Most Exciting Modern Rifle Development

[Run&Shoot]

#1 rifle improvement I think is semi-auto centerfires.

#2 would be practical optics (I think there were some crude rifle scopes as far back as the Civil war, but there weren't any commonly available to military or sportsmen until the 20th century)

#3 since I live in a humid coastal area: stainless steel construction

 

[Neckshot5seven]

CNC machines!! able to churn out exact clones by the containershipload

 

[theotherwaldo]

Since 1901: What PremiumSauces said

Since 2001: The end of the Federal assault weapon ban!

 

[Smaug]

To me, it is the improvement of scope technology. Multi-coating, nitrogen purging, etc.

My great uncle had an old Weaver scope on his Marlin 39A, and it was just pitiful compared to what is available today.

Rifle technology hasn't changed much since the 1960s. I think better scopes are more important than semi-auto.

 

[Loomis]

I would like to see cartridge cases made of high strength aluminum alloy and chamber pressures bumped up by 50% or more. Aluminum is stronger than brass and should withstand much higher chamber pressures than old fashioned brass.

Also, we need to start moving beyond the firing pin. I'm thinking high intensity lasers to ignite primers.

Take these two concepts(aluminum cases, and laser ignition primers) and apply them to our military m16 commando, maybe we could coax a mile-a-second out of a 223 caliber m16 with a 10" barrel, and accurate to boot.

That would be something.

 

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

I would also have to say computers. Instead of trial and error, building prototypes and such on a workbench and seeing what works, we can now design and even partially test rifles all virtually.

Second I will say polymers. Rifles can be made much stronger, but lighter than wood. Soldiers everywhere have benefited from the improvement over older heavy wooden designs.

Third, rails. Now a rifle can be changed to fit the needs of the person using it. Scopes for long range shots, with a bi-pod underneath for stability. Or take them off and add a red-dot sight and a forward grip for faster close range shooting. You can add or remove iron sights as backups or as main sights. You can even add night vision, put sling swivels anywhere. Rails allow a rifle to be changed to fit the needs and wants of the user, and whatever type of shooting he is doing.

 

[benEzra]

Small- and intermediate-caliber civilian EBR's, particularly the AR-15 and U.S.-market civvie AK derivatives.

Optics.

Lights and rails.

Autoloading pistols that are reliable with JHP's.

I also really like the Kel-Tec RFB concept, but it's not on the market yet, so we'll see how well it works.

 

[amprecon]

I think the XCR and LWRC AR style/type rifles with the piston driven actions and integral rails are the hottest thing going. I just wish the 6.8SPC would catch on in a bigger and more vast way, it appears to be the perfect upper-intermediate class round.
It kind of reminds me of the .40s&w and how they were able to put a more powerful round into the same platforms the 9mm used.