December 24, 2025
The Gyrojet Rocket Gun: The Pistol That Fired Mini Rockets
If this sounds like science fiction, that is because it almost was.
In the 1960s, while most firearms were still relying on century old designs, a small California company decided to rethink the bullet itself. Instead of using gunpowder to push a projectile down a barrel, the Gyrojet fired miniature rockets that ignited after leaving the pistol.
It was bold. It was weird. And for a brief moment, it looked like the future.
Photo:A rare Gyrojet pistol displayed alongside its rocket ammunition, engineering drawings, and period details, a bold reminder of the moment firearms designers tried to reinvent the bullet itself.
Fun Fact:
The Gyrojet bullets were tiny rockets that actually got faster the farther they traveled.
How the Gyrojet Worked
The Gyrojet did not use a traditional cartridge. Each round was a self contained rocket with angled exhaust ports drilled into the base. When fired, the rocket ignited, spun for stability, and accelerated as it flew.
That meant the bullet was slow at the muzzle and fastest at distance. The exact opposite of every normal handgun.
On paper, it was brilliant.
Why It Never Took Off
The problem was reality.
At close range, the Gyrojet lacked stopping power because the rocket had not reached full speed yet. Accuracy suffered because tiny variations in the exhaust ports sent rockets drifting off target. Manufacturing was expensive. Reliability was inconsistent.
And then there was the cost. The gun was expensive. The ammo was worse.
Almost a Military Success
The Gyrojet was tested by the U.S. military during the Vietnam era. Some special units even carried them briefly, attracted by the low recoil and minimal muzzle blast.
But when the novelty wore off, the flaws were impossible to ignore. Conventional firearms simply worked better when lives were on the line.
Why We Still Talk About It
The Gyrojet failed, but it failed in a fascinating way.
It challenged everything people thought a handgun had to be. It showed just how far designers were willing to go in search of the next big leap in firepower. And today, surviving Gyrojets are highly collectible, not because they worked so well, but because they dared to be different.
Sometimes the most interesting guns are the ones that almost changed everything.
Until next time, stay locked and loaded.
- Randy, Locked N Loaded
Please add randy@gophercentral.com to your address book or
visit here.
Missed An Issue? Visit our archives loaded with past and new issues.
