Build your own Gauss Rifle

[ravells]

More info here: http://www.gizmag.com/gauss-rifle-multistage-coilgun/23988/

 

[Fritz_Brown]

OK, it's intriguing. But, the writer seems seriously impressed with 100m/s muzzle velocity! Wooooh! A bullet twice almost twice as large (the 5.7x28) gets 5-7x that muzzle velocity (except in the designed sub-sonic round, which is still 3x the velocity). And, at that, the one with 594m/s velocity won't penetrate everyday body armor. This thing doesn't even pack the wallop of a .22LR.

Having pooh-poohed the "power" of this thing, I will say that it's pretty cool concept. That is the size of a Personal Defense Weapon. The real question is, "Can you pack enough power into that thing to get a round going 500m/s or more?"

He also needs to design it so the batteries are in the magazine. That way you can balance your battery output and the number of rounds. It also provides a built-in safety - no mag, no shoot.

 

[DangerousThing]

OK, it's intriguing. But, the writer seems seriously impressed with 100m/s muzzle velocity! Wooooh! A bullet twice almost twice as large (the 5.7x28) gets 5-7x that muzzle velocity (except in the designed sub-sonic round, which is still 3x the velocity). And, at that, the one with 594m/s velocity won't penetrate everyday body armor. This thing doesn't even pack the wallop of a .22LR.

I like it. Remember this was built by a hobbyist, not a megacorp. I'm hoping that he releases the plans, but doing that might make him the target of lawsuits. No pun intended

And I agree with you that it's a cool idea. Think of this as a prototype.

To get more output speed, I think he'd need to time the magnets more efficiently.

 

[Fritz_Brown]

The video mentions that you will have to contact him directly for plans and such. I'm moderately impressed by it - but not as much as the author is.

I think he should shave down the bullet size, and see if he can trade off for velocity. There might be a point where it's not an even trade.