - Indonesia, Malaysia, and so on. In addition to army units, the rifle is widely used in the service of police forces in Austria, Norway, Great Britain and about 30 other countries around the world.

Recognition among the civilian population was due to the popularization of the G36 in computer games, cinema and other areas of popular culture. If we talk about technical characteristics, then among the main advantages it is worth focusing on good accuracy and shooting accuracy at a distance of up to 450 m, relatively low weight and modular design. All prefabricated parts are fixed to the body using pins, which simplifies disassembly and cleaning of the weapon.

AK 12

A model of the Kalashnikov assault rifle, which went into production at the beginning of 2012. The production of weapons is carried out by the Machine-Building Plant in the city of Izhevsk (Russia). It is considered the best modern Russian assault rifle with a lightweight design and an improved firing mechanism. Over the past 5 years, the popularity of the AK 12 has increased greatly. This cool machine gun is added to computer games and new types of weapons are created based on it.

Weapon characteristics:

Weight – 3200 grams;
Caliber - 5.45;
Magazine capacity – 30 or 60 rounds;
Sighting range of the shot – 1 km;
Initial bullet speed – 0.9 km;
The number of rounds per minute is up to 700.

In 2016, a new version of the AK 12 appeared, the feature of which was a permanent gas tube and a mount for installing a bayonet or an under-barrel grenade launcher.

Kalashnikov assault rifle

The legendary AK was invented by Sergeant Mikhail Kalashnikov when he was recovering in hospital after being wounded in 1942. The weapon was adopted for service after the war, in 1949, and its first major baptism of fire took place in Hungary in 1956. All its subsequent modifications were actively used by the Soviet allies to participate in military conflicts, and were also supplied to many countries where national liberation uprisings and other military movements took place.

Among the main advantages of AK assault rifles, and especially the latest modification of 2012, the 2AK-12, are ease of use, moisture resistance, speed of assembly and disassembly, as well as high reliability and rate of fire. You can fire up to 650 bullets per minute, and about 60 rounds of ammunition can be loaded into the magazine.

Another special feature of the latest model is that the fighter can simultaneously perform several manipulations using only one hand. Even if the second hand is occupied with something else or is incapacitated due to injury, it will not be difficult for a military man to quickly jerk the bolt, change the magazine and switch the safety.

If necessary, the handle can easily be adjusted to the left side, and the telescopic drive can be removed and compactly folded in both directions. According to experts, the total number of assault rifles registered with military structures and private security organizations around the world is more than 90 million.

M4A1

American automatic carbine, developed on the basis of the M16-A2 assault rifle. For a long time it was at the testing stage, and in 1994 it was adopted by the US Army. Due to the fact that the M4A1 showed good results during the war in Afghanistan and South Ossetia, other states began to purchase it, including Albania, Bahrain, Canada and Colombia.

Characteristics of the automatic carbine:

Fully equipped weight – 3400 grams;
Compatible with 5.56 and 8.6 caliber;
Magazine capacity – 30, 40 or 60 rounds;
Shot range (sighting) – 600 m;
The initial bullet speed is 935 meters per second;
Rate of fire – up to 1000 per minute.

Rating of leaders among slot machines

Recently, it has become fashionable to rate weapons, but it is not clear whether the reason for this is a series of programs on the Discovery Channel, or something else. In a word, I could not resist fashion and the autumn aggravation and decided to make my own small rating of slot machines, I hope that it will seem more objective to site visitors than the rating of foreign experts, well, if I forget someone’s favorite toy, then please throw stones those that are easier. We will not make lists of TOP-100 and TOP-1000, we will limit ourselves to 7 prizes. Seven - and the number is beautiful, and not very large, at least by the time the last lines of the shooting hit parade are read, the first ones will not be forgotten, well, if the rating passes the test of the masses, then there will be machine guns broken for their intended purpose, and not all in pile, and pistols, and so on. Not immediately, of course, but they will. I would like to immediately make an amendment to the fact that although the rating is called “... among machine guns,” there will also be automatic rifles, it’s just that many people know that the term machine gun can only be attributed to an automatic carbine, and not to an automatic rifle. In turn, a carbine is a shortened version of a rifle; roughly speaking, many suggest measuring the length of the barrel with calibers and, based on the measurement, drawing a conclusion: the carbine in front of us is an automatic or a rifle, but, it seems to me, there is no point in showing your mind where it is not necessary. If our domestic automatic carbines and automatic rifles are historically called machine guns, then they should be called that way, because everyone understands what kind of weapon they are, and besides, only we have machine guns, let everyone else get jealous with their long names and break their heads over what kind of weapon this is - a machine gun. But let’s return to the rating, let’s start not quite traditionally, from the first place, and the point is to start from the end, if it’s for intrigue, then there can’t be any in this rating, because there can only be one unconditional leader and it’s unlikely to find a weapon, which could compete with him for first place.

