Originally Posted by
LRRPF52
Jim Sullivan is one of the drafters from ArmaLite who worked with Bob Fremont on scaling the AR15 around a smaller cartridge, using the design of the AR10 as a basis.
They both would follow Stoner and scaled many of his designs from 7.62 NATO to 5.56, to include the AR16 to the AR18, and the Stoner 62 MWS to the Stoner 63.
Sullivan also assisted Ruger in the design work on the Mini-14, worked with Singapore on the Ultimax 100, and the Swiss and Italians on their joint 5.56 NATO service rifle, which eventually split into the Beretta SC70 and the Sig 550 series, since the Swiss and Italians couldn't get along.
He has worked on a number of rate reducers for the AR15, as he is a believer in the concept of walking fire, hip-fired full auto for suppression, and other bizarre infantry tactics that don't jive well at all with US doctrine for small arms employment. Stoner had the same ideas about service rifles/assault rifles, to basically have large capacity or belt-fed systems that masses of troops could walk with while they close distance onto the objective, spraying away like a scene from Predator.
They are design pioneers, but should probably stay away from ideas on tactics and weapons employment until being shown how things are actually done by seasoned shooters. There seems to be a major disconnect with some about the practicality of logistics, from the soldier's load back through the unit-level distribution, as well as large footprint of the Log Chain. Additionally, barrel metallurgy has yet to address the volume of fire Stoner and Sullivan envisioned.
Sullivan felt a number of years ago that we should approach the challenge of bore friction with projectile design, with driving bands, reducing wear, so the all Full Auto vision could be realized. I think a basic patrolling course would eliminate a lot of these ideas from the engineers, once they see what the capabilities and limitations are of a dismounted light infantry unit when it comes to ammunition carrying capacity.
Well, barrel metallurgy has been addressed (stellite barrel liners), but cost and accuracy still lack.
Last edited by BufordTJustice; 02-10-17 at 16:05.
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