Do you think that gunpowder based weapons will be replaced by magnetic (coilguns/railguns) or directed energy (lasers/plasma) weapons in the future?

[Ad_Quid_Orator]

I think semi automatic weapons or single fire weapons will be replaced with magnetic weapons (i. e. sniper rifles with railguns and shotguns with coilguns) and automatic weapons with directed energy weapons (i. e. assault rifles with lasers and sub machine guns with plasma based weaponry).

[Soteris]

If we can solve the problem of energy storage then a railgun is a very attractive proposal. Its relatively simple with two magnetic rails propelling a sled which either is or contains the round. It can have almost no moving parts and be extremely durable as well as have as much power as you can pump into it through the battery. The bullets also could be simple pieces of metal. There are some concerns about the friction on the rails but that can be solved.

As for laser guns? That is a harder sell. Lasers has a lot of problems that makes them less suitable for small arms.

Coil guns or gauss rifles? They are much like the railgun.

Plasma? There are some very problematic limitations with Plasma such as range or the need to vent heat. If you can make it work its probably more useful than a laser though.

[BCA6010]

Honestly no. It's just not practical or necessary, so until both of those obstacles are considered worthwhile investing heaps of money to circumvent, it won't happen.

You will more than likely see much larger versions of those types of weapons deployed as artillery long before any small arms variants arrive. The next push in small arms is going to be for caseless ammunition.

[Angelina25]

Sure.

[BeMuse]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9EyG29EKDo

[Twenty2]

Hopefully!