What's a good way to classify railguns?












1














Most weapons and artillery are split by bore diameter, e.g. naval rifles of 203mm, 406mm etc.



Railguns and coilguns probably won't be classified the same way, I think. Cause if multiple models use a 25mm slug or what have you, but they perform differently, what's a good way to separate them?



Muzzle velocity? Like a 2km/s railgun versus a 5km/s one? Or input energy? That then puts forth what's a "realistic" number to power a railgun? Output energy/impact energy have the same problem.










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  • I think velocity such as mach 10 etc
    – user6760
    1 hour ago
















1














Most weapons and artillery are split by bore diameter, e.g. naval rifles of 203mm, 406mm etc.



Railguns and coilguns probably won't be classified the same way, I think. Cause if multiple models use a 25mm slug or what have you, but they perform differently, what's a good way to separate them?



Muzzle velocity? Like a 2km/s railgun versus a 5km/s one? Or input energy? That then puts forth what's a "realistic" number to power a railgun? Output energy/impact energy have the same problem.










share|improve this question






















  • I think velocity such as mach 10 etc
    – user6760
    1 hour ago














1












1








1







Most weapons and artillery are split by bore diameter, e.g. naval rifles of 203mm, 406mm etc.



Railguns and coilguns probably won't be classified the same way, I think. Cause if multiple models use a 25mm slug or what have you, but they perform differently, what's a good way to separate them?



Muzzle velocity? Like a 2km/s railgun versus a 5km/s one? Or input energy? That then puts forth what's a "realistic" number to power a railgun? Output energy/impact energy have the same problem.










share|improve this question













Most weapons and artillery are split by bore diameter, e.g. naval rifles of 203mm, 406mm etc.



Railguns and coilguns probably won't be classified the same way, I think. Cause if multiple models use a 25mm slug or what have you, but they perform differently, what's a good way to separate them?



Muzzle velocity? Like a 2km/s railgun versus a 5km/s one? Or input energy? That then puts forth what's a "realistic" number to power a railgun? Output energy/impact energy have the same problem.







weapons energy railguns






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asked 2 hours ago









armorhide406

1288




1288












  • I think velocity such as mach 10 etc
    – user6760
    1 hour ago


















  • I think velocity such as mach 10 etc
    – user6760
    1 hour ago
















I think velocity such as mach 10 etc
– user6760
1 hour ago




I think velocity such as mach 10 etc
– user6760
1 hour ago










3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes


















2














Gauss




The gauss, abbreviated as G or Gs, is the cgs unit of measurement of magnetic flux density (or "magnetic induction") (B). It is named after German mathematician and physicist Carl Friedrich Gauss.1[2] One gauss is defined as one maxwell per square centimeter. The cgs system has been superseded by the International System of Units (SI), which uses the tesla (symbol T) as the unit of magnetic flux density.[3] One gauss equals 1×10−4 tesla (100 μT), so 1 tesla = 10,000 gauss.




I would say the best way to rate a railgun is by its Gs output.






share|improve this answer





















  • Durr. But then as mentioned, what's a good range of "realistic" numbers a future society would have on their power output? I mean, if you know. I'm about to go do some googling
    – armorhide406
    1 hour ago



















1














[ammunition diameter] by [exit velocity]



Essentially, you notate the diameter of the weapon's accommodation, and then notate how fast it can get a slug of that size going. That latter would probably be a range of velocities, given that different lengths of slug will take different energy inputs to accelerate.



Also consider if you want to be able to shoot to wound instead of shooting to kill. Chemical propulsion doesn't allow for that, but a railpistol might.






share|improve this answer





























    0














    Ammunition diameter x ammunition length x launch velocity, also including muzzle energy for those who don't want to work it out for themselves. They'll almost all be Armour Piercing Fin Stabilised Discarding Sabot (APFSDS) so that need not be mentioned unless different in some way, e.g.:



    5x50mm 5km/s 98kJ Steel



    This could be a man-portable crew-served tripod weapon or vehicle mounted railgun firing steel flechettes



    Or, a more terrifying ship-launched:



    50x1000mm 7km/s 919MJ DU Guided



    Which would be a depleted uranium flechette with a guidance package used for bunker busting.



