The Stagnation Of Small Arms Development

[1894]

Just thinking out loud here. Suppose someone did make a handgun / rifle version of a EM pulse cannon. What would the recoil be like. As I understand it, current firearms use all the force required to propel the projectile in the beginning, and pressure decreases after that. With the EM guns, (I think) they start slow and speed the projectile up until it exits the barrel.

Also, how loud would it be?

 

[barnbwt]

I believe there was some research into a bullet (and planes, airfoils) that would have no report. The up-shock at the nose of the bullet would collapse into the down-shock at the aft end, greatly reducing the sound generated, and theoretically eliminating it. The problem was how precise you had to get the projectile's velocity for it to work right (and of course, it'll get loud again when it slows down). If a bullet's speed could be controlled to within a few mph's, you could have full-speed .308 come out of a suppressor with very little noise, so long as the bullet is shaped properly.

Personally, I think we're about to see a suppressor Golden Age, where we will all decry how Big Guvment muzzles our "Loud-Pipes" in the name of Nanny-State hearing preservation .

Also, how loud would it be?

I'd be more worried about the effects of highly-energized particles (and their power supply) on my future prospects for children...


TCB

 

[leadcounsel]

The real problem with innovation is that the market for the leading breakthrough innovations is geared toward only the .gov consumer.

You and I can't buy or own a rail gun, full auto electronic ignition machine gun, etc.

If your consumer were either the .gov or the 300 million public at large, the latter is a better market. Unfortunately, with the current gun laws, the public at large won't be able to buy most of the innovations.

So, that is IMO what has stagnated innovation.

 

[Sam1911]

You and I can't buy or own a rail gun ...

Why is that? Cost?