Hypergolic ammunition?

[jbilling85]

I've had an interesting idea and I thought I'd throw it out there for giggles- Maybe someone else knows a lot about it, or someone knows well enough that it is simply duncery:

Rockets for a long time have used hypergolic chemicals for fuel- I suppose this works to solve the problem of being able to use rockets in space, in the absence of air. Seeing that I don't think the common populace has access to playing around with rocket fuel, I wouldn't suppose it's a broad topic. Anyone ever hear of using these chemicals as a firearm propellant? The H&K G11 is caseless, and I find it to be just as interesting, really. Any news on these?

[Hunter47]

Hypergolic chemicals just mean they ignite when they are combined on contact. No ignition is required. Therefore, the chemicals would have to be stored separately until ready to ignite. Not very practical for firearms. It has nothing to do with space. One of the chemicals is the Oxidizer (Nitrogen Tetroxide is used on the old Titan). Only turbojets and ramjets use air as a source of oxygen.

[CessnaDriver]

Pretty sure the ground crew for the space shutttle after landing was wearing environmental suits because of those fuels being quite toxic. So there is that too.

[FLIGHT762]

Google Gyrojet. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyrojet

When I was young, I actually watched a guy shoot the Gyrojet pistol at a local range. A family of firearms were marketed in the 1960's.

[7x57]

Google Gyrojet. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyrojet

Which, however, has nothing to do with hypergolic fuel.

When I was young, I actually watched a guy shoot the Gyrojet pistol at a local range.

That would be neat. I've idly wondered if one could come up with a modern small-volume manufacturing technique cheap enough to sell new ammo to all the collectors who own gyrojets but can't afford to shoot it. But I didn't wonder very hard....

7x57

[jbilling85]

@ Hunter47-
Yes, all properties I've considered, and still all properties that might make problems, just kick dirt around for fun with me. Suppose there's a form of one chemical that's been saturated or made into a hard wafer like object and stuck to the backside of a bullet. Then have some method on the back of the chamber to touch the wafer with a regulated amount of the chemical- Maybe a semi-permeable membrane with an access gate that disallows contact until desired.

@Cessna
I think that might be a nail in the coffin with the idea really. :-p

That Gyrojet looks like a hoot to shoot.I mean hell, it's in a James Bond movie. :-p
The rifles actually look pretty sharp...The pistols IMO, not so much.