Lunar Use of the AR-15.... Yes!

cigars · Apr 3, 2021

Very interesting article from Popular Mechanics. Also some other theory on it from ATS. I never had the need to think about this until now. So if I go to the moon one day my AR is going with me, that is if I haven't lost it in a boating accident by then.

Astronauts Using Guns in Space Could Become a Reality

In For All Mankind, U.S. Marines pack heat in space. That could happen in real life, too—with a catch.

www.popularmechanics.com

Popular Mechanics Claims Astronauts Can Carry M16s on the Moon But Quote Unquote With A Catch, page 1

www.abovetopsecret.com

Member 34319 · Apr 3, 2021

I wouldn't be surprised if it was tested when we went to the moon all those years ago. Our government wouldn't waste all that money to get there without testing everything they possibly could when there.

Flopsweat · Apr 3, 2021

Reno said:
I wouldn't be surprised if it was tested when we went to the moon all those years ago. Our government wouldn't waste all that money to get there without testing everything they possibly could when there.

LOL, they waste hundreds of billions of dollars every year.

OrPackrat · Apr 3, 2021

Perhaps the Tippmann Armory 9mm Gatling would function better in space.

Or back to the days of water cooled guns but have a cooling system that Integrates into the space suit.

Of course, 22lr would probably be an effective round on the moon.

Flopsweat · Apr 3, 2021

Seems to me the ammo could be very different too. A space suit is a very fragile thing right now and might be even for military for the next few years. A slingshot or a rock might be all you need for starters. Lunar vehicles - both ground and flying (guess I can't call them aerial) are very different too, and might be more susceptible to, say buckshot for example.

And then there is the whole "be aware of your target and what is beyond it". Can you shoot a bullet around the moon? I think Lunar orbital velocity is only about 5000 FPS, so it sounds feasible.

Oh, found a Stack Exchange thread on it:

Can a bullet be fired on the moon and sent it into orbit?

I know you need oxygen for the ignition, but presumably, if the bullet is impervious (or water-tight) and if there is a little air enclosed in the bullet case, wouldn't that be sufficient to fire i...

astronomy.stackexchange.com

Takes over an hour and a half, but you could theoretically shoot yourself in the back. Easier to do if you're shooting along the equator, but still doable other places with lots and lots of math.

TLDR: Stand on a tall hill or a mountain, shoot while the rifle is exactly horizontal. Use a top-tier extremely high velocity round, custom-loaded with extra powder, with a high caliber sniper rifle. Anything less would not work.

Well, "high caliber sniper rifle", clearly a math geek, not a gun geek, but still pretty cool.

ZA_Survivalist · Apr 3, 2021

If Im on the moon Id tote my Space-K-47.

Andy54Hawken · Apr 4, 2021

So...can we now safely say that AR15 rifles ...are out of this world...?

Andy

CountryGent · Apr 4, 2021

ARs are neat, but when guarding Spaceball One, it has to be a Calico or Tec-9:

RVTECH · Apr 4, 2021

The aliens who are already on the moon will no doubt intercede in any warfare, between any countries in space.

fstdraw · Apr 4, 2021

Yep, AK all the way. Besides, I need a new place to target shoot with all the BLM land getting posted.

Also, I thought 40 some odd years ago that I'd read the Astronauts fired a .45 1911 on the Moon. Of course how would they grip a gun with space gloves on?