1. Kalashnikov assault rifles.

In order not to single out one Kalashnikov from the whole variety of assault rifles, let’s take them all at once. I don’t think there’s any need to explain why this particular weapon is in the first place; there’s the distribution all over the world, the survivability of the machine gun, and a whole bunch of other things. This weapon is not overshadowed by its poor accuracy characteristics by modern standards. In the end, the machine gun was created for mass armament, and for this it is perfectly suited. Simplicity of design, maintenance and operation - all this made this type of weapon the most widespread in the world, in addition, do not forget about the price of production, which made it possible to establish the production of Kalashnikov assault rifles in many countries, including in the absence of a license for production and modernization . Since 1949, these weapons have managed to take part in all military conflicts on the globe, and in the near future it is unlikely that anything will be able to replace these weapons, since there are a lot of weapons that are used, and those that are simply mothballed in warehouses are generally an incalculable amount. Officially, over more than 60 years of existence of weapons, more than 70 million units of various modifications were produced, and this is only according to official data in the USSR, and then in Russia, it is unlikely that anyone will be able to say how many Kalashnikov assault rifles are “walking” around the world, but this figure will clearly be many times superior to the official one. Yes, and official data is also increasing, so just recently a contract was concluded with Venezuela for the supply of 100 thousand AK103, and in the future it is planned to conclude an agreement for the supply of 920 thousand machine guns, that is, plus one million to the official statistics.

However, according to many, the Kalashnikov assault rifle is already at the end of its “life cycle”, since its design has been brought to perfection and there will be no more serious breakthroughs in its improvement. In principle, it’s hard to disagree with this; indeed, the designers did everything to get the maximum out of the design of the weapon; all that remains is to carry out improvements at the expense of the reliability of the weapon, which naturally no one wants to do, since in this way the Kalashnikov assault rifle will turn from a legend into a completely mediocre model, little more than standing out from hundreds of others. On the other hand, it is difficult to believe that there is nowhere to move further in the development of the AK, especially since at the moment quite a lot of interesting ideas have already been accumulated that are unlikely to affect the survivability and reliability of the weapon, but at the same time will increase its effectiveness. For example, you can take the option with a two-tempo shooting mode for different positions of the shooter without a cutoff, which was proposed by German Aleksandrovich Korobov. The gunsmith suggested using a rate of 500 rounds per minute for shooting from a prone position and a rate of about 2000 thousand rounds per minute for shooting from awkward positions. In practice, this increased the accuracy of fire by one and a half to two times. Ease of implementation, a little more difficult to control the weapon, but at the same time a significant increase in the accuracy of fire in short bursts. And if we add to all this new ammunition with a caliber of 6.5 or 6.8 millimeters, then it is quite possible to add another 15-20 years to the service life of the AK. Another thing is that this will require very large investments, of which very little can be put into your pocket, so foreign weapons or individual parts not of domestic production will be ordered.

However, no one can dispute the fact that at the moment the AK and any of its modifications are the best weapons for mass armament even now, without any changes to the design and additional gadgets that they want to attach to weapons in the near future. Of course, now there are many foreign models that are not inferior in reliability to the Kalashnikov assault rifle, but they are all either too expensive, or complex, or simply not “promoted” as much as our domestic AK. In general, the Kalashnikov assault rifle is the number one assault rifle in the world, if not in terms of its characteristics, then in terms of its prevalence and history of use in all military conflicts since the second half of the twentieth century.

2. M16 automatic rifle.

I think that no one will argue with the second place in the rating, after all, the M16 weapon also has a history, albeit a little shorter than that of the Kalashnikov assault rifles, but still quite long. Despite all the complaints about the not very high reliability of the first versions of the “black rifle,” this weapon stayed afloat and remains the main one for the US Army. In many respects, we must thank the designers for this, who managed to bring to fruition the not-so-best automation scheme. And although the latest versions of the M16 are still very far from the title of “the most reliable machine gun,” and it is unlikely that this title will ever belong to this weapon, the rifle in its reliability shows results of a strong four, in fact, it is not surprising, because we are talking about the second most popular model in its class. In total, more than 10 million units of various modifications of the M16 have been produced over all time, and this does not take into account various variants from other manufacturers, in other words, the M16 is the second most popular rifle after the AK.