    Or a tank-launched:



    20x400mm 4km/s 19.2MJ DU



    That pretty much gives all the information that anyone with any knowledge of ballistics would need to work out the terminal effects of the round and its flight performance.






    share|improve this answer























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      3 Answers
      3






      active

      oldest

      votes








      3 Answers
      3






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes









      2














      Gauss




      The gauss, abbreviated as G or Gs, is the cgs unit of measurement of magnetic flux density (or "magnetic induction") (B). It is named after German mathematician and physicist Carl Friedrich Gauss.1[2] One gauss is defined as one maxwell per square centimeter. The cgs system has been superseded by the International System of Units (SI), which uses the tesla (symbol T) as the unit of magnetic flux density.[3] One gauss equals 1×10−4 tesla (100 μT), so 1 tesla = 10,000 gauss.




      I would say the best way to rate a railgun is by its Gs output.






      share|improve this answer





















      • Durr. But then as mentioned, what's a good range of "realistic" numbers a future society would have on their power output? I mean, if you know. I'm about to go do some googling
        – armorhide406
        1 hour ago
















      2














      Gauss




      The gauss, abbreviated as G or Gs, is the cgs unit of measurement of magnetic flux density (or "magnetic induction") (B). It is named after German mathematician and physicist Carl Friedrich Gauss.1[2] One gauss is defined as one maxwell per square centimeter. The cgs system has been superseded by the International System of Units (SI), which uses the tesla (symbol T) as the unit of magnetic flux density.[3] One gauss equals 1×10−4 tesla (100 μT), so 1 tesla = 10,000 gauss.




      I would say the best way to rate a railgun is by its Gs output.






      share|improve this answer





















      • Durr. But then as mentioned, what's a good range of "realistic" numbers a future society would have on their power output? I mean, if you know. I'm about to go do some googling
        – armorhide406
        1 hour ago














      2












      2








      2






      Gauss




      The gauss, abbreviated as G or Gs, is the cgs unit of measurement of magnetic flux density (or "magnetic induction") (B). It is named after German mathematician and physicist Carl Friedrich Gauss.1[2] One gauss is defined as one maxwell per square centimeter. The cgs system has been superseded by the International System of Units (SI), which uses the tesla (symbol T) as the unit of magnetic flux density.[3] One gauss equals 1×10−4 tesla (100 μT), so 1 tesla = 10,000 gauss.




      I would say the best way to rate a railgun is by its Gs output.






      share|improve this answer












      Gauss




      The gauss, abbreviated as G or Gs, is the cgs unit of measurement of magnetic flux density (or "magnetic induction") (B). It is named after German mathematician and physicist Carl Friedrich Gauss.1[2] One gauss is defined as one maxwell per square centimeter. The cgs system has been superseded by the International System of Units (SI), which uses the tesla (symbol T) as the unit of magnetic flux density.[3] One gauss equals 1×10−4 tesla (100 μT), so 1 tesla = 10,000 gauss.




      I would say the best way to rate a railgun is by its Gs output.







      share|improve this answer












      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer










      answered 1 hour ago









      Xavon_Wrentaile

      3,373821




      3,373821












      • Durr. But then as mentioned, what's a good range of "realistic" numbers a future society would have on their power output? I mean, if you know. I'm about to go do some googling
        – armorhide406
        1 hour ago


















      • Durr. But then as mentioned, what's a good range of "realistic" numbers a future society would have on their power output? I mean, if you know. I'm about to go do some googling
        – armorhide406
        1 hour ago
















      Durr. But then as mentioned, what's a good range of "realistic" numbers a future society would have on their power output? I mean, if you know. I'm about to go do some googling
      – armorhide406
      1 hour ago




      Durr. But then as mentioned, what's a good range of "realistic" numbers a future society would have on their power output? I mean, if you know. I'm about to go do some googling
      – armorhide406
      1 hour ago











      1














      [ammunition diameter] by [exit velocity]



      Essentially, you notate the diameter of the weapon's accommodation, and then notate how fast it can get a slug of that size going. That latter would probably be a range of velocities, given that different lengths of slug will take different energy inputs to accelerate.



      Also consider if you want to be able to shoot to wound instead of shooting to kill. Chemical propulsion doesn't allow for that, but a railpistol might.






      share|improve this answer


























        1














        [ammunition diameter] by [exit velocity]



        Essentially, you notate the diameter of the weapon's accommodation, and then notate how fast it can get a slug of that size going. That latter would probably be a range of velocities, given that different lengths of slug will take different energy inputs to accelerate.



