H
Handy
Guest
Been ruminating about this for awhile, and I thought I'd see how people would feel about a new type of autopistol platform that hopefully would offer enough compromises, variations and benefits to make most auto shooters happy (or at least not mad.)
The gun would have 3 important sub components with innovations in each:
Barrel/slide: I'm thinking a mechanically delayed blowback system with a fixed barrel. While not a typical setup, this system has proved immensely durable and accurate on military weapons ranging from 9mm pistols to 10mm subguns and .308 machineguns. It works and offers more accuracy for the money than a recoil system. Past systems have been expensive due to the complexity, but a new system with just two moving parts is possible.
The barrel/slides would be caliber specific and offered in all the standard combat calibers including the heavies, like 10mm and .45 Super. Each caliber would have a specific mechanical delay, recoil spring and slide mass - no forcing too much bullet into too little gun. Different slide/barrel lengths would be offered to allow anything from a long barrel hunter to a compact - see frames.
Trigger system: I tend to favor safetyless DA/SA systems, but understand the limitations of a heavy first shot. So I propose the gun be carried in DA (ten lbs. pull), but have a thumb lever that can be used to cock ONE of the dual mainsprings. As only one mainspring would be cocked by this cocking lever, the lever would not have very great resistance, but would remove half the spring pressure from the trigger, lowering it to around 6 to 7 lbs. All follow up shots would be SA; both springs and the hammer would be cocked. The cocking lever (once the springs are compressed) becomes a decocking lever, lowering either or both mainsprings to DA.
That may sound complicated, but doesn't need to be. Several other systems already use two mainsprings (USP LEM, Para DAO), and the dual use lever and cocking lever have already been seen in a variety of forms.
While not exactly cocked and locked, this system offers the Cond. 1 shooter a similar manual and light first shot, without the liability of a true safety or reliance on a very light carry trigger. The gun is also carried with no inertial parts cocked.
Modular gripframe: The main component of the "gun for everyone". By making the steel receiver consist of the rails, trigger system and frontstrap ONLY, you have a lot of options. All mags would have the mag release tab on the front of the mag where it contacts the front strap. By not having any built in side or back panels, the frame could be made to accomodate any shape of mag by installing the appropriate wrap around grip/magwell. Mated with the correct top end, a small and short grip unit would fit a single stack 9mm mag - making for a small pistol. Switch the top end and the grip - the gun is now a hi-cap 10mm.
The grips would be single piece molded plastic and cost less than ten dollars. Going from a 16 round 9mm to a 7 round 9mm would involve nothing more than removing the grip screw, sliding the grip off the frame and replacing it and the mag appropriately. Complete caliber changes would be the top end, grip and mag.
Obviously, this would only be a good idea if it is quality, works and isn't grossly expensive. But it could be done for a profit. The company need only build one frame for a whole line of pistols. Most top end parts would interchange. The only variety would be the grip frames (which are dirt cheap) and the mags.
The consumer gets a gun that can wear many hats, is as accurate as a revolver, very safe and simple for carry and is an expandable system - no need to ditch the gun if your caliber of preference changes, or your carry needs.
Feedback? Thanks!!
The gun would have 3 important sub components with innovations in each:
Barrel/slide: I'm thinking a mechanically delayed blowback system with a fixed barrel. While not a typical setup, this system has proved immensely durable and accurate on military weapons ranging from 9mm pistols to 10mm subguns and .308 machineguns. It works and offers more accuracy for the money than a recoil system. Past systems have been expensive due to the complexity, but a new system with just two moving parts is possible.
The barrel/slides would be caliber specific and offered in all the standard combat calibers including the heavies, like 10mm and .45 Super. Each caliber would have a specific mechanical delay, recoil spring and slide mass - no forcing too much bullet into too little gun. Different slide/barrel lengths would be offered to allow anything from a long barrel hunter to a compact - see frames.
Trigger system: I tend to favor safetyless DA/SA systems, but understand the limitations of a heavy first shot. So I propose the gun be carried in DA (ten lbs. pull), but have a thumb lever that can be used to cock ONE of the dual mainsprings. As only one mainspring would be cocked by this cocking lever, the lever would not have very great resistance, but would remove half the spring pressure from the trigger, lowering it to around 6 to 7 lbs. All follow up shots would be SA; both springs and the hammer would be cocked. The cocking lever (once the springs are compressed) becomes a decocking lever, lowering either or both mainsprings to DA.
That may sound complicated, but doesn't need to be. Several other systems already use two mainsprings (USP LEM, Para DAO), and the dual use lever and cocking lever have already been seen in a variety of forms.
While not exactly cocked and locked, this system offers the Cond. 1 shooter a similar manual and light first shot, without the liability of a true safety or reliance on a very light carry trigger. The gun is also carried with no inertial parts cocked.
Modular gripframe: The main component of the "gun for everyone". By making the steel receiver consist of the rails, trigger system and frontstrap ONLY, you have a lot of options. All mags would have the mag release tab on the front of the mag where it contacts the front strap. By not having any built in side or back panels, the frame could be made to accomodate any shape of mag by installing the appropriate wrap around grip/magwell. Mated with the correct top end, a small and short grip unit would fit a single stack 9mm mag - making for a small pistol. Switch the top end and the grip - the gun is now a hi-cap 10mm.
The grips would be single piece molded plastic and cost less than ten dollars. Going from a 16 round 9mm to a 7 round 9mm would involve nothing more than removing the grip screw, sliding the grip off the frame and replacing it and the mag appropriately. Complete caliber changes would be the top end, grip and mag.
Obviously, this would only be a good idea if it is quality, works and isn't grossly expensive. But it could be done for a profit. The company need only build one frame for a whole line of pistols. Most top end parts would interchange. The only variety would be the grip frames (which are dirt cheap) and the mags.
The consumer gets a gun that can wear many hats, is as accurate as a revolver, very safe and simple for carry and is an expandable system - no need to ditch the gun if your caliber of preference changes, or your carry needs.
Feedback? Thanks!!
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