By the way, the M16 is just as often copied as the Kalashnikov assault rifle, but most of the copies have a slightly different type of automation, which increases the reliability of the weapon, so these samples can only be considered relatives of the “black rifle” conditionally. At the moment, the M16 has completely captured two continents - North America and Australia, almost all the large countries of South America also use these weapons, but Eurasia and Africa are holding out for now, preferring either domestic, cheaper and more reliable AK, or using other non-AK cheap weapon options. However, even among these continents you can find countries in which the M16 has taken root well. Moreover, these countries have different levels of development from Zaire to Italy, where these weapons are in service with special forces. To understand the massive proliferation of weapons, it is enough to give a list of countries that use them: USA, Australia, Argentina, Afghanistan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Bahrain, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Great Britain, East Timor, Vietnam, Haiti, Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, Grenada, Greece, Georgia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Zaire, Yemen, Israel, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Iraq, Iceland, Italy, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Qatar, Colombia, Costa -Rica, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Mexico, Moldova, Nepal, Nigeria, Netherlands, Nicaragua, New Zealand, Norway, UAE, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Republic of Korea, El Salvador, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uruguay, Fiji, Philippines, France, Chile, Sri Lanka, Jamaica, Japan. Of course, in many of the above countries, the M16 is not the main weapon, in many it is used as a reserve weapon in case of war, there are also many modifications and not specifically the M16, but, nevertheless, this impressive list fully justifies the position of the weapon in the ranking. Moreover, the M16 is a kind of “enemy” of the AK, and the enemy must be respected and taken into account, so despite all the disadvantages of the weapon, which are becoming less and less every year, second place, in my personal opinion, legitimately belongs to the “black rifle”, although I’m sure many here will argue with me, but if you find another similar mass-produced model of an assault rifle, then I will completely change my opinion and replace the M16 with the model of weapon you proposed.

3. FN SCAR automatic rifles.

We've gone through the oldies and long-lived ones, now we can take on new samples, and there are many of them and they are all interesting. If I shamelessly gave the first two places in the rating to the AK and M16 for their history, since these are really the two most common and “long-lasting” models, then then it was personally difficult for me to choose who and where to distribute, since here they are already entering the arena relatively young models, which are certainly interesting and unique in their own way, but each sample has its own advantages and determining what is more important and what is not is very, very difficult. It’s difficult, if only because in one specific situation the plus of any weapon does not play a decisive role, but in another it becomes the main advantage of the weapon. So I don’t pretend to be particularly objective, everything is distributed only at my discretion and is purely my preferences in weapons. Well, it so happens that of the new models, the SCAR is most attractive to me, and back and forth, 16 and 17, so we are not talking about just one model of weapon.

To be honest, when this weapon first appeared, I decided that this was the “killer” M16, even though the weapon was created under the order of the US Special Operations Forces Command. The sample seemed very promising to me, and provided that the US Army was never deprived of funds and such a rather bold assumption was born. The weapons began to be supplied to the troops in 2007, but already during this short service life they have managed to establish themselves as a reliable and effective means of exterminating enemy personnel in the most unfavorable operating conditions. This type of weapon was based on the principle of automatic operation with the removal of powder gases from the bore of the weapon with a short piston stroke. The barrel bore is locked by turning the bolt seven stops. But more about this weapon some other time. Externally, this image is a rather strange device, the folding butt of the weapon, which is adjustable in length, looks especially strange, which many consider the ugliest of all those proposed during the existence of such a class of weapon as an automatic rifle. However, here we should think about the question of whether beauty is needed in weapons at all. It seems that the most important thing for a weapon is its reliability, accuracy, reliability, and so on, but not beauty, especially for a weapon intended for the army. By the way, although the SCAR stock looks strange, it is quite comfortable, not ideal, but close to it. In particular, it lacks smooth length adjustment instead of stepwise adjustment. In terms of accuracy, this weapon is superior to the M16, both with single fire and with automatic fire, but here a comparison can only be made if the barrel lengths of the compared samples are the same, and if the cartridges are the same.

