Are railgun rifles possible?

Railguns are still very much at the research stage after decades of R&D, and it remains to be seen whether they will be deployed as practical military weapons in the foreseeable future.

How much does it cost to shoot a railgun?

Traditional missile projectile systems on U.S. ships can range in costs from $500,000 to $1.5 million. The railgun projectile, weighing at roughly 23 lbs, costs $25,000, and can be fired at speeds of Mach 7 or 5,000 miles per hour.

Is a hand held railgun possible?

Nope. Physics. Projectiles fired from a rail gun small enough to be “handheld” would also be small enough (both in external dimensions and mass) to NOT be able to penetrate any decently armored vehicle. AT BEST, they MIGHT be able to penetrate lighter armored vehicles.

Has a railgun ever been used?

After decades of research and development, railguns are still very much in the research stage, and it's still unclear if they will ever be used as real military weapons.

Why don't we use railguns?

Rail guns require enormous burst of power and very high currents to accelerate the projectile. The huge current in the rails makes them last only a few shots before they are damaged and need significant repair.

The Scary Reasons Why US is Testing Massive $500 Million Railguns Firing at Mach 7

Why did the Navy cancel railgun?

The technology, if it were harnessed, would be far cheaper than using bombs and missiles. But the Navy couldn't get the railgun to fire beyond 110 miles in testing, which would mean a Navy ship couldn't use the weapon without getting itself in range of enemy missiles.

Will railguns ever be feasible?

It is expected to be ready between 2020 and 2025. A test of a railgun took place on 10 December 2010, by the U.S. Navy at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division. During the test, the Office of Naval Research set a world record by conducting a 33 MJ shot from the railgun, which was built by BAE Systems.

Is a railgun faster than a bullet?

The 32-megajoule – a measurement of power applied over a period of time, in this case equivalent to about nine kilowatt-hours – railgun in its second phase of testing by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) can fire a projectile at seven times the speed of sound (Mach 7), almost three times faster than an M16 rifle ...

How devastating is a railgun?

Railguns are one of the most devastating weapons conceived, capable of shooting hypersonic bullets with enough energy to liquefy even the toughest armor.

How much damage can a railgun do?

Unlike present-day artillery shells, railgun projectiles are just that – projectiles. They contain no explosives, and the kinetic energy imparted by the projectile, travelling seven or so times the speed of sound, can rip through steel or concrete, destroying anything in its path.

How much does a civilian railgun cost?

The U.S. Navy may have shelved its railgun program, but that doesn't mean you can't get a similar futuristic weapon for yourself. One ambitious company is offering what it is calling “the world's first and only handheld Gauss rifle” for pre-order for the price of $3,375.

How many miles can a railgun shoot?

A rail gun is a kinetic energy weapon that can fire a projectile at seven times the speed of sound with electromagnetic force and hit a target over 200km (125 miles) away – more than 10 times the typical range of a cannon.

Can you purchase a railgun?

When you're in the 'Weapons' section, scroll down until you come across the Railgun. As the description states, it does horrible things to anything it's pointed at. Currently, the Railgun costs $657,000 but it's worth the price as there's a 10% discount.

What ammo does a railgun use?

Rail gun ammunition, in the form of small tungsten missiles, would be relatively light, easy to transport and easy to handle. And because of their high velocities, rail gun missiles would be less susceptible to bullet drop and wind shift than current artillery shells.

How fast is a railgun in mph?

Railguns use magnetic fields created by high electrical currents to accelerate a projectile to Mach 6, or 5,400 miles an hour. The velocity is sufficient to give the EMRG an effective range of 110 nautical miles, or 126 miles on land.

What can stop a railgun?

The railgun is vulnerable to the same type of attack as any other form of artilley -- specifically missiles and airstrikes - and can be taken out in exactly the same way. Was this worth your time?

Can a railgun shoot into space?

Laboratory experiments with railguns have demonstrated muzzle velocities of 2-3 km/s and muzzle energies >8 MJ. The extension of this technology to the muzzle velocities (≥7500 m/s) and energies (≥10 GJ) needed for the direct launch of payloads into orbit is very challenging, but may not be impossible.

How many times can a railgun be fired?

A normal gun can be fired about 600 times before the barrel has to be refurbished. But the barrel on tested railguns, Clark said, had to be replaced after about 12 to 24 shots were fired.

How much armor can a railgun penetrate?

The 38-foot railgun, though, has a range of 125 miles, five times the impact, and can shoot through seven steel plates. Even in smaller weapons, using a railgun has been able to successfully extend the range.

How long does a railgun barrel last?

Reports vary but it is likely that US Navy's Railgun needs a replacement barrel at least every 400 shots, due to the considerable internally destructive forces created by each firing.

What's the world's fastest bullet?

220 Swift remains the fastest commercial cartridge in the world, with a published velocity of 1,422 m/s (4,665 ft/s) using a 1.9 grams (29 gr) bullet and 2.7 grams (42 gr) of 3031 powder.

What is replacing the railgun?

The Navy is instead pursuing an offshoot of the railgun, a Hyper Velocity Projectile (HVP) it can fire from existing gun systems.

Does any country have a rail gun?

China is stepping up its railgun technology research, potentially looking at naval, land and small arms applications. Compared to conventional powder guns, railguns use electromagnetic energy to propel projectiles at up to seven times the speed of sound, and up to ten times the range of traditional guns.

Can a railgun shoot plasma?

A plasma railgun is a linear accelerator which, like a projectile railgun, uses two long parallel electrodes to accelerate a "sliding short" armature. However, in a plasma railgun, the armature and ejected projectile consists of plasma, or hot, ionized, gas-like particles, instead of a solid slug of material.