        Also consider if you want to be able to shoot to wound instead of shooting to kill. Chemical propulsion doesn't allow for that, but a railpistol might.






        share|improve this answer
























          1












          1








          1






          [ammunition diameter] by [exit velocity]



          Essentially, you notate the diameter of the weapon's accommodation, and then notate how fast it can get a slug of that size going. That latter would probably be a range of velocities, given that different lengths of slug will take different energy inputs to accelerate.



          Also consider if you want to be able to shoot to wound instead of shooting to kill. Chemical propulsion doesn't allow for that, but a railpistol might.






          share|improve this answer












          [ammunition diameter] by [exit velocity]



          Essentially, you notate the diameter of the weapon's accommodation, and then notate how fast it can get a slug of that size going. That latter would probably be a range of velocities, given that different lengths of slug will take different energy inputs to accelerate.



          Also consider if you want to be able to shoot to wound instead of shooting to kill. Chemical propulsion doesn't allow for that, but a railpistol might.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered 1 hour ago









          G. B. Robinson

          1717




          1717























              0














              Ammunition diameter x ammunition length x launch velocity, also including muzzle energy for those who don't want to work it out for themselves. They'll almost all be Armour Piercing Fin Stabilised Discarding Sabot (APFSDS) so that need not be mentioned unless different in some way, e.g.:



              5x50mm 5km/s 98kJ Steel



              This could be a man-portable crew-served tripod weapon or vehicle mounted railgun firing steel flechettes



              Or, a more terrifying ship-launched:



              50x1000mm 7km/s 919MJ DU Guided



              Which would be a depleted uranium flechette with a guidance package used for bunker busting.



              Or a tank-launched:



              20x400mm 4km/s 19.2MJ DU



              That pretty much gives all the information that anyone with any knowledge of ballistics would need to work out the terminal effects of the round and its flight performance.






              share|improve this answer




























                0














                Ammunition diameter x ammunition length x launch velocity, also including muzzle energy for those who don't want to work it out for themselves. They'll almost all be Armour Piercing Fin Stabilised Discarding Sabot (APFSDS) so that need not be mentioned unless different in some way, e.g.:



                5x50mm 5km/s 98kJ Steel



                This could be a man-portable crew-served tripod weapon or vehicle mounted railgun firing steel flechettes



                Or, a more terrifying ship-launched:



                50x1000mm 7km/s 919MJ DU Guided



                Which would be a depleted uranium flechette with a guidance package used for bunker busting.



                Or a tank-launched:



                20x400mm 4km/s 19.2MJ DU



                That pretty much gives all the information that anyone with any knowledge of ballistics would need to work out the terminal effects of the round and its flight performance.






                share|improve this answer


























                  0












                  0








                  0






                  Ammunition diameter x ammunition length x launch velocity, also including muzzle energy for those who don't want to work it out for themselves. They'll almost all be Armour Piercing Fin Stabilised Discarding Sabot (APFSDS) so that need not be mentioned unless different in some way, e.g.:



                  5x50mm 5km/s 98kJ Steel



                  This could be a man-portable crew-served tripod weapon or vehicle mounted railgun firing steel flechettes



                  Or, a more terrifying ship-launched:



                  50x1000mm 7km/s 919MJ DU Guided



                  Which would be a depleted uranium flechette with a guidance package used for bunker busting.



                  Or a tank-launched:



                  20x400mm 4km/s 19.2MJ DU



                  That pretty much gives all the information that anyone with any knowledge of ballistics would need to work out the terminal effects of the round and its flight performance.






                  share|improve this answer














                  Ammunition diameter x ammunition length x launch velocity, also including muzzle energy for those who don't want to work it out for themselves. They'll almost all be Armour Piercing Fin Stabilised Discarding Sabot (APFSDS) so that need not be mentioned unless different in some way, e.g.:



                  5x50mm 5km/s 98kJ Steel



                  This could be a man-portable crew-served tripod weapon or vehicle mounted railgun firing steel flechettes



                  Or, a more terrifying ship-launched:



                  50x1000mm 7km/s 919MJ DU Guided



                  Which would be a depleted uranium flechette with a guidance package used for bunker busting.



                  Or a tank-launched:



                  20x400mm 4km/s 19.2MJ DU



                  That pretty much gives all the information that anyone with any knowledge of ballistics would need to work out the terminal effects of the round and its flight performance.







                  share|improve this answer














                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer








                  edited 57 secs ago

























                  answered 38 mins ago









                  Monty Wild

                  23.6k360145




                  23.6k360145






























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