What one firearm revolutionized the 20th century

[wrs916]

Like the title States....Which single firearm built in the 20th century, in your opinion revolutionized firearms in general and battlefield weaponry?

My choice would have to be the M1 Garand of WWII & Korea. I feel it gave us a huge edge in WWII as well as paved the way for the M14 (which it was built off of).

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[Gutz]

Like the title States....Which single firearm built in the 20th century, in your opinion revolutionized firearms in general and battlefield weaponry?

My choice would have to be the M1 Garand of WWII & Korea. I feel it gave us a huge edge in WWII as well as paved the way for the M14 (which it was built off of).

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That and maybe the 1911.

[glockman19]

1911 for sure

[catmman]

M1!

[Catch]

3d printed gun for 21st cen.

Glock? For striker fire pistols. 20th cen.

[Cool Custard]

1911

[ElvenSoul]

Maxim Machine Gun

Changed how wars where to be fought. Don't believe ask the English about Somme.

[kygen]

Maxim Machine Gun

Changed how wars where to be fought. Don't believe ask the English about Somme.

I second this

[JohnnyMtn]

How about the original Stoner AR? Seems like a design that incorporated aluminum and plastic as well as a smaller caliber transformed infantry across the globe. I'm not saying that the rifle itself transformed infantry tactics because the tactics change probably drove the rifle's design. Sort of chicken and the egg. But the success of that rifle got us away from large caliber battle rifles.

And for the record, I am a big fan of large caliber battle rifles. To me, there is nothing greater than the M1.

[NOTABIKER]

Maxim Machine Gun

Changed how wars where to be fought. Don't believe ask the English about Somme.

+ 1 second choice Mauser bolt action

[Springfield45]

I know it predates the 20th century but I would haft to say it had a major impact on future firearms tech and war fare.

1. 8mm Lebel Model 1886 rifle. It was the first infantry rifle that used smokeless powder and small, fast projectiles. It caused a cascade of new rifle technology that is still used today.


2. Maxim machine gun. first machine-gun. All so technically pre 20th century.

3. M1 Garand Rifle. First Viable, mass produced, self loading rifle.

4. STG 44 (Sturmgewehr 44, literally "storm [or assault] rifle model of 1944"). Opened the door for modern infantry rifles like the AK-47 and the M-16.

[db42]

I fail to see how any firearm could be suggested over the AK-47.
Makes a child into a child soldier for under $100 (bulk price).

[BumBum]

Maxim Machine Gun

Changed how wars where to be fought. Don't believe ask the English about Somme.

M1 Garand was certainly the most visible on the winner's side in the world's greatest war, but that's the extent of it. The machine gun is paramount in how wars in general are fought.

[stix213]

StG 44 did more to revolutionize firearms in the 20th century than any other firearm. All other military carbines since, and associated civilian variants, have their roots in the StG 44. The world of AR's, AK's, etc would not be the same, and might possibly not exist at all, without the StG 44 leading the way. It is the original "assault rifle" and had to be developed somewhat in secret because Hitler would have killed the project otherwise, until he held one in his own hands. Even the term "assault rifle" is the english translation of the name of this firearm, and has been used to describe the entire class ever since.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/StG_44

It beats the AK-47 because the AK-47 wouldn't exist without the StG 44. The AK was certainly an improvement, and became much more popular, but it wasn't as revolutionary to firearms.

The M1 garand was of course an important firearm, but it basically led to an evolutionary dead end in firearm design. With the M14 still keeping its spirit alive, there isn't much else though to point to.

[9mmepiphany]

The truly revolutionary gun of the 20th century was the Sturmgewehr 44 (StG 44)



It proved a capable replacement for full powered battle rifles in maneuver tactics and allowed controllable selective fire with it's intermediate cartridge

It was the forerunner of the AK-47 and all military rifles issued by most countries.

While the Garand was a very impressive rifle, all it really offered over the bolt action rifles was it's higher rate of fire. Most Armies have been armed with rifles designed to fight the last war, the StG 44 was the first designed to fight the next war