Glenn E. Meyer
New member
No matter what, someone will post that the 1911 is best.
What's the next big thing for firearms?
- Thread starter FrosSsT
- Start date
The fragility of caseless ammo is it's biggest drawback. It works in an Abrams tank, because, well, it's an Abrams tank and virtually nothing in the world but other Abrams can destroy it. Not the same for an infantry soldier. It would turn into a really bad day if you dove for cover and broke all that nice caseless ammo all to pieces.
Rail guns on Naval ships could be a potential, but anti-ship cruise missiles may have already condemned them. I also doubt you'll see any real Naval spending and upgrades until another Naval power rivals ours, which is decades away at best, and may be almost unattainable at worst; the sheer tonnage required to even come close would take many years to build.
Optics will continue to evolve, as they have rather rapidly over the last thirty years. I would love to see reasonably priced rangefinding scopes. Not really sure I'm up for laser guided bullets though, that kind of takes the fun away.
We might see limited use of electrically fired ammunition for long range competition, for the simple reason of it's huge reduction in lock time.
Rail guns on Naval ships could be a potential, but anti-ship cruise missiles may have already condemned them. I also doubt you'll see any real Naval spending and upgrades until another Naval power rivals ours, which is decades away at best, and may be almost unattainable at worst; the sheer tonnage required to even come close would take many years to build.
Optics will continue to evolve, as they have rather rapidly over the last thirty years. I would love to see reasonably priced rangefinding scopes. Not really sure I'm up for laser guided bullets though, that kind of takes the fun away.
We might see limited use of electrically fired ammunition for long range competition, for the simple reason of it's huge reduction in lock time.
Brian Pfleuger
Moderator Emeritus
I thought $500 1/2 MOA rifles were things of the past, not the future. 
Master Blaster 2
Moderator
Space Balls used Calico 22LR rifles...Star wars uded modded Broomhandle...don't think looking at movies is the future view.
I think all pistols and revolvers will be poyl...wait they are almost there already.
Polymer-cased ammunition Ammo
Steyr ACR has 5.56mm NATO/.223 Rem., 7.62mm NATO/.308 Win., 6.8 SPC (6.8x43mm SPC), .300 Win. Mag (.300 Winchester Magnum), .338 Lapua Magnum, and .50 BMG/12.7x99mm NATO ready to go.
http://www.defensereview.com/pcp-am...lymer-cartridge-cases-that-can-take-the-heat/
I think all pistols and revolvers will be poyl...wait they are almost there already.
Polymer-cased ammunition Ammo
Steyr ACR has 5.56mm NATO/.223 Rem., 7.62mm NATO/.308 Win., 6.8 SPC (6.8x43mm SPC), .300 Win. Mag (.300 Winchester Magnum), .338 Lapua Magnum, and .50 BMG/12.7x99mm NATO ready to go.
http://www.defensereview.com/pcp-am...lymer-cartridge-cases-that-can-take-the-heat/
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Nine the Ranger
New member
No 'ammo'
Have the gun shear off a piece of metal and propel it forward.
Have the gun shear off a piece of metal and propel it forward.
Next big thing?
1) Probably whatever replaces the M4 in the military...stay tuned.
2) You won't be able to purchase one, but more weapons like the XM25...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XM25_CDTE
3) Smaller, lighter, and more rugged red dots for automatic pistols...greater acceptance on combat pistols.
4) More effective versions of the 5.56mm like the M855A1 to defeat body armor, which we'll be see more of on and off the battlefield.
1) Probably whatever replaces the M4 in the military...stay tuned.
2) You won't be able to purchase one, but more weapons like the XM25...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XM25_CDTE
3) Smaller, lighter, and more rugged red dots for automatic pistols...greater acceptance on combat pistols.
4) More effective versions of the 5.56mm like the M855A1 to defeat body armor, which we'll be see more of on and off the battlefield.
Frankly, it's hard to see any advantage to ceramics in firearm construction or in ammunition. Polymer or whatever those plastics are, is already the thing to beat. I also don't see how you could achieve any weight advantage at all. But who knows? Boats made of concrete were used the in the war and still are on the C&O canal.
Because no one makes ammunition propellant, one is less likely to know much about it or to think about it. There could be some improvements in that area perhaps but probably not revolutionary.
Another thing is how all the little details in firearms have to work and work well for a particular gun to be considered good and reliable. Yet one frequently reads posts here on the forum about things that forever seem to give trouble, such as magazines. Apparently the manufacture of magazines seems to be farmed out to other companies that supposedly specialize in them. But why so many problems related to magazines? Maybe we should go back to clips but they don't work so easily for some people. It is curious that the use of stripper clips in newly designed pistols seems to have ceased about a hundred years ago. Maybe they didn't work that well then.
Springs get mentioned a lot here, too, perhaps more often than needed. While I've had a spring problem with a Colt Government .380, I've had no others. Are problems with springs exaggerated?
Because no one makes ammunition propellant, one is less likely to know much about it or to think about it. There could be some improvements in that area perhaps but probably not revolutionary.
Another thing is how all the little details in firearms have to work and work well for a particular gun to be considered good and reliable. Yet one frequently reads posts here on the forum about things that forever seem to give trouble, such as magazines. Apparently the manufacture of magazines seems to be farmed out to other companies that supposedly specialize in them. But why so many problems related to magazines? Maybe we should go back to clips but they don't work so easily for some people. It is curious that the use of stripper clips in newly designed pistols seems to have ceased about a hundred years ago. Maybe they didn't work that well then.
Springs get mentioned a lot here, too, perhaps more often than needed. While I've had a spring problem with a Colt Government .380, I've had no others. Are problems with springs exaggerated?
cannonfire
New member
Non-metal slides and barrels. Obviously you need a material that can withstand high heat and abuse. I do not know what that material is but I think that is the next revolutionary thing.
Wouldn't have to worry about rust and it could be lighter, depending on material.
Just thinking out loud
Wouldn't have to worry about rust and it could be lighter, depending on material.
Just thinking out loud
aarondhgraham
New member
I think it will be in ammo technology,,,
And probably in caseless or a different material other than metal for the case.
We're going to run out of metal real soon,,,
And no one recycles enough to make a real difference.
My crystal ball is in the shop,,,
So I can't predict what material will replace brass,,,
But if I were a betting man I would wager it will be a polymer/ceramic thing.
Just a wild guess.
Aarond
.
And probably in caseless or a different material other than metal for the case.
We're going to run out of metal real soon,,,
And no one recycles enough to make a real difference.
My crystal ball is in the shop,,,
So I can't predict what material will replace brass,,,
But if I were a betting man I would wager it will be a polymer/ceramic thing.
Just a wild guess.
Aarond
.