MC-51 or M16?

MC-51 (3)

33%

M16 (6)

67%

Once again, I have a gun problem. When I was snooping around Andrew's Guns, I found a compact G3 battle rifle, more specially the MC-51. It's damage is a whopping 8-18, and uses 3 rounds an attack, making it somewhat more ammo conservative than my current weapon, the M16 (see the PKM, M16, and AA-12 problem). However, the clip size of the MC-51 is 20 rounds, while the M16's is 30, thus making it less effective against multiple enemies. While if I trade in my M16 it only costs about 1000$, the resale value of the MC-51 is pretty low considering it's cost. The MC-51 has 90 range, while the M16 has 120. And finally, the MC-51 is not usable in close combat, while the M16 is. If there is one other advantage over the M16 other than damage, it is that it weighs slightly less, but apart from that, the basic question is this: How far should I go to save ammo?

I say just stay with a rifle until you can get a minigun then go crazy

I think that you should stay on the M16. It's a good combination of range, firepower, burst shot and a big capacity. Though it might be a bit heavier and damage less, attacking from a bigger distance will give you way more advantage. Ammo capacity, specially on automatics, it's also quite important.
If I was you, I'd keep the M16.

To save ammo my advice is buy a SKS rife. Price: 4500. Required level: 1. Damage: 14-19. Range: 120. Caliber: 7.62. Clip size: 10. Burst cost: 1. Burst penalty: 0%. Cheap, no level required, good average damage, good range, normal ammo cost ($3 each one), good clip size, no burst penalty. Thats the weapon of my choise for start. Later think on automatic weapons for slaying hordes (since the -30% burst penalty pwnz you if you dont have high marksmanship ).

When you have relatively high level of both marksmanship and close combat, using the M16 is perfect because you never need to spend 1 SP to switch to a close combat weapon in any situation, and its damage output is higher than all semi automatic weapons.