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Smart ammunition Left, right, on target The Economist.com
Gil223
Regular Member
Sandia has been working on this ammo for several years. It seems to me like an improvement of the old MB Gyrojet (1965-1969), which fired a 12mm (.51cal) projectile and was the first hand-fired weapon (I know of) to use caseless, rocket-type ammo. At that time it reportedly had a perfectly flat trajectory out to around 500 yds, but then dropped like a rock. The pistols are rarely seen today, and the carbines are even more rare. The smooth-bore MB Gyrojet held six rounds in a magazine, had an under-hammer firing system, which was reset by the projectile moving forward over it when fired. Stabilizing spin was achieved via 3 (as I recall) canted ports in the base of the projectile. I think the main reasons the Gyrojet was not successful was it's unorthodox appearance (very space-age looking for the time), the cost of the ammo for it (about $3.00 a round - which was simply outrageous back then), and the fact that it wasn't particularly accurate, (which some people feel is important - especially at $3 per round. It's nice to hit what you're aiming at). Some MB guns were supplied to the Army for very limited field testing in Vietnam. I saw one in a San Diego gun shop back in the 60's and thought it was amazing-looking. Things may have turned out differently for the Gyrojet if they had had access to the micro-computer technology of today. Pax...
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Herr Heckler Koch
Guest
Believe nothing that you read or hear without verifying it yourself unless it fits your preexisting world view. Flat until momentum is exhausted is the conventionally naive concept of ballistics.
Gil223
Regular Member
As I said, "At that time it reportedly had a perfectly flat trajectory"... simply restating the manufacturer's claim in an article, as I recall it. Pax...
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Herr Heckler Koch
Guest
Peace is not advanced by repeating popular errors, ignorance being the most refractory force in the universe.
http://www.deathwind.com/project.htm
http://www.deathwind.com/project.htm
Gil223
Regular Member
Well, isn't that nice! And the "popular error" to which you refer is WHAT? The greatest ignorance is to reject something you know nothing about. Pax...
Michigander
Regular Member
As I recall, Gyrojet's did have a pretty flat trajectory on account of being rocket powered rounds. Essentially a pistol sized RPG.
That's not to say they were known for stopping power, accuracy, or in any way being particularly useful. But flat trajectory does sound reasonable.
Reviving the concept for modern times sounds intriguing.
That's not to say they were known for stopping power, accuracy, or in any way being particularly useful. But flat trajectory does sound reasonable.
Reviving the concept for modern times sounds intriguing.
georg jetson
Regular Member
As I recall, Gyrojet's did have a pretty flat trajectory on account of being rocket powered rounds. Essentially a pistol sized RPG.
That's not to say they were known for stopping power, accuracy, or in any way being particularly useful. But flat trajectory does sound reasonable.
Reviving the concept for modern times sounds intriguing.
That's right. They gained velocity to the target until the propellant was exhausted. They're useless for CQC because of the low muzzle velocity. It takes a bit of distance to build the energy required to be effective.
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georg jetson
Regular Member
This is irrelevant to a self-powered projectile. Momentum increases until the propellant is exhausted. While under power a flat trajectory is possible if properly designed.
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Herr Heckler Koch
Guest
Right, A reaction force vector or an aerodynamic force against gravity. Neither applies to the Gyrojet, without wings and nozzles only to spin the projectile.