What will the next major advance in firearms be?

[barnbwt]

" the world will be a happy place with group hugging." I am awaiting this with " baited breath".

Me too; there'll finally be no reasons to ban any firearms

"The basic method of killing/wounding has not changed in 150 years."
That's really far too broad a view; the question is "what will the next major advance in firearms be?" not "what will replace firearms?". Firearms by definition ignite a gas-producing propellant to drive a projectile so it will damage a target through kinetic energy transfer. It's like saying that books have been essentially the same for 500 years. That's true, except for the paper, and the ink, and the machinery, and the language, and the purpose, and the use, and the availability.

Advances will be:

-Materials; polymer in more and unexpected places like barrels, moving parts, cartridge cases, and projectiles. Engineered composites will begin showing up to replace first polymer, then structural metallic elements --with superior characteristics in all areas (the mark of true engineered composites is no compromises; every element is designed to play to its strength and avoid its weakness)

-Chemistry; powder and primers will probably change a good bit as far as their manufacture, but likely not their content. Nitrocellulose is pretty damn efficient at storing lots of energy in stable compact volume--not many other compounds real or imagined hold a candle

-Manufacture; MIM and polymer in more places that we'll complain about every step of the way. CNC will get better (cheaper to program, mainly) but it's doubtful it will change things much more than it has--we won't see receivers being made on 5-axis mills just for the hell of it. Composites are going to be the changing element. Again, engineered composites will reign; a simple forged bolt body replaced by a maintenance free coating/wear layer, lightweight rigid polymer composite core, impact resistant bolt face, and simultaneously strong and hard locking surfaces--all bonded as a solid unit

-Platform/format; I personally believe we are on track to have SBR/AOW restrictions disbanded in the very near future. When all 50 states have CCW, it makes little sense to argue no one has business freely owning a short rifle or stocked pistol. SBRs will enjoy a boom, primarily because they weren't available (just like ARs and the AWB). Similarly, silencers will become unregulated, possibly even sooner, and the market will boom as prices collapse immediately. Technologies relating to both SBR cartridge performance and silencers will enter a golden age. It is entirely possible that folding foregrips/stocks and compact integral suppressors become the norm for carried self defense weapons

-Game Changer; I dunno, aliens or something. The "factor" that no one sees coming is just that-- unpredictable. It could just as easily be energy weapons as the collapse of civilization or another weapons ban

-Military Usage; eventually, we will come to the end of utility for armed infantry. It seems inconceivable to no longer need boots on the ground to wage ware and hold territory, but the same was once said for mounted cavalry, archers, grenadiers, and swordsman. Robots/drones, crippling information warfare, an omniscient military Skynet, and probably something even more great and terrible will combine to automate the remaining manual operations of warfare. Sadly, I fear it will be abused with the human elements of morality and risk entirely removed.

TCB

 

[230RN]

JustinJ remarked, Post 9:

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.

(1) I agree on the materials. I foresee ceramic barrels with smooth refractory materials (tungsten carbide? diamond? other? ) coated on the inside by (perhaps?) vapor deposition techniques for heat and wear resistance.

(2) The latter statement reminds me of the Lewis machine gun, which had a barrel shroud designed so that the muzzle blast would suck air through the tube from the receiver side for barrel cooling.

Terry, 230RN

 

[javjacob]

how about a double barrel pump action shotgun? imagine it would be big and bulky to handle though

 

[Cryogaijin]

Smart optics are already happening, and will be in both civvie and military weapons in the very near future. One benefit of using smart optics is "free" low light capability, and a wider range of zoom options than traditional optics.

I see ceramic barrels happening soonish, and suspect we'll see stronger actions and carts, using more energetic powders. Currently the biggest limiter for firearms are the materials they're made out of. Barrels wear faster and faster with newer, higher velocity rounds, brass wears out quicker due to the same. Having chambers and carts capable of handling 3x the pressure of "modern" rounds (Say 200kPSI) reliably and repeatably would be a huge advance in firearm tech.

Of course you need powders and actions that can handle the new pressures.

 

[MattShlock]

And...

Lead bullets will be banned, for the children. Shooting ranges will be staffed by public employee unions when not closed by the EPA and OSHA, and almost no-one will be able to afford metallic cartridge ammo whose taxes will make gasoline look like it is free because spent cases will have to be turned in and accounted for to the IRS who'll replace the same number. Did I mention all military calibers will be banned for civillians and police except administrators?

Anything over 100 primers will be registered as an "Arsenal" and governed by BATFE through a special program similar to getting and having an FFL. And the Dept. of Health and Human Services will have oversight of the list banning any gun and configuration that may be considered a public health risk including guns an adolescent could pull the trigger on.

The Dept. of Commerce shall require built in trigger locks on firearms, microstamping on cases, and tagints in all powder which will not be able to be bought loose per Homeland Security.

Treasury will oversee taxing illegal, but unprosecuted, drug crimes per cartel lobbyists who will have diplomatic immunity. Finally, the VA will have oversight of the Marxist reeducation camp time veterans shall serve -- minimum mandatory sentencing will be equal to the time in uniform and hard labor is at the appointed magistrate's sole discretion.

