Simplest MODERN design?

[Precision]

Which firearm, when field-stripped, has the least amount of parts? I would assume that the less parts you have, the less chance of a malfunction. My money's on some sort of pump shotgun, but I wouldn't know. I guess the closer you get to one hunk of metal, maintenance would become simpler. Try to keep the list modern, because if I said "all guns" then technically some 12th century 1-piece hand-cannon from China would also qualify.

Are guns with less parts generally more reliable? Is the simplest design also robust?

 

[GCBurner]

Glock pistols, and the US Rifle M-14 are the two that come to mind first.

 

[P5 Guy]

Simple

If I remember correctly the Glock has the fewest number of parts. Does that make a firearm simple? Or does no tools required for disassembly make a design simple?

 

[Rick R]

If you're talking about a simple "field strip" most modern handguns are very simple. With the Glock / Walther P99/ Sigma / SIG type of handgun you normally have a frame, barrel, captured recoil spring and slide. Four pieces and nothing that's prone to going "SPROING!!!" off into the distance like some older designs. Most of their magazines are easily stripped, cleaned and reassembled too.

All of them are pretty reliable with good ammo. IMHO

 

[GCBurner]

The AK-47 is also pretty simple, I think it only has 52 parts overall, and only 8 moving parts.

 

[4thPointOfContact]

P90?
bolt, trigger pack, upper and receiver. The receiver just stays there and you're not supposed to disassemble it any farther than those three.

 

[tyeo098]

My makarov comes apart into 3 pieces.

Slide, spring, and frame.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

The Makarov, I believe, has between 30 and 40 parts....much fewer than the Walther PP series that it followed. The Russians took the German design and simplified it. I believe this makes it one of the simplest of modern design semi-autos. Anyone have a parts count, or know of any other ones with less parts?

 

[oneounceload]

Glocks have 34 , IIR

 

[we are not amused]

I believe the Raven Pistol had 31, including the two grip screws and clip.

Admittedly not a very reliable pistol.

 

[lobo9er]

desert eagle is pretty simple. About as easy as could be to strip.

 

[FROGO207]

My vote is for the NEF Handi Rifle. Few moving parts and field strips well. The trigger group is a PITA but does not need to come apart for any reason unless it is major.

M14, Mini 14, and Mini 30 all are that classic 3 piece strip down to clean. No tools required other than a bullet to pry with IIRC.

 

[Sam Cade]

The Caracal has 28.

http://caracal-arms.info/caracal-pistol/caracal-pistol.html

Feels good in the hand too.


The simplest modern firearms are open bolt full auto submachine guns like the STEN,M3 or Carl Gustav M/45.

 

[Strykervet]

A single shot rifle IS considered modern by the ATF...

That said, I think that the simplest design is the one that not only has fewer parts and moving parts, and is easy to take down with no tools, but is also simple to manufacture and has a wide range of tolerance between parts.

This would certainly put the AK near the top of the list. Not my favorite rifle, but it is rugged and simple.

I think lots of bolt actions qualify too. For the hangun, the Glock is pretty simple and hard to beat. The AK of pistols if you will. The Liberty pistol is also pretty simple, but it is junk too. And like the above post, most open bolt SMG designs are pretty simple.

 

[hammerklavier]

The makarov has 30 and that's including the 4 parts of the magazine. The grip also has 4 parts. Several parts do double duty, for instance the safety is also a decocker and a firing pin retainer. Pretty amazing, and a very reliable pistol, also.

 

[Sam1911]

I would think that some of the more basic open-bolt submachine guns (Mac-10 or 11/9, or CarlGustav 45/S&W76/Swedish K/Port Said, or M3 Grease Gun, Sten, etc.) would be by far the "simplest" -- having both few parts and a fire-control group that does nothing more tha get out of the way of the bolt.

 

[Sunliner]

Single action revolver.

 

[VA27]

DA revolver. Open the cylinder, clean, close the cylinder. No loose parts, no pesky magazines.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I agree with Sam1911. Something like the MAC 10/11 is pretty elemental...the M3 Greasegun is even simpler as it doesn't even have a cocking handle.

In a handgun, I'm thinking the first production polymer pistol...the H&K VZ70

 

[Babarsac]

The Uzi I used to have would tear down very easily, nifty little weapon.

 

[56hawk]

Supprised no one has mentioned the Liberator. And in case you were wondering there is a company making new ones. http://www.vintageordnance.com/

The Liberator had just 23 largely stamped and turned steel parts that were cheap and easy to manufacture.

 

[230RN]

Ruger Standard .22 pistol field strips to:

Barrel/frame lock pin assembly
Barrel/receiver
Bolt
Recoil spring assembly
Frame

This, in about three seconds.

Putting it back together takes about thirty seconds if you get the hammer strut into the mainspring plunger right the first time.


I haven't taken the Model II apart because I understand it causes strong men such as myself to cry.

Terry, 230RN

 

[mortablunt]

Sten
Glock
AKM
M14

Naturally, semiautomatics without a fire control group will be the simplest.

SVT-40 is simple
M1a is simple
AR15 is simple
Mossberg 500 is simple
SKS is simple
Saiga 12 is simple

 

[Loosedhorse]

There's a difference between simple breakdown for cleaning, and full down-to-springs-and-pins disassembly.

For the latter, Glocks and SAAs seem to reassemble themselves for the most part (although I guess SAAs are not "modern revolvers").

For simple field stripping, many blowback (or delayed blowback) firearms will come apart into slide and frame, with the barrel firmly attached to the frame and the spring snugged around the barrel. HK's P7 and P9S are good examples.

 

[JustinJ]

HK UMP upper is pretty simple. The USC conversion has one more part than the real deal with the stock block. There are simpler trigger groups though.

Field stripping an AK is also super simple with just five parts: Dust Cover, Recoil Spring, Carrier, Bolt and then the gun itself.