Where are we Going?

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Gunther

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What will be the major weapons development the next 5 years? Will there even be any, or will technological developments grind to a halt as military and civilian R & D money dries up or the SHTF? New cartridge to replace 5.56, new gun for military? Will laser rangfinders incorporated into scopes become smaller and lighter and cheaper? Night vision incorporated/cheaper? What will the guns and ammo of 2015+ look like?:confused:
 
I don't think there will be any major advances in the next several years.

I would not be surprised to see illuminated reticles become more common... which I would welcome.

I would also not be surprised to see inclinometers become commonly incorporated into laser rangefinders.

I expect to see a resurgence in "non-tactical" firearms as the well indulged baby boomers' kids mature and come to realize most shooting of personally owned firearms is actually more about personal challenge and recreation, and very little is actually about SHTF.

Personally I don't think a move away from the "make it more cobby, blocky, heavy, and expensive and call it more tactical" movement can come soon enough.
 
Firearms were pretty well figured by the 1960's. Everything since is just ergonomics. The next thing is probably robots with guns (I'm not joking). Why deal with public opinion when you can send in the droids?
 
Cheaper, lighter incremental improvements in accessories, but nothing revolutionary except in telescopic sights.

Changing calibers around on the same platform hardly counts as advancing the field.
 
Gunther said:
What will be the major weapons development the next 5 years? Will there even be any, or will technological developments grind to a halt as military and civilian R & D money dries up or the SHTF? New cartridge to replace 5.56, new gun for military? Will laser rangfinders incorporated into scopes become smaller and lighter and cheaper? Night vision incorporated/cheaper? What will the guns and ammo of 2015+ look like?
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You think the money is drying up? You'd be sadly mistaken, have you ever heard of the "Black Budget"? Also, many weapons are already fielded that civilans don't know about, and won't know about for quite some time.

On the thing of laser range finders, they can be found over there. I used one a few times on my last deployment as SDM. But until they are incorperated in to the scope, it's not very practical unless you NEED to eliminate that target first shot, and have no margin for error.

It will be quite a while yet before the M16 platform is out. There hasn't been a firearm produced in 50 years that has brought SIGNIFICANT advantages over cost. It may be an old rifle, but due to modularity has been able to keep up with the times. As I have stated on another forum, asking why we haven't adopted bullpups yet, it's simply that cost/advantage trade off.

I would say your next improvments arn't to be in the actual weapons themselves, but in NV sights, communications gear, etc. etc. The rifle does what it needs to do, shoot and kill. The fundamentals of that haven't changed in over a hundred years. The other areas of technology is where our money is being spent, and it makes more sense. Upgrading positioning equipment, NV, communications, and such are MUCH more beneficial on the battlefield and more important to our technological advantage.
 
I don't see the military changing over from 5.56 NATO any time soon. IMHO, the AR-15 as it stands right now is about the pinnacle of firearms development. I don't see it getting too much better, just maybe changing things around and trading one thing for another. I might eat my words; only time will tell.
 
Lighter, more durable, accurate, reliable, deadly, etc etc. Technology will never stop with firearms until the time of man has come to an end. If we stop developing with new technology, other countries won't. It's in our best interest to stay ahead of everyone else. Look at all the other countries that have fell behind. If it came to that point, we would still be sleeping in our beds at night with our families safe, they wouldn't be.

I agree with hso, about optics. I think there will be major technological advancements in that department.
 
Regarding optics, I hope they figure out a way to include a rangefinder in the scope with the same form factor as traditional scopes today. Not sure five years is enough, but that's what I want.
 
Come on, Guys! :D

Where's the creativity? In the last century we've gone from very little technology to nothing-but. As someone stated, we have no idea what they already have available that is being tested in the Black World of technology.

What about the possibility of Assault grade Electromagnetic Rail guns or advances in laser or plasma rifles?

Who knows, 5 or 10 YEARS?

