This seems like a decent place to ask.
I'm working on a sci fi setting for a novel and for tabletop, set primarily in a colony that is sort of the space equivalent of a very niche petro-state. Not a big fish outside of their own planet but with a strong focus on self-reliance and propped up by extraplanetary trade / investment.
It was clear to me that this colony needs to use some futuristic derivative of either the AR18 or AK, or perhaps even both, but I'm having trouble deciding which would be more appealing.
Any thoughts?