What do you think will be the next really game changing technology in firearms be. We have pretty much been using the same technology for some time now, only advancing the rate of fire and compactness of the weapons. Will we ever get an electronic firearm or pulse gun that works, or will the next 100 years be much like the last?
What will the next major advance in firearms be?
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Sam1911
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Smart optics
Stabilization technology
Caseless ammo (finally)
Increasingly advanced projectiles
Increasingly advanced propellants
Increased use of ultralight materials and possibly cracking the problem of reliance on ferrous metals.
...
That and Savage will sell the old Model 24 design to Mossberg, who will then come out with a pistol-gripped, bipod "Street-Blocking-Road-Sweeper" version that gives you a .22 and 12 ga combination gun with TWO .50 BMG muzzle brakes AND fake suppressors. That will be cool. Especially if they put that top handle "chainsaw" grip on it.
Stabilization technology
Caseless ammo (finally)
Increasingly advanced projectiles
Increasingly advanced propellants
Increased use of ultralight materials and possibly cracking the problem of reliance on ferrous metals.
...
That and Savage will sell the old Model 24 design to Mossberg, who will then come out with a pistol-gripped, bipod "Street-Blocking-Road-Sweeper" version that gives you a .22 and 12 ga combination gun with TWO .50 BMG muzzle brakes AND fake suppressors. That will be cool. Especially if they put that top handle "chainsaw" grip on it.
Everything but the ferrous issue I see happening already. There was a movie that had a POV gun. We need that for the liberals.
*edit* Wife just told me it was "Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy"
Another post tracked by the government.
Hanzo581
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Phased plasma rifle in the 40 watt range would be my guess.
General Geoff
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Electromagnetic propulsion. Railguns are getting mighty close to fruition for use on naval vessels, it's really a matter of time before the technology matures to the point where it's viable for small arms. It would require major advances in compact power generation and/or battery technology first, though.
General Geoff
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Battery tech will advance, I see a forthcoming problem being that super high density/capacity batteries will essentially be bombs. This is already evident with lithium-polymer cells. To have a battery with, say, 10x the density/capacity of existing batteries, it would have to store so much energy in such a compact mass that its chemical volatility would classify it as an explosive.
JustinJ
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Another question is which advances will make it into civilian hands. Much of what has been listed has actually already been made but is still in it's infancy. One thing that may also come is fully integrated gun monitoring technology. For example, a scope with a HUD type display which tells available rounds or barrel temp in the case of machine guns.
Really though I think new materials will be the driving factor. One idea I had, with no chance of reaching civilians, is an integrated barrel cooling system for machine gun barrels; using the action of the weapon to actuate a compressor which runs a cooling circuit around the barrel.
Really though one must first consider what advances are desired. Essentially, its always been better accuracy, lethality, capacity, reliability and reduced weight.
Really though I think new materials will be the driving factor. One idea I had, with no chance of reaching civilians, is an integrated barrel cooling system for machine gun barrels; using the action of the weapon to actuate a compressor which runs a cooling circuit around the barrel.
Really though one must first consider what advances are desired. Essentially, its always been better accuracy, lethality, capacity, reliability and reduced weight.
Hurryin' Hoosier
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I just want my own Raptor drone. 
sdlsaginaw
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Smart guns. Then, all gun violence will be eliminated and the world will be a happy place with group hugging and unicorns.
At least, that's what I've heard on TV....
At least, that's what I've heard on TV....
SunnySlopes
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I don't think it will be technology that changes the game. I think, given the shrinking number of hunters, shooters, places to hunt, places to shoot, the changing demographics of the country (especially when we grant citizenship status to people from antigun countries), things that I'm not permitted to say because it'll ruffle somebody's feathers, ad infinitum, ad nauseum.
I think the real game changer is going to be the abolition of private ownership of firearms. Innovations won't mean crap, because we'll be largely like the British, viz. only having a few types of innocuous firearms deemed safe by the aristocracy. And even then, we'll only be able to enjoy them under strict supervision. The leaders in both parties, demoRAT and Repugnant, are consistently moving toward a globalist "eutopia", in concert with the United Nations. And there is no place for civilian ownership of firearms in the New World Order.
I won't see it. I'm an old man. It's doubtful my children will see it. But I think my great grandchildren (who have yet to be born) will see it. I think it's much closer than we realize.
I think the real game changer is going to be the abolition of private ownership of firearms. Innovations won't mean crap, because we'll be largely like the British, viz. only having a few types of innocuous firearms deemed safe by the aristocracy. And even then, we'll only be able to enjoy them under strict supervision. The leaders in both parties, demoRAT and Repugnant, are consistently moving toward a globalist "eutopia", in concert with the United Nations. And there is no place for civilian ownership of firearms in the New World Order.
I won't see it. I'm an old man. It's doubtful my children will see it. But I think my great grandchildren (who have yet to be born) will see it. I think it's much closer than we realize.
Cosmoline
Member
I've been impressed with some of the railguns. Even some of the home-made ones are getting close to lethal power. There are considerable advantages to the design, the biggest being less heat and debris to worry about. The drawback is the need for a potent power source.
Looking at the chaotic state of the world, I'm less and less worried about some all-powerful global government. There are long term problems sustaining this level of population. Not enough jobs and a food supply that's always just one volcanic winter away from total collapse. Civilization of any type is difficult enough to maintain, and the current cops-on-the-street style has only been around since the late 19th century.
