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So, looking back at firearms of recent generations, fundamentally the capabilities have not radically changed since the second world war.
Most of what we have today, we had something similar 70 years ago in some form or fashion, or even before that. Military, the Stg44 came out, and that seems to have largely been the pattern everyone eventually moved to, a select fire, midrange cartridge (be it 7.92x33, 7.62x39, 5.56x45, etc) with a 12-20" barrel and a general move towards stamped/lighter materials. SMG's, bolt action rifles, and semi-auto battle rifles can trace their lineage back even further, Fundamentally, the weapons of today aren't radically different from those of yesteryear, and the differences between something like say, an Stg44 or an AK47 vs a modern M16A3, ARX160, SCAR, etc are largely in materials and ergonomics. A newer weapon may be a little lighter, it may be more comfortable, it may be a little more accurate at longer ranges, but nothing that is going to make or break an engagement in most instances (e.g. a force equipped with WW2 era Sturmgewehrs isn't going to be at a notable disadvantage, particularly at under 200m, if pitted against a force bearing all new SCAR's if all other things are equal).
However, we go back as far before WW2 as we are after it now (e.g. the 1860's/1870's) and the firearms world was radically different with the first bolt action and lever action files, and even just a little before that and it was all muzzle loading muskets.
Where do you think firearms may go that may radically change them as we know them, as opposed to the gradual refinement process (or stagnation depending on your view) we've been seeing for the lat 70 or so years
Will it be new ammunition? An entirely different type of weapon (e.g. directed energy)? Computer assisted aiming?
Any thoughts/articles etc?
Most of what we have today, we had something similar 70 years ago in some form or fashion, or even before that. Military, the Stg44 came out, and that seems to have largely been the pattern everyone eventually moved to, a select fire, midrange cartridge (be it 7.92x33, 7.62x39, 5.56x45, etc) with a 12-20" barrel and a general move towards stamped/lighter materials. SMG's, bolt action rifles, and semi-auto battle rifles can trace their lineage back even further, Fundamentally, the weapons of today aren't radically different from those of yesteryear, and the differences between something like say, an Stg44 or an AK47 vs a modern M16A3, ARX160, SCAR, etc are largely in materials and ergonomics. A newer weapon may be a little lighter, it may be more comfortable, it may be a little more accurate at longer ranges, but nothing that is going to make or break an engagement in most instances (e.g. a force equipped with WW2 era Sturmgewehrs isn't going to be at a notable disadvantage, particularly at under 200m, if pitted against a force bearing all new SCAR's if all other things are equal).
However, we go back as far before WW2 as we are after it now (e.g. the 1860's/1870's) and the firearms world was radically different with the first bolt action and lever action files, and even just a little before that and it was all muzzle loading muskets.
Where do you think firearms may go that may radically change them as we know them, as opposed to the gradual refinement process (or stagnation depending on your view) we've been seeing for the lat 70 or so years
Will it be new ammunition? An entirely different type of weapon (e.g. directed energy)? Computer assisted aiming?
Any thoughts/articles etc?
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