I've been reading many threads recently, and have sparked a new idea- What would the perfect small-arm be?
1. Lightweight - under 6.5 lbs
2. durable
3. accurate - under 2 MOA
4. low recoil
5. compact
6. extremely adaptable - rail mounts, easily changeable barrels/stocks
7. Extremely reliable
8. Inexpensive
1. Lightweight
The three main things that really contribute to the gun's weight is the barrel, bolt, and ammunition. The only way the ammunition part can be solved is with caseless rounds, but that would drastically increase the gun's complexity, so we cannot do anything about the ammunition. Secondly, current barrels are made of steel. Titanium-coated aluminium would decrease the weight and increase barrel life, but if we put a very thin coat of titamium/carbon-steel mix, the price would not increase in price drastically, possibly $10. Thirdly, the bolt takes a huge beating every shot. Chrome-plated aluminium, like the AK series, would suffice.
2. Durable
The xm8 is the perfect example of the best material to use for the stock and foregrips. A space-age plastic works best. Mildly flexible, waterproof, and resistant to all weather, plastics are the best bet.
3. Accurate
I don't know much on how exactly to mae a gun extremely accurate, but I do know that the tighter the parts, usually the more accurate the gun. The bullpup design is extremely accurate, but the muzzle climb is very high, and compensators can make the gun extremely complicated and terefore jam. Not to mention that that the gun could not be ambidexterous without complex ejection systems like the FN F2000. Semi-automatic sniper rifles use roller-delayed blowback to keep the movement of the shell minimal. Also, the barrel never moves.
4. Low recoil
The AK 107 solves this problem brilliantly. It uses two bolts to nearly cancell-out the recoil. However, this increases weight. But, if we use two lightweight bolts to equally take the blow, this can solve the weight problem.
Also, the action of the gun can be placed lower on the shoulder of the operator to reduce muzzle-climb. Also, the use of low-recoil ammunition can be used, but would sacrifice power and long-range capabilities. However, since most combat is done within 250 yards, the use of large pistol rounds or heavier light rifle rounds would be best. I'll explain this later.
5. Compact
The bullpup design mainly takes care of this problem, but most bullpup guns are very complicated, and therefore jam. A short barrel would help, but would reduce accuracy and power a bit. But an adjustable or retractable stock for CQB would solve this problem without major drawbacks.
6. Extremely adaptable
Rail mounts would help for flashlights and grenade launchers, but sights would require resighting every time they get reattached. Again, the xm8 solves this problem with a special sight mount. A simple rail-mount adapter could do -- put the sight on the mount on the rail, so you can remove the sight without having to resight it, while being able to use older sights.
Also, interchangeable barrels wouldbe nice, too.
7. Extremely reliable
Both the AK seires and the xm8 have this quality, however they have dfferent ways to solve this. The AK series has the parts of the action loosely fitted so they can move with little friction. The xm8 uses an ingenious gas piston to keep the gases from blowing into the chamber.
8. Inexpensive
Usually, an inexpensive gun has fewer parts, and those parts are of poor quality. But If we eliminate almot half of the parts, we can drastically reduce the price. But how would we reduce the part count? The use of electronic triggers in paintball guns acan solve the problem. These use an electromagnet to release the firing pin. This reduces the amount of parts, reducing maintainance and cost. It also could enable use of semi and full-atuo, as well as 2 and 3-round bursts.
Conclusion
Specs and qualities of the perfect gun:
6.5 lbs
Roller-delayed blowack w/ gas piston
10", 14", or 20" barrels (interchangeable)
plastic grips, most exterior
dual-bolt design
rails EVERYWHERE
xm8-style sight adapter
electronic trigger mechanism
collapsable/retracting stock
newer ammunition
Really, the perfect gun would be a combination of the AK 107, mp5, xm8, and the FN SCAR.
Now to ammunition.
Take a .222 shell and put an 7mm bullet in it. That's the perfect round. 5.45 rounds have a weird hollow-point design that causes alot of trauma, but is also highly inaccurate. What also causes much trauma is a wider hollow-point or frangible bullet. This doesn't mean more energy, an fact a bit less, but it has more impact and will incapacitate an enemy with fewer shots. Also, a .357 Mangum would do quite well.
For long-range shots, a 6.8 SPC does very well.
