Big Army Eyes Gauss Guns

[Kirk Freeman]

Big Army Eyes New Caseless Rifle

Finally!

Big Army is looking at a prototype of a "ribbon gun" from FD Munitions in Colorado.

Will Big Army take the leap? Stand by. I remember the hoopla of the ACR program of the late '80s and the lead balloon that transpired. Wait and see.

https://gazette.com/military/army-m...cle_96cd214c-c290-11e8-9d41-27b5a0e767a4.html

 

[T.Lex]

Eh... maybe if it was a different caliber.

 

[BehindBlueI's]

Will Big Army take the leap?

No.

Space Force might, though.

 

[HoughMade]

Um....that's not a Gauss gun.

 

[eldirector]

Where are the electromagnets?

Looks like a proprietary 4-shot magazine of sorts.

 

[dung]

sniper-shot, machine gun?

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Where are the electromagnets?

Looks like a proprietary 4-shot magazine of sorts.

Here:

New ammunition blocks fired by electromagnetic actuators that could theoretically give the weapon a firing rate of 250 rounds per second.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Um....that's not a Gauss gun.

It isn't? Educate me then, please.

 

[HoughMade]

This is a rifle with traditional bullet and powder encased in 4 round blocks that are the integral chamber. The electronics are used to fire the primer.

A gauss gun uses electromagnets to accelerate the projectile, not old-fashioned powder explosions.

 

[russc2542]

Where are the electromagnets?

Looks like a proprietary 4-shot magazine of sorts.

4-shots per block or cartridge, magazine holds a stack of the 4-shot blocks.

Looks like a lot more material around each chamber/bullet so I bet the rounds/volume is worse, wonder how the rounds/lb is.

+1 for the doubt about the electronic mechanism being more robust and greater longevity (not to mention, ease of repair) than mechanical version (FCG, hammer, reciprocating bolt assembly, etc) nowadays.

Since it isn't recoil or gas operated, what loads the next block? is there a backup lever to operate it when the motors fail and a wind up dynamo for the firing solenoid in case of battery failure? imagine some guys in a trench cranking away like those weather radios "keep it up men, crank faster than the other guys and you might make it home". or maybe those flashlights you shake with the magnet inside.

sorry, it's been a riveting day at work today and everyone remembers the segway guy's claims before that came out. kinda reminds me of xmas vacation when everyone's outside to see the lights get turned on and nothing happens.

 

[Alamo]

But does it have a Forward Assist?


The integral chamber/four-round block is an interesting idea. Dunno how it will work out, most initial prototypes don't translate well to production, but somebody's thinking outside the box a little bit.

 

[Kurr]

[video=youtube;CI7XLFN-hD4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CI7XLFN-hD4&[/video]




Horrible choice.

 

[cosermann]

Some interesting ideas right there.

 

[EPeter213]

I have seen this demo before. The system is billed as caseless, and designed to allow for longer sustained fire due to better heat dissipation. Seemed interesting, but impractical from a shots-per-volume of ammo standpoint.

 

[caulfieldian]

How can I join the brotherhood of steel if I don't have a true gauss rifle?

 

[dung]

Is it really caseless, when the chamber is the case?

 

[IndyDave1776]

Where are the electromagnets?

Looks like a proprietary 4-shot magazine of sorts.

I think it looks like a MG34 grip, a mall ninja stock, and a printer cable.

 

[Ark]

lol, that's not "caseless". It's five thick, heavy cases stuck together. Loaded into a gun with five barrels stacked on top of each other.

I really can't name one thing it does better than current rifles.

 

[Larry!!!]

EMP

Cool and interesting BUT, Ichoose simple and reliable every time for Soldiers on the ground. Just because something is old doesn’t mean it’snot great. 1911 and M2 are perfect examples. Also, it is fired electronically so an EMP would make everyone’s weapon inoperable. NO GO.

 

[JJFII]

Its kinda been proven a handheld gauss gun is impossible. The cost to dampen the EMF would exceed the cost of a Mac truck. The firing of a non-EMF dampened Gauss gun next to another non-EMF dampened Gauss gun would negate the firing of BOTH firearms...

We will have energy weapons soon. That's a big G. They will not be magnetic or EMF in design. The research has actually moved from particle speed to sound wave for close range under 300 meter. Past 300 meter they are still looking at atoms.