Next generation battle rifle?

[Borg warner]

interesting concept if they could get it to work. I don't really understand how it's supposed to work. It looks like it has four "chambers with space for propellant but they don't show how the propellent is supposed to recharge the chambers  which are fired by "Electromagnetic activation" at velocities of 2,500 miles per hour which is 3600 fps which would be pretty repectable for a 6mm 100 grain bullet.

https://gazette.com/military/army-might-have-found-its-new-rifle-in-colorado-springs/article_96cd214c-c290-11e8-9d41-27b5a0e767a4.html

[janice6]

I'm all for innovation.  But!  It appears to need some electrical power and that has been the nemesis of electronic solutions for ever.  A power source that was reliable and sufficiently powerful to last for a long time is still not a reality, or many firearms would be using it.  This is a variation of a rail gun.

Another question might be, considering the ammo is in a metal block, how does the weight of the ammunition compare to the present ammunition weight.  Additional weight is not good for the foot soldier.

If the energy is derived from a thermal electric source, as some weapons systems now,  where is the safety of rough handling and electromagnetic environments the power source must be exposed to.

Again, if it is a thermal/electrical battery powered, how much more weight is the soldier required to carry in power sources and ammunition.

Innovation is wonderful, but it occurs at a slow pace.  Don't expect to see this "rifle" as standard equipment next year.

The future will open up drastically but it needs a very powerful, very small, very dependable, cheap, power source first!

Edited October 2, 2018 by janice6

[PNWguy]

Looks like his four round metal blocks are roughly the size of a current 20rd magazine.  Fail.

Now, if you could figure out how to design a rifle that had a chamber filled with powder and another with bullets, and it somehow was able to drop in a bullet and the proper amount of powder then fired it at a high rate, then you might have something.

But even that concept has serious logistical and operational shortcomings.