Cosmoline
Member
POWDER is the key. The last great innovations in firearms all hit when smokeless powder became available in the 1890's and early 1900's. Think about how many modern firearms and cartridges are either called "189x" or "9x" or "'0X" or are derived from such firearms and cartridges. I'd estimate 90% of "Modern" firearms are really firearms from the 1890's and early 1900's dressed up in new packages.
Until something replaces smokeless powder, we will be using the same basic firearms. There's no two ways about it.
I doubt very much that caseless ammo will amount to much. It keeps the bad things about smokeless powder (heat & crud) while taking away the thing that removes most of the heat and crud--the brass.
I'd look to super-high pressure pneumatic systems. Obviously this is a very old idea, but if and when the technology is there for extreme high pressure compressors to be built into the firearm's stock, you can have enormous power without the problems of heat and crud in the chamber.
Also the idea of a liquid powder is interesting. Two elements combine in the the chamber as a liquid in certain amounts, like epoxy glue. The combination is set off and sends the bullet on its way.
Until something replaces smokeless powder, we will be using the same basic firearms. There's no two ways about it.
I doubt very much that caseless ammo will amount to much. It keeps the bad things about smokeless powder (heat & crud) while taking away the thing that removes most of the heat and crud--the brass.
I'd look to super-high pressure pneumatic systems. Obviously this is a very old idea, but if and when the technology is there for extreme high pressure compressors to be built into the firearm's stock, you can have enormous power without the problems of heat and crud in the chamber.
Also the idea of a liquid powder is interesting. Two elements combine in the the chamber as a liquid in certain amounts, like epoxy glue. The combination is set off and sends the bullet on its way.