Hand-held rocket launcher

[pearlcrash911]

I've read a lot of posts about making large RPG's, but I have found them to have too short of a range and poor accuracy.

I found the book backyard rocketry by bic farrell, and I decided to make a miniature version of the shoulder launcher, so that it could be hand-held.

To improve accuracy, instead of using a large warhead I want to make claymore-like warheads that are small and can be mounted directly onto the rocket engine.

This is not intended for causing massive damage, but it should be helpfull for specific targets.

Pictures of launcher:
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m146/acetoneperoxide/rocketlauncher1.jpg

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m146/acetoneperoxide/rocketlauncher2.jpg

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m146/acetoneperoxide/rocketlauncher3.jpg

Pictures of ammunition:
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m146/acetoneperoxide/rocketblank2.jpg

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m146/acetoneperoxide/Rocketblank1.jpg


I wanted to run it by here first before I test it to see if it is feasable.

What do you think of this launcher?

[ShadowMyGeekSpace]

sounds k3\/\/l to me!

[c.Tech]

At least he followed the rules with grammar, posting in the watercooler and contributing something.

I think that improvised weapons are great from times when there are no alternatives.

[stagefivedrift]

How can Duct Tape and plastic straws be more accurate than a conical-nosed, PETN shaped-charge warhead with a 1.5-2 pound KNO3/sorbitol grain propellant?

If you build them correctly, large RPGs can be quite accurate and extremely fun.

[pearlcrash911]

Those pictures are only of the original prototype. I didn't want to invest too much time and money untill I had successful launches with it.

And no, it wouldn't be more accurate than the RPG you described, but that RPG has many disadvantages.

One is that the warhead you described would take forever to make enough PETN for each warhead, and it has so much room for error with the kno3/sorbitol propellant because if the nozzle isn't made perfectly it will not launch farther than a few feet.

1.5 pounds of PETN a few feet away doesn't seem like the best thing:rolleyes:

[Sausagemit]

1.5 pounds of PETN a few feet away doesn't seem like the best thing:rolleyes:

What are you currently using for a propellant?

Because if your using model rocket engines I have had a couple of those fail on me!! Usually when they fail they explode too.

I woud trust something I made myself rather than something someone else made anyday. Because then if something goes wrong I have no one to blame but myself.

[stagefivedrift]

A nozzle doesn't have to be perfect in an improvised rocket. All the nozzle does is increase the pressure of the gasses coming out. You'll just have to experiment to get it right.

I want to make claymore-like warheads that are small and can be mounted directly onto the rocket engine.

If you strapped a claymore on the end of a powerful ammonium nitrate engine it would spin around like a crazy firework and more than likely kill you.

So what do you think a smaller version will do?

You could take a trip to Nakka's incredible rocketry site, do some investigation, and try not to kill yourself. ;)
members.aol.com/ricnakk/index.html

[pearlcrash911]

I've actually used the KNSU propellant from richard nakka's website for many years, and making motors for this propellant I have learned the importance of the nozzle.

When I had made the motor wrong it did not build up sufficient pressure and only rose ten feet into the air.

I plan on the warhead being smaller than the engine itself so that it can be stabilized by fins and achieve far greater accuracy without any chance of spinning.

[stagefivedrift]

When I had made the motor wrong it did not build up sufficient pressure and only rose ten feet into the air.

What did you do "wrong" to the motor? Was the problem with the nozzle alone or did you have problems with the grain as well.

If you had more detail on how you want it to perform, I could help you more.

Do you want it to be a weapon or more of a cool toy?

[pearlcrash911]

I made the nozzle a little too wide, but the grain worked well.

I'm hoping for it to be a weapon that can fire accurately 100 yards horizontally, taking out a specific target with the minumum possible warhead.

Another use would be to have it carrying an incendiary warhead to ignite larger incendiaries/explosives from a distance.

I don't know if it would be accurate enough for the second one, but it can't hurt to try.

[stagefivedrift]

That sounds pretty easy. Let me run through some data and I'll post some good ideas for you tomorrow. :)

[stagefivedrift]

Is this what you are after?
www.wfvisser.dds.nl/EN/rockets_BP_EN.html

Here is a good model rocket design program from NASA that uses a few Estes motors.
http://exploration.grc.nasa.gov/education/rocket/rktsim.html

I hope these help. A D-size motor and a 1.oz (AP) ballast should work as long as the center of pressure is lower than the center of gravity. Get it just right and it will fly like an arrow.

Happy experimenting! :D