13mm Gyrojet

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13mm Gyrojet

Post by Joom » 27 Oct 2014, 2:29 pm

Came across these in one of the other topics and thought they were worth a mention.

The Gyrojet is a family of unique firearms developed in the 1960s named for the method of gyroscopically stabilizing its projectiles. Rather than inert bullets, Gyrojets fire small rockets called Microjets which have little recoil and do not require a heavy barrel to resist the pressure of the combustion gases. Velocity on leaving the tube was very low, but increased to around 1,250 feet per second (380 m/s) at 30 feet (9.1 m). The result is a very lightweight weapon.

Long out of production, today they are a coveted collector's item with prices for even the most common model ranging above $1,000. They are, however, rarely fired; ammunition, when available at all, can cost over $100 per round.


The inherent difference between a conventional firearm and a rocket is that the projectile of a conventional firearm builds up to its maximum speed in the barrel of the firearm, then slows down over its trajectory; the rocket continues to accelerate as long as the fuel burns, then continues its flight like an un-powered bullet. A bullet has maximum kinetic energy at the muzzle; a rocket has maximum kinetic energy immediately after its fuel is expended. The burn time for a Gyrojet rocket has been reported as 1/10 of a second by a Bathroom Reader's Institute book and as 0.12 seconds by "The 'DeathWind' Project."

A firearm's rifled barrel must be manufactured to high precision and be capable of withstanding extremely high pressures; it is subject to significant wear in use. The Gyrojet rocket is fired through a simple straight, smooth-walled tube of no great strength.


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It didn't work so good, but interesting anyway :)

(Info from Wiki)
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Re: 13mm Gyrojet

Post by MeccaOz » 27 Oct 2014, 7:46 pm

Thanks Joom, I find all this stuff interesting. I guess Im just a "Gun Nut" lol
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Re: 13mm Gyrojet

Post by Tiiger » 28 Oct 2014, 10:26 am

Essentially trying to scale down a missile.

Cool thinking, just not enough space to get it all in a bullet I guess.
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Re: 13mm Gyrojet

Post by sha » 28 Oct 2014, 3:24 pm

Seriously lightweight looking rifle on the bottom there.
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Re: 13mm Gyrojet

Post by Noisydad » 28 Oct 2014, 3:39 pm

Well it was the '60s! It was probably developed by "men who stare at goats" I reckon!
There's still a few of Wile. E Coyote's ideas that I haven't tried yet.
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Re: 13mm Gyrojet

Post by Tiiger » 29 Oct 2014, 7:01 pm

Interesting idea, but...

Weight retention and energy must be awful though. Like getting hit with a peanut shell looking at that last image of the bullet.
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Re: 13mm Gyrojet

Post by steyroy » 30 Oct 2014, 4:28 pm

Seems like a firework more than a bullet :lol:
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