What do you think is the most influential firearm of the 20th century? Please limit the discussion to conventional firearms, not nukes/wmd.

My vote is for the ak-47:
- Brought automatic rifle firepower to the masses.
- Is highly reliable under all circumstances.
- It is extremely CHEAP! You can get one for $275 in the US and $30 or less in others!
- An old design that is still feared by the mighty US armed forces.
- Killed more people than Hitler (not documented, just an educated guess :D )

http://images.gunsamerica.com/upload/976308564-1.jpg

http://images.gunsamerica.com/upload/976504849-1.jpg

The machine gun.

The flamethrower.

Ak-47

The reason the AK 47 was a popular weapon was because it was simple. It could easily be assembled and had less parts than the M-16. It was the weapon of choice for guerilla armies for this reason.

The reason the AK 47 was a popular weapon was because it was simple. It could easily be assembled and had less parts than the M-16. It was the weapon of choice for guerilla armies for this reason.You could also cover it with mud, leave it for a year, come back, kick it, and it would still fire.

Has any firearm been used as extensively as the AK-47?

Has any firearm been used as extensively as the AK-47?I can't think of any

My vote is for the ak-47:
- Brought automatic rifle firepower to the masses.
- Is highly reliable under all circumstances.
- It is extremely CHEAP! You can get one for $275 in the US and $30 or less in others!
- An old design that is still feared by the mighty US armed forces.
- Killed more people than Hitler (not documented, just an educated guess :D )

Battle tested, guerilla approved.

The most influential firearm? I don't even have a clue. The tommy gun, off the top of my head.

The most influential firearm? I don't even have a clue. The tommy gun, off the top of my head.Ahhhhh, good call :nice:

phaser

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong but I believe the M-16 is more accurate than the AK 47 which is why the US army favors this weapon.

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong but I believe the M-16 is more accurate than the AK 47 which is why the US army favors this weapon.You are correct. However, the AK is known for its reliability. The M-16 is notorious for jamming.

The ak is also more powerful shot for shot then the ar-15. The ar-15/m-16 is also 2x to 4x the price of an AK in the US.

*The colt .45 repeating revolver was pretty influential, as it helped tame the wild west.
*Also the Army spec 1911 pistol saved thousands of american lives over the years and proved its usefulness in WWII and in 'Nam - it has become a standard for power, simplicity, and reliability.
*Another good one is the RPG, which has been feared by humvee drivers and chopper pilots for decades.

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong but I believe the M-16 is more accurate than the AK 47 which is why the US army favors this weapon.

I also believe we use it because of the round it fires. It fires the 5.56 instead of the Ak's 7.62. The 7.62 round was found to go right through the body when it hits you but the 5.56 was found to hit you in one point, bounce around in the body and fly out a different place compared to where it went in. Also, the weight of the different rounds can be found in when you are carrying lots of them.

I would also say the M1 grand could be considered one of the most influencial guns in history with their wide usage in World War 2.

Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR)
The water cooled German Maxim MG machine gun.
The water cooled British Vickers MkI machine gun.
The water cooled American 1917 Browning machine gun.

No one gun is the most influential. Each design was borne of the need for something better than the other guy had.

Definately the AK.

Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR)
The water cooled German Maxim MG machine gun.
The water cooled British Vickers MkI machine gun.
The water cooled American 1917 Browning machine gun.

No one gun is the most influential. Each design was borne of the need for something better than the other guy had.But Pony, you have to admit, the Tommy Gun is one of the most influetial.

But Pony, you have to admit, the Tommy Gun is one of the most influetial.
On the American scene, yes. It was adopted, along with the BAR, by the gangsters. In WWII it played a limited role though. In the over all scheme of things the Tommy Gun was outshined by numerous other firearms, such as John Browning's 1911 design.

In WWII it played a limited role though. In the over all scheme of things the Tommy Gun was outshined by numerous other firearms, such as John Browning's 1911 design.

I was going to say the 1911.

M1918 and ak-47 were pretty influential.
but ill say that bullpup is the new thing. it is gonna be extremely influencial in the 21th century
check it out!
bullpup (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_F2000)

Tough question, which firearm was the most influential. The three I would give equal wieght to are the Springfield 1903 30-40, the German Mauser, which influenced the Springfield and later rifles, and the M-1 Garand was probably the best military rifle of the century, and is still a very effective rifle, though with the poor caliber of marksmanship and military training these days I'm sure most would prefer one of the later AR's.

The 16 was not really the weapon of choice at the time. The Stoner probably was. General LeMay influenced the decision to buy the 16 when he made the decision to buy about 60,000 for the USAF. The M-16 initially had problems with jamming under adverse conditions until an improved barrel was provided. I liked the old M-1 carbine rather than the 16 although it wasn't that influential. For sheer numbers the weapon of choice has to the the AK-47 and derivatives. The thing is made all over the world and is used all over the world.

The M-16 initially had problems with jamming under adverse conditions until an improved barrel was provided.
Improved barrel twist and chromed chambers were the two major changes resulting from it's introduction in Vietnam.

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong but I believe the M-16 is more accurate than the AK 47 which is why the US army favors this weapon.
yes, US favored always a more rifle-based doctrine. but russia and others favored a more smg. thats why the M16 only fired three-burst and semi.

ill say the mauser defenitly had an enormious influence. its the kind of bolt rifles. and its better than M1903

To throw a bit more into the game, I believe the 9mm round has killed or wounded more people that any other. Read that somewhere, but don't remember when or where. Ponycar is absolutely right about the barrel and chamber of the M-16

yeah he is.

i personally like BAR, k98k, and the MP40. very nice (althrough the BAR was prone to jamming) firearms.
most legendary ones are.
ak47
m16
mp40
M1913
k98k
uzi
and the kickass enfield

ooh, I forgot about the enfield. That bad boy tamed the British empire and served through WW1 (it evolved over the years). I actually have a 1901? model in .303 British - the actual bullet on this thing is bigger and heavier than a 30-06 if you can believe that!