 

[chicharrones]

If caseless ammo were ever to be made widespread, I think the anti-gunners would try and outlaw it for civilian usage. There would be no brass left for police to take into evidence, and it would kill efforts at microstamping.

 

[Deus Machina]

Of course. They try to kill anything new.
Ignore the fact that microstamping can't be implemented yet anyway, and brass only helps solve crime in the sense that "he shot from about here" and "the brass and gun are both 9mm."

I see caseless ammunition either using a disintegrating primer in the long run or, until then, a more or less traditional primer cup, that will need some way to eject.
Maybe it would be 'semi-caseless': a disk (probably polymer) containing the primer and a rim to extract jams, that still needs flipped out the side.
At least in that case, the scene of a shooting would look like someone emptied a paper punch.

 

[yzguy87]

The next generation of guns are on my arms

 

[Deus Machina]

how about a double barrel pump action shotgun? imagine it would be big and bulky to handle though

Ahem...



By one of our own, actually.

 

[yzguy87]

A couple members actually did 1740 projects and posted about it...

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=280902

 

[Deus Machina]

That's the one. Thanks.

 

[Justin]

So far, I think That Sam1911 is the most correct about future developments.

In addition, here's what I think will be feasible in the next decade or so:

-scopes with programmable reticles. Imagine being able to tweak a BDC reticle to your hand-loaded ammunition.

-scopes with an inbuilt USB interface that will allow you to record video to a memory card.

-cased-telescoping ammunition. It's not caseless, but it is lighter and more compact than traditional brass-cased ammunition. Assuming that T&E goes well, look for the military to adopt it in limited roles, with civilian-legal guns and ammunition to follow a couple of years after.

-widespread integration of 3d printing of gun accessories and parts. With the advent of high-resolution 3d printers, there will be hobbyists who will utilize the technology to develop custom accessories like magazine carriers, magazines, sights, stocks, grips, accessory adapters and many other things. 922r compliance will become much easier as you'll just have to download the proper 3d model and have the 3d printer squirt out the parts you need.

For what it's worth, 3d printers will render magazine bans completely ineffective.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

 

[Jaxondog]

First off we want be here another 100 year's, and Sam1911 has a very good suggestion. Stabilization Technoligy.

 

[jim243]

Will we ever get an electronic firearm or pulse gun that works, or will the next 100 years be much like the last?

If it's not broke, don't fix it.

Jim

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

If people think caseless ammo would turn forensics on it's head, think how much worse for forensics it would be to have chemically reactive caseless ammunition! Shoot your target, like a bad guy, with a chemically reactive round that disolves with exposure to the elements (air, bodily fluids, etc.) AND no case left over...



Seriously, they already have some pretty cool stuff, and more on the horizon. When, and at what time (if ever) some of this might become available to civilians is up in the air.

I'm not able to search youtube for some applicable videos (I'm at work), but here are a couple items not mentioned yet:

A smart gun with programmable ammunition. Let's say you've got a hostage situation in a house or office building. The bad guys have some hostages tied up in a back room while they're clustered in a room near a window, shouting demands. With this smart gun, you can laser range the exact distance from the gun to the window, then program the ammunition you're going to fire to explode exactly 1 yard past that window, taking out or debilitating everybody in that room without harming any hostages in other rooms.

Reality, right now. I leave you to search this out, but the XM25 is one result of such technology.

Sam1911 hit on my next item obliquely: a smart gun that will tag and automatically track the target with computer controlled optics/targeting. You can then hold the trigger down as you're bringing the target tracker into the crosshairs...and THEN the gun will fire, "taking into account the distance, barometric pressure, temperature, the curvature of the earth, and other variables". You can hit your target, moving or stationary, from hundreds of yards away because the gun won't fire until all the variables align to produce a solution which puts the bullet on target.

Here's a link for that one:

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-05-22/smart-rifle-could-shake-up-gun-control-debate

 

[Pilot]

Maybe primer-less, case-less cartridges that are ignited by internal electrical circuitry. Electronic trigger systems, back up batteries, etc.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Firearms are at a stage now like the steam engine was in the early 1900's or the PC is today

They're a perfected technology that wil only change minutely as materials advance but will still operate fundamentally the same.

Right up until the invention of the diesel, or turbojet, tablet or phased plasma rifle in the 40 megawatt range

 

[SilentStalker]

Sam1911 hit on my next item obliquely: a smart gun that will tag and automatically track the target with computer controlled optics/targeting. You can then hold the trigger down as you're bringing the target tracker into the crosshairs...and THEN the gun will fire, "taking into account the distance, barometric pressure, temperature, the curvature of the earth, and other variables". You can hit your target, moving or stationary, from hundreds of yards away because the gun won't fire until all the variables align to produce a solution which puts the bullet on target.

This technology and many many more are already in the testing stages. The sad thing is, when this stuff really comes out and is used widely the true point of the 2nd amendment we hold so dear will be pointless. Ordinary people with ordinary weapons would have a ridiculously, almost futile, time trying to combat an enemy with said technology. And that situation is fast approaching. And you can bet that people will abuse that power. Its going to be a scary future for the younger generation for sure. I am only 32 and I am actually afraid for the people younger than me. There is no telling what they are going to have to see and endure.

