Ideal assault rifle

Originally Posted by TerraN_EmpirE

Rail guns need too much power. just ask the navy they just got one to work but it eats power like nothing else so your rifle might end up looking and sounding and irradiating the user like the a portable nuclear proton reactor from ghost busters

Maybe not a rail gun, but a similar concept such as the metal storm, hand gun and area denial system. it uses an electronic ignition system to fire the bullets, allowing it to fire bullets at a much higher rate, yet fewer moving parts which means that there is less of a chance for it to jam. The handgun version of the metal storm fires 3 bullets a second, making it the most powerful and fastest in the world, imagine how much more fast and powerful it would be if the concept was adapted to a assault rifle

Originally Posted by stahlman

Maybe not a rail gun, but a similar concept such as the metal storm, hand gun and area denial system. it uses an electronic ignition system to fire the bullets, allowing it to fire bullets at a much higher rate, yet fewer moving parts which means that there is less of a chance for it to jam. The handgun version of the metal storm fires 3 bullets a second, making it the most powerful and fastest in the world, imagine how much more fast and powerful it would be if the concept was adapted to a assault rifle

What they don't tell you is practicality; Metal Storm might have a fast fire rate, but try getting a soldier to hulk enough ammo to last a firefight; not going to happen. Furthermore, reloading Metal Storm takes a long time, not something you want in a rapid firefight.

Originally Posted by Pointblank

What they don't tell you is practicality; Metal Storm might have a fast fire rate, but try getting a soldier to hulk enough ammo to last a firefight; not going to happen. Furthermore, reloading Metal Storm takes a long time, not something you want in a rapid firefight.

. true true.

for the time being and foreseeable future lasers, ion canons, micro missiles , and Rail guns are out. besides if it ain't broke don't fix it at least in methods of operation the best of the time being is a short stroke gas piston.

Originally Posted by TerraN_EmpirE

for the time being and foreseeable future lasers, ion canons, micro missiles , and Rail guns are out. besides if it ain't broke don't fix it at least in methods of operation the best of the time being is a short stroke gas piston.

So, I take it that a Phased Plasma Rifle in a 40-Watt Range is out of the running for consideration, then?

How about a major modification to the M-16? Just unscrew the receiver from the forward sight blade and screw on a a new receiver, say, a SCAR - Heavy?

Here's my $0.02 on a new rifle:

1) The deployment date will be set in near future, not far-future. So we'll stick with conventional ammo and not laser/plasma beams.

2) The rifle should extend to a "family" of products, such as sharpshooter variant, SMG variant, light MG variant, etc., like PLA's Type 95, Singapore's SAR-21, and the in-development XM-8:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...aporesguns.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...XM8-Poster.jpg

For logistic purposes the different variants should share many common components and use the same ammo type.

3) I like the 20mm/25mm "smart grenade" concept used in the OICW project, with smart air-burst rounds.

4) The rifle itself should be reasonably light, because all the friggin attachments will make it heavy.

5) With shortening military service times as a trend, the rifle needs to be easy to use for both right/left hand shooters. If anyone has experience, how easy is it to teach a left-handed person to shoot with right-hand?

6) The rifle should have digital ammunition counter that records rounds spent and time/date stamp.

i always thought that the best assult rifle was not a rifle but the man that uses it

Originally Posted by Norfolk

So, I take it that a Phased Plasma Rifle in a 40-Watt Range is out of the running for consideration, then?

How about a major modification to the M-16? Just unscrew the receiver from the forward sight blade and screw on a a new receiver, say, a SCAR - Heavy?

Wait that sounds like some thing I heard before...
[QUOTE-Kevin McKlung]“The best way to improve the AR15
is to unscrew the front sight and put
a new gun under it.” [/QUOTE]

6) The rifle should have digital ammunition counter that records rounds spent and time/date stamp.

power requirements and why bother? so now when you pull a slug from some militant ass you can have the medical examiner record when he was shot? why bother? I mean Keep it simple Stupid!! and besides in a lot of cases the mark would be gone because the bullet is supposed to fragment or might get mangled. besides the counters cause there own issues of light and weight and what if sand gets in it all you need is a polymer window ( look at the P MAG lever ) in the mag or a transparent mag.

5) With shortening military service times as a trend, the rifle needs to be easy to use for both right/left hand shooters. If anyone has experience, how easy is it to teach a left-handed person to shoot with right-hand?

I am not saying any thing about terms of service as a need but ambi and ergonomics is a must in CQC situations come up were a right handed shooter will shoot left handed and vise versa

4) The rifle itself should be reasonably light, because all the frigging attachments will make it heavy.

a good point but work should also be on making the add ons light

3) I like the 20mm/25mm "smart grenade" concept used in the OICW project, with smart air-burst rounds.

the problem is those rounds are also smaller in terms of wear heads so a compromise is to also make Air burst 40x46mm rounds for standard GL's and or carry the specialized GL and A PDW.

2) The rifle should extend to a "family" of products, such as sharpshooter variant, SMG variant, light MG variant, etc., like PLA's Type 95, Singapore's SAR-21, and the in-developmentCanceled but still kicked M4's Arse XM-8:

good point to a point..... Heh heh....
a three carbine system seems the best answer to me ( using a conventional lay out.if using a bullpup leave out the butt stock options)
A 9-11.5 inch barreled Personal defense weapon with either a telescopic or folding butt stock. a compensator has to be included as the smaller barrels generate more muzzle flash and sound.

A 12.5-16inch barreled carbine with bayonet lug ( note 14.5 was selected for the M4 because that was the shortest length the bayonet of the 1980's Us Army worked well with a new bayonet could be worked to function with shorter but I would still go with a 14.5 inch barrel.)Folding butt stock for Close quarters as a standard light infantry weapon.

A 18-20 inch heavy profile ( preferably with fluting as it eases cooling) bi pod equipped scoped ( a real scope not the ACOG like fitted to the Army SDMR) and an adjustable fixed stock. to function as a Para sniper or Designated marksman or special purpose rifle
Note I feel that a Automatic Rifle role should still be held by a Belt feed weapon like the M249( FN minimi) or HK MG4 or stoner LMG or other light belt fed weapon however a 16 - 18 inch heavy profile barrel with Beta C magazine folding or fixed stock and light weight bipod ( like a Grip pod) would fill the needs of those who can't live with out a Automatic rifle.

1) The deployment date will be set in near future, not far-future. So we'll stick with conventional ammo and not laser/plasma beams.

F^@(ing A! although I think scaling up to 6.8 would be nice the date of implementing such a system should be sooner then later and conventional Ammo is a big yes

thanks adeptitus for giving me some thing to rant off

and noone no thats the most powerful weapon not rifle. the rifle is a tool the Soldier/ marine is the weapon!

TerraN_EmpirE wrote:

Wait that sounds like some thing I heard before...

Kevin McKlung - The best way to improve the AR15 is to unscrew the front sight and put a new gun under it.

I just love that quote. And it is a simple and straightforward plan for remedial action...

Quote:

With shortening military service times as a trend, the rifle needs to be easy to use for both right/left hand shooters. If anyone has experience, how easy is it to teach a left-handed person to shoot with right-hand?

I am not saying any thing about terms of service as a need but ambi and ergonomics is a must in CQC situations come up were a right handed shooter will shoot left handed and vise versa

Not a major issue in particular, in most cases. The southpaws adapt; sure it feels weird to them, especially at first, but they adjust in reasonable time. In any case, shooting from only one side is applicable only on known distance ranges and jungle lanes, really. In the field, everyone is amidextrous, by necessity. They really should be trained as such too, but they rarely are. Issues of training time and resources.