With the continued shift towards more insensitive munitions and the subsequent development of low vulnerability propellants, the study of novel gun igniters is playing a significant role in the design of future direct and in-direct fire charge systems. Previously, concepts such as electrothermal plasma ignition have offered high performance ignition solutions. However, using current technology they lack practical, in-service applicability and will be difficult to incorporate into near future combat systems at a low cost. Advanced ignition systems for medium and large calibre gun systems are being explored by QinetiQ, funded by the UK Ministry of Defence (Weapon and Platform Effectors domain). At 40 mm calibre scale, a series of confined pyrotechnic powders including black powder, aluminium and cupric oxide, boron potassium nitrate, magnesium + Teflon + Viton (MTV), MTV + Cu, potassium perchlorate and potassium benzoate (PPPB), PPPB+Cu and ammonium perchlorate were studied. Each pyrotechnic was initially confined inside a breech-mounted combustion chamber (igniter) using a small steel burst disc designed to rupture, venting the combustion products into open air. Plume temperature, propagation velocity and combustion chamber pressure were measured using emission spectroscopy, highspeed photography and piezoelectric transducers, respectively. Plume geometry and burst disc rupture were also analysed. This paper shows that combustion of these pyrotechnics under confinement is reproducible and takes place within time scales suitable for gun ignition. Plume geometries and chamber pressures are similar to that of black powder and, with the addition of copper powder, the burn rates can be moderated as the copper acts as a heat sink. The confined pyrotechnics appear to have good characteristics for initiation and are recommended for further gun ignition studies.