Ask Ian: Most Changed/Updated Rifle of the 20th Century? (ad-free)

The L85 should have won. Just on the number of magazine catches and shrouds. Not to mention dust covers, safety catches, triggers, bolt release catch, flash eliminators, rifle grenade retaining rings (we never had rifle grenades), hand guards and the list goes on. That’s just the A1.

Tony Pardoe

well one could argue di vs. piston. as lmg the shrike upper? not adopted though. that said if on consider ar18 based as the same system... that is a way way deeper rabbit hole. ar18 armalite to... g36, l85 so on so on.. .

Guido Schriewer

I would point out that the Lee system was also modified to both semi and full auto versions.

JacksonCZ

Without splitting hairs or re-parsing the question, almost too close to call. However, nice shirt!

I would question whether the AR-10 and AR-15 really count as the same rifle ditto the various AKish things? By that standard we could as well consider the G3 and MP5 the same. I'd argue that the M-14 saw more modification from the old steel and walnut iron sights to the chassis rails and sensors out the wazoo that it became while still being fundamentally the same gun.

Michael Quinn

The way I read this question I was thinking of the AR18. Committee bent into the SA80 then redesigned several times to make it functional. Definitely not worth the effort, a different rifle would have been a better solution at several points of its evolution.

Chris Jones

I agree with Nicholas. The AR has had variations from rifle to pistol. Folding stocks, solid stocks, adjustable stocks. So many variations in lowers from polys to billet and cast aluminum, I've even seen one that was machined from a casting made with recycled brass cases. The uppers? Besides the obvious gas and piston variations and picatinny rail covered heat shield/hand guards there are the chamberings. I have one in .17 Remington, .22LR, 7.62x39, and a .50 Beowulf. How many different cartridges has the AR been modified to accept? Now, how many has the AK been chambered in? Granted, these variations are not the result of original manufacturer's modifications and development, but I don't think that was the question. I think that Stoner's design of the M16/AR15 was meant for updates and changes.

Earl

I would argue the AR was more modified than the AK. The AR was adapted from a direct gas blowback to gas piston(416/417). Then there are 3 AR10 patterns with the DPMS, Knights, and now the HK pattern adopted by the army. Then there is the Sig Spear. And now the ar15 ish Spear LT. With that all in mind, I think the AR was more adapted than the AK.

Nicholas Farrar

I'd still keep the Mosin Nagant as a competitor in this race: LOOONG rifle, a bit shorter rifle, short rifle, carbine and "obrez" pistol, developed in maybe 20 countries during 100+ years. :)

Risto Alanko

Hard question. Forgot lineage of T65,T86 + ......both have many roles. Romanians & Zastava ....

RPD is a Degtyarev design, basically a scaled-down, belt-fed DPM. The PK/PKM, on the other hand...

Matt Haught

Agreed on the conclusion. Thanks.

Mrgunsngear

Not sure about 20th century but in the 21st I’d say it’s going to be any firearm made by SigSauer.

In the LMG role, I seem to remember a belt fed AR that fired from an open bolt, but maybe the RPD is an AK variant.

Steven E