# Eugene Stoner on Small Arms Design—Part 1: Origins of the AR-15 **URL:** \ **Category:** Continuity\ **Tags:** firearms, ar-15, eugene-stoner, armalite\ **Created:** [23 January 2024 14:12 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/eugene-stoner-on-small-arms-design-part-1-origins-of-the-ar-15/4244 "2024-01-23T14:12:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![johnwalker](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/user_avatar/scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/johnwalker/32/17415_2.png) [@johnwalker](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/johnwalker)\ **Post date:** [23 January 2024 14:12 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/eugene-stoner-on-small-arms-design-part-1-origins-of-the-ar-15/4244/1 "2024-01-23T14:12:44Z")
[![](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/uploads/default/original/3X/9/3/931e7517d1ce81fe46196607336b8ce12f535d0c.jpeg "The Eugene Stoner Tapes - Part 1: Designing the AR-15") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaIU0nCxwGg) [Eugene Stoner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_Stoner) designed the ArmaLite [AR-10](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AR-10) and [AR-15](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ArmaLite_AR-15) rifles, the latter of which was developed into the military [M16](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M16_rifle) rifle and [M4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine) carbine. This basic design ([U.S. Patent 2,951,424](https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/86/21/d0/d409c0ec40db76/US2951424.pdf) [PDF]) has been the pattern for a multitude of clone and adapted designs manufactured around the world for half a century. The AR-15 pioneered the introduction of lightweight, small-calibre, high-velocity infantry weapons. In this video interview, recorded in 1988 by the Smithsonian Institution, Stoner discusses how design of a small calibre weapon was motivated by combat experience in World War II and Korea, where very few combat engagements involved rifle fire beyond 300 metres, and doubling the amount of ammunition an infantryman could carry in the same pack weight was considered more effective than a larger, longer-range round. Stoner goes into great detail about the back-and-forth between arms designers, manufacturers, Defense Department civilian leadership, and Army staff which is involved in the adoption of an innovative weapon. The story of real-world testing of the AR-15 that starts at the 37:00 mark is hilarious and enlightening. Subsequent parts of the interview will cover the problems introducing the M16 in Vietnam, development of subsequent models, and Stoner’s further work in arms design. The interview appears to have been recorded on 1980s blur-o-vision video tape, with laughable production values (check out the title cards at the start!), but there is a great deal of history and wisdom to be gleaned here. ---
**Author:** ![eggspurt](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/user_avatar/scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/eggspurt/32/3686_2.png) [@eggspurt](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/eggspurt)\ **Post date:** [23 January 2024 14:17 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/eugene-stoner-on-small-arms-design-part-1-origins-of-the-ar-15/4244/2 "2024-01-23T14:17:22Z")
In turn, this is the dramatized history of AK-47: [![](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/uploads/default/original/3X/f/b/fb8e1a7b500d1f8633df97a1e437919bb66ae34a.jpeg "AK-47: Kalashnikov Trailer (2021)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhTy52KhqQ0) > **[AK-47 (2020 film)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AK-47_(2020_film))** > > AK-47 (Russian: Калашников, romanized: Kalashnikov) is a 2020 Russian biographical film about the experiences of Mikhail Kalashnikov, inventor of the AK-47 assault rifle. > Elena Kalashnikova, the designer's daughter and a consultant to the Kalashnikov Concern, took part in the production of the film. > The film was directed by Konstantin Buslov, and stars Yuri Borisov, Olga Lerman, Artur Smolyaninov, and Eldar Kalimulin. > The premiere took place in Russia on February 20, 2020 by Megogo Distribution... ---
**Author:** ![CTLaw](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/user_avatar/scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/ctlaw/32/42_2.png) [@CTLaw](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/CTLaw)\ **Post date:** [23 January 2024 22:00 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/eugene-stoner-on-small-arms-design-part-1-origins-of-the-ar-15/4244/3 "2024-01-23T22:00:03Z")
This link should play the whole series (scroll to end of Episode 1 to get Episode 2): https://www.youtube.com/embed/kaIU0nCxwGg?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=PLOSc8D2U-Hf6i9FT7ZzVpKZVDBsS6b3Ub ---
**Author:** ![CTLaw](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/user_avatar/scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/ctlaw/32/42_2.png) [@CTLaw](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/CTLaw)\ **Post date:** [23 January 2024 22:02 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/eugene-stoner-on-small-arms-design-part-1-origins-of-the-ar-15/4244/4 "2024-01-23T22:02:16Z")
A series on Kalashnikov with multiple Kalashnikov+Stoner episodes: https://www.youtube.com/embed/Yt51AoKV-ZY?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=PLOSc8D2U-Hf531r7jIZ6AjI6PvEfbnCr_ ---
**Author:** ![Devereaux](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/user_avatar/scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/devereaux/32/285_2.png) [@Devereaux](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/Devereaux)\ **Post date:** [24 January 2024 10:54 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/eugene-stoner-on-small-arms-design-part-1-origins-of-the-ar-15/4244/5 "2024-01-24T10:54:37Z")
Weapon function has many nuances that are rarely addressed in “testing”. The M-16 was no different. Stoner talks about the weight savings of the M-16 but fails to speak to the weaknesses of the .223 round. Ballistic coefficient is a combination of bullet calibre, weight, shape, and velocity. Effect_invness_ includes things like barrel length, etc. Stoner can speak to _theoretical benefits_ of firing a small bore rifles, but the truth was the M-16 was (and still is) a lousy full-auto rifle. No one that I knew allowed their unit to use the M-16 on full-auto. And _nothing_ compares to a BAR as a full-auto _rifle_. A LOTof this has to do with the cyclic rate the rifle fires at when full-auto. BAR guns fire about 200-300 RPM. The M-14 and 16’s shoot at 800-1,000 RPM. Stoner makes it sound like he was the first to use a small calibre rifle for the military. Not true. In WWII The Imperial Japanese infantry used a .25 cal. rifle. Today no modern quality rifle uses DI for reloading the next shot. They are almost exclusively piston-driven. HK’s (used by the Marines) is piston-driven. The LWRC rifle may be the best AR-style rifle out there today, and it’s piston. Most of the Sigs are piston. So was the old FAL. Most rifles the military procures today has a forward assist. _Usually_ that just causes the jam to be harder to clear. Last couple ARs I’ve built lately have used uppers without the FA. Stoner is completely wrong on the question of “cleaning vs corrosive powder”. Marines I saw were _constantly cleaning_ their weapons. Didn’t help much. Barrels and chambers gotten eaten by the calcium preservative. I remember being up on Mutter’s Ridge when the armorer team came to check our company’s rifles. Pretty much _everyone’s_ weapon was found “unserviceable”. They would then replace weapons in groups of 5 or 6 at a time every 3-4 days.