Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?
This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.
Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.
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Notes -
With the Mini-14 being the best of 1930s tech and the AR15 being the best of 1960s tech, what equivalent rifle should I be looking at for the best of post-2000 tech?
For an individual rifleman, the Beretta ARX-160 (ARX-100).
All plastic, toolless disassembly, modern ergonomics (firing hand can close or lock bolt back without releasing grip), charging handle and ejection live on whichever side you please without disassembly (let alone buying new parts), pencil barrel (you don't need anything else), and is lighter than every other AR-18-derived rifle on the market (6 3/4 pounds- not quite as light as an M16A1 or M4, but it comes pretty close).
Beretta passed the savings on to the US consumer but few bought them even then. There are a few for under 2K on Gunbroker. The only problem with them is that spending 2000 dollars on an AR-15 can buy you a plastic and carbon fiber rifle that weighs as much with an optic as the ARX does, and they also won't take specifically Gen 3 Pmags.
None of the extruded-aluminum guns qualify as "best rifle". The Bren 2 is "best light support weapon", though, because with the extra weight comes greater sustained fire capability (in a way that would damage an ARX or M16). The SCAR is significantly better than the Bren 2 in the weight department, but it also breaks optics, has stupid warranty policies, has/had a reciprocating charging handle, and is absurdly overpriced whereas the Bren 2 has none of those problems.
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A while back, I would have said there wasn't one; small arms technology arguably peaked at the ar-15. In terms of form factor and general operation, I'd say that's still roughly the correct answer. Lately though, we're seeing more and more experiments with extremely high chamber-pressure cartridges and special bullet constructions that allow significant increases in performance, particularly against hard armor. I'm skeptical whether that increase is significant enough to represent the sort of improvement one sees between the 30s and 60s, but if you're looking for edge in terms of weapons, that'd probably be your best bet.
More generally, drones are legitimately revolutionary.
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