Generations of rifle technologies

[upptick]

What do you think are the major innovations in American rifle/ammo technology starting with smokeless centerfire? Here's what I think:

1. Springfield with Mauser actions
2. 30.06 cartridges
3. Garand style self loaders
4. 308 family of cartridges with improved powder
5. Mass produced post ww2 hunting rifles
6. Widespread use of optics
7. Magnum cartridges
8. CnC precision machining
9. Cartridges designed for optimal ballistics like the Creedmore and prc

What's on your list?

 

[redcon1]

I feel like polymer type firearms in general should be #9. ETA: Oh, rifles only.

 

[General Geoff]

Too many incremental innovations that organically built up over the decades to really pinpoint which were the most important.

Rifle and cartridge ammunition technology aren't developed in a vacuum, IMO the parallel advancements made in metallurgy, machining, mass production, polymers, and more recently, computer aided design are the real backbone of small arms innovation in the 20th and 21st century.

 

[AlexanderA]

You should probably start with the Krag, which after all was the first smokeless. But you need to clarify if by "American" you include technology borrowed from abroad (for the Springfield, we were paying royalties to Mauser).

 

[Frostbite]

Winchester Model 70, Browning BAR, sealed scopes, fiber optic sights, .270 Winchester, decent recoil pads, synthetic stocks, muzzle brakes, suppressors (you lucky free people), ballistic coefficient research, sectional density improvements. Don't know if all American, but thanks for the ones that were you anyway.

 

[jdsingleshot]

Smokeless powder and noncorrosive primers.

 

[jmr40]

Nothing to disagree with, that seems well thought out, but I might add a couple. I would make "affordable, yet accurate budget rifles" #9 and move your #9 to #10 and add a #11. The introduction of accurate budget rifles has given shooters incredibly accurate rifles at a fraction of the cost of older traditional rifles. That probably starts with the Remington 788, but in recent years there have been multiple options.

And the explosion in the popularity of AR style rifles among shooters can't be ignored. I'd make that #11.

 

[Varminterror]

Controlled headspace bolt action actions - the big push the last several years has been to this level of interchangeability and consistent headspacing among bolt actions.

Nutted barrels probably deserves a nod as well.

 

[Jeff olson]

Probably the 1899 savage and the rotary magazine. Still one of the best innovations.

 

[Mk-211]

This...



Helped to design this...

Bell X-1



Bet JMB didn't know that he would also help design a plane to smash the sound barrier!

 

[Archie]

I collect and study (military) rifles of the First World War. As a result, I have to see the changes made thereafter.
The biggest change I have found is powder technology. The early rifles with smokeless cartridges were superior in several regards to prior (black powder) loadings. However I find I can load those same cartridges to greater velocities safely with some of the later powders. The short answer is 'slower' powders. Technical advancement (change).
I also note the rather drastic change from No jacketing to cupro-nickel jackets and then gilding metal jackets.
"Corrosive' primers to non-corrosive primers.
Bullet shape.
No doubt I've missed some.

 

[Eagle103]

Rangefinders and Nosler Partition bullets. For good measure the Leupold CDS dial. OK, not the rifle itself but they've changed hunting immeasurably. To me they're more important than having a "modern" cartridge.