Gyrojet Carbine, Mark 1 Model B

This video details the rare MBA Gyrojet Mark I rocket pistol, showcasing its unique propulsion system where projectiles are self-contained rockets. High-speed footage captures the firing sequence, ballistic gel tests revealing a corkscrew path, and a dramatic catastrophic malfunction where the barrel detaches due to a 'spicy' round. The demonstration includes operation, manual of arms, and lethality testing against a ballistic dummy head.

This review compares the Dardick and Gyrojet pistols, deeming both commercially unsuccessful but the Dardick mechanically superior. The Dardick's failure stemmed from its unique Tround ammunition and lack of a clear purpose, while the Gyrojet's fundamental flaw was replacing gunpowder with rockets, leading to significant technical issues and no practical advantage. The speaker would choose the Dardick due to its more functional mechanical design.

This Q&A episode from Forgotten Weapons covers a wide array of firearms-related topics and tangents. Key discussions include modern squad weapons, favorite historical sites, daily schedules, the advantages of toggle locking systems, and the potential comeback of Gyrojet ammunition. The video also touches on aerial guns, video backlog, the feasibility of the 6mm Lee Navy with modern materials, helical magazines, rifle importation, specific historical firearms like Berthier rifles and Broomhandle Mausers, and the possibility of modernizing the H&K P7. Other subjects include single-feed pistol magazines, the 8mm Kurz cartridge, big-bore pistols, the rationale behind judging service rifles, and collaborations with other YouTubers. Further topics delve into the FN MAG, the reasons behind the lack of top-feed LMGs, new modular platforms in 6.5/6.8mm cartridges, the failure of the Walther MPK/MPL, gunsmithing support for rare guns, WW2 German use of captured small arms, the Steyr-Hahn machine pistol, variable pitch recoil springs, bump stocks, post-FW plans, constant recoil guns, puzzling military adoptions, WW1 small arms, and a comparison of HK and AR15 irons.

The Gyrojet Rocket Pistol, developed in the mid-1960s, fires actual rocket cartridges with a unique self-stabilizing mechanism. It accelerates after leaving the muzzle, reaching peak velocity and lethality at 30-50 feet, unlike conventional firearms. Despite its novel design and negligible recoil due to vented exhaust gases, it suffered from poor accuracy and low muzzle velocity.

This review highlights five of the worst firearms ever produced, detailing critical design flaws and historical context. The Type 94 Nambu's accidental discharge risk, the Glisenti Model 1910's structural weakness, the Chauchat's susceptibility to jams, the Breda Modello 30's overheating issues, and the Gyrojet's impracticality are all discussed. These examples serve as cautionary tales in firearm development.

This video details the unique 'French Finger Trap' issue with the MAS-36 rifle's bayonet, where two rifles can become unintentionally locked together. A 1951 French arsenal memorandum identified this problem, proposing a simple modification to the bayonet handle. Drilling a small hole allows a tool, like a firing pin, to depress the internal spring, enabling the separation of locked rifles.

The M134 Minigun is a scaled-down 7.62 NATO rotary cannon, requiring 24V DC power and consuming 1.5 kW. Its high rate of fire (3,000+ RPM) is essential for aircraft engagement windows. The complex delinker mechanism is critical for feeding ammunition, and practical hand-held use is impossible due to weight and recoil. Live fire demonstrates rapid ammunition consumption and the need for indirect aiming.

The H&K G11 is a revolutionary prototype assault rifle designed in the late 20th century, notable for its caseless ammunition and unique rotating drum bolt mechanism. Despite advanced features like a 2000 RPM burst fire rate and integrated optics, its development was ultimately halted by geopolitical shifts and cost concerns.

This video demonstrates the assembly and live-fire of the German 1936 pattern light mortar (L.Gr.W.36). It highlights the mortar's leveling mechanism for accuracy and the difficulty in visually tracking its 50mm projectiles after firing. The content showcases historical military hardware and its operational use.