FutureWeapons on the Military Channel

I, for one, have learned a lot from watching FutureWeapons.

Has anyone, for example, noticed that all new weapons systems are introduced by the host as being the deadliest new innovation on the battlefield since the pointed stick?

Now, many people would find this as evidence of rampant hyperbole in the script, but since this show employs on sight testing and on camera demonstration, any exaggerations would obviously be exposed as such within minutes.

Therefore, we are left to conclude that all new weapons systems in the future are the deadliest. Indeed, all futuristic weapons have hit a fundamental limit on deadliness; an asymptotic wall in their lethality. All wars in the future will be fought, therefore, with diverse weapons systems of exactly the same lethality, and that lethality will be very high.

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A show is not just about content but about ratings. It is not a documentary but an ongoing show. Many people that watch are not going to be firearms enthusiasts or into weapons in general and the added dramatics and exagerations are to help ratings. It does not mean the guy is dumb or full of himself or that he even thinks as highly of himself as the script makes him act.

It is a show, for entertainment, and depends on ratings by people not really interested in documentary precision, but in seeing things go BOOM. Being told they are seeing the latest and greatest items ever, by the biggest and baddest type of dude helps to reinforce that.
If that means he has to cite he was a SEAL, and cite his qualifications, and remind people currently fielded equipment is something greater than it is or will have a bigger role in the otucome of a battle than it really will then the producers and script writers will make sure he does that. If I was him I certainly would to keep doing such a fun job. Who cares if it makes some people think I am ignorant or full of myself. People that believe who they see on a show is the real individual are not likely to be the brightest individuals anyway.

Last night, Monday, one of segments showed a new sniper weapon system designed around a new specially designed .408 cartridge. System included a supressed rifle and a trajectory calculator. Claimed that the cartridge weighed 1/3 what a .50 weighs, has significantly less recoil, and past 400 yrds has more energy than a .50. Host took shots @ 1000 and 2500 yards, punching through steel plates. I was impressed. Unfortunately, the name of the maker fell out of my brain sometime between 11 last night and 7 this morning. :-/

IMO, the host for the show is a tool. They get better ratings if they replaced him.
Remember, according to him on a past episode, .308 = 7.62x39mm = standard round fired from AK-47.

Last night, Monday, one of segments showed a new sniper weapon system designed around a new specially designed .408 cartridge. System included a supressed rifle and a trajectory calculator. Claimed that the cartridge weighed 1/3 what a .50 weighs, has significantly less recoil, and past 400 yrds has more energy than a .50. Host took shots @ 1000 and 2500 yards, punching through steel plates. I was impressed. Unfortunately, the name of the maker fell out of my brain sometime between 11 last night and 7 this morning. :-/

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http://www.cheytac.com/HubPage.html

There you go.

Unfortunately, the name of the maker fell out of my brain sometime between 11 last night and 7 this morning. :-/

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cheyenne tactical m200 in 408 cheyenne, as seen in the movie shooter. Designed and as stated in the show to be an intermediate chambering between 7.62 nato and 50bmg systems. $8000.
The AI 50 bmg rifle is cool, but for $13000 for their bolt gun it is $6000 more than the domestic Barrett semi auto. They do make some damn fine 308 long range target rifles that make a Sako trg look like a bargain.

I like the show and notice the occasionl faux pa, but for some REAL examples of gun related tecnical stupidity, watch the news, or if mistakes are too unbearable there is always dancing with the stars.

I think he wispers for the same reason Steven Segal and Chuck Norris do, if Mac ever spoke, or god forbid RAISED HIS VOICE there may be untold damage to the audio equipment and eardrums of his crew. The technical errors are actually due to a strange phenomenon. He does not read his lines, he stares the cue cards down untill they tell him what he wants to say, due to the intimidation they no doubt feel, they make the occasional nervous mistake, and I for one would not want to be in their shoes when he finds out

Anybody else notice how the AT4-CS is empty in most of the shots where he is handling it?

Me, I don't want to in front OR behind of a live AT4, just 'cause he's an ex SEAL doesn't mean an AD/ND will not happen......

I find it funny when he talks in a low voice about weapons like hes awestruck.