Identical cartridges are marked with a separate item, since weapons such as the SCAR currently have two versions, chambered for the standard NATO cartridge of 5.56 caliber, and also chambered for 7.62x51 cartridges, also of the NATO standard. In addition, it is mentioned that the “heavy” version of the automatic rifle can be easily adapted for Soviet-style 7.62x39 cartridges, while the weapon can be powered from AK and AKM magazines. This was achieved due to the fact that the weapon fully complies with the concept of “modular”, so in addition to the fact that both the “light” and “heavy” version of the automatic rifle can have barrels of different lengths (three options for each), the line between the Mk.16 and Mk.17 is very arbitrary and only indicates what cartridges the weapon is powered by; even between these samples, more than 70% of the parts are identical. In general, if you choose an ideal for such a parameter as “modularity” among automatic rifles/machine guns, then SCARs are beyond competition, provided the weapon’s characteristics are sufficiently high.

4. Automatic rifles NK 416 and NK 417.

These German automatic rifles are essentially the product of a merger of the M16 and G36. Having absorbed all the best from both models of weapons, they are easy to maintain, reliable in the most adverse operating conditions, and also have fairly high performance. In terms of their ergonomics and the arrangement of weapon controls, the NK 416 and NK 417 rifles are completely similar to the M16, which makes them especially convenient for use by those people who are accustomed to the “black rifle”. Just like SCARs, these rifles are made as modular as possible, as much as possible given the design of the weapon, so repairing the NK 416 and NK 417 usually involves simply replacing a separate module that has failed. The weapon is also equipped with barrels of different lengths, which makes it quite versatile. Four seats in the form of Picatinny rails allow you to install a wide variety of additional accessories on rifles, and in the case of the “heavy” version of the rifle chambered for 7.62x51 cartridges, a bipod is installed on the lower rail. The butt of the weapon is made by analogy with the M4 butt, has 5 fixed positions to adapt to the anatomical features of the shooter, although smooth adjustment would make the weapon more convenient.

The basis for the NK 416 and NK417 rifles was an automation system with removal of powder gases from the barrel bore with a short piston stroke. Despite the apparent external “holeiness”, German rifles are quite resistant to dust and moisture. In other words, we can speak with confidence about this weapon in the context of well-known German quality, although it is perhaps too early to draw such conclusions, since the weapon has not yet proven itself en masse in combat operations. The main difference between the 416 model and the 417 is that the first rifle uses standard 5.56 NATO cartridges, while the NK 417 is powered by 7.62x51 cartridges. This makes the NK 417 weapon model more effective, but several points emerge that reduce this effectiveness. First of all, this is the weight of the weapon, secondly, the recoil when firing, and the third negative factor is the dimensions of the weapon.

The NK 416 and NK 417 rifles are fed from detachable box magazines with a capacity of 30 rounds for the small model and 10 or 20 rounds for the larger model. The weapon is compatible with various models of under-barrel grenade launchers, however, in the case of the NK 417 model you will have to forget about the bipod, and they are a fairly necessary thing in this weapon, since the recoil when firing is really high, and in the case of shooting in short bursts from a standing position, most shooters will only be able to conduct harassing fire, although this, of course, is a matter of habit, skill and weight of the shooter.

The NK 416 and NK 417 rifles have not yet become widespread, although they appeared back in 2005; however, this is easily explained not by the fact that the weapons are bad or anything else, but simply by the lack of funds for mass supplies to the army. Also, do not forget that at the moment the issue of replacing 5.56 ammunition with a more powerful cartridge with a larger caliber, but not as powerful as 7.62x51, is quite urgent. As I understand it, the manufacturer relied on the ammunition that is already in service, not counting on the rapid distribution of new ammunition, but apparently they forgot to take into account that if new weapons appear, they will only be designed for new cartridges, unless that in exceptional cases the rule will be violated. However, people have recently forgotten about new, more powerful ammunition and are not in a hurry with the same zeal as they were shouting about them at every corner a couple of years ago. Apparently, they are saving money for a complete re-equipment, which, in principle, is not required, since at the moment a cartridge has already been developed that is fully compatible with old weapons chambered for 5.56 cartridges and only requires replacing the barrel and bolt, which can be done in NK-416, and in NK 417.

