The AR system is just 50 years ahead of everyone - everyone only starts catching up now.
The G36 is outdated becasue back in 1990 the German army was not so cutting edge. When it comes to landwarfare and night fighting, the americans is a decade ahead. Weapons are driven by tactics - outdated tactics create outdated weapons.
The US is blessed by Eugene Stoner's vision of creating a compact weapon with linear internal motion - the gas system allows the receiver to have simple geometry without rail - which can be machined from light weight aluminum alloy. If you look at all the major European arms, such as FNC, FAMAS, AUG....they are designed to be not so flexible and stuck with proprietary system so the local arms manufacturer can rape the government later for upgrade. As a result, as money dries out and new capability needed(which local boys like Hensoldt cannot provide....), they start adopting ad havoc solutions. I still cannot figure how some of these German soldiers shoot with an Eotech sitting on the G36 rail.
The AR is simply ahead because it creates a basic compact platform - a lean backbone so things can be added later on. The german, swiss and austria want to create their cutting edge "perfect rifle" for the time they were at without the vision to look ahead of how warfare/tactics will evolve. Eugene stoner doesn't have the crystal ball either, but at least he left space for others to work on the AR later on,.
I have to say Greentips although i agree with many things you say,on thisI totally disagree.
Ever herd of the Mp43/44ST44 & St45 that is what set some standards there, that is thinking ahead. The AR has been adapted heavily over the years, it just happened to be conveniently adapted into a weapon that maintains it's longevity!
Rail systems were never apart of the basic AR variants, that came after which made the rifle system last longer! The AR rifle was not made intentionally ambidextrous, but it just worked out that way after! Not knocking Eugene by any means, but their has been many rifles that were made since that which were inherently better than the AR series, but the AR series with better parts and manufacturing have raised it to higher levels that it was never designed to do in it's inception.
I'm a huge believer in the AR type rifle!
But the G36 with the KAC rail system on either full size or the K, & C version is a great selection of rifles to choose from!
What I'm getting at is pretty simple, pick up any rifle from the 80's and compare it too today's versions of the same rifle and there is a world of difference in my mind!(This can depend on the manufacture especially for defunct rifle/ newer is better)
I think the real reason the AR is still the go to rifle is because the US still uses it, and it did set the new standard. With the improvements that have come over the years, and all the accessories that are available from so many small companies and the familiarity of the rifle,very are hard to beat. And really why drop it with new pistol grips, superior machined parts, perfected magazines(Pmags) etc etc the rifle has made it to a 21century Assault rifle! But so has the AUG/G36/HK53/33 FN Fal models with upgrades can do that too, and some have already!
But most importantly to me the 5.56/223 round i think was the most evolutionary element it brought to the table.
Just like the AK series, the AR will be around for a very longtime, simply because it has been adapted too and the US simple left no other option but to upgrade it!.
Bottom line is the AR just happens to be lucky enough to fit the role of the future land warrior by being in the right place or right army to keep it their!
