This is almost baked as there is already kits out there that displays on your gun the amount of ammo you currently have.

However one modification would make this practical for integration with all usage scenario.

An epaper display.

Using LED display is all nice and cheap, however it is rather conspicuous to 'other people' you rather not be seen by.

Plus epaper is more durable and will not break via shattering as much.

To keep things compact the display should consist of two 7 seg display and a x10, x10^2,x10^3, etc... (might as well, since we could use this display on various models, e.g. your local chaingun)

if there is less than 100 rounds, just the two 7 seg display is activated. If more than 100, then a "..." is displayed alongside the numerical display for floating point notation e.g. for "305" -> "30x10" or "9034" -> "90x10^2"

hmmm... just scratch that... Use alphanumeric display and just display the whole dammn thing in scientific notation.
-- mofosyne, Jul 04 2013

I've found it pleasantly ironic that people will pay oogobs of money for the luxury of not having to count.
-- Alterother, Jul 04 2013


In a gunfight, it's best to let the fight tell you when to reload, instead of trying to focus on a small display. A counter would just be a distraction.
-- (mans)laughter, Jul 04 2013


I have never been in a gunfight without wishing this sort of thing existed.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Jul 06 2013


Ammo counters have been around for well over a century in loading systems that can accomodate them: Savage Model 1895/1899/99. High-tech counters are standard fare in video games, and show up in real guns as well.

So,

much as I would like to see e-paper be more pervasive, the bit of the post that isn't the monthly gun/antigun rant is

"use a product for what it's designed for".
-- FlyingToaster, Jul 06 2013


<troll> Everyone who's anti-gun should be rounded up by vigilantes and shot. Give 'em a taste of their own medicine. </troll>

It would be nice if it could be powered by each shot, and use no power between shots. Just make sure the computer isn't sentient, or its entire subjective existence would resemble being attached to a permanently firing machine gun.
-- spidermother, Jul 07 2013


spidermother, Jul 07 2013

Can't be too hard to use a piezoelectric membrane to generate power. Now whether its enough energy to update the display is another thing. (Alternative is a coil and a magnet)

On a different note, how do you know that this universe's isn't being computed in some alien gun?
-- mofosyne, Jul 07 2013


I think the way most videogames do it would be best - a small precise counter of exact ammo, but a big obvious RELOAD as you get down to 5% or whatever.
Alternatively, you could learn how heavy your gun is when it's full and (almost) empty.
-- neutrinos_shadow, Jul 07 2013


Weighing your gun in your hands seems like the kind of thing that's difficult in the middle of a gunfight.
-- notexactly, Nov 12 2018


//conspicuous to 'other people' you rather not be seen by.

Braille?
-- not_morrison_rm, Nov 16 2018


Could the ePaper devices on opponents' guns be linked wirelessly? Then, if you were out of ammo, you could send a message saying "Listen, Fritz, I'm out of ammo, but I had you right in the crosshairs so please lie down and act dead."
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Nov 16 2018


I'm more worried about the Beeb story "Stephen Barclay named new Brexit Secretary".

I mean, he can change it back to "Stephen Barclay" by deed poll afterwards I s'pose.
-- not_morrison_rm, Nov 16 2018


No no, you misunderhend.

The question is, *who* is the new Brexit Secretary that he named?
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Nov 16 2018



random, halfbakery