Latest project specs

[Solar]

40mm Blow forward open bolt semi auto

Vertical 4 round magazine.

Open Bolt allows vertical top reloading of individual rounds into magazine.

Magazines can be added on detachable spindle for multiples of rounds.

End to end of piston valve and ballast tank is 1'

12" - 24" Rifled or Linear/Spiral Ported Barrels with muzzle brake.

3000psi Air source acts as stock.

Regulated 300-600psi+ operating pressure

40mm Spherical ammunition

40mm Spherical dimpled ammunition (shallow dimples at poles for in flight stabilization)

40mm Finned ammunition 4"

40mm Bullet shaped waisted ammunition 2",3",4" spin stabilized with Spiral Ported Barrel or rifling.

Just in time for Christmas (January deadline)

[Solar]

I should have the 40mm spherical ammo soon. I will be testing the spiral and linear ported barrels tomorrow with some of the finned rounds and a few of the spherical solid mini tennis balls. Not sure if the spiral porting will act as I want. I read that with paintballs it just spins the outer shell which doesn't help much, but with solid rounds I am hoping it will improve accuracy.

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

Sounds interesting, enough to demand further information

Is the magazine spring or gravity fed? Is the blow forward bolt similar in design to what has been done on this forum or is there anything particular about it?

[Solar]

Magazine uses a barrel spring. It is wide on ends and thin in middle to fold into itself when compressed. It feeds up.

I have not really spent too much time looking at blow forwards on here. It is similar to the rubber bullet gun I made, except instead of using an external piston to drive the bolt, I am making a bolt with an inner rod suspended from three pylons that plugs the main air passage until the bolt has extended enough to close the breech. Otherwise air will bleed out small holes in the bolt if there is a jam. This way I can have the main firing piston maintain a short throw, while the air from it drives the bolt in a separate part of the launcher at whatever length I need.

[tghhs]

Sounds very cool, if the asthetics are anything like your older projects then no doubt that will be a very 'sexy' launcher

P.S I'm delighted to see that you still post here

[Solar]

The idea is to make this one as compact and clean as possible. This is the new production prototype that will be sold to military and police that is based on feedback and experience with the Eclipse Revolvers. This is based on the original base gun, whereas I am manufacturing another gun that is based on the Elevator action launcher. The Revolver is becoming a belt fed platform.

I am testing the new barrels today. I will post some pics later.

[ramses]

Could you also post details on how the spiral porting will work. It sounds a lot easier to manufacture than rifling.

[Solar]

I am dubious about the spiral porting. It is used in paintball, but opponents point out that the outer shell of the paintball is all that you are really spinning and that the liquid inside staying mostly static doesn't improve accuracy. I am hoping that the solid rounds will be a different story.

[Ragnarok]

I am dubious about the spiral porting.

As you should be. Spiral porting won't induce any spin.
If anyone doubts me, I challenge them to explain how they think such a thing can work. How does such porting impart a rotational force on the projectile?

Porting will improve accuracy (ironically, by reducing spin), but spiral porting will just offer looks, no actual ballistic improvement over porting arranged any other way.

It is used in paintball, but opponents point out that the outer shell of the paintball is all that you are really spinning

We've had this discussion before.

We know that backspin works on paintballs, which means that paintballs can be meaningfully spun - the paint is thick enough for it to work.
Hence, rifling can work on paintballs. Not necessarily as well as with a solid projectile, but it can work.

[Solar]

I have the barrels done, but it is late and my camera is not here. I will test and take pics tomorrow. I did not opt to have the spiral one cut.