Well thought out firearms designs/features

Hi all,

I am making this thread to discuss features which you might think are smart/clever or well designed. It isn't really to discuss the whole firearm (every firearm has something or another that could be improved) but to discuss features you find unique, and distinctive. I am mainly doing this as I have been thinking about firearm design, and trying to come up with my ideas for my own designs (mostly just theoretical, however I am working on designing a .22 magazine at the moment).

For starters one idea I really like is for holding a cleaning rod. The Italian M91 Carcanos use a unique threaded portion at the top of the rod that screws into the nose cap rather than a threaded plug at the bottom of the cleaning rod channel. This has two major advantages. One it prevents the threads at the end from being cross threaded/stripped by screwing it improperly into the threaded plug at the bottom of the channel. Secondly it if dirt gets packed into the nose cap threaded portion you can just clean it out, unlike the threaded plug in the bottom of the cleaning rod channel.

The disadvantage is that it requires more machining of the nose cap, and the cleaning rod (however you do not require the threaded plug in the cleaning rod channel or having to cut out that portion).

Another feature I really like is when fixed magazines have a hinged floorplate like a on a Portuguese M1904 or SKS. The advantages being that you no longer need a bullet to empty the magazine if needed, which greatly helps with stoppages. The disadvantage is that it requires more machining.

Those are two I thought I would share for the moment, I am curious as to what others think are nifty ideas.

AR15 platform: (Finger Tip controls)
Main weapon operations can be carried out without removing hands from mainbody/grip.

Safety/FCS- Right thumb, 90* throws
Magazine release- Right index finger, magazine falls free without grasping
Bolt release- Left thumb with a mag housing supporting grip.

Aside from initial charging and stoppages the weapon can be operated and fired with hands near their "home" positions.

---------- Post added at 02:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:43 PM ----------

Modern Military rifles
Segmented cleaning rods, stored onboard rifle, easily swapped if 1 or more piece becomes bent. Allows assembly of full length cleaning rod and serves as a short tool handle for other brushes or a short jag.

Also serves as a probe, tripwire finder, and mine probe if nothing else is at hand.

---------- Post added at 02:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:47 PM ----------

Drop free magazines, the magazine can be on it's way clear of the rifle thanks to gravity while a fresh magazine is being loaded with the non-dominant hand. No need to handle a magazine twice.

Adding another two cool features.

The bolt closing on the rifle as soon as the magazine is inserted like on the EM-2 rifles. The advantage is it speeds up your reload times as you don't need to pull the bolt or hit the bolt release. Disadvantage is that if you don't want the rifle loaded when the magazine is inserted the bolt must be closed before hand (though for a combat rifle, that shouldn't be a issue).

Another one is the bolt closing when you squeeze the trigger like on the Farquhar-Hill rifle. First trigger pull closes the bolt, second fires the gun. The advantage is that it speeds up reloads, and as more of a advantage over the one listed above allows you to have the bolt open on the magazine well still not requiring you to move your hand to hit a bolt release or close the bolt.

I always really liked the sights used on guns like the M1917/P14 and Type 99 Arisaka, which are both peep sights but more importantly have both a battle setting, and flip up sights for more precise, longer range shooting. They were easy to use, durable, and pretty accurate too. If I was in the 30s or 40s designing a battle rifle a sight setup like that would be my choice. Similarly I always felt the flip sights on the M1 Carbine were much more practical for the gun's intended use than the sometimes finicky adjustable sights that came later.

Another clever thing on the Type 99 Arisaka are the tang extensions on the rear of the receiver and trigger guard assembly, which I guess were trying to prevent cracking or other damage in that area you sometimes see on other guns. Along with that, I think it was a smart use of resources to make the stocks two pieces.

When looking at safeties, the Mauser 98 safety is still my favorite on a bolt action or really any rifle out there. Right safe/bolt locked, middle the bolt opens for service or unloading/loading but blocks the sights so you don't confused and think it's ready to fire, then finally to the right is fire. Easy to learn, easy to understand on the clock and presumably under pressure.

Semi autos don't hold my interest so I can't say what I find super clever in one over another or how I would build one (depends on the intended use), but if I built a bolt action circa 1940 it'd look like a hybrid of a Type 99 and M1917. Cock on close variant of a Mauser action, tang extensions on the rear of the receiver and trigger guard on the stock, similar sights to those two guns (ideally mounted on the rear like an M1917), hinged floor plate with a release on the trigger guard, Mauser 98-style bayonet lug that doesn't impact the barrel in anyway with the bayonet on, Madsen-style rubber butt plate (always thought this was a nice touch), chrome bore, with the Mauser safety I like being the only thing I don't think you could really do. One bolt action I really want is a Mas36, I had the chance to buy one but don't want to stock any more ammo right now; it's a cool gun I'd like to study more as it was a bit different for it's time.

TT-33 Pistol (And others)

Magazine does not have feed lips, they are machined into the frame as part of the actual pistol. Prevents issues to the somewhat damage prone part of the magazine that can ruin an otherwise reliable gun.

Likely the best thought out magazine design for a rimmed round I would have to say goes to the M1893 Mannlicher system or M16 French Berthier system. Both ways the clip can be fully inserted into the magazine both directions (unlike the M88 style Mannlicher system), however still 100% prevents rimlock. The M16 also has a advantage of a dust cover on the bottom of the magazine (which I seriously wonder why most Mannlicher style rifle nations didn't adopt a similar cover for the bottom of the magazine). I think a rifle that used the M1893 Mannlicher clips in .303 British would be pretty interesting (like the Indonesian Dutch Mannlichers that have been converted).

Personally I am definitely mostly interested in bolt actions, though some early semi-automatics are interesting as well (just not as interesting to me).

Speaking to bolt actions, I suppose that rifles that have a empty magazine stop are a good operational feature, they make dry firing practice annoying but as a battlefield function I think they would be effective.

As someone most accustomed to Lee-Enfield and Mosin rifles, the concept surprised me when I fired a K98 for the first time and later bought a K31.

With a bolt action the safety is important to get right.

For example a Mosin is perhaps the worst method I can think of, the Arisaka and K31 are not far behind, each safe enough but clumsy to release quickly. The Mauser style is a very safe option but not quite as fast as a wing type or fore-to aft rocker. The Ross is merely "OK" smooth and simple but does not fall to hand quite as quickly as it should. The Lee-Enfield does it well, perhaps best of the surplus bolt actions for speed and ease of employment.

Triggers
For bolt action rifles I like a two stage, always have, some do it better than others, but I always prefer a two stage trigger for field and snap shooting work.

Features that are well thought out, smart. clever, versatile and well designed....... Let me think.......... If you really want to set the world on fire I'd design something incorporate/copy the childlike simplicity and reliability of the PKM followed by the GPMG/FN MAG

Some other examples of things I found neat are the front barrel band pin on the 1886 Portuguese Kropatschek which is held in place by the cleaning rod.

One of the best safeties I have seen on a bolt action would likely go to the P14 and M17 for simple speed of use. Another type of safety I think is well designed is the safety on the M1 Garand, easy to disengage and your finger is right by the trigger still. It is also easy to see if someone has there safety on from a quick glance since it is so obvious.

For cleaning kits likely one of the best designs is the design of the SKS cleaning kit. Everything is contained on the rifle, every little bit of it is used.