Kalashnikov Concern AKM vs Colt M4A1
Kalashnikov Concern AKM and Colt M4A1 are both rifle & long arms, compared here on public specifications. The Colt M4A1 leads on rate of fire (950 vs 600 rpm). Several Russia-origin figures here are manufacturer or state claims with limited independent verification, so treat this comparison as directional.
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Full data
Full spec sheet
 Kalashnikov Concern AKM
Wins 2/5 |  Colt M4A1
Wins 3/5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ||
| Effective range (m) | 350 m | 500 m ✓ |
| Rate of fire (rpm) | 600 rpm | 950 rpm ✓ |
| Muzzle velocity (m/s) | 715 m/s | 884 m/s ✓ |
| Firepower | ||
| Caliber (mm) | 7.6 mm | 5.6 mm |
| Ammunition | 30 | 30 |
| Physical | ||
| Length (m) | 0.88 m | 0.84 m |
| Empty weight (kg) | 3 kg | 3 kg |
| Crew | 1 | 1 |
| Program | ||
| Unit cost (USD) | N/A | $1,100 |
| Units built | 50,000,000 ✓ | 2,000,000 |
| Operator countries | 80 ✓ | 60 |
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper? +
The Colt M4A1 has the lower public unit-cost figure at 1,100 USD. Treat this as directional, defense pricing varies by contract and configuration.
Which has the higher effective range? +
The Colt M4A1 has the higher effective range at 500 m.
Which has the higher rate of fire? +
The Colt M4A1 has the higher rate of fire at 950 rpm.
Which has the higher muzzle velocity? +
The Colt M4A1 has the higher muzzle velocity at 884 m/s.
Which has the higher ammunition? +
The Kalashnikov Concern AKM has the higher ammunition at 30.
Which has the higher units built? +
The Kalashnikov Concern AKM has the higher units built at 50,000,000.
Is the Kalashnikov Concern AKM better than the Colt M4A1? +
On the public specs we track, the Colt M4A1 leads on 3 of 6 headline metrics, see the full spec sheet for the metric-by-metric breakdown.
Where does this comparison data come from? +
Every figure in the table is sourced from public manufacturer pages, defense-ministry releases and reference publications, and is verifiable on each system's spec page. WeaponSpecs does not accept vendor placement.
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