 

[mljdeckard]

I think if you can store and amp enough electricity for a rail gun, you can use some kind of energy projection and do away with projectiles entirely. Instead of spare magazines, we will carry spare batteries.

As far as caseless, it really isn't as much of an advantage, when you remember that the gun still has to have a full ejection system anyway, because you still need to be able to eject a round to clear the weapon and clear a malfunction.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

This technology and many many more are already in the testing stages. The sad thing is, when this stuff really comes out and is used widely the true point of the 2nd amendment we hold so dear will be pointless. Ordinary people with ordinary weapons would have a ridiculously, almost futile, time trying to combat an enemy with said technology. And that situation is fast approaching. And you can bet that people will abuse that power. Its going to be a scary future for the younger generation for sure. I am only 32 and I am actually afraid for the people younger than me. There is no telling what they are going to have to see and endure.

Sorry, but I don't agree with this.

There's more to the RKBA than just the RKBA. We have a slew of rights guaranteed under our laws, and they all act to tie the hands of the government. Not the least of which has to do with communications.

We all dread the apocalypse scenario...but the fact remains that the government which could produce such a scenario has one great weakness...and that is the fact that the government is actually made up of, and run by, members who are part of the population itself.

So, for starters, that means that the military which would be called upon to perform such suppressive actions would actually be composed of men and women who are friends, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, cousins of the people who make up the civilian population being suppressed.

THAT cannot be sustained, and it's been historically proven.

This is not to say we are not to be leery of heavy handed government control and oppressive laws and such, however. But we need to be realistic about it, too.

If open military combat against entrenched home forces operating with guerilla tactics were that clear cut and easy, then a great many military conflicts shouldn't drag on for years, or even decades.


Fear the government that fears your rights...but have some trust in your fellow citizens.

 

[MattShlock]

Maybe primer-less, case-less cartridges that are ignited by internal electrical circuitry. Electronic trigger systems, back up batteries, etc.

Old news -- the Voere rifles have been around a coupla decades.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

I think if you can store and amp enough electricity for a rail gun, you can use some kind of energy projection and do away with projectiles entirely. Instead of spare magazines, we will carry spare batteries.

As far as caseless, it really isn't as much of an advantage, when you remember that the gun still has to have a full ejection system anyway, because you still need to be able to eject a round to clear the weapon and clear a malfunction.

Not much of an advantage?

How's this for an advantage: a huge reduction in weight for the soldier in combat who must carry his ammunition for his weapon because you no longer have to carry around the weight of metallic cartridges? Or, the flip side of the same coin, a huge INCREASE in the amount of ammunition that soldier can carry into combat for the same weight as his current load?

How about the potential reduction in raw materials cost during the ammunition manufacturing process?

These advantages aren't to be sniffed at.

 

[zorro45]

Future predictions

Building sensor technology into shooting platform to help diagnose flinch,
Issues w/ trigger pull, etc. The same sensors that are in an iPOD could theoretically do this, the forces are many orders of magnitude apart from minute fluctuations in grip strength to the impulse of firing. This might make the adequate shooting coach/trainer into an expert.

Shooting affinity housing developments with on site handgun, rifle, skeet ranges, gunsmith, lounge for those 9mm vs. 45 discussions, "pro shop"
Instructors on site. This would of course be a gated community.

The U.S. will become increasingly polarized between those who value 2A, self-sufficiency, outdoor lifestyle, and those who want someone else to tell them what to do, coddle them, and arrest their kids for making guns out of pop-tarts. Opportunities will abound for those who want to make a business catering to the first group.

 

[barnbwt]

"We all dread the apocalypse scenario...but the fact remains that the government which could produce such a scenario has one great weakness...and that is the fact that the government is actually made up of, and run by, members who are part of the population itself."

This. The future will look more like Brave New World than 1984, except the powers that be will function more like something from Brazil or Idiocracy. Mediocrity all around in a crummy, depressed existence of slow decay --but we'll have Iphones!

"How's this for an advantage: a huge reduction in weight for the soldier in combat who must carry his ammunition for his weapon because you no longer have to carry around the weight of metallic cartridges? Or, the flip side of the same coin, a huge INCREASE in the amount of ammunition that soldier can carry into combat for the same weight as his current load?"
Already been done, and the advantages you describe were definitely found. Also, an insane rate of fire was achieved (+3000round/min IIRC). However, without brass acting as a heat sink/shield between combustion and the chamber walls, they quickly overheated and would cook off the ammunition --here's the scary part-- on contact!

If we can find some way to get powders that cannot be thermally ignited (doubtful) or stop the heat transfer to the chamber (impossible) a caseless auto could work. Fouling and ammo durability were problems, too, but far less significant. The biggest problem of all was that H&K spent millions to develop...this



Way to go there, H&K, I can't believe nobody wanted one...

TCB

 

[newfalguy101]

The flintlock was "state of the art" for 200 years, we are in that type of existence right now, there has been exactly ZERO NEW revelations in the firearms world for over 100 years..........and it might be another 100 before there are any real advancements.