The guy is an actor. He may have been a Seal but he is now an actor. He got the job by answering a casting call. Hell, I would love his job, even if there were people on gun boards calling me a tool or a nitwit

I think its a great show. Zoogster got it right, though. It is all about ratings. Who in hollywood would let a little thing like accuracy get in the way of ratings. Though, if I ever make it out there, I will try my best to keep things as accurate as possible.
(which is not as easy as you may think. Unfortunately, there are things called director's prerogative and creative license that have thwarted my attempts, in past film projects, at maintaining technical accuracy )

I enjoy seeing the new weapons, but why is he whispering?

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LOL. He does take himself a little too seriously it seems. I much prefer Mike Rowe's style.

My jaw dropped when he said the .308 is for the AK-47. Then I tried to justify what he was saying. I think at the time he was comparing another cartridge, maybe the .223 or the .50 BMG to the ".308" and I wondered if he was trying to emphasize the actual bullet diameter and didn't want to use standard measurment for the one (.223) and metric for the other (7.62), as that would more than likely confuse most of the viewers. Is that a plausible explanation (good excuse) for what he was saying? After all, he didn't say the ".308 Winchester."

I think the stuff they have done with shape charges is pretty amazing. And I also liked that Cannon that has multiple barrels and all the barrels are loaded with multiple caseless cartridges stacked on top of each other.

cheyenne tactical m200 in 408 cheyenne, as seen in the movie shooter. Designed and as stated in the show to be an intermediate chambering between 7.62 nato and 50bmg systems. $8000.

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Their website says the cheytac runs almost 14k. If you have found them somewhere for 8k let us know. That would be something I would be seriously interested in.

It's a cool show. The host is a little over the top- kinda like a Spec-ops version of the Crocodile Hunter...

Future Weapons, good for alot of people, but not me. I already know what he's talking about on everything I care for. Oh well. I'm not trying to brag, but I'm just really, really into this stuff. So nothing's really new, and I find myself nitpicking, so it's not enjoyable.

I appolgize, I read the review in a mag arcticle (I know, I know, sorry) and upon further inspection pricing is for a m100 in 408, not an m200 in 408

and was looking at one of these at my LGS's cataloghttp://www.edmarms.com/products/m408.htm EDM builds all of the components for Cheytac, who customizes and assembles them.

originally posted by JKimball
My jaw dropped when he said the .308 is for the AK-47. Then I tried to justify what he was saying. I think at the time he was comparing another cartridge, maybe the .223 or the .50 BMG to the ".308" and I wondered if he was trying to emphasize the actual bullet diameter and didn't want to use standard measurment for the one (.223) and metric for the other (7.62), as that would more than likely confuse most of the viewers. Is that a plausible explanation (good excuse) for what he was saying? After all, he didn't say the ".308 Winchester."

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That's precisely it. And when he converted from the metric to imperial, he used the popular .308 number instead of the technically correct .310. http://www.midwayusa.com/ebrowse.exe/browse?CurrentSort=manufacturer_a&CurrentCountRet=20&CurrentManufacture=AnyCompany&CategoryString=9315***652***19785***9016***&CategoryID=7561&BrandID=&page=1&KeyWord=&TabID=1&company_select=AnyCompany&search_keywords2=&sort1=manufacturer_a&PageSelect=1&RecordsReturned=50&PageSelect2=1&RecordsReturned2=50 I can't believe the rancor over two thousandths of an inch. Seals aren't mathematicians.
Remember, .223 is usually actually .224.
Man, some of us are the gun equivalent of those Star Wars nerds with their costumes waiting in line.
[nerd voice]"No, the 9mm Makarov is actually 9.2mm"[/nerd voice]
Anyway, I think the show is fun. Lighten up people.

I never get around to watching this. Too many things I don't care about - if the show focused on small arms rather than missiles and tanks and stuff, I'd be more likely to keep an eye on it.

The Cheytac is the same rifle used by Mark Walhberg in the movie, "Shooter".

Which is a good movie.

See, while i thought the big sniper gun was cool... my techno geek side is still waiting on the tech for the rail-gun that was also featured in that show... till we can get "needlers" that are lil rail-guns shooting loads of needle projectiles. Man wouldn't that be a waste w/ a 10 round limit... (roflmao)

They were working on the rail guns way back (cough) in 90-96 when i was in the Navy... Could add whole new meaning to "you sunk my battle ship... and i didn't even know you were there..."

oh well... as i said... the techno geek side of me.

J/Tharg!

I like the show actually, but the guys style puts me off a bit sometimes. I prefer the ones where they are testing out the new explosive stuff from that British company. That old guy makes some fun toys Now if the Brit's actually used all that stuff that company produces, then maybe they could be a force to be reckoned with in a conflict.

