A supplemental propulsion system for a weapon used to fire a projectile includes a barrel and chamber to hold a projectile round. A translating pressure tank surrounds a portion of the barrel, and the pressure tank is configured to translate along the barrel. A recoil spring assembly includes a spring and a pressure plate downstream of the chamber for holding the projectile round. The pressure tank is coupled to the pressure plate such that the spring is configured to stretch upon firing of the projectile and translate the pressure tank along a length of the barrel. The barrel includes a first port configured to selectively align with a first tank port during translation, for the discharge of pressurized gas from the pressure tank. The discharge of pressurized gas occurs rearward of the projectile as it passes through the barrel after firing.

A weapon system includes a cartridge and a fire control apparatus have been developed for generating a projectile with a selectable launch velocity. The cartridge includes multiple primers and propellant chambers which may be individually selected by the fire controller so as to fire the projectile at a selected launch velocity. Additionally after firing the selected primers and propellant charges, the fire controller sends a second firing signal to all remaining primers after a suitable delay. The second firing signal ensures that all remaining propellant is initiated and consumed, thus rendering the cartridge safe to eject. The delay between the first firing signal and the second firing signal is sufficient to allow the projectile to be expelled from the cartridge so that the launch velocity is not affected by the combustion of the remaining propellant.

A weapon system includes a cartridge and a fire control apparatus have been developed for generating a projectile with a selectable launch velocity. The cartridge includes multiple primers and propellant chambers which may be individually selected by the fire controller so as to fire the projectile at a selected launch velocity. Additionally after firing the selected primers and propellant charges, the fire controller sends a second firing signal to all remaining primers after a suitable delay. The second firing signal ensures that all remaining propellant is initiated and consumed, thus rendering the cartridge safe to eject. The delay between the first firing signal and the second firing signal is sufficient to allow the projectile to be expelled from the cartridge so that the launch velocity is not affected by the combustion of the remaining propellant.

A toy projectile launcher having a housing, a projectile container, a cocking slide, an air piston assembly, a barrel interface section, and a detachable launch barrel is disclosed. The projectile container is adapted to hold projectiles, such as foam darts. The cocking slide can be moved for-ward and backward. When the cocking slide is moved backward the air piston barrel moves backward, and a projectile is moved in front of the air piston assembly. When the cocking slide is moved forward, the projectile is pushed into the barrel interface section by an air nozzle disposed on the front of the air piston assembly. A first airtight seal is formed between the air piston assembly and the rear of the foam dart, and a second airtight seal is formed between the barrel interface section and the detachable launch barrel.