Metal Storm Weapons

Mike O'Dwyer is the creator of the concept for Metal Storm Weapons, which proves to be a serious advancement in weapon technology. He has invented a machine gun with the ability of firing one million plus rounds per minute. Current weapon technology only has the capacity for a single bullet in the gun barrel which uses mechanical firing pins to shoot bullets one at a time. The secret behind O'Dwyer’s rapid fire machine is the introduction of multiple rounds sitting in a single barrel simultaneously. Another feature of the gun that differs from current technology is that the only thing moving in the gun is the bullets. This is achieved by its electronically fired gun-and-launcher design. Electronic charges which are set off in different parts of the barrel fire bullets with the use of traditional gunpowder. His concept is leading the way for even further advancements in weapon technology that would allow for features such as the ability to select from different types of rounds and between lethal and non-lethal ammunition.

Pros

The metal storm weapon technology offers many benefits that separate it from current weapon technology. The first pro of the metal storm weapon is its ability to house several bullets in a single barrel. This has the obvious advantage of being able to shoot rounds at an insanely high speed, but its design proves to be even more ingenious. The design allows for the bullets father back in the barrel to push those in front which results in an increase bullet velocity. Another advantageous aspect of the metal storm gun is that there are no moving parts aside from the rounds themselves. This renders the weapons very reliable as there is little that can malfunction and it requires little maintenance. A problem with a normal gun is that it can jam. The lack of moving parts in metal storm weapons greatly decreases the risk of jamming. The electronic operation of the gun not only reduces the risk of malfunction, but also makes it easier to repair. Another advantage to the design of the weapon is its weight. Because there are fewer parts to the weapon, the weapon itself is lighter. This concept would be a huge advantage in warfare as it provides superior firepower and is lighter than conventional weapons.

Cons

The metal storm weapon is only a concept and is not in production. Therefore, there are most likely kinks that need to be worked out before it can be mass produced. The design for the gun is very impressive, but there are aspects of this design they can be viewed as downsides. The electronic makeup of the weapon may have its advantages, but it can also be the source of trouble. In a warfare scenario, soldiers would need to be trained for the use and maintenance of this device. This may be difficult however, seeing that maintenance of an electronic device would not be easy especially while in battle. As well, although there have been advancements in weapon technology over the years, weapon design has remained somewhat similar. Because of this, it is safe to assume that soldiers would not be very comfortable working on electronic equipment. This jump to electronic operation could be overwhelming. Therefore, it would not be an easy task to make soldiers compatible with such an advanced piece of technology.

Sources:

1. Taggart, Stewart. “New Gun Fires 'Laser of Lead'.” Wired. September 29, 2007. Retrieved from: http://www.wired.com/politics/law/news/2001/09/46570
2. Dimare, Paul. “Metal Storm Weapons.” Popular Mechanics. September 29, 2007. Retrieved from: http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military_law/1281426.html
3. “The Technology of Metal Storm Limited.” Metal Storm Limited. September 29, 2007. Retrieved from: http://www.metalstorm.com/index.php?src=gendocs&link=The_Technology&category=Main&PHPSESSID=341f878c0ef8a36b839e96237a5f48dc