5. Barrett REC7 automatic rifle.

Despite the fact that many are quite skeptical about this weapon, I think that it deserves to take 4th place in the ranking of the best assault rifles. There are quite enough reasons for this. Firstly, the weapon is made for a new, promising cartridge, which shows itself to be more effective in comparison with 5.56 cartridges, and secondly, these are products of the Barrett company, which personally evokes only positive emotions in me. However, the second point is precisely the reason why many do not take this type of weapon seriously. The fact is that the Barrett company made a name for itself in the production of sniper rifles, mainly large-caliber ones, and is, to put it mildly, a newcomer in the production of assault rifles. Indeed, this is the first machine gun that the company dared to mass produce, the reason being that before the Barrett REC7 there were two more weapon options that did not go into mass production. Thus, in the first version, in the second the weapon was brought to perfection, and the third, taking into account the wishes of the military personnel after a short “break-in” in the army, has already appeared as a completely finished model. In my opinion, this approach to the production of weapons is completely justified, and no one can blame the Barrett REC7 for low reliability or any other sins. If the company had immediately given its weapons to the general public in the first version, then it would have been impossible to avoid talking about the fact that everyone should mind their own business, and if the company started producing sniper rifles, then that’s what it should do, and not delve into other weapon niches. Yes, and subsequent versions of automatic rifles from the Barrett company, no matter how wonderful they were, would have been perceived with a clearly underestimated assessment if the company had immediately launched production of the first version of the weapon, however, this issue is too complex to talk about something with one hundred percent guarantee.

The basis of the Barrett REC7 automatic rifle was a new cartridge proposed by the Remington company; the new ammunition with the metric designation 6.8x43 proved to be not only significantly more effective in comparison with 5.56, but also as close as possible to it in size, which makes it possible to use it in a weapon originally designed for 5.56 cartridges after replacing the barrel and bolt. However, the same problem may arise here that arose with the advent of .357SIG pistol cartridges, which seem to be able to be used in weapons chambered for .40S&W cartridges after replacing the barrel, but this significantly increases the wear of the weapon. In the case of the Barrett automatic rifle, the weapon was initially designed for the new ammunition, but at the same time it can be adapted for the standard NATO cartridge of 5.56 caliber, that is, in principle, no problems can arise when operating the weapon with the new ammunition. since it was designed for him. But if you look at all this taking into account the fact that the 6.8x43 has not yet been adopted for service, then we can say that it is unlikely that this weapon will be adopted by the US Army under its “native” cartridge, although, of course, those who If they want these weapons, they will get them, after all, the US army, and not the countries in Central Africa.

The basis for the new Barrett REC7 automatic rifle, as it is not difficult to guess, was again the principle of automatic operation with the removal of powder gases from the bore of the weapon and with a short piston stroke. Despite this, many call the Barrett REC7 a further development of the M16 rifle, but this, of course, is a misconception. Simply, the fact is that the weapon is made with the maximum possible compatibility with the M16, apparently in the expectation that it will someday be adopted for service, this makes the two rifles quite similar individual elements to each other, but if you take the picture in In general, these are two different samples, even just when compared by the appearance of the weapon. In general, for the new ammunition, high quality and correct approach to weapon production, the Barrett REC7 automatic rifle deserves to take an honorable fifth place in the ranking.

6. Automatic rifle NK G36.

In 1995, the NK G36 automatic rifle began to enter the German army en masse, a little later it conquered Spain, and at the same time was supplied to a number of other countries, including the United States. To be honest, I even wanted to push forward the new items on the arms market and put the NK G36 in third place in the ranking, but I still hope that the new weapon is promising, well, they probably don’t just make and produce it, apparently they are counting on higher performance in comparison with previous models, although, of course, new does not always mean better. But, despite the fact that new weapons are being produced, the G36 NK does not plan to give up its position yet. Although this weapon is not at all old, it has already proven itself in many military conflicts, although its presence there was not as large-scale as other models. It uses 5.56 NATO standard cartridges, and has quite a lot of different configuration options, which allows us to talk about the multitasking of this automatic rifle. In general, let’s not pull the trigger on the cat; this weapon is worthy of the place it occupies in the ranking and it’s unlikely that anyone will argue with that.

