Need a topic for a computer-oriented gun paper.

[SFMarine]

Well I go to a technical college for IT.(computers) My English Professor is a strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment and we talk about guns a lot after class. Well he's assigned a technical research paper for the class. It has to be on our major. He basically hinted to me that I should try to find something that is gun - oriented and can also be used with computers.

I figured maybe along the lines of ballistic analysis. Anyone have another idea? I'll need to be able to obtain information on it through magazines, books etc. Of course the internet but he wants us to focus on books for now. Internet is too easy. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated! Thanks - Mike

[rev214]

i recommend reviewing the NRA Firearms Sourcebook...lots of technical info including chapters on ballistics, with extensive reference data, formulae, and tables...at least a good starting point...

good luck on your research paper...

[ExCopInPhilly]

How about the influence on computer aided design in the modern firearm? Maybe look at how guns have become more performance and maintenance orientd since computers have been used to design them.

[Jared McLaughlin]

Well I go to a technical college for IT.(computers) My English Professor is a strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment and we talk about guns a lot after class. Well he's assigned a technical research paper for the class. It has to be on our major. He basically hinted to me that I should try to find something that is gun - oriented and can also be used with computers.

I figured maybe along the lines of ballistic analysis. Anyone have another idea? I'll need to be able to obtain information on it through magazines, books etc. Of course the internet but he wants us to focus on books for now. Internet is too easy. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated! Thanks - Mike

Hey, this is a pretty interesting subject. I was just chatting with a developer of some CAD software about the capabilities it may or may not have to do ballistic simulations, external and terminal. I'd say that you're pretty wide open in that field. Keep in mind that one of the original purposes of ENIAC was for ballistic simulations of rockets, if I remember correctly.

The math is easy enough that it seems like everyone and their brother has written a half decent external ballistics program to predict the effects of certain hand-loads, etc.

Beyond that kind of analysis, just from my knowledge of manufacturing in general, I would assume that software is used to model modern designs, to generate numerical control of the machines via CAM, to evaluate the different stress properties, etc of the materials.

I guess those are a few ideas. I'm personally teaching myself to do some of this modelling right now with firearms designs that exist, in the hopes of understanding the field enough to do something with it on my own.

I could potentially get you a contact with a defense contractor to ask them how they use computers in their manufacturing process.

[TaePo]

If you need a real case analysis...

Please, please take a serious look at the Wicen's incident!

Resolve angles, distances, force/energies.

Just an idea for ya and one I am interested in hearing about. There are lots of satellite pix etc. to use as well.

[Jared McLaughlin]

If you need a real case analysis...

Please, please take a serious look at the Wicen's incident!

Resolve angles, distances, force/energies.

Just an idea for ya and one I am interested in hearing about. There are lots of satellite pix etc. to use as well.

I might get bored enough to try something on that. Got a link to the thread, and or address for the range and the equipment involved?

[TaePo]

http://www.pafoa.org/forum/general-2...y-wicen-s.html

I usually have to edit the post to get the link right! (Crossing fingers)

This is a long thread but I believe intriguing none-the-less.

[larrymeyer]

Some Sites hopr they help

http://www.firearmstactical.com/streetstoppers.htm

http://gunfacts.info/

http://www.firearmstactical.com/

http://www.goldenloki.com/ammo/gel/tests.htm

http://stevespages.com/page8f.htm

http://www.naaminis.com/naaveloc.html

http://www.brassfetcher.com/

http://www.federalpremium.com/default.asp?br=1

http://library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/...S/GUNBLST.html

http://frag.110mb.com/

http://www.ballistics-software.com/a...ballistics.htm

http://www.le.atk.com/

Others:
http://www.gunsandammomag.com/ballistics/
http://www.modernballistics.com/
http://members.aye.net/~bspen/trajectories.html

Definitions and terminology:
Try some of these links:
http://www.internetarmory.com/gun_selection_hunting.htm
http://www.snipersparadise.com/balli...lletbasics.htm

Ammunition information regarding calibers:
One good resource is “OVERVIEW OF AMMUNITION FOR THE NOVICE”
http://members.aol.com/vaquero760/ammo/amain.htm

Even Wikipedia has a very good reference for calibers:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...ges_by_caliber

[headcase]

How about a paper on how computers could be used to analyze the statistics showing how restrictive gun laws do the exact opposite of what their stated purpose is?

[ham385]

Modern day field artillery is about as impressive as guns get. Granted, they are big guns.
Forward observers use GPS and lasers to determine coordinates to a target. Those coordinates are relayed to a BOC (battery command post) where they are then relayed to one or more guns (all across an encryped wireless network). The guns use GPS, hydrolics, and an array of sensors to automatically traverse and elevate to the correct angles needed for impact on target.
It could definitely make for some interesting reading.