Daisy V/L

The Daisy V/L was the first production rifle for caseless ammunition. It was released in 1968 by Daisy Outdoor Products.

Daisy V/L
Type	Single-shot rifle
Place of origin	United States
Production history
Designer	Jules Van Langenhoven
Designed	1961
Manufacturer	Daisy Outdoor Products
Produced	1968-1969
No. built	23,000
Specifications
Cartridge	.22 caliber, caseless round
Caliber	.22
Action	Compressed air to ignite cartridge
Muzzle velocity	1,150 feet per second (350 m/s)
Feed system	Single shot
Sights	Front post, rear leaf sight

In 1961 Case Hough, the president of Daisy Heddon division of Victor Comptometer, purchased the design of a new firearm system. The new system was developed by a Belgian Chemist named Jules Van Langenhover. The new gun would be known as the Daisy V/L rifle.[1]

The V/L ammunition consisted of a .22 caliber bullet with a small cylinder of propellant on the back, and no primer.[2] The rifle resembled a typical spring-air rifle, but the 2000° hot, high pressure air served not only to propel the projectile but also to ignite the propellant on the back of the V/L cartridge. The rifle uses a small, unique and well designed part called an Obturator (obturator/ignitor) to compress the air as it is pushed through a tiny hole. This air is heated as it is pushed through the small hole enough to ignite the powder of the caseless round.[3]

The V/L guns and ammunition were discontinued in 1969 after the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ruled that they constituted a firearm, and Daisy, which was not licensed to manufacture firearms, decided to discontinue manufacture rather than become a firearms manufacturer. About 23,000 of the rifles were made before production ceased.

The V/L has been added to the ATF Curio & Relic list.