7. Automatic rifle Steyr AUG.

This weapon takes its place in the ranking not because it turned out to be better or worse than some models, but because, in my opinion, it is one of the most successful options for automatic rifles in the bullpup configuration, and it simply cannot be ignored conscience. By the way, if there were 10 positions, then the Steyr AUG would still be in last place, since once again there are better weapon options, but in a classic layout. Of course, here we can argue that the domestic A-91M assault rifle with the same layout is devoid of many of the disadvantages that are inherent in weapons with such an arrangement of the main elements. But we should not forget about the fairly wide distribution of this weapon, its various variants, even to the point that the Australian “promising” rifle complex was made on the basis of this weapon. In general, 7th place goes to the Steyr AUG automatic rifle, and I think that many will agree that the place occupied by this weapon rightfully belongs, at least for the same layout in which it was most widely used.

In conclusion, I would like to say that this rating is purely my personal opinion, it does not claim to be the only correct one. In addition, the disorder in the choice of criteria for evaluating weapons also does not allow us to fully display the full picture, because if the main parameter is the distribution of weapons around the world, then the result will be one, but if we take the effectiveness of weapons as a basis, it will be another, reliability – a third, and so on. But I hope that my rating turned out to be more objective than the Discovery Channel rating.

FAMAS

An assault rifle created by the French arms company MAS. Equipped with a Bull-Pap system and an adjustable dioptic sight. Additionally, the machine has a slot for installing an optical sight.

FAMAS characteristics:

Weight without cartridges - 3.6 kg;
Caliber - 5.56;
Magazine capacity – 25 rounds;
Sighting range of fire – 300 m;
Bullet departure speed – 960 m per second;
The number of rounds per minute is up to 1000.

Other features of the model include a system for switching the type of fire (single, continuous bursts and 3 shots), as well as the ability to hit moving targets from both the right and left shoulders.

NK 416 and NK 417

The German development was based on the M-16 and G-36. These machines are easy to operate, undemanding to the conditions of use, and their performance characteristics are quite high. In terms of ergonomics and the location of the main parts, they are almost identical to the M-16. Like the weapons of the SCAR family, they are made according to the principle of modularity. That is, in case of failure, usually only the replacement of the failed module is required. A special feature of the weapon is the ability to be equipped with barrels of different lengths. This significantly increases versatility and allows the weapon to be adapted to specific combat missions. Four Picatinny rails allow you to equip the weapon with a variety of additional accessories. It is possible to install bipods. The butt can be placed in one of five positions, adapting it to the anatomical features of the shooter.

This weapon has considerable weight, quite strong recoil and impressive dimensions. But it has a relatively high lethality.

M16

An automatic rifle produced by the American Colt's Manufacturing Company. The weapon is powered by a gas engine and is equipped with an improved bolt carrier and a dioptic sight. The M16 manufacturing process uses steel, durable plastic and aluminum.

Machine characteristics:

The weight of the structure without belt and magazine is 2880 grams;
Compatible with 5.56x45 NATO and .338 Spectrum calibers;
Magazine capacity – 20 or 30 rounds;
Firing range (sighting) – 450 m;
Initial bullet speed per second – 990 m;
Rate of fire – up to 750 per minute.

Barrett REC7

The weapon was developed for a new type of cartridge, which has already proven itself. Having become famous thanks to large-caliber rifles, it began developing assault rifles relatively recently, but this did not prevent the very first mass-produced model from taking its rightful place in the ranking “The best assault rifles in the world: top 10.”

Distinctive features of the machine gun are high reliability, accuracy of fire, and rate of fire.

SIG SG 550

Swiss assault rifle, which went into mass production in 1979. It was a worthy replacement for the then outdated SIG SG 510. Unlike its predecessor, the SG 550 has a top-mounted bolt handle that can be pulled from both sides of the weapon, and an improved system for switching fire from single shots to continuous or fixed bursts.

Other characteristics of the SIG SG 550:

Weight with magazine without cartridges - 4100 grams;
Caliber – 5.56x46;
4 types of box magazines for 5, 10, 20 and 30 rounds;
Aimed firing range – 0.4 km;
Bullet departure speed – up to 980 m per second;
The frequency of shots is up to 700 per minute.

Uzi

A compact and fairly powerful automatic pistol developed by the Israeli arms company Israel Military Industries in 1953. The reason for the creation of a new type of weapon was the need to provide the Israeli army with easy-to-use and effective small arms. Since 1954, Uzi began to be used for combat operations in the sandy desert and in areas with difficult weather conditions.

Characteristics of the classic Uzi:

Weight – 3.5 kg;
Compatible with 9x19 Parabellum cartridges;
Magazine capacity - 25, 32, 50, 50 or 62 rounds;
Firing range – 200 m;
Initial bullet speed – 0.4 km per second;
The number of rounds per minute is up to 600.

