Issue 582 Only the Bullets Move May 1, 2015

Rail guns and similar technology seem set to overtake traditional guns once power requirement issues have been worked out.  So what are the advantages of this technology?

Magnetic launch:  Firstly it is important to know that this technology uses one of two methods to launch a round. A magnetic field is created to accelerate the round to the speed of sound to launch toward the target, with the other also generating an electrical field to stimulate a chemical that ignites to launch the projectile.  Both require a battery to function and ammunition to work.

Advantages:

1) Stacked ammo:  Unlike traditional guns, the bullets are not in a clip or magazine.  They are not fed through a slot with a spring to be ejected and thus the gun does not jam.  This is because the rounds are stacked in the barrel in a row.  The front projectile is launched first, followed by the second, then the third and so on.  It can do this because the bullets have sensors in them that lets the gun know which bullet to fire first. But there is no ejection mechanisms for cases, or similar as the bullet is the only physical moving part.

2) Multiple barrels and ammo: Interestingly, the gun can have multiple barrels each with multiple types of ammunition that can be selectively fired.  Thus, specialized rounds like a shot guns can also be used (the speed of the bullet can also be adjusted depending on the firing mechanism as well).  Also, multiple barrels means multiple options and less need to reload or carry extra ammunition.   If reloads are needed, the bullets are stacked, so the tube that acts as the barrel is ejected, and a new one is put in, thus simplifying reloads and reducing the risk of the clip/magazine getting caught and pulled out of the gun in high speed combat.

3) Weight:  Because the ammunition no longer requires a shell casing and the other mechanisms of the gun are removed, the gun and ammo are lighter. This is because the gun has zero moving parts.  You simply carry the bullets themselves in the barrel, the battery and the internal computer in a plastic shell.

Conclusion:  These weapons are a new tool, and obviously mean less fatigue due to weight for our soldiers.  But power requirements are the primary issue.  As such, the first weapons are going to be mounted on ships, and then armored vehicles as battery technology progresses.  But once development is complete and is perfected, soldiers will both gain range superiority (these weapons typically have longer firing range based on speed of the projectile coming out) and fire control (speed of the projectile and rate of fire can also be adjusted).  Together combined with the fact that these weapons are fully compatible with smart rounds (detonate at pre-determined distances or have guidance mechanisms), soldiers will become all that much more powerful.