WI Stoner 63 rifle adopted instead M16?

Deleted member 1487

As an aside the North Vietnamese used the RPD, which was a 7.62x39 belt fed weapon designed in WW2 and was highly thought of by the US and Rhodesian forces, as both faced it. I have read US and Rhodesian troops 'appropriated' some and fielded them as they were much lighter than the M60 and had sustained fire abilities that were lacking in most 5.56mm weapons (plus they had the heavier 7.62 round for cover penetration). They used a chopped down version for easier use. So there was a demand for a light SAW that could be operated by one man while standing as needed.

Frank Greco during the Vietnam War with a cut-down RPD. He’s the the author of the book “Running Recon: A Photo Journey with SOG Special Ops Along the Ho Chi Minh Trail”. Shortened RPD’s were also used in the Rhodesian Bush War.
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https://www.americanrifleman.org/ar...my-lines-weapons-of-vietnams-covert-warriors/
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CalBear

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So if the macro modularity was removed it would have been better and lighter?
That was about the only thing that really recommended it. The weapon was somewhat overly complex, as might be expected of something that was supposed to replace just about every light weapon the infantry operates, and complexity is never a good thing in a combat weapon (ideally active stupid simple is the way to go) and had the same sorts of issues with the early 5.56 ammo that the AR-15/M-16 had
 
Eugene Stoner should focus on making the M-63 Stoner the next generation BAR.
The machine gun variant becomes the automatic rifle in Marine Corps fire teams. It might stand the test of time and still be around today. The current M-27 IAR would be the improved Stoner and the M249 is butterflied away.
The way to sell the Army on the Stoner is to give it to SF teams in Vietnam as a light machine gun. Make it so you can switch between short and long barrels.It could also be an airborne friendly weapon. It would be easier for paratroopers to jump with a Stoner.
The SEALs used the Stoner with success into the eighties OTL. The Stoner could remain in service as a special forces weapon system.
 
Inferior rifle compared to the AR-15 family, Inferior MG compared to dedicated systems. It just won't happen. Doomed to be supplanted by cheaper and simpler systems.
 
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