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Originally posted by Hero:
I always assumed the unusual sound was the guns using compressed gases rather then gunpowder.

H

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75% potassium nitrate or sodium nitrate
15% charcoal or sugar
10% sulfer

(please note that this for educational purposes only, I DO NOT recommend anybody try it; the tiniest spark, or a jolt of static, can set gunpowder off)

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Originally posted by Ghoulman:
... seems ta me... just a recon ya understan'... dat der BULLETS are what is, what-de-ya-call... advanced. Why do people always assume it should be the guns that are advanced?

THINK!

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Originally posted by LoadAndMakeReady:

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As far as Jayne's "Vera" is concerned, not being able to fire with atmosphere has no technological foundation. It's just something that was added to make it sound "futuristic."

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Vera might be using Jet-Propelled rather than conventional ammunition. The Callahan is supposed to be something special after all.

(That's how I wrote it in one of my Fan-Fics anyway because the not working in a vacuum thing bothered me too)



...................................
Hurrah, hurrah, when things are at their worst
With cries of “Death or Glory” comes the mighty Twenty-First

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Originally posted by Momaw:
>> Anyone read about this electric gun, that uses electrical charges to fire rounds? <<

http://www.metalstorm.com/



Though if watch their live-fire video clip, it doesn't sound any different. Not "sci-fi" at all.

I've always wondered exactly what happens with muzzle velocity. The first bullet in the barrel has much less room to accelerated before it leaves, while the last bullet has a lot more barrel, hence it should be exitting faster. So do the bullets "cluster" on their way to the target as the slower first rounds are overtaken? Or do they have a variable charge, more in front.

Hmmm.

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Originally posted by Embassy:
Vera would have been able to fire without atmo in any case. The tech guys got this one wrong. Gunpowder does not require air; it contains both fuel and oxidizer. Note that a sealed cartridge would have no way to admit air to the propellants in any case.

That doesn't mean that Vera's mechanisms would operate properly in vacuum, of course. But the first shot, at least, would go right down the barrel.

As for compressed gas weapons, that's an interesting idea. Many firearms already use tapped-off combustion gases to operate the action or to cushion recoil.

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Vera might be using Jet-Propelled rather than conventional ammunition. The Callahan is supposed to be something special after all.

(That's how I wrote it in one of my Fan-Fics anyway because the not working in a vacuum thing bothered me too)

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Originally posted by LoadAndMakeReady:

Although there is a "jet propelled" projectile in existence, (I forget the name of it at the moment) it still doesn't need atmosphere.

It is guided by the barrel, but continues to gain velocity after it leaves the barrel. It's also not very accurate.

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Originally posted by Momaw:
Actually I'm having second thoughts on "atmosphere to fire". Space is cold, DAMN cold. If you cool a barrel to near-absolute temperatures, then try and fire a bullet through it,

1) The barrel ID will have shrunk very slightly. Will the bullet still fit?

and

2) Ever poured hot water into a cold mug and had it crack? Or seen somebody stick a banana in a canister of liquid nitrogren, then shattered it? Ok, so what happens if you've got a near-absolute barrel, and you pressure it suddenly with hot propellant gases.

It may be that the cartridge itself will detonate without atmosphere, but the REST of the gun may need atmosphere (and the heat/insulating qualities that atmosphere implies) to function mechanically.

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Originally posted by LoadAndMakeReady:

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Originally posted by Ghoulman:
... seems ta me... just a recon ya understan'... dat der BULLETS are what is, what-de-ya-call... advanced. Why do people always assume it should be the guns that are advanced?

THINK!

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Yes, exactly, THINK!

Who is going to make twentyfifth century ammo for ninteenth century guns?
For the most part, you don't want to shoot twentieth century ammo in ninteenth century guns! The metals that were used for black powder cartridges just will not stand up to the pressures used in duplicate smokeless powder cartridges.

I have a Marlin Model '93, (made in 1897) that will stand up, but the barrel is stamped "Special Smokeless Steel." And I STILL won't use jacketed bullets in it -- they cause undue wear on the barrel, and won't obturate, and seal the barrel like cast lead will.

So forget the technology folks -- this is just entertainment.

loadandmakeready

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