American inventor designs firearm superior to the M-16, current Army issue, without the operation flaws. Who?

Question

In an interview, an independent American firearms designer claims to have a better product than the M-16, known for disfunction in the field.
Didn't catch the name of the weapon or the inventor. He claims to have submitted it to the Army. It was rejected, the program said, because of the in-house resistance to change. The program then went on to other items rejected due to the same reasons & other products that are outdated but are resistant to changing.
Does anyone have any information on this firearm? Thank you.

I got the feeling that this inventor was a solitary individual or at least, a small operation.
The TV program that it was on was an investigative sort like 20/20, 60 Minutes or such. The interview with the firearms guy was a part of the program's effort to show how the Army is working with old, outdated weaponery on all levels & how hard it is to get them to switch gears to buy better items. They showed that the Army is more about keeping things the same rather than change, even if it's for the better.
Some responses recieved suggest Heckler & Koch. Don't know arms well enough to know if they're American or how large an outfit it is. This guy that was interviewed looked like a grizzly independent type rather than some corporate type. I wouldn't swear to it, but, I believe that in the background was a sort of garage/private workroom setup.
I shoulda paid better attention, but I didn't & now, it's driving me crazy! Thanks for all the help!

Part of the reason for all this is that I'm looking to become informed on firearms well enough to make a proper investment. There are so many variables, but something that can handle multiple, harsh environment & can be used for hunting & defense. What are the most popular? And what are the quality independent arms producers?

Answer 1

Look up LWRC or their M6A2 it is a piston driven bolt M4,
BUSHMASTER same thing
MAGPUL makes the MASADA same idea but looks like tha FN SCAR or as we call it the Mk16/17
bushmasters is cheaper but good quality while lwrc is custom made and used by afew SF ODAS

Answer 2

Yes numerous inventors, numerous manufacturers are rejected yearly by all branches of military for one reason or another. Big picture though is not always if a weapon system is better or newer. If the Army buys a new weapon, it so much than just unwrapping it and issuing it to the soldiers. Training has to be developed. New Occupations designated, and old ones re-vamped or removed. Curriculum written, gear to use with the new system, etc. So a new weapon system costing the U.S. has a sticker price of say, 10 million dollars. But the real costs associated are much more. Politics, bureaucracy and lobbyists have a lot to do with it yes, but in today's military, the almighty COW (Cost Of War) is the final cut. If the war can go on without it, it can wait!

Answer 3

Sounds like the guy that designed the Masada, the company he owns is Magpul industries. The president is a former US Marine Force Recon diver and has extensive experience with the M16 platform and his company designs products for the M16 family of rifles and carbines.

http://www.magpul.com

Hope that answers your question.

Answer 4

Heckler and Koch's G-36 series. But their German....i dont' know. there's lot's of guns better than the M-16 tese days.

Answer 5

Interview with who? tv? Newspaper? Gun Magazine??
Any links??