New Rifle Tech Offers Variable Muzzle Speed - The Firearms Forum

lb969 · 07-22-2008, 10:25 PM

http://tech.slashdot.org/article.pl?...53237&from=rss

Quote:

A gun that fires variable-speed bullets that can be set to kill, wound, or just inflict a bruise is being built by a Lund and Company Invention, a toy design studio that makes toy rockets powered by burning hydrogen obtained by electrolyzing water. The company is being funded by the US Army to adapt the technology to fire bullets instead. The new weapon, called the Variable Velocity Weapon System or VWS, lets the soldier use the same rifle for crowd control and combat, by altering the muzzle velocity. It could be loaded with 'rubber bullets' designed only to deliver blunt impacts on a person, full-speed lethal rounds, or projectiles somewhere between the two. Bruce Lund, the company's CEO, says the gun works by mixing a liquid or gaseous fuel with air in a combustion chamber behind the bullet. This determines the explosive capability of the propellant and consequently the velocity of the bullet. 'Projectile velocity varies from non-lethal at 10 meters, to lethal at 100 meters or more, as desired,' says Lund. The existing VWS design is a .50 caliber (12.7 mm) rifle weapon, but Lund says the technology can be scaled to any size, 'handgun to Howitzer.'"

Thought this was interesting. Would be fun to have a do-it-all gun.

Lead Lobber · 07-22-2008, 10:57 PM

The older I get, the more amazed I am that yesterday's science fiction is becoming fact.

I read some 10 years ago about the new pulse jet that flies faster than a speeding bullet. Much faster; it was heard by obsevers watching at night near that secret base in the southwest, and reported long ago in Popular Science. When the Blackbird was retired, we all knew something faster HAD to be happening, right?

So, not to dilute the significance of the variable speed rifle, I'll bet it's been in developement and testing for at least 10 years.

And the F-22? There is probably already something even more awesome, probably already flying.

The next step for battle field rifles is laser and/or microwave beam technology, with the ability to lauch smart rounds that can do .... well, we just won't believe what these can do already, probably ...

LL

The future is here already, and it scares me.

Xracer · 07-23-2008, 07:04 AM

"The only thing new is the history you don't know".....Harry S. Truman

Guess you guys never heard of the GyroJet and the Daisy.

LurpyGeek · 07-23-2008, 08:24 AM

I'll give you one big reason that this couldn't ever be a good idea...

The media.

A news story about this weapon would state things like this...

"this fearsome new rifle allows the gunman to increase the velocity of the bullet to cause more ghastly wounds."

Even if it was used at its lowest setting for less-lethal crowd / riot control...

"Police and SWAT teams armed with assault rifles opened fire on a group of anti-war protestors this afternoon. They were seen to fire repeatedly into the unarmed crowd."

07-22-2008, 10:57 PM	#2
Lead Lobber Former Guest Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Central California coastal area Posts: 965	Re: New Rifle Tech Offers Variable Muzzle Speed The older I get, the more amazed I am that yesterday's science fiction is becoming fact. I read some 10 years ago about the new pulse jet that flies faster than a speeding bullet. Much faster; it was heard by obsevers watching at night near that secret base in the southwest, and reported long ago in Popular Science. When the Blackbird was retired, we all knew something faster HAD to be happening, right? So, not to dilute the significance of the variable speed rifle, I'll bet it's been in developement and testing for at least 10 years. And the F-22? There is probably already something even more awesome, probably already flying. The next step for battle field rifles is laser and/or microwave beam technology, with the ability to lauch smart rounds that can do .... well, we just won't believe what these can do already, probably ... LL The future is here already, and it scares me.

07-23-2008, 07:04 AM	#3
Xracer TFF Admin Staff Mediator Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Minn-eeee-sota, ya, sure, you bet! Posts: 9,144	Re: New Rifle Tech Offers Variable Muzzle Speed "The only thing new is the history you don't know".....Harry S. Truman Guess you guys never heard of the GyroJet and the Daisy.

07-23-2008, 08:24 AM	#4
LurpyGeek Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: UT Posts: 1,436	Re: New Rifle Tech Offers Variable Muzzle Speed I'll give you one big reason that this couldn't ever be a good idea... The media. A news story about this weapon would state things like this... "this fearsome new rifle allows the gunman to increase the velocity of the bullet to cause more ghastly wounds." Even if it was used at its lowest setting for less-lethal crowd / riot control... "Police and SWAT teams armed with assault rifles opened fire on a group of anti-war protestors this afternoon. They were seen to fire repeatedly into the unarmed crowd." __________________ Knowing is half the battle... Of course, the other half is violence.