Optically guided .50-caliber bullets

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BarkingGhostar

Diamond Member
Nov 20, 2009
8,410
1,617
136
Well they were using laser-guided artillery shells back in the 1980's (Copperhead). My only question is visually steering at such high velocities. At least with the laser you already illuminate the target, but I presume optical guidance means someone or something is viewing in-flight for course correction, tracking, etc.
 
Feb 4, 2009
35,862
17,403
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^^yes I would guess that there would be a spotter with some kind of laser pointer and a second person who is the shooter to get the round in the area of the target.
 

MongGrel

Lifer
Dec 3, 2013
38,466
3,067
121
I think the guided ones do not uses rifling, but hadn't looked into it too much.

Is kinda of a mini version of some of the newer missile interception systems for guidance it looks to me.

There a few just fly long range into space for ICBM's and actually have a delivery unit using thrusters mounted 90 degrees to home in that guide a large sabot more or less till impact.

He he, I'd forgotten that Runaway movie.

Was pretty good actually, in that cheesy category.
 
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MongGrel

Lifer
Dec 3, 2013
38,466
3,067
121
Well they were using laser-guided artillery shells back in the 1980's (Copperhead). My only question is visually steering at such high velocities. At least with the laser you already illuminate the target, but I presume optical guidance means someone or something is viewing in-flight for course correction, tracking, etc.

This was pretty bad ass till they killed it off, kinda unnecessary these days with being able to use aircraft to do it I suppose.

M109A6 Paladin Self Propelled Howitzer

http://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/m109a6.htm

Not really applicable I guess as not guided rounds, but it could project laying about 6 of them to land coordinated in one area simultaneously.
 
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Thebobo

Lifer
Jun 19, 2006
18,574
7,672
136
Nice to see we are still inventing more ways to kill people.

Darpa comes up with some unique science but it would be nice if we had a non military equivalent to Darpa along with equivalent funding focusing in on real world problems that would help folks rather then kill them.
 

K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
52,702
46,452
136
If you were quoting me that's actually a still from a great cheesy 80's Sci-fi action movie with Tom Selleck and Gene Simmons of KISS called Runaway

That is an awesome movie. I am still interested in acquiring acid injecting robot spiders to deploy against my enemies to this day.
 

SOFTengCOMPelec

Platinum Member
May 9, 2013
2,417
75
91
Nice to see we are still inventing more ways to kill people.

Darpa comes up with some unique science but it would be nice if we had a non military equivalent to Darpa along with equivalent funding focusing in on real world problems that would help folks rather then kill them.

Yes, but what do you do, if other people just attack you anyway.

Or poke fun at your avatar, or something.

Example:

795353017_1082479.gif
 

MongGrel

Lifer
Dec 3, 2013
38,466
3,067
121
Well once they perfect the nano technology like in The Day the Earth Stood Still remake, though I hated the actors in it, you'd be screwed.

You can just have little mini robot hitmen thats you can't even see taking people out.

Not too far off, I'm thinking, how it would be ethically controlled is off the scale.
 

Puppies04

Diamond Member
Apr 25, 2011
5,909
17
76
.50 cal. Why don't them develop this on a calibre with propers stopping power. When an intruder breaks into my house in the middle of the night nothing less than an 80mm cannon is guaranteed to put them down in one hit. Anyone who trys to protect their family with some pussy ass .50 cal deserves everything they get.
 

slugg

Diamond Member
Feb 17, 2002
4,723
80
91
I wish I could work on this kind of stuff. I have the skills, but companies don't want to pay the money to give me security clearance. :'(
 

Ns1

No Lifer
Jun 17, 2001
55,420
1,600
126
.50 cal. Why don't them develop this on a calibre with propers stopping power. When an intruder breaks into my house in the middle of the night nothing less than an 80mm cannon is guaranteed to put them down in one hit. Anyone who trys to protect their family with some pussy ass .50 cal deserves everything they get.

BFG or why bother
 

Markbnj

Elite Member <br>Moderator Emeritus
Moderator
Sep 16, 2005
15,682
14
81
www.markbetz.net
.50 cal. Why don't them develop this on a calibre with propers stopping power. When an intruder breaks into my house in the middle of the night nothing less than an 80mm cannon is guaranteed to put them down in one hit. Anyone who trys to protect their family with some pussy ass .50 cal deserves everything they get.

9195f2e5-dfca-4a6b-bdff-86920de6cca1HiRes.JPG
 

Paratus

Lifer
Jun 4, 2004
17,643
15,831
146
Now they just need to marry it with the tracking point gun.

Linux-Powered-Rifle-by-Tracking-Point.jpg


http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/03/bullseye-from-1000-yards-shooting-the-17000-linux-powered-rifle/

My photographer, Steve, squints through a computerized scope squatting atop a big hunting rifle. We're outdoors at a range just north of Austin, Texas, and the wind is blowing like crazy&#8212;enough so that we're having to dial in more and more wind adjustment on the rifle's computer. The spotter and I monitor Steve's sight through an iPad linked to the rifle via Wi-Fi, and we can see exactly what he's seeing through the scope. Steve lines up on his target downrange&#8212;a gently swinging metal plate with a fluorescent orange circle painted at its center&#8212;and depresses a button to illuminate it with the rifle's laser.

"Good tag?" he asks, softly.

"Good tag," replies the spotter, watching on the iPad. He leaves the device in my hands and looks through a conventional high-powered spotting scope at the target Steve has selected. The wind stops momentarily. "Send it," he calls out.

Steve pulls the trigger, but nothing immediately happens. On the iPad's screen, his reticle shifts from blue to red and drifts toward the marked target. Even though I'm expecting it, the rifle's report is startling when it fires.

A second later, the spotter calls out, "That's a hit!"

Steve has just delivered a .338 Lapua Magnum round directly onto a target about the size of a big dinner plate at a range of 1,008 yards&#8212;that's ten football fields, or a tick over 0.91 kilometers. It's his very first try. He has never fired a rifle before today.
 

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
100,315
17,908
126
If you were quoting me that's actually a still from a great cheesy 80's Sci-fi action movie with Tom Selleck and Gene Simmons of KISS called Runaway

The spider venom injector was awesome.