Powerful German rifles

Automatic rifle NK G36

German G-36 automatic rifle.
gas outlet type. From the bore, gases are vented from the barrel through a side hole. The rifle can be equipped with collimator and optical sights, a bayonet knife, and an under-barrel grenade launcher. According to Russian experts, the quality of single shooting from it is higher than from the AK-74.

Automatic rifles NK 41 and NK 416

The German automatic rifles NK 41 and NK 416 are made on the basis of merging the best qualities of the G36 and M16 rifles into one product. Considering their advantages, we can confidently speak about the notorious German quality. They have high killing characteristics, are easy to maintain, and are resistant to moisture and dust. However, more specific conclusions can be drawn when these weapons show themselves en masse in real combat operations.

FN SCAR-H CQC

A powerful combat assault rifle designed specifically for military operations that require quick action. The weapon developer is FN Herstal (Belgium). Features of the model that distinguish it from other similar assault rifles: low recoil, strong body, high accuracy and accuracy with single shots and firing in bursts.

Characteristics of FN SCAR-H CQC:

Structure weight – 3500 grams;
Caliber - 7.62;
Magazine capacity – 20 rounds;
Sighting range – 0.5 km;
The speed of the bullet upon departure is 800 m per second;
Rate of fire – up to 600.

In addition to the FN SCAR-H CQC model, there are several other types of rifles, but only this one is considered the best option for close combat. The rest are suitable for snipers.

How to choose an automatic switch

People who are not electrically savvy mistakenly assume that a device with a high current rating will be the best option. But if you take an option for your home that can withstand high power, it will be a big mistake. In the event of an overload that the cable cannot withstand, the circuit will not break. The machine will not consider this situation an overload, since it is designed for a different rated current. In this case, rupture will occur only in the event of a short circuit, and before that a fire may already start due to melting of the cable. If the product is designed for less power, then frequent shutdowns will occur when turning on household appliances. And thus the machine will quickly fail.

So, in order for the device to optimally match your electrical circuit, you need to select it based on the cross-section of the wires. And in order to choose the right cable cross-section, you need to take into account the power of all the devices that will be available in the apartment.

If you have a single-phase network, you should use a two-pole machine for input. And for lighting and connecting individual high-power devices (water heater, air conditioner), a single-pole device is suitable.

In addition, pay attention to the manufacturer. It is better to give preference to proven brands that have proven themselves in the market. Products from a little-known company may not correspond to the declared parameters; in this case, the machine may not operate if overloaded or short-circuited. And this will lead to damage to electrical appliances, wiring, and may even cause a fire.

Bushmaster ACR 3

A powerful and accurate automatic rifle manufactured by Bushmaster Firearms International (USA). Supplied complete with a sector magazine that complies with the STANAG standard, and is equipped with a Picatinny rail for mounting any type of sight. The body of the weapon is made of aluminum and impact-resistant plastic, which easily withstands both high and low temperatures.

Bushmaster ACR 3 Specifications:

Weight with full uniform – 4.4 kg;
Compatible with caliber 5.56 and 7.62;
Magazine capacity – 30 rounds;
Sighting range of fire – up to 500 m;
The initial speed of the bullet is 0.5 km per second;
The number of rounds per minute is up to 600.

The disadvantage of the Bushmaster ACR 3 is its high cost. The basic configuration of the rifle will cost at least $2,700.

Fourth position.Tavor Assault Rifle-21

The Israeli Tavor Assault Rifle-21 assault rifle was not included in the top three models of automatic small arms. The reason for this, according to some military experts, was its high cost: the price of one unit is 1 thousand dollars. However, this model was designed as a weapon of the future, which is reflected in its name. The machine is light in weight. A standard Picatinny rail has been developed for it, thanks to which the weapon can be equipped with the most modern optics.

Ferfrans HVLAR

A powerful machine gun developed by the American company Ferfrans Specialties in the Philippines. The main feature of the model was low recoil when firing. It is also worth noting its compatibility with various types of sights and an improved system for switching the firing mode from single to bursts of 30-100 rounds.

Characteristics of Ferfrans HVLAR:

Weight – 9500 grams;
Caliber – 5.56 Any Mil Spec and .223 NATO;
Magazine capacity – 40, 60 and 100 rounds;
Sighting range – 600 m;
Initial bullet speed – 780 m per second;
Rate of fire – up to 700 per minute.