Just received my copy of IEEE Spectrum in the mail today and see that there is a fairly long article essentially chronicalling EM guns and recapping the current state of affairs.

 

"One day in 1977, researchers at Australian National University were putting the finishing touches on an experiment that they hoped would cap nearly a decade’s worth of groundbreaking research on electromagnetic guns. Tantalized by the prospect of unleashing the pure power of electromagnetism to accelerate projectiles at rates never before achieved, countless ­researchers had been pursuing the technology since the turn of the century. But without much success."

 

http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/jul07/5296 for the entire article

For some background on my level of interest, my first railgun was built in 4th (or 3rd?) grade, oh 1988 for my Cricket in Times Square presentation. It was a mouse cutout attached to a paperclip accelerated thru a paper towel tube. Wish I had a photo to post up, it was a fun project.

I have some plans drawn up for one of my own. I need financing for it and a few more things to fall into place then I can finally begin to take over the world.