Electric firing system.

[Cybermortis]

On the other place someone was asking about electric firing systems for small-arms.

http://community.discovery.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/9741919888/m/10419072401

Apparently the Remington Model 700 EtronX VSSF was designed this way, but it was not successful for a number of reasons. This included problems with the trigger.

I was wondering if it would be possible to design an electric firing system using a more conventional trigger assembly. My thought was that the trigger would create a spark through a Piezoelectric system.

This would seem to eliminate the need for a battery/power source, while allowing for a simple safety system - a simple mechanical bolt to prevent the trigger being pulled rather than a key as with the above weapon. It would also allow for a more 'natural' trigger pull, since you could alter the amount of pull required to fire the gun.

Does this seem like a practical solution?

[Wyoming Cowboy]

Well, I could take it or leave it.  It may have it's benefits but I am not convinced that they would be of any significant gain.  Some discussions over hammer lag time come to mind, but we already have guns with mechanical sears that fire FAR FAR FAR more accurately than any human.  I think we have reached the point where technology has caught up with the human.  If you want to see a really bad hammer lag, go and shoot an original falling block Sharps rifle.  WOW    Its pretty bad.

Anyway,I sat for a minute and tried to figure out WHY this never came to fruition on a retail level. 

My GUT is telling me that it was a BATF issue.  Guns are sold and regulated based upon their firing mechanism.  Sears, firing pins, and trigger assemblies are highly controlled.  You as an end consumer can order the most kick butt assault gun in history.  You can buy every component from any source LEGALLY.  The only part that you would need the FFL to get is whatever the BATF has deemed "the gun".  For the AR-15, it is the trigger assembly.  For the Ruger 10/22, it is the receiver body.  And so on and so forth.

With an electronic system, what is the firing mechanism?  If it is illegal to manufacture an AR-15 firing mechanism without a BATF certification, how can you stop folks from manufacturing electrical components?  I think it would be very hard and I think the BATF would have seen this.  Making normal mechanical linkages for standard guns is out of the reach and grasp for 99.99999% of people.  Electrical construction is extremely easy and could be completed by a high school student.

The other thought I cam up with was safety regarding static and RF.  What if you are driving down the road on a hunting trip and lightning starts popping?  With the potential RF (or "static" for simpler terms) cause enough of a voltage that it could fire?  What if you are driving down the road and key up your CB radio to talk to Bubba and your gun goes off?

Neat idea and interesting demo.  Don't ever see it hitting the big time though.

WM

[toga_dan]

Reliability is another question. Will it work when wet?

[JMenning]

I know this isn't exactly what Cyber was talking about, but it still applies.

http://www.metalstorm.com/

This company is making weapons that are based off of electric firing systems.  Right now, military testing is being done.  That is partly where I remember this from. This is, if nothing else, proof of concept. 

I have seen video of some small arms testing of their equipment.  Impressive footage from what I remember of it.