My jaw dropped when he said the .308 is for the AK-47. Then I tried to justify what he was saying. I think at the time he was comparing another cartridge, maybe the .223 or the .50 BMG to the ".308" and I wondered if he was trying to emphasize the actual bullet diameter and didn't want to use standard measurment for the one (.223) and metric for the other (7.62), as that would more than likely confuse most of the viewers. Is that a plausible explanation (good excuse) for what he was saying? After all, he didn't say the ".308 Winchester."

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I would buy that if the 7.62x39 bullet didn't mike at .311"-.312"....

If this guy is a SEAL, then Dick Marcinko has some apologizin' to do....

At least Hunter Ellis is believable as a former Navy flyboy....

Reality check for those accusing the host of being a dork...

Let us not forget that the host of the show IS NOT the PODUCER, or the DIRECTOR, nor the WRITERS, which means he has little if any say over what he says or how he says it.

Host: "We cant say that the 7.62x39 round is the same as a .308."
Producer: "I want you to say that very thing."
Host: "But its not true."
Producer: " Do ya like your job?"
Host: "The 7.62x39 round is the same as the .308!"

He does NO off the cuff speaking, every word he says is written for him, every emotion he shows on his face is directed.

You can be sure that any scene you see on the show is only one of MANY MANY "takes" shot for that scene... Unless of course he nails the copy and emotion onthe first try. The fella has no control over any part of the show, a host can not even do something different t their hair without the consent of the producer.

I like the show for the new toys but really don't like the host and don't have much respect for his "technical expertise" because of small mistakes that undermine his credibility... people have pointed out the .308 vs 7.62x39 mistake, and I've noticed other mistakes too. While they are minor, these are fundamental facts that former SEAL should not screw up. And he would have enough say to correct mistakes in his script... that was his mistake that escaped editing.

Perspective......

I like the show for the new toys but really don't like the host and don't have much respect for his "technical expertise" because of small mistakes that undermine his credibility... people have pointed out the .308 vs 7.62x39 mistake, and I've noticed other mistakes too. While they are minor, these are fundamental facts that former SEAL should not screw up. And he would have enough say to correct mistakes in his script... that was his mistake that escaped editing.

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I really wonder about his "expertise", too. There's alot of people out there pimping themselves off of thier "expertise", and it turns out they are certainly not what they sell themselves as.
Rally Caparas comes to mind. He pimps himself on CNN as an aviation expert, as a former Air Traffic Controller. His "resume" posted online is full of seom serious "technical expertise" or "experience". However, when I was an ATC, the issue came up at one time. Some people did some digging and found that he had none of the "experience" he was touting. He had washed out of several large ATC facilities. So, being the intrepid person he is, he got himself a position at FAA HQ. There he was on some comittees involved in a re-design of the National Airspace System. However, with some creative wordsmithing, he passes himself off as an expert who pretty much single-handedly re-designed the NAS and that he has all this "experience" at major airports...the same ones he washed out of....

He may be a serious experienced operator with years of covert seal experience under his belt. He may not be. Even if he is, it doesn't make him a full bore weapons expert. He probably knows you can't feed 7.62x39 into a .308/7.62x51 weapon, but probably assumes it has to do with case size and leaves it at that. He can probably take most small arms and make them go "boom".
The average joe thinks that because he's a seal (or says so) that he's more credible as a host of a show on weapons.
He's a little overdramatic, and can be annoying in his portrayal of every new weapons system as the most deadly thing known to man kind....
But the new toys and things on the show certainly make it worth watching.

The show is just another example (albeit not the worst one) of TV contributing to the dumbing of America. Remember when they tested the new Dragon Skin body armor by exploding a hand granate under it and then oohing and aahing that the guy would have survived without mentioning that shrapnel would have hit his neck and head?

Notch had it right.

What you see on that show is the product of many, many takes. The average (from memory of a course on filmmaking on college) is 1 hour of filming for 1 minute on screen. And the host has absolutely no say in the editing process.

In error regarding .308 vs 7.62x39 bit, he may have done a dozen or more takes and only flubbed the line once implying that it was a .308 cartidge vs a .308 diameter (or .311, or .30 cal) but the producer and edtiors chose that one take as better (for any of a host of reasons).

The host may or may not know the difference in some of the small errors made.