Gyrojet Pistol
| Factions | Weapon | Icon | Classes | Ammo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 US |
 Gyrojet Pistol |
 |
Special Loadout Zombies |
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| Damage Base | Headshot × | Chest × | Stomach × | Leg × | Arm × | Bayonet | Rifle Grenades | Reload Speed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Partial | Empty | ||||||||
| 60 | ×3.7 = 222.0 | ×2.4 = 144.0 | ×2.3 = 138.0 | ×1.3 = 78.0 | ×0.95 = 57.0 | NO | NO | Seconds | Seconds |
| Designation | Weapon Type | Fire Modes | Fire Rate | Bullet Spread ° | Range Modifier | Muzzle Velocity | Projectile weight | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark I Model B | Pistol | Semi | 150 RPM | 9° & 3° ADS | 1 | 403 m/s | 0.7 g (10.8 gr) | 0.6 kg (1.32 lbs) |
| Full name | Caliber | Place of Origin | Date | Manufacturer | Barrel Length | Total Length | Weapon Script Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MBAssociates Gyrojet Mark I Model B Rocket Pistol | 13mm Gyrojet | United States Of America | 1965 | MB Associates (MBAssociates) | 6.75 in (171 mm) | 9.875 in (251 mm) | weapon_gyrojet_pistol |
The Gyrojet Pistol is a 1960s-era experimental handgun by MB Associates that fires 13mm rocket projectiles (“microjets”) instead of conventional bullets. Because the projectile is its own rocket motor, the pistol can be made relatively lightweight and produces very little recoil compared with typical handguns. It is best known for its unusual ballistics—low velocity at the muzzle with acceleration after leaving the barrel—and for being an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to commercialize a “rocket pistol.”
HISTORY
MB Associates introduced Gyrojet pistols in the mid-1960s as part of a family of pistol and carbine launchers for spin-stabilized microjet rockets. The system avoids conventional cartridge extraction: the hammer drives the rocket rearward against a fixed firing pin to ignite the propellant, and the rocket’s forward movement re-cocks the hammer as it passes. With a smoothbore “barrel” and vented rocket nozzles that impart spin, the design relied on the rocket itself for propulsion rather than high-pressure chambered gas.
Despite its novelty, the Gyrojet pistol struggled with the practical realities of rocket ammunition: manufacturing consistency, accuracy, and reliable ignition were persistent issues, and the projectile’s performance depended heavily on distance because it accelerated after leaving the barrel. During the Vietnam War era, Gyrojets were evaluated only in very limited contexts (often discussed in connection with MACV-SOG procurement), but they were not adopted for general service. The concept remains notable mainly as a space-age experimental weapon rather than a successful military sidearm.
Sources
- NRA National Firearms Museum — MB Associates Gyrojet Mark I Pistol
- Imperial War Museums — Gyrojet pistol
- U.S. Patent 3,412,641 — Pistol for firing a miniature ballistic rocket (MB Associates)
- American Rifleman — Behind Enemy Lines: Guns of Vietnam’s SOG Warriors