I’ve been watching the Apple+ series “For All Mankind” which is now in it’s second season. Without too many spoilers, the US now has armed Marines on the Moon at their permanent outpost. It’s an interesting setup of both 21st century tech and older M16 series rifles. Here’s a clip of the weapon (and they answer the question of why it’s painted white)
In the first few seconds of the clip, you get a pretty good view of the rifle in question. At first glance, it appears to be an M16A4 style rifle with the 20 inch barrel and a collapsible stock with the old style 4X carry handle optic. However, upon closer examination, it has an A1 style upper (paddle forward assist and old style A1 sights) with an A2 “heavy” barrel. But a major difference is what appears to be a QD point on the M4 style stock with an extended plate for space suit ops. So, kind of a mix of the 90s and 00’s. I did like the realism of having the trigger guard dropped since astronauts (Space Marines) would be using bulky gloves. Other than the mix of 90s and 00s items, it appears the weapon in question could be plausible for the time period (1983) even though “miss matched” with a carbine lower, A2 barrel and A1 upper. Being that it’s an alternate history, it is believable.
I did think the recoil was a little dramatic. Even in 1/6’s Earth’s gravity, I don’t see a 5.56 knocking someone off balance.
Why is it white? Basically, the reflective properties to keep the heat down with said weapon during the daytime. A nice touch that shows someone put some thought into it.
My question is one of physics. I know firearms are capable of firing in a vacuum. I figure an M-16 FOW would be no different. My question is for cycling the weapon in particular which depends on a specific amount of gas pressure to cycle. The gas tube would be in the vacuum of space when the rifle is fired. Wouldn’t the gas having to expand in a vacuum lower the pressure and potentially create cycling issues with the DI type system?
Not a rocket surgeon, but aren’t we talking about a delta of ~14psi ambient. I think it should be fine. I’d be more concerned with the touched on temperature extremes that are possible.
In regard to recoil, mass is mass right? The relative gravity should be a non issue to the FORCE of the recoil. Your ability to MANAGE the recoil in low gravity might be an issue though (?). You might very well need different techniques to manage the forces effectively.
The mass of the shooter is going to be greater since they are in a suit and have a heavy life support pack. Though I might suspect getting thrown off balance because of the rearward pull of the pack could be a concern. “Lean into it.”
As for the delta (certainly no rocket scientist here) but I know nature abhors a vacuum and the gas will expand to fill that void. My thought was whether or not having to fill the vacuum (and losing PSI while doing it) would reduce the gas pressure enough to cause cycling issues. I’m probably overthinking it. I figure a nation which figured out how to colonize the moon in the 1970s probably has the thermal and pressure problems licked in regards to weapons in space by 1983.
Not even going to get into the moon dust inside the mags and actions lol
First of all, I’m glad there is some woman around to womansplain theoretical parabolic kinetics in low gravity like that. (Despite the moon being smaller than the Earth, it doesn’t have a gravity well sufficiently strong enough to put a bullet traveling 1500 fps “in orbit”. It will simply keep going on its way until acted upon by opposing force or matter) As well as take umbrage to “Maggies Drawers” while simultaneously being implied to be a superior marksman.
This show is HIPPIE AMERICA HATING BULLSHIT. Even IF the Russians got to the moon first, they wouldn’t have had the money to guard a rock like that nor weaponize it.
Furthermore an M16 would be a terrible weapon in space. I mean this was covered with gyrojet rifles and caseless ammo.
Nobody in space is going to be fighting each other. If you’ve ever read some of the reflections of astronauts or cosmonauts, they both have a common theme; that far away from Earth, they realized how petty and silly any of their conflicts were.
It’s not like ‘Nam where its a 14 hour ride home. It’s days and takes some brilliant men to calculate your landing and re-entry.
Brass should fly further, also there should be more muzzle and ejection port visible gas as the pressure decreases and the unfired propellent gases vent out and cool.
Put a butt plate acceptorlinked to the suit helmet ring to get support and correct eye and sight orientation. Plus closer to center of mass would lead to less torquing.
Heck, a 5.7 minigun would be the bomb, or really self homing drone/rounds. Mini Sidewinders…
My guess is that they’d figure out more mobile suits, fast. That and armour is 1/6 as weight expensive…
Lunar escape velocity is 2300m/s. So even a M193 will fall far short. I don’t know what the ballistics would be at roughly 1/3 escape velocity at 45 degrees in a vacuum. Actually, probably easy to figure out with simple physics if you knew what g was on the moon. That and the rotational effect and sphere shape I guess would make it more complex…
Firearm propellants contain all of the oygen they need to fire. They need no outside source of oxygen. There is literally no way to get additional oxygen into a chamber during the firing process.
I don’t know man… you forget how crazy the cold war day were, considering a lot of the serious plans involving major nation on nation conflict (at least in an EU theatre) were “nuke everything then roll tanks”.
So I think if it got this far back then, us Vs the ivans, yeah, someone would be trying to figure out how to fight in space, and spending ungodly amounts of money on all sorts of top secret projects to ensure their guys on the moon could kick the other guys’ ass.
NOW… would the astronauts actually fight each other if ordered…
Would the guys at the missile silos turn the keys if ordered to go all-out first-strike?
Who knows.
If only. They promised me MOON BASES when I grew up. And flying cars.
Yes I know you were continuing a Aliens reference, but I want my moon bases and flying cars. Instead we got streaming TV which has a shittier picture, freezes and you pay for it. WTAF. Seriously.
