A new mousetrap?

[CRTguns]

I have it on "good word" that a federal small pistol primer can be reliably detonated via 9v solenoid.

but... your probably better using the solenoid just to bump the existing trigger... if you were inclined to pursue this project.

[kcstott]

notice that the OP posted once and is MIA........

[RobertMW]

All things considered, I think that this is more doable than people are giving the idea credit for. I think you could end up with a retrofit AR working under the principles the OP called for, you would obviously have to make an extremely modified BCG though.

The capacitor to fire the solenoid is probably a very good idea, you can create a circuit to increase the voltage and run a solenoid significantly harder than what its rating calls for, as long as the duty cycle is very low, which it would be.

You could modify the buffer to be his "Shake Weight" and get the voltage out of the recoil. I think it would have a negative impact on how well the buffer system soaks up recoil though as you will likely need a very strongly gassed system to get the energy needed, that depends on the energy necessary to ignite the primer.

I would probably say that a piston system would be necessary, you are going to have to keep the BCG temperature down, and DI would just heat it all up. Piston system would also free up some room in the BCG that would normally be used for the gas piston.

I would be worried about creating a full-auto gun as well, as the "disconnector" would all be in software. The BCG would probably be designed with contacts that would only connect when the BCG is in the full battery position, but if you have current ready to flow at all times, as soon as the BCG hits home, it will fire the solenoid again, creating full auto, bad bad unless you are a special person.

I think someone mentioned this as well: A free floating firing pin only works if it has very little mass, so that when the BCG slams home it doesn't have enough energy to strike the next cartridge. A solenoid has a LOT of mass in it, and will need a strong return spring to keep this from happening, upping your energy needs to strike the primer properly.

I don't think this electro-mechanical setup would be an improvement on the functioning of a rifle. It could certainly allow you to create the "perfect" trigger, with an almost infinitely adjustable pull weight, zero take up or creep, and no travel even on the break. You may even be able to reduce lock time with the solenoid. But it won't be more robust than the existing system.

[sdfire]

There used to be a paintball gun called the "angel" that used an electronic trigger and ram. IThe trigger activated solenoids to push the valves and ram back and forth.

[SilentPea]

There is a 10/22 trigger pack that uses a solenoid to trip the existing hammer/sear components.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Electronic-Arms-LLC/175524479145685

[saki302]

I was just about to post that:

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2014/06/06/etrigger-ruger-1022/

It seems like that one uses electric energy to trip a sear- and look at the size of it.
A solenoid-fired firing pin? Probably half the weight of the gun when done.

I think it would be neat to do away with a firing pin altogether. Come up with a spark type ignition system using modified cases- assuming it would even work, it eliminates one point of failure in the system and reduces a whole lot of moving parts.

-Dave

[krwada]

Electronic ignition for centerfire rifles

Why go through all this trouble?

Remington has already made an Electronic primer ignition system rifle. The Remington company called this system the Etronx ignition system.

Basically, the trigger is an adjustable microswitch and there is basically zero lock time because the thing fires electronically.

[socom2shooter]

Look up hk g11. Not sure if its what your looking for but it is caseless

[saki302]

The G11 was neat, but came out before its time. I read they had heating issues with it though, since there is no brass to carry heat off the chamber.

I think caseless with electric ignition would really be the way to go for a future military rifle. You could have a sealed rifle besides the end of the barrel, impervious to dust and sand. And rifles could be programmed to disable themselves if they fall into enemy hands (be nice to have ISIS steal these).

-Dave