Re: Metal Storm

From: "Ryan M Gill" <rmgill@mindspring.com>

> How do you zero the new barrels?

No idea. As they're clip-on, part of the sight system should be
integrated
with the barrel when high accuracy is required - this AFAICR is the
system
used with the sniper rifle, which is designed to be good enough to take
out a target at 2000m.
For most applications, a 1/10 sec burst at 10,000 rounds per second is
enough,
especially if it's a 40mm...

> How do you protect the weapon system under armor?
Same way you do other comparable weapons. Usually you don't. When you
need
to, you use multiple barrels.

> How do you easily transfer ammo for a cannon type (25mm)
> from stores to the vehicle?

Take barrel out of shipping container.
Remove existing barrel - noting how many rounds are still in, if not
empty.
Put barrel in mount.
Lock.

Rather easier than changing a 25mm barrel. Definitely easier than
loading
a mag with lost of 25mm rounds linked together.

Remember - there is no brass. No cartridge case. Weight of 20 rounds of
a normal weapon is:
a)Electromechanical firing system, heavy enough to reliably hit the
round
with a firing pin plus
b)Firing actuator (trigger), safety etc
c) Furniture and recoil systems capable of taking the shock.
d) 20 cartridges, each able to confine the propellant without ballooning
too
much.
e) A barrel heavy enough to take the heat stress from 1000 rounds (say)
before deforming.
f) 20 lots of propellant
g) 20 warheads

Now delete a), d), e) and replace them with a chip, a battery, and a
barrel
not a lot
heavier than the 20 cartridge cases. Upgrade c) as needed for the ROF.

If you've ever policed up the brass after a lot of rounds have been
fired,
you know
how freaking heavy it is in large quantities.

> >Of course the Metal Storm ammo/barrel/mag loads may not weigh a lot,
> >but they're bulky. And its very easy to burn thousands of rounds
> >very quickly.
>
> Something of a problem.

*Shrug* No way around it. If you want to fire X rounds, it will weigh a
lot.

> I've always dealt with the occasional hang fire by ejecting the round
> while turned away from the breech of the bolt action rifle (old .303
> brit not of greek or british mfg...).

Immediate Action/Gas Stoppage is even more hairy on an auto rifle. I
still
think the "turn away and pray the mercury fulminate is completely
defective"
bit is for the avians, even on a bolt action rifle.