SpudFiles

probably it would be...
but the question is really whether we want the guidelines to specify how we have to build it or what performance does it have to achieve and let contestants to choose whichever operating principle they want...

@JSR
flying brass is cool... but in order for this to be practical you need to focus on making the cartridges as simple to produce as possible

the "projectile seal" idea

have you considered crimping the copper tube?

POLAND_SPUD wrote:flying brass is cool... but in order for this to be practical you need to focus on making the cartridges as simple to produce as possible

That's the crux of the matter, but with a bit of lateral thinking...

have you considered crimping the copper tube?

Hmmm... metal on metal won't guarantee a seal and it's not really reusable. I can easily envisage casting epoxy around a section of rubber or silicon tubing though.

yeah it wouldn't be original so choice 4 then

jackssmirkingrevenge wrote:Valid points, however on the plus side...

I don't doubt that flying brass is cool, but when said brass is something that takes a lot of time and effort to prepare, it's less desirable to be spraying it everywhere.

Also, while you can do some serious damage to a target with 5 to 10 rounds, you can do a lot more damage than that with more - even potentially to the point of cutting things in half.

Not that I'm saying that the way I propose is the only way to go about it, but it does seem like a more plausible way of achieving sustained fire.

jackssmirkingrevenge wrote:The problem though in my opinion would be guaranteeing a correct fuel-air mix in the chamber.

The problem in my opinion is what happens if the fuel that will have no doubt leaked into the pilot volume gets ignited. With piston hybrids, the "pilot area" has to be kept vented to atmosphere.

Also, that particular design runs the risk of sparking on the outside of the cartridge (uselessly, of course).

it does seem like a more plausible way of achieving sustained fire

well yeah there is nothing else than just the coolness factor...

for the number of shots typical for a full auto/semi auto gun cartridges + launcher will weight more than launcher + projectiles...

Ragnarok wrote:I don't doubt that flying brass is cool, but when said brass is something that takes a lot of time and effort to prepare, it's less desirable to be spraying it everywhere.

I really doubt cartridges would be lost or damaged, and once manufactured filling them should not be that much of a hassle.

Also, while you can do some serious damage to a target with 5 to 10 rounds, you can do a lot more damage than that with more - even potentially to the point of cutting things in half.

That's the BBMG approach, with the power potential of a hybrind you can do more with less

Not that I'm saying that the way I propose is the only way to go about it, but it does seem like a more plausible way of achieving sustained fire.

Sustained (10 second bursts, that sort of thing) fire would be out of the question with homemade cartridges, if this is one of the design objectives then an on board fuel-air system is the way to go.

The problem in my opinion is what happens if the fuel that will have no doubt leaked into the pilot volume gets ignited. With piston hybrids, the "pilot area" has to be kept vented to atmosphere.

Also, that particular design runs the risk of sparking on the outside of the cartridge (uselessly, of course).

Details that can be worked on, as I proposed the projectile-seal approach is probably better.

for the number of shots typical for a full auto/semi auto gun cartridges + launcher will weight more than launcher + projectiles...

You have to factor in the weight of compressed air and fuel tanks which a cartridge launcher avoids.

You know, it's a shame No 3 didn't get any more votes than what it did. I didn't vote, but I was kinda hoping that would make it. I think the whole "4 stroke" thing may have confused a lot of people. Oh, well.

Anyway, I didn't read all of these replies, but I did read the one or two or three posts by Ragnarok concerning "what it's got to do, rather than how we have to do it." I agree 100%.

Since Idea #1 was selected by the majority, I am going to reword the thing in a way that reflects this.

Standy.