if you could design a rifle, what would it be?...

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You might want to look at the previously mentioned .338 Spectre and other wildcats based on the 10mm case. There's a good chance that what you want, might already be made.
 
the overall length of that .338 round is the same as a .223 with less power... so would rather take a .223 over that.. i wish the 6.8 SPC had gained more popularity, thats a nice round, as is the version of it necked up to .30 cal... but, i think the .300 AAC blackout would be a nice selection for a new rifle
 
I would design a mechanism that allows the operator to choose between open- and closed-bolt operation, that way you can decide between a open-bolt for lower chance of overheating, or closed bolt for harsh enviroments where clogging is a problem. Short-stroke gas piston system similar to the M6A2 PSD
Either 6.8mm or 7.62mm NATO Caliber, If a 6.8 it would feed from a 30 round box or 100 round Beta C-mag, if in 7.62mm NATO, it would feed from a 20 round box or 80 round drum.
The gun would probably be a IAR(Ifantry Automatic Rifle) With one of those foregrips that doubles as a bipod. M-16 pistol grip with Magpul stock and Quad-rail handguard. 1.5x Red Dot sight and a two-position gas valve regulator, choice between 600 rpm or 900 rpm.
 
Jason, your design parameters seem to be fluctuating?
Sorry, I just can’t seem to nail down the idea of what you’re looking for, at least not enough to be of any help. I thought it was .30 or above bullet dia. in a small diameter case and of intermediate power. Oh well, I guess I'm still confused?

ME, while extremely important, isn’t the be all and end all of performance. Bullet diameter, shape, and weight also play a huge part in determining how well a particular job is done by the bullet. Design concept is always done in reverse; whether you are attempting to copy an existing piece of technology, or figuring out how to achieve a specific goal. Decide upon a goal(what the bullet needs to do). Reverse time in your mind, using your goal as the anchoring point, rather than trying to build something from scratch using the beginning of the prototype as your anchor. The thought process of creation, involves reversing the thermodynamic arrow of time, imo... from end all the way to the beginning. Creation is the beginning and end. All else is engineering in reverse (done in your mind), and engineering foreward (done by hand).

Without the military adopting the 6.8 SPC, it was doomed to failure in the civilian market. Aside from a very narrow niche. (and other, already established, civilian rounds are in production that fill the niche quite nicely), anything it can do, either the .308 or .223 can do better. I suspect that the military came to pretty much the same conclusion due to practical concerns.
 
animal, i was just discussing multiple ideas.. it seems the best youd get with a 357 mag or .30 carbine would be whatevers possible with leverevolution bullets

gunnut17s idea of a mag-fed LMG is pretty good, and designing something that could operate from a closed or open bolt doesnt seem too difficult either
 
gunnut17s idea of a mag-fed LMG is pretty good, and designing something that could operate from a closed or open bolt doesnt seem too difficult either
Click to expand...
Actually, Mag- fed light machine guns(I assume that's what you meant by LMG) are actually quite common: The BAR, Bren light machine gun, HK M27 IAR, and LWRC M6A4 are all magazine-fed.
 
you forgot MG36, russian RPKs, and so forth... thats not uncommon, just the open/closed bolt is, and wouldnt be particularly hard to do either
 
My father designed a lot of guns.
There is a calculator in one hand and a telephone with a US representative or US senator in the other.

You walk into Rock Island Arsenal with the greatest gun design ever, and you will be greeted with, "So, what else is new?"

The way it works is, you receive an RFQ [request for quotation].

What does is all mean?
You can't sell your own idea of a gun.
You must design per what some mediocre bureaucrat defines.
And to win the proposal, it matters in which state you reside.
 
There have been several designs of autorifle/LMG built to fire closed bolt semi, open bolt full. The Johnson LMG did. I gather that it was concluded that the feature was not worth the mechanical complication because there was seldom a use for slow semiauto fire from a LMG. Kind of like the magazine disconnector on a 1903 Springfield, built to an obsolete doctrine of preventing dumb soldiers from "wasting ammunition."
 
oops. Man am I embarrassed ! ... brought a design hat to a brainstorm ... sorry about that, chief !:o

here’s my weirdest idea so you guys can laugh ...:D
sabot encased projectiles are scooped up and aligned with the barrel by a cam (no cartridge). The firing chamber behind the cam has electronically controlled injectors to meter a liquid solution of hydrazine and other, more nasty stuff. Firing is by a high voltage spark. This was from musings in 1980 or so. . . for a deck mounted machine gun. :rolleyes::o
 
the greatest gun design doesnt exist.. if it did then there wouldnt be any fun in collecting anymore, there would be no variety, so i hope the greatest design is never found.. until then i enjoy seeing all the different designs and ideas out there
 
i seem to come up with a lot of good ideas... problem is they seem to be thought up first.. the floating chamber, even considered a rack and pinion for a lever action, then upon further study of a browning BLR found someone whos already done it.... maybe i shouldnt look to make something new, but possibly recapture something old, but different in some way
 
Whatever you want, dude. That’s kinda the beauty of it. Whether you use old ideas in an innovative way, come up with a new combination, or something entirely new; your contribution to progress is still yours.
Never get discouraged. In the middle of thousands of mistakes, you might find one gem that makes it all worthwhile; or the fun of trying can be its own reward. It might sound sappy, but its also true.
 
You gotta get off the World Wide Web of Misinformation and start bending metal. Light bulb over the head inspiration and total innovation aren't required, function is.
 
while its not a rifle, i would like to see a rather large handgun, six shooter chambered for 45 long colt. old school break down style with case ejectors. the gun fires on the bottom chamber on the cylinder at the 6 oclock position with a square counter weight running the length of an 8 inch barrel. for pics, just google the images for trigun. used to watch that show a few years ago. would love to own one of those.
 
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