Check out the new Guns & Ammo on pg. 14.  Apparently, the US has contracted Metal Storm Limited to build this new weapon. they have a prototype that shoots 60,000 rpm (pic). It'll shoot 9mm, and maybe grenades later. They want to build a new 288 barrel version that will shoot a million rpm. Pretty interesting.
[img]http://us.f1.yahoofs.com/users/69460f7f/bc/marks+photos/Metal+Storm.jpg?bcShMA9Aqnsh9Ex3[/img]

There is a handgun version as well.

The bullets are in series and are fired electrically.


[url]http://www.metalstorm.com/[/url]


You can buy their stock on NASDAQ

This sounds like the CWS2000 project.  It was supposed to shoot 1M rounds in a minute covering 7000 meters X 4000 meters.  It was to be an area air defence weapon for Soviet saturation attacks.

I want to know what poor bastard is going to reload this thing while under fire.

Does it come with a speed loader?  To bad it will never be civilian legal (or afordable to shoot).

Load faster private Pile! Faster!

The article says it may be used in place of land mines. It looks like its pretty small and portable so I would guess you would discard it after it blows its load.

And, it would only take Lake City three months to produce enough ammo for the next volley.

When will the Civilian version be available? [heavy]

The handgun looks interesting, I hope it doesnt become a LEO MIL only weapon.

A ten-round semi-auto version would probably meet the requirements of current U.S. and Canadian law...

This type of firearm is very interesting.  However, at least two issues that I see with it are:
1) How do you reload?  Do you just throw in a new barrel full of loads?  Can you reuse the barrels?  How sturdy and stable is the uncased propellant? Can the loads be handloaded?
etc. etc.  
2) The way the firearm works:
The first round you fire is close to the muzzle end of the barrel.
The last round you fire is at the other end of the barrel.
Does muzzle velocity and therefore point of impact change from the first round through the last round?

Still, exciting stuff!  Potential advantages for a pistol:
a) Fewer moving parts, which could translate to greater accuracy.
b) The electrical trigger should be lighter and smoother, one of the best things that you can do to a firearm to improve accuracy.
c) Lighter weight, without the magazine and cartridge cases.  (This might be nullified by having to have a longer barrel to accomodate the ammunition).
d) The handgrip, no longer containing a magazine, can be made as ergonomic as desired, perhaps even detachable and customizable.