Originally posted by russ_watters
Fuel cells don't create nearly enough power. There is nothing short of a handheld nuclear reactor that could power a handheld railgun. And in any case, the laws of physics make it unlikely a person could even hold onto one. Just imagine the kick!
Why whould the recoil be any greater than a conventional rifle ? I agree that the power supply is the limiting factor in the feasability of a portable rail gun - but only in so far that it is difficult to deliver that much energy in such a short period of time. You don't need a nuclear reactor - just a lot of storage.