I think you are talking about the first generation M-16s.

They've come along way since the Vietnam war.

It wasn't "pride" that kept us "using" improving the M-16. If you know anything about how our government procures "systems" for the military, you'd understand why we've stuck with it.

Nothing against the AK, its served its intended purpose which follows or followed typical Russian cold-war doctrine, which was to produce massive quantities of an item as relatively inexpensive as possible, with the thought of it being "disposable" and replaceable....