Which is better in Call of Duty 4, the M16 or the AK-47?

I'm sort of new to the franchise, and I can't decide which weapon is better. I have used the M16 a lot and love its mid to long range capabilities, but I am hesitant to try the AK-47 because of the recoil and accuracy. I know it is stronger than the M16, so I can't really pinpoint which to use most. If you had to have one of them for the whole game, which would you choose and why?