[elbucko]

" Kalashnikov said. "Soldiers usually don't come from academies, they need a simple, reliable weapon. But it's much more difficult to make something simple than to make it complicated."

I wish Eugene Stoner, father of the M16, had said that instead of Kalashnikov. A few more Americans would be alive today.

[archy]

" Kalashnikov said. "Soldiers usually don't come from academies, they need a simple, reliable weapon. But it's much more difficult to make something simple than to make it complicated."

I wish Eugene Stoner, father of the M16, had said that instead of Kalashnikov. A few more Americans would be alive today.

Gene Stoner was an aeronautical engineer by training, coming from a field in which the watchword for successful design has always been *Simplicate and add lightness.*

-archy-/-

[Eagle Eye]

Rather harsh given that what the Army fielded wasn't what Mr. Stoner designed.

[Jacob Kell]

It wasn't Stoner's fault. The ammo issued to the M-16 was of crappy quality and not fit for combat. Also, the butthole bureacrats in charge of the Army failed to imform our troops on the proper care of the rife.

[raybbr]

From what I understand, from the History Channel, Stoner wanted the breech made from one solid piece of stainless. A bean counter in the JFK administration changed it to chrome plating to save money. It was fixed years later after an almost 50% failure rate.