Israel is researching new type of rifles which can bend according to the shooter wants. This type of bending guns are very much suitable for urban warfare. During world war 2, in the battle of Berlin, Russian troops bend their rifles to fight and for capturing building to building.

I believe I know the gun you are talking about. It is basically a hinged rifle type stock that has a handgun mounted in the front half. They work OK but are limited with handgun ballistics and accuracy.

The Russians during WW2 tried bending their barrels to shoot around a corner. This did not work well. First was no accuracy due to not being able to accurately aim the weapon. The second problem was most of these blew up. The bent barrels caused excessive pressures (This is when the bullet did not get stuck completely.) and the guns blew up injuring and killing the shooters.

The most effective thing I have found are the robots being developed by the Army. They have a machine gun mounted to them and are fired by remote control. They also have robotic arms that can be used to place explosives and other ordinance on enemy equipment so they can be destroyed without risking a soldiers life.

Future weapons on the Discovery Channel shows a lot of this stuff. most of it is actually pretty cool to see.

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NRA Certified Instructor for Basic Handgun and Personal protection in the Home.
V.F.W. Life Member
NRA Member
U.S. Army Veteran

Throughout modern warfare, they've always tried to come up with something like that. I think that the bottom line is to get yourself into/out of a situation better than shooting around a corner. Pop smoke to get into a better fighting position, send a team to flank an enemy's position, or call for air support/backup. Too often, we try to find a modern solution that is more complicated than the simple solution of tactics. Let's face it- rifles with barrels bent would be a specialty item, that not every unit would have. Then what? Call in to HQ for someone to bring one by?

IMO survival does not include urban assault. Yes I keep a variety of weapons available so i can handle different situations. However, good survival means avoiding hostile encounters at all costs. The only way I will get into any kind of a firefight is if my family or I am in danger from thugs, or if the thugs are trying to steal my means to survive.

_________________
Hope for the best, but plan for the worst.

NRA Certified Instructor for Basic Handgun and Personal protection in the Home.
V.F.W. Life Member
NRA Member
U.S. Army Veteran

+1- if it's me that's fighting and I'm at a tactical disadvantage (and can safely retreat), time to back out at that point. I'm not looking for a "body count" or anything if the SHTF, I'm looking to keep me and mine alive!

I also heard that the Russians used mirrors along with their rifles which helped them to see the things at the corner. However the efficiency in firing is very low and they quickly switched on towards grenades for the assault.

The second problem is the most important one as until now controlling the pressure in the barrel is a dilemma for the scientists.

Seems like with modern machnining and optics technology, that keeping the weapon safe (for the shooter) would be possible, as well as having the ability to use modern optics technology to make the aiming angle adjustable. Heck, they could even toss an infrared laser on the barrel itself, and just use an infrared scope to see where the laser is firing. As long as the chamber and barrel are on the same machined steel, pressure problems shouldn't be an issue. Sure is interesting, though. Let's see if they can perfect and depoly it...

Actually it was the germans who were the first with the bent/curved rifle barrel and it was on
the MP44.

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Retired Navy SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape) Instructor
certified pistol, rifle, shotgun, home defense Instructor
NRA Life Member
Survival & Disaster Preparedness Instructor

I believe Israel has manufactured several variations of adaptive hinged mounts for urban warfare to enable engagement from cover positions like building corners, walls, etc. They started with surveilance systems using changeable lenses and video feeds, and then a glock-type pistol mount. They have since added an M16 and even a grenade launcher variation. Not sure how well they work for the IDF, but they did add the new variations.

You are talking about the "corner shot" . It is way beyond delopment stage and has been in the field for
about 2 years now. The pistol version is adaptable to take any pistol. They evn have a longer version for
looking over walls.

_________________
Retired Navy SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape) Instructor
certified pistol, rifle, shotgun, home defense Instructor
NRA Life Member
Survival & Disaster Preparedness Instructor