I disagree with with too many uncertanties in the individual components required for operating a handgun or long rifle, mostly its the restrictions of being able to buy primers, powders, the cases and the bullets.
I reload and in the last year I have have had extreme difficulty finding my usual trusted tried components, and if I do the pricing is sky high. Everyone is aware of the empty shelves of reloading components in the last year. All the best of the best of the best is useless if you cannot get it.
With my background as a fabricator, machinist and gunsmithing I would gladly spend my retirement years developing a personal close in weapon that skips most of the traditional usage of bullets.
Nanny states, dictators in thieves and enemies of the State will shut off all firearm components, a gun is useless if all the barrel manufacturing facilities are padlocked or bulldozed.Or the primers have a shelf life of months.
Time to rethink, time to advance. Those that wish us harm can do so with basic off the shelf stuff and if we maintain a mindset that super technology will always win then we have lost half the battle. There can be simplicity with design and application, I’m not talking about going back to throwing rocks but I think the gun as we know has reached its apex, time to move along. Build something simpler, easier to use or to make.
I’ve been reloading for over 20 years and, while the components haven’t changed significantly, they’ve been constantly upgraded during that time.
The issue of component availability is an entirely different matter. I remember the primer shortage of 1993-1994 and today’s shortages are comparable. Pricing does suck, but that isn’t an issue of performance, either.
There’s already the MetalStorm weapon system from Australia. It’s currently a large weapon, but can be miniturized to some degree. I doubt it will sufficiently replace the standard cartridge because of cost and reloading issues.
After the metallic cartridge, projectile weapons might progress to metered gases/liquids but that’s too much complexity for what is really a simple tool. Ditto for magnetic “rail” weapons.
The simple metallic cartridge, in simplicity, reliability and availability will reign supreme for some time.
Pulse rifle in the 40 Mw range.