Forces in CONUS generally aren't going to have to luxury of choosing between the AK and the M16 series. In the Southwest, there will be some FN FAL rifles available. However, sufficient FN rifles for the purpose of equipping a battalion-sized formation probably won't be available in very many locations. US forces in Texas may have captured a few AK series weapons, but we should bear in mind that Fifth US Army lost the big fight in 1999. If anything, Division Cuba, Fourth Mexican Army, and the local bandits are going to have the luxury of using or not using US equipment.
As a rule, I think CONUS-based forces are going to have to use whatever comes to hand. Although 111th Brigade captures a fair number of FN FAL in June 1998, along with other Mexican gear, the senior leadership tells Thomason to stick with the M16. He listens. The FALs go to 3rd AZSTAG Brigade.
SAMAD copes with the maintenance issues with a combination of training and lubrication. A chemist at University of Arizona at Tucson perfects a workable means of producing a silicone-type of lubricant to replace petroleum-based lubricants. Local gunsmiths working at Fort Huachuca devise a rather labor-intensive means of manufactuting new rifle barrels and other parts. Since Fort Huachuca has the luxury of training new recruits properly, thanks to a) all the dead people in Phoenix who won't be eating the food the federal government set aside for them and b) the victory over the Mexicans in the Battle of Southern Arizona and subsequent back-burner status enjoyed by SAMAD, the troops learn how to use and maintain their M16 rifles properly in the desert environment.
Not everyone has this luxury, of course. By early 2001, the M16s being used by the Shogun's army in Nevada are getting long in the tooth. Most of their small arms, though, are shotguns and hunting rifles.
It should be borne in mind, though, that a fair number of Bloc-style weapons were in civilian hands in the United States by the end of 1997. I read in 1996 or so that 10 million SKS rifles had come in from China before the trade was shut down. I bought one. It's not a prom queen, but it works well. SKS and AK-47/MAK-90 rifles probably would be prized for their durability. Standardizing them in any large unit might be a bit of a problem, though. Hm. I wonder if New America would have been in the market for scads of inexpensive SKS rifles. With new stocks for larger users, the SKS could make a veruy serviceable standard rifle for a New American cell. Food for thought...
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