Gyrojet Country of origin United States Designer MB Associates Weapon type Pistol / Rifle / LMG (Proposed) / Underwater Firearm (Lancejet) Caliber 6mm / .49 / .51 / 20mm Action Blow Forward

The Gyrojets were a family of unique firearms developed in the 1960s named for the method of gyroscopically stabilizing its projectiles. Firing small rockets rather than inert bullets, they had little recoil and didn't require a heavy barrel to resist the pressure of the combustion gases. The result was a very lightweight weapon with excellent ballistics. 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 main reason for cancelling

Contents 1 History 2 Variants 2.1 Gyrojet Derringer 2.2 Gyrojet Flare Launcher 2.3 Gyrojet Carbine 2.4 Gyrojet Lancejet 2.5 Gyrojet Assault Rifle 2.6 Gyrojet LMG 3 External links 4 See also

HistoryEdit

Robert Mainhardt and Art Biehl joined forces to form MB Associates, or MBA, in order to develop Biehl's armor-piercing rocket rounds. Originally developed in a 13mm caliber, the cartridges were self-contained self-propelled rockets.

A family of Gyrojet weapons was designed, including a pistol, carbine, "rifle" and squad-level light machine gun. However only the pistol and carbine were built. The space age-looking carbine versions were tested by the Army, where they proved to have problems. One issue was that the vent ports allowed the humid air into fuel, where it made the combustion considerably less reliable. The ports themselves could also become fouled fairly easily, although it was suggested that this could be solved by sealing the magazines or ports. Another inherent and quite critical problem, was that, being a rocket, the projectiles didn't leave the barrel at maximum velocity, and muzzle velocity could in fact be as low as 30 feet pr. second, which effectively crippled the weapons CQC potential, as they were simply not lethal at closer ranges.

Aside from a few Gyrojets tested by the United States Military, most Gyrojets were sold on the commercial market starting in the mid-1960s. These were Mark I Gyrojets, which launched a .51 caliber rocket, and ammunition was costly to produce and buy. In 1968, the Gun Control Act of 1968 created a new legal term, the destructive device. Under the new law, any weapon firing an explosive-filled projectile over a half-inch in diameter was considered a destructive device and required paying a tax and obtaining a license. The registration process was changed several years later, but in the interim, MBA created the legal Gyrojet Mark II, firing a .49 caliber rocket.

VariantsEdit

Gyrojet DerringerEdit

Image Derringer pistol with an upper barrel chambered for the Gyrojet round.

Gyrojet Flare LauncherEdit

Image

Gyrojet CarbineEdit

Gyrojet LancejetEdit

An underwater firearm variant of the Gyrojet called the Lancejet was considered for use by the United States military, but the inaccuracy of the weapon eventually removed it from consideration.

Gyrojet Assault RifleEdit

Assault rifle variant with M16 type ergonomics tested by the US Army. This variant had full auto capability and a removable grip inserted magazine. To increase ammo capacity, Its possible this platform was chambered in the 6mm calibre.

Gyrojet LMGEdit

Proposed variant.

External linksEdit

• [1]
• [2]
• [3]
• [4]

See alsoEdit

• H&K G11