In the past few decades, the gun industry has grown exponentially in terms of technology,
application, diversity, and aesthetics. We’ve come a long way since hand-cranking machine
guns and bolt-action rifles on the front lines, and personally, I’m very excited to see where the
coming years take us.
Since Remington introduced the Nylon 66 in 1959, we’ve seen more and more polymer used in
the gun world. Nowadays, wood is rarely used in modern firearms. This is for a couple of
reasons: first, price. Duty-grade polymers are easier and cheaper to manufacture in mass
quantities. Modern polymers used in firearms are arguably more durable as well, as they don’t
require the same level of treatment or maintenance as wood. Of course, the proverbial walnut
will never be fully stripped from our stocks, as new productions of traditional firearms continue to
be made. However, for serious use, people want metal, polymer, and a recent addition: carbon
fiber.
I believe this is where we’ll see some major changes in the very near future—materials. Carbon
in various forms has become a huge deal in the precision shooting world, and it’s quickly gaining
popularity in the AR world. Materials like tungsten have found their way into ammunition,
yielding unparalleled results in categories such as penetration, muzzle velocity, and expansion.
SimX has introduced non-Newtonian synthetic ammunition, pushing the boundaries of projectile
technology. Polymers have also advanced, allowing for more firearm components to be made
with minimal metal reinforcement, like ATI’s Omni Hybrid line. Stellite is being increasingly used
in suppressors for its unmatched durability and heat resistance. Materials are becoming more
advanced every year, and I’m excited to see what combinations come next. Personally, I expect
to see a lot more carbon fiber, and non-Newtonian materials have incredible potential in both
ammunition and armor.
The days of stamped steel receivers are nearly over, and even the days of forged aluminum
receivers may be numbered. CNC machining offers more precision, and 3D printing appears to
be the way forward. 3D-printed suppressors have been around for a few years now, and much
like the initial skepticism toward Glock’s use of polymer parts, they’ve proven themselves.
3D-printed titanium suppressors are among the lightest and strongest available. This technology
allows manufacturers to create parts with intricate designs that would be impossible to achieve
with CNC machining or forging. For example, flow-through suppressors benefit from more
advanced pathways for gas to travel, expand, and cool, leading to superior suppression. Expect
to see a lot more 3D printing in the firearm industry moving forward.
As for coatings, I don’t see Cerakote going away anytime soon, but there are competitors on the
horizon. Some companies have experimented with magnetically applied paints, while others
have applied aerospace coatings to firearms in innovative colors. When it comes to protective
coatings for internal and steel components, Geissele’s Nano Coating looks very promising. A
derivative of chrome-nitride, Nanoweapon coating was developed by the U.S. Army at Picatinny
Arsenal, and Geissele is currently the only company offering it to civilians. With a hardness rating of 82HRC, it is by far the best coating on the market—it’s harder than sand, meaning it’s
virtually impervious to wear.
For accessories, I expect a progression similar to other technologies. The feature sets for optics
will continue to expand, but traditional options will remain available due to market demand.
Night vision and thermal imaging are becoming much more common and accessible, leading to
lower prices. Holosun is pioneering this market by releasing relatively affordable options for both
night vision and thermal optics. They’ve even entered the IR laser market, making these tools
more accessible to the everyday shooter. Modularity is already crucial, but I believe we’ll see
companies leaning into it more than ever.
SIG Sauer won multiple U.S. Army contracts over the
past five years primarily due to the modularity of their weapon systems. Interchangeability and
interoperability are two areas that companies are actively pursuing across their product lines.
Lastly, let’s talk about the long-term future—because it gets exciting. Laser technology has been
advancing rapidly and has already been integrated into various weapon systems. Lasers are
being used to take down drones, disrupt GPS on guided systems, fry optical sensors, and even
serve as non-lethal deterrents, as seen in B.E. Meyers’ laser technology. Laser communication
and data transfer are also in development. It’s safe to say that lasers are the future—not just for
marking, signaling, or aiming, but as directed energy weapons. Companies like Raytheon and
Lockheed Martin are already working on weaponized lasers, and after the inevitable
military-only phase, we might just see them hit the civilian market.
While traditional firearms will never truly disappear, the industry is evolving rapidly. Whether
through advanced materials, new coatings, 3D printing, or cutting-edge energy weapons, the
next decade will bring revolutionary changes. Get ready to trade in your magazines for
batteries—the future of firearms is looking more advanced than ever.