Gauss Bullet Options?

[scc]

Keep in mind that it might not be possible to rifle Gauss weapon, so any projectiles will have to use alternative methods of stablization

[Tallor]

Originally Posted by scc

Keep in mind that it might not be possible to rifle Gauss weapon, so any projectiles will have to use alternative methods of stablization

Tiny fins on the bullets? That was my hypothesis, anyway. :P

[lwcamp]

Originally Posted by Tallor

Tiny fins on the bullets? That was my hypothesis, anyway. :P

Probably. Gauss bullets seem to be long, skinny darts. Aside from the difficulty of getting an electromagnetically launched projectile to rotate, long darts are not aerodynamically stable when spun. That's why tanks use smoothbores to launch their long rod, fin stabilized kinetic penetrators.

Luke

[Anaraxes]

Aren't long, skinny things like arrows and tank penetrators and gauss needles also more stable with fins than they would be from spinning anyway? Long things get more leverage around their center of mass from the fins than stubby things when the tail swings out of line, while conversely their gyroscopic stability is lower because they don't have as much of their mass far from the center axis of rotation. Rifling's better for stubby bullets -- or spherical ones -- as those shapes have the opposite characteristics.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by Anaraxes

Aren't long, skinny things like arrows and tank penetrators and gauss needles also more stable with fins than they would be from spinning anyway?

Depends on the atmosphere. One of the problems with fin stabilized darts against human targets is that fin stabilization actually works in flesh, since 1,000x denser medium = 1,000x more stabilization.