Rail Guns

casterpollox

CGN frequent flyer
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
7   0   0
Location
Saskatchewan
What's the point?

Doesn't that take the human factor out of the competition?

Its like taking a club testing robot out on the golf course. Sure you can score well but you can't claim the win.

I just don't get it. I never saw one before but I was recently checking out some Viper actions and saw one, then did some more reading. Its pretty much an action and a barrel mounted to the table.

I just don't get the appeal of it.
 
All you would need is one of those new fangled computers the US military is experimenting with on their 50 cal. It apparently reads the wind, humidity, temperature, and distance. It then calculates and spits out the scope adjustments.

Its just getting a little to "out of touch" for my liking.
 
Something to push the envelop of mechanical accuracy. The whole point to find the max accuracy of a rifle without human contact.

Ironically, groups aren't much better then a human run rifle on average.

Essentially, we are approaching the limits of how accurate a modern firearm can be fired in atmosphere/gravity.

No one is really sure where the weak link is but more tinkering and experimenting might push us all towards even smaller groups.

Jerry
 
Can someone explain what a rail gun is please?

Google comes up with 2 things - electromagnetic rail guns and cannons mounted on rail cars to be pulled by train.
 
The barreled action is held in a steel block which inturn mounted on a set of rails instead of a conventional stock. The entire rail/base unit is moveable for windage and elevation. You don't touch the rifle in anyways.

The whole unit is designed to be put on a bench and fired like artillery - pull the string. It has return to battery stops so the POI will not change from shot to shot.

Load, shoot, return, load, shoot return.

If you go to benchrest central.com you can usually see pop up ads for smiths that build these things. The Swiss watch of BR rifles.

The mechanical accuracy can average in the 0's and testing in tunnels has shown this. This way very minute testing can occur to see cause and effect.

Outside, the limiting factor is still being able to figure out mother nature. At least, you never have to worry about mirage.

Jerry
 
We use a rail gun of an third party to test our smiper/match ammo. he fires 10 shots in about 30seconds, to minimise wind effects. It is a great way to find out how good the ammo is, instead of how good the shooter is.

All 308 testing is at 500 yards. groups are in the order of 2".
 
Back
Top Bottom