Does gun technology suck?

[DoglegArms]

Why aren't there more advances in firearm technology, specifically civilian firearms? In the last ten years we've been introduced to slide fire, keymod rails, multi-stage triggers, Cerakote, and stippling. With the exception of multi stage triggers, all cool things in their own right but not game changers.

I keep looking back to the M1911 how a 100 year old pistol is still very relevant today and in a lot of cases superior to some of modern pistols that manufacturers put out.

 

[BackWoods]

Gun technology doesn't but, pistols and handguns do. What else can you do to handguns? Short barrels=slower velocities. That will never change. I think all the tech will come with the longer barreled platforms. Mechanics seem to always stay similar regardless.

 

[freedom]

The purpose of a gun is to send a hunk of lead downrange. We pretty much have that figured out. Until there is a major ammunition advancement, like caseless ammo, rail gun tech, or laser/phaser blasters, guns don't have much more they could do. Accessories can always get a little better/cheaper.

The one recent major advancement, 3D printing, is in the process of being crushed by us and many other major governments.

 

[Mac11FA]

I 3D printed an nice gun last week but had to throw it out cause I couldn't print any 3D ammo!

 

[Shemp]

I think the next big leap forward will be in the propellant....whether it's powder or electric.

Mechanically speaking there's not much to improve on in modern guns. Unless there is some revolutionary new type of rifling created I don't what else could be improved. People still try,which is why we end up with oddball guns that load rounds backwards in the magazine.

 

[Hayata]

H&K G11

Too bad it never caught on...

 

[Shemp]

H&K G11

Too bad it never caught on...

Jeebus that guy was slapping that trigger...not to mention that thing looks like it kicked like a Garand!

Here's a caseless cartridge gun I want:

 

[PewPewPewCo]

Why aren't there more advances in firearm technology, specifically civilian firearms? In the last ten years we've been introduced to slide fire, keymod rails, multi-stage triggers, Cerakote, and stippling. With the exception of multi stage triggers, all cool things in their own right but not game changers.

I keep looking back to the M1911 how a 100 year old pistol is still very relevant today and in a lot of cases superior to some of modern pistols that manufacturers put out.

its there, but we're having to jump around electronics due to ATF regs.

Here's a neat example.

 

[PewPewPewCo]

on top of that the silencer market is exploding and 3d printed sintered metal cans are opening up a whole new ability to make complex core designs.

 

[Leshaire]

this has me thinking too. the tech hasnt changed much. there has been decent attempts at ammunition but guns dont seem to be changing much at all really

 

[Laufen]

The lack of paradigm smashing drastic change doesn't necessarily mean the tech sucks, hell the same types of propellants used to shove bullets down barrels put a rover on Mars.

Propellant tech has changed a lot in function. Many, many more offerings for burn rates, improvements for handing temperature and humidity variation while keeping consistent and uniform pressures, better performing bullets, more precise machining for actions and barrels, lightweight high strength alloys, etc. Not many of these huge advancements are visibly notable, but they've been huge game changers behind the scenes.

We still all have human hands, and there's only so many designs that will fit our paws and provide a reliable and convenient platform for slinging a piece of lead.

 

[Mac11FA]

I think the next big leap forward will be in the propellant....whether it's powder or electric.

Mechanically speaking there's not much to improve on in modern guns. Unless there is some revolutionary new type of rifling created I don't what else could be improved. People still try,which is why we end up with oddball guns that load rounds backwards in the magazine.

I loaded rounds backwards in a magazine once... and it ended up in a sales brochure!

 

[freedom]

I loaded rounds backwards in a magazine once... and it ended up in a sales brochure!

And that's how they invented the Boburg

 

[Hayata]

Jeebus that guy was slapping that trigger...not to mention that thing looks like it kicked like a Garand!

Here's a caseless cartridge gun I want:

Caseless, yes.

Autoloading, not so much...

How about Metalstorm?

Pretty revolutionary if you ask me.

 

[FatAlbert]

If you think about it car technology hasn't gone any further than gun technology since 1911. I think they're both par for the course and in their prime.

 

[boss_hawg]

I loaded rounds backwards in a magazine once... and it ended up in a sales brochure!

No Kompromise, homie.

 

[Jcountry]

Why aren't there more advances in firearm technology, specifically civilian firearms? In the last ten years we've been introduced to slide fire, keymod rails, multi-stage triggers, Cerakote, and stippling. With the exception of multi stage triggers, all cool things in their own right but not game changers.

I keep looking back to the M1911 how a 100 year old pistol is still very relevant today and in a lot of cases superior to some of modern pistols that manufacturers put out.

Innovations come about all the time.

Polymer frames
Double stack mags
Glowing sights

The 1911 thing is debatable. It is certainly not technically superior to other pistols which hold more than twice the ammo and have have far fewer points of failure.

Not to say it sucks, but a lot has happened in the last century. Not all of it is bad. From a technical point of view, the gun history is alive, well, and thriving.....

I just wish I could think of the next awesome advance!

 

[Jcountry]

H&K G11

Too bad it never caught on...

I remember seeing those things...

Bonus part: When you run out of ammo, it serves as a great paddle to get you down shit creek!