Please do not go extremely into detail into this subject, as this is a gun, not ammo thread.
1. Lightweight - under 6.5 lbs
2. durable
3. accurate - under 2 MOA
4. low recoil
5. compact
6. extremely adaptable - rail mounts, easily changeable barrels/stocks
7. Extremely reliable
8. Inexpensive
1. Lightweight
The three main things that really contribute to the gun's weight is the barrel, bolt, and ammunition. The only way the ammunition part can be solved is with caseless rounds, but that would drastically increase the gun's complexity, so we cannot do anything about the ammunition. Secondly, current barrels are made of steel. Titanium-coated aluminium would decrease the weight and increase barrel life, but if we put a very thin coat of titamium/carbon-steel mix, the price would not increase in price drastically, possibly $10. Thirdly, the bolt takes a huge beating every shot. Chrome-plated aluminium, like the AK series, would suffice.
2. Durable
The xm8 is the perfect example of the best material to use for the stock and foregrips. A space-age plastic works best. Mildly flexible, waterproof, and resistant to all weather, plastics are the best bet.
3. Accurate
I don't know much on how exactly to mae a gun extremely accurate, but I do know that the tighter the parts, usually the more accurate the gun. The bullpup design is extremely accurate, but the muzzle climb is very high, and compensators can make the gun extremely complicated and terefore jam. Not to mention that that the gun could not be ambidexterous without complex ejection systems like the FN F2000. Semi-automatic sniper rifles use roller-delayed blowback to keep the movement of the shell minimal. Also, the barrel never moves.
4. Low recoil
The AK 107 solves this problem brilliantly. It uses two bolts to nearly cancell-out the recoil. However, this increases weight. But, if we use two lightweight bolts to equally take the blow, this can solve the weight problem.
Also, the action of the gun can be placed lower on the shoulder of the operator to reduce muzzle-climb. Also, the use of low-recoil ammunition can be used, but would sacrifice power and long-range capabilities. However, since most combat is done within 250 yards, the use of large pistol rounds or heavier light rifle rounds would be best. I'll explain this later.
5. Compact
The bullpup design mainly takes care of this problem, but most bullpup guns are very complicated, and therefore jam. A short barrel would help, but would reduce accuracy and power a bit. But an adjustable or retractable stock for CQB would solve this problem without major drawbacks.
6. Extremely adaptable
Rail mounts would help for flashlights and grenade launchers, but sights would require resighting every time they get reattached. Again, the xm8 solves this problem with a special sight mount. A simple rail-mount adapter could do -- put the sight on the mount on the rail, so you can remove the sight without having to resight it, while being able to use older sights.
Also, interchangeable barrels wouldbe nice, too.
7. Extremely reliable
Both the AK seires and the xm8 have this quality, however they have dfferent ways to solve this. The AK series has the parts of the action loosely fitted so they can move with little friction. The xm8 uses an ingenious gas piston to keep the gases from blowing into the chamber.
8. Inexpensive
Usually, an inexpensive gun has fewer parts, and those parts are of poor quality. But If we eliminate almot half of the parts, we can drastically reduce the price. But how would we reduce the part count? The use of electronic triggers in paintball guns acan solve the problem. These use an electromagnet to release the firing pin. This reduces the amount of parts, reducing maintainance and cost. It also could enable use of semi and full-atuo, as well as 2 and 3-round bursts.
Conclusion
Specs and qualities of the perfect gun:
6.5 lbs
Roller-delayed blowack w/ gas piston
10", 14", or 20" barrels (interchangeable)
plastic grips, most exterior
dual-bolt design
rails EVERYWHERE
xm8-style sight adapter
electronic trigger mechanism
collapsable/retracting stock
newer ammunition
Really, the perfect gun would be a combination of the AK 107, mp5, xm8, and the FN SCAR.
Now to ammunition.
Take a .222 shell and put an 7mm bullet in it. That's the perfect round. 5.45 rounds have a weird hollow-point design that causes alot of trauma, but is also highly inaccurate. What also causes much trauma is a wider hollow-point or frangible bullet. This doesn't mean more energy, an fact a bit less, but it has more impact and will incapacitate an enemy with fewer shots. Also, a .357 Mangum would do quite well.
For long-range shots, a 6.8 SPC does very well.
Please do not go extremely into detail into this subject, as this is a gun, not ammo thread.
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