03-08-2014, 03:38 AM
John Browning saw the grass move when he was firing a a rifle when he decided to create an action to utilize the gas to cycle the action, and the rest as they would say was history. When you have an unlimited, expendable, conscript army who thinks its a new experience to wear shoes, an inexpensive, easy to produce and simple to use rifle makes more sense than what we in the west would consider acceptable. Design and function has to full fill the need of the nations requirements when fielding an army. The Finns and my ancestors "the Germans" had some of the most technological and advanced weapons of their time, yet were both defeated in the end by the Russians and their crude, reliable and easy to produce weapons. The MG 34 was a master piece of high level machining and skill yet the stamped and riveted MG 42 was a better general purpose machine gun because of its looser tolerances and ease of manufacture. But in the end the Russians payed a high price when confronting quality firearms and soldiers who were very skilled in their use.