I 'magine there are some things in the works, if not already in use, that would absolutely blow the minds of the most far-out thinkers on this forum.

I'm absolutely certain we have tech that is FAR beyond anything available to the public today.

All I have to do is look at the technology that sprung from Nikola Tesla's Directed Lightning Machine from the, what, 20s or 30s?

-Or look at some of the Industrial Laser or Plasma cutting and punching machines.

The dynamics of those cutting devices is mind-blowing.

Laser is intensely focused light, while Plasma is high pressure air coupled with a jolt of electricity creating a new form of matter that can cut through almost ANYthing.

Sorry, that stuff just HIGHLY intrigues me.

I think many would be surprised what we may have in a decade.

-If we're still around. :uhoh:
 
Purgatory said:
Or look at some of the Industrial Laser or Plasma cutting and punching machines.
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I don't need an engineering degree to tell you that making the jump from massive, grid-powered, contact-distance laser or plasma cutters to man-portable laser or plasma weaponry isn't going to happen anytime soon if ever.
 
I think you will see more bullpup main combat rifles. And eventually cameras on those weapons so the higher ups and lawyers can keep an eye on things.
 
RainDownmyBlues said:
[...]
As I have stated on another forum, asking why we haven't adopted bullpups yet, it's simply that cost/advantage trade off.
[...]
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You're half right. The main reason we haven't switched to a bull pup design is because past experience with a military that adopted a bull pup, England, went badly. I'm talking about the SA-80. It took them ten years and an intervention by Heckler and Koch to get it fixed... sorta.

(Yes, I know the M16 was worse. Another example of why you should stick with what works.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SA-80#Service_and_modification

If the US Military shifted to a new weapon right now, imagine the cost of training the service members, writing new field manuals, getting all of the armory supplies to every supply Sergeant, fielding the weapons, etc.

Logistics nightmare. Absolute. Nightmare.
 
I don't need an engineering degree to tell you that making the jump from massive, grid-powered, contact-distance laser or plasma cutters to man-portable laser or plasma weaponry isn't going to happen anytime soon if ever.
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At least not until portable power sources increase in output by a few orders of magnitude.
 
I don't need an engineering degree to tell you that making the jump [...] to man-portable laser or plasma weaponry isn't going to happen anytime soon if ever.
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I wouldn't bet on that. ;)

I agree with more bullpup designs. They're an excellent way to reduce the length of the rifle while still utilizing the full length barrel. I could see more of those in the future for sure.
 
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Lasers as weapons are not SF anymore. There are antiaircraft/ anti missile lasers already in testing that work off a Hummvee.

You may not get them small enough to equip the foot soldier with them but i can see them working as "crew served weapons" in the near future.

The telescopic plastic case ammo looks quite good already, but I think even if it is going to be adopted they'll still make it in 5.56mm:banghead:
 
Purgatory said:
I agree with more bullpup designs. They're an excellent way to reduce the length of the rifle while still utilizing the full length barrel. I could see more of those in the future for sure.
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I've not handeled a military bullpup I fell in love with. Mainly due to magazine changes, and lack of real estate for scope + NV. Seeing as quite a few of us move and fight at night opposed to day.

I would like to see our NV get better though. I can't remember what you call it, but if you're looking through them for a long period of time, lights and brighter objects in the distance look like they are comming at you. Kind of like headlights down a road. It's a little disorienting when you're trying to creep around in the night and get the spook on someone.
 
the atomic hand gernade, destroys everything for a mile, so far you can only chunk it about 5 feet, launcher can send it 30 feet....need to work on that....
 
Here are some real-world, right around the corner advances.

Not nearly as far-out as I alluded, but pretty interesting all the same.

The 2nd weapon there pushes the boundaries of what's conceivable a bit.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military/weapons/4273222

P.S. I thought you were being sarcastic about the Atomic Hand Grenade 'til I googled it. Very interesting.
 
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