Why I Hate the AR-15
I know, I just kicked the sacred cow
Source: Wikimedia
The reason I dislike the AR platform is not because of what it does badly. For the record, there are many issues, but this platform isn't nearly as bad as some others. The reason I don't like it is actually because it did a lot of things well, or at least good enough.
If it ain't broke...
Across the world, and here in the states we have seen a common trend, when military equipment is in need of replacements, more often than not we see an adoption of the M4, M16, or a derivative like the HK416. Why bother developing something new when you can just adopt something that works. I see nothing wrong with that logic, but without attempts to innovate, we don't know what we are missing at all. Look at the lists of countries who have adopted the aforementioned rifles and you will see my point. Let's take a trip down memory lane to former military rifles and we can see what we could be missing out on if those projects had continued. In particular, there is one action I think should be revisited with modern technology.
Delayed Blowback
Weapons like the French FAMAS series and the H&K G3 and MP5 all use various forms of delayed blowback. These methods of operation have many benefits over a gas system. There are no moving parts required to move the bolt carrier, no gas port in the barrel, and the barrel is fixed. This is a robust and simple system which has been shelved in place of the AR platform.
The FAMAS uses a lever delayed action.
This CETME C as well as the HK series of rifles used rollers in the bolt carrier to delay what would be a direct blowback action.
Look back and forward
I have presented one operating system which I believe needs more love, and what else could be out there that we have yet to see which could beat the modern AR derivatives by a country mile. Good enough doesn't mean perfect.
I don't know NEAR as much about guns as you do but it seems to me that there has been nothing NEW in the last fifty years or so. At least nothing that has made it to the commercial market.
Why is that I wonder?
I had high hopes for metal storm..but it never happened.
I mean I have book knowledge, but very limited practical knowledge (which is really what matters). Yeah it has been stale for a long time. I think the next revolution in the industry will probably be related to ammunition. That is the oldest factor with firearms to date. At the same time, good ideas never truly die, so it is valuable to look back at former ideas and see if there is something we missed and how we can improve in current year.