We've already got threads on stuff that should never have left the drawing board so here's one about small arms that should have become issue weapons.
First off of course is the
EM-2 rifle. There's already several threads here about how great it was so I shouldn't have to go into the specifics again.
Next and purely a personnal choice for me is the
AR-10, the M-16's older, bigger brother. The ARRSE site raves about this and I agree. If I had to carry a 7.62mm NATO rifle this would be the one.
Third is the Gal assault rifle. This was designed by Uzriel Gal, of Uzi SMG fame, for the Israeli army's FAL replacement contest. The Gal lost out to the Galil for various reasons but pretty much everything I've heard about the Gal makes it sound the better weapon. There's not much on the internet about it though which is a shame.
The Gal is pictured in the attachment below. The top rifle is the 7.62mm NATO model and the one below it is the 5.56mm NATO model.
Finally there's the
TKB-517. This was designed by German A. Korobov for the 1957 rifle trials that resulted in the AKM. Unlike the other's listed here the TKB would not have been a massive improvement over the rifle that was used instead. The AK was and is an outstanding weapon, however the Korobov also had many good points and it's a pity it never got chance to show them somewhere.
