It fires a hunk of metal at very high velocity. A current naval gun fires an explosive shell using combustible propellant. A rail gun fires an inert round using electromagnets to accelerate the round down the “barrel”. While the round doesn’t contain explosives, it is going so fast that when it stops (hits) something there is A LOT of energy released in the target.
Doesn’t a hunk of metal become molten at those conditions?
I’d think it would be unable stay a solid?