Rail Machine Guns

A crew‑served or vehicle‑mounted electromagnetic weapon that fires a continuous stream of hypervelocity projectiles using railgun technology. Rail machine guns offer sustained fire rates of thousands of rounds per minute, with each projectile capable of penetrating light armor. They are imagined as replacements for conventional heavy machine guns on vehicles, ships, and aircraft. The challenges are extreme: barrel wear (the rails erode after a few hundred shots), power supply (generators or massive capacitor banks), and cooling (the system generates enormous heat). Still, the potential for a weapon that can engage targets at extended ranges with minimal drop and wind drift drives ongoing research.

Rail Machine Guns Example: "The rail machine gun on the turret chattered—a sound like tearing canvas—and the enemy technicals were shredded. Their armor meant nothing against hypersonic flechettes."

by Abzugal April 10, 2026

Rail Heavy Machine Guns

A large‑caliber, vehicle‑ or emplacement‑mounted electromagnetic weapon designed for sustained anti‑armor and anti‑air fire. Rail heavy machine guns fire massive, hypervelocity projectiles (e.g., 20mm flechettes or slugs) that can penetrate main battle tank armor and destroy helicopters. They require dedicated power plants, advanced cooling, and robust stabilization. In naval or ground‑based air defense roles, they can engage multiple targets with rapid‑fire pulse trains. The development of rail heavy machine guns is a major goal of directed‑energy and electromagnetic weapons research, with several nations testing prototypes on naval vessels.

Rail Heavy Machine Guns Example: "The ship's rail heavy machine gun tracked the incoming missile. A single shot—a white‑hot flechette—pierced the warhead, and the missile exploded harmlessly a kilometer away."

by Abzugal April 10, 2026

railgun

A device firing DU projectiles using electro-magnetism. Real examples are too weak to match the infamous sniper weapon found in Quake.

Run a google search on "how to make a rail gun" to see some funny-ass shit!

by Gumba Gumba February 23, 2004

A Scientific Railgun

An anime series. Better known as To Aru Kagaku no Railgun (とある科学の超電磁砲＜レールガン＞ / "To Aru Kagaku no Reerugan"). A side story of To Aru Majutsu no Index (とある魔術の禁書目録＜インデックス＞ / "To Aru Majutsu no Indekkusu"). This side series is focused on another main character, Mikoto Misaka (御坂美琴 / "Misaka Mikoto"), a Level 5 esper, nicknamed "Railgun" because of her ability to manipulate electricity, to allow the use of a special move that allows her to fire a projectile at several times the speed of sound. This "move" is similar to a actual railgun, a experimental Navy weapon which fires a projectile using electromagnetic force.

Hey, did you see "A Scientific Railgun"?

No, why?

It's good! Should try it, though.

by xCLDx October 21, 2010

railgun

A railgun is a single-turn coil consisting of the power source, rails, and armature. The armature is free to slide along the rails, the Lorentz force causes it to slide along the rails, away from the power source.

www. rollette.com/railgun
here is a real life example. not a toy or a video game...

by Jason Rollette September 19, 2003

Railgun

Long-ranged sniping weapon found in Quake II & III. It is a popular weapon for campers and people with good aiming skills or people who use aimbots.

The weapon looks like a big portable cannon, and creates a neat looking smoke trail to help locate campers.

He got railed by Jim from across the field and died instanly.

by Stephen U. January 29, 2004

A Certain Scientific Railgun

(Toaru Kagaku no Railgun　とある　科学　の　られぐん）　 An amazing anime series that follows the lives of a few main characters (Misaka-san, Shirai-san, Uiharu-san, Saten-san. As a sequel to A Certain Magical Index two of the main characters were side characters in the former series. Misaka Mikoto (main character) is an ojou-sama and a senior student at the prestigious Tokiwadai Academy. Misaka is a highly skilled student and is the third of seven level 5's in the city. The show is mostly based on the students who have varying degrees of abilities all of which can be proven scientifically.

Fan: "OMFG A CERTAIN SCIENTIFIC RAILGUN'S ON!!! GET the F*** out of my way..."
Douchetard: "WTF??"
Fan: *turns around and pops a cap in douchtard's ass*

by lefricquer22 June 6, 2010