Looking at the chaotic state of the world, I'm less and less worried about some all-powerful global government. There are long term problems sustaining this level of population. Not enough jobs and a food supply that's always just one volcanic winter away from total collapse. Civilization of any type is difficult enough to maintain, and the current cops-on-the-street style has only been around since the late 19th century.
we are not amused
Member
Caseless ammo
Metal Storm technology
Coil guns
possibly laser weapons
And of course better sights and aiming technology, such as range finders, built in ballistic computers, low light and infrared sights, electrically fired cartridges...
Metal Storm technology
Coil guns
possibly laser weapons
And of course better sights and aiming technology, such as range finders, built in ballistic computers, low light and infrared sights, electrically fired cartridges...
200Apples
Mojave Lever Crew
sdlsaginaw
Smart guns. Then, all gun violence will be eliminated and the world will be a happy place with group hugging and unicorns.
At least, that's what I've heard on TV....
I see light sabres and frickin' lazerz in the future.
Saboted ammo with fins that have laser seekers for weapons mounted lasers. First will be seen on 50 cal handguns.
Miniature cameras on guns so the fabled 'good shoot' will be documented. Camera and sound comes on at the draw.
A doubled barrel shotgun with one barrel bent up at 90 degrees so you can shoot one in the air and then one through the door.
Miniature cameras on guns so the fabled 'good shoot' will be documented. Camera and sound comes on at the draw.
A doubled barrel shotgun with one barrel bent up at 90 degrees so you can shoot one in the air and then one through the door.
limpingbear
Member
look at youtube for coil guns. they are already out there and getting very advanced. I saw one that was a semi auto hand held coil gun that was able to punch trough a full soda can at about 10 feet. Made at home by someone with entirely too much time on thier hands....
Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
Dr. Meyer wins the internet for today!
(But I still say Mossberg should build it so it can have a fake silencer on one barrel and a .50 BMG brake on the other!
)Deus Machina
Member
I still say it all comes down to materials, either using less of them or better ones.
I think caseless ammo will be viable someday, if someone will actually design one with an extractor to clean jams. The issue there is heat transference, which will need fins and a cooling system of some sort. Could even run a fan off the bolt or leftover gasses.
I see energy-driven weapons coming into use before too long, at least in a stationary role.
You're not getting that many shots out of a handheld rifle with current technology (maybe something as effective as the 5.56x45 pretty soon, though) but it's not too hard to mount things for anti-aircraft, point defense, or on ships.
It might not be as effective as a full 16" gun, but a ship could easily house a coilgun, and chucking a 2-liter sized projectile at supersonic speeds could do as much or more damage as a similar sized weapon, with less storage space needed for the ammunition.
As it is, polymer and ceramic materials do exist to make a gun completely without ferrous materials. There's just no way to make it anywhere near economical for a while now.
I think caseless ammo will be viable someday, if someone will actually design one with an extractor to clean jams. The issue there is heat transference, which will need fins and a cooling system of some sort. Could even run a fan off the bolt or leftover gasses.
I see energy-driven weapons coming into use before too long, at least in a stationary role.
You're not getting that many shots out of a handheld rifle with current technology (maybe something as effective as the 5.56x45 pretty soon, though) but it's not too hard to mount things for anti-aircraft, point defense, or on ships.
It might not be as effective as a full 16" gun, but a ship could easily house a coilgun, and chucking a 2-liter sized projectile at supersonic speeds could do as much or more damage as a similar sized weapon, with less storage space needed for the ammunition.
As it is, polymer and ceramic materials do exist to make a gun completely without ferrous materials. There's just no way to make it anywhere near economical for a while now.
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MattShlock
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National registration, bans, collections...
lloveless
Member
" the world will be a happy place with group hugging." I am awaiting this with " baited breath". Caseless ammo was researched (1960's)and prototypes made, but it never caught on. Too hard to keep the propellant from getting damaged/degraded, being chipped away.
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BSA1
member
In terms of small arms nothing for the next 100 years. Consider the following;
The basic method of killing/wounding has not changed in 150 years. A primer ignites powder in a case that propells a solid object at it's target. All that has changed are the components; better primers, different alloys for the case, smokeless instead of black powder, lead or jacketed bullets instead of a rock.
Small arms design have been unchanged for decades. Bolt action rifle design since WW1, double barrel and pump shotguns for a century, single action revolver since the 1800's, double action revolver since the early 20th.
Semi auto handguns are all the rage right now. But consider the operating principles are the same. It it largely a choice of the firing mechanism, single, double action or striker, and construction material, steel, alloy or plastic.
Case less ammo for small arms has not proven practical. My thought is we will confine to see improvements or actually enhancements to existing small arms that the manufacturers and gun rags will proclaim as the latest, greatest advancement since the slingshot.
Big boy weapons though is a different topic.
The basic method of killing/wounding has not changed in 150 years. A primer ignites powder in a case that propells a solid object at it's target. All that has changed are the components; better primers, different alloys for the case, smokeless instead of black powder, lead or jacketed bullets instead of a rock.
Small arms design have been unchanged for decades. Bolt action rifle design since WW1, double barrel and pump shotguns for a century, single action revolver since the 1800's, double action revolver since the early 20th.
Semi auto handguns are all the rage right now. But consider the operating principles are the same. It it largely a choice of the firing mechanism, single, double action or striker, and construction material, steel, alloy or plastic.
Case less ammo for small arms has not proven practical. My thought is we will confine to see improvements or actually enhancements to existing small arms that the manufacturers and gun rags will proclaim as the latest, greatest advancement since the slingshot.
Big boy weapons though is a different topic.
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