Real gun or not?

gd357 · #1 06-06-2005, 04:54 AM

Ok, this has been bugging me for a while, and I can't find anything online, so I'll ask all of you. I've seen a weird gun in a few movies, and it's driving me nuts that I can't confirm if it's real or not. It appears to be a 9mm carbine, but it has 6 barrels and they revolve like a gatling gun. It's most likely a fake, but I figured that if it was made, someone here could enlighten me on it. Thanks

gd357

fabsroman · #2 06-06-2005, 08:49 AM

How about letting us know what movies you saw it in. That might help us a little.

GoodOlBoy · #3 06-06-2005, 09:36 AM

In the movie Deep Rising for one.

GoodOlBoy

Rocky Raab · #4 06-06-2005, 11:46 AM

I don't watch movies, but I did see something like that on TV while I was trying to find something more intellectual to watch.

It's fake.

Real General Electric Mini-guns fire the .308 cartridge (actually the 7.62 NATO). The guns weigh almost 200 pounds and are electrically operated.

Movie version? I didn't see any power cables and it looked like it weighed twenty pounds or so.

There's also the tiny little details of ammo feed and recoil. If it fires 6,000 rounds a minute, a five-second burst burns 500 cartridges. You see your hero hefting that many? How about the feed belts?

Oh, and recoil. One 308 from the hip - no sweat. 500? Yeah, right.

BTW, yup, I HAVE fired one for real. It was mounted in a helo door. Cambodia, 1971. Ruined the day of a gomer with an SKS - big time.

skeet · #5 06-06-2005, 04:45 PM

Have seen a gun ship with 5 GE guns in it...way back in 1967 i think it was...in a C-117 if I remember correctly.. It had ammo trays or whatever you would call them. 10 second burst lightened the load considerably. Just the brass falling out of the plane woulda had to hurt if it hit ya. BTW it was awesome to see fired at night. Looked like a river of fire you could almost walk on.

gumpokc · #6 06-06-2005, 07:57 PM

there is a 5.56 minigun as well, but i've never heard of a 9mm one.

i suppose it could be done, but why? it's probably just a movieprop.

fabsroman · #7 06-06-2005, 08:13 PM

Skeet,

You should see the video of the AC-130 gunship firing at night. Now that looks like a river of fire. I saw it several years ago in an e-mail when we were in Afghanistan. Wish I could find it again.

gd357 · #8 06-07-2005, 07:40 AM

I did see it most recently in Deep Rising (seemed like all of the characters had one) while channel surfing. It wasn't similar in design to a minigun, more along the lines of a short carbine. I couldn't be certain, but I believe it was supposedly a clip-fed weapon. I really doubted the reality of such a weapon, although the design could theoretically work IF it was a gas-operated system (and I'd hate to think how complex that would have to be for such a compact firearm).

Rocky, I think you're talking about a different gun, probably the one that they used in Predator (or very similar). Dad's got a few slides from 'Nam, and it's very evident that no person on earth could handle something of that size. I can certainly imagine that something with that rate of fire would pretty much ruin the day of anything it had to. Definitely rather be the one shooting it that being on the receiving end.

gd357

Rocky Raab · #9 06-07-2005, 10:31 AM

Fabs, that is a spectacular video clip of which you speak. But keep in mind that they only have a tracer in every FIFTH round. So that river of fire is actually five times as dense as it looks.

gd357, I stand corrected if there was/is a 5.56 version. The minis that were installed in the C-47 Puff the Magic Dragon (3 guns) and C-119 Spectre (5 guns) planes were 7.62 versions for certain.

I've also seen and flown in a C-130 Spooky gun ship. It was an early model with two 7.62 minis, two 20mm Gatlings and two 40mm Bofors cannon. Later models had two 20mm, a single 40 and a 105 howitzer!

From the ground, when one of these planes opens up, there is absolutely no warning. The ground just erupts like a deluge of rain on a pond, but the raindrops explode like mini-grenades (this from the 20mms). You don't hear the muzzle blast until after it's over, and that sound is like the moans of hell. It's appropriate.

GoodOlBoy · #10 06-07-2005, 11:48 AM

I remember reading somewhere there was a guy in New York or Chicago a few years back that was arrested after taking the plans to build a 22LR gatling gun, increasing the mag capacity and dropping a electric motor on it. POOF Instant (not quite) minigun.

in 22 it would sound like ALOT of fun(look out squirrels!).

GoodOlBoy

BILLY D. · #11 06-07-2005, 01:08 PM

HI GUYS

THERE WERE FOUR GUNSHIPS DURING THE VIETNAM ERA. C47, SPOOKY OR PUFF TAKE YOUR PICK, 3 MINI GATLINGS, 7,62, NEXT CAME THE SHADOW, AC-119 G, 4 MINI GATLINGS, NEXT CAME THE AC-119K, STINGER, 4 MINI GATLINGS, 2 20MM, GATLINGS. NEXT WAS THE PREMIER GUNSHIP THE AC-130 SPECTRE. THE SPECTRE HAD THE BIGGEST VARIETY OF GUNS, FROM 20MM GATLINGS, 40MM POM-POMS AND THE HOWITZER.

ALSO LET US NOT FORGET OUR FRINDS IN THE HELO'S. THEY AT ONE TIME HAD EVERYTHING FROM M-39'S TO MINI GATLINGS. BUT MOSTLY M-60'S.

I FLEW ON THE SHADOWS, PHAN RANG AB THE STINGERS AT DA NANG AND NKP, RTAB AND THE 107 AHS AT AN KHE, RVN.

THE AC-119'S WERE MY FAVORITES. SHADOWS MAIN JOB WAS TROOPS IN CONTACT, OR TICS. STINGERS MAIN JOB WAS TRUCK INTERDICTION FROM MU GIA PASS SOUTH THROUGH LAOS AND CAMBODIA. WE WERE THE HIGHWAY PATROL OF SOUTHEAST ASIA. MANY TRUCK DRIVERS FOUND EARLY RETIREMENT BECAUSE OF US AND THE REST WERE REAL NERVOUS.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE INFO ON THE AC- 119'S THE HAVE A WEB SITE AT www.ac-119gunships.com. VERY INTERESTING READING.

I AM VERY PROUD TO HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF SERVING WITH THOSE OUTFITS AND THANKFUL I AM STILL ALIVE. AT LEAST THE LAST TIME I CHECKED I WAS. I GOT VENTILATED TWICE BUT NOTHING SERIOUS.

THE AHS HAS A WEB SITE AND SO DO SPECTRES BUT I DON'T HAVE DIRECTIONS.

Rocky Raab · #12 06-07-2005, 02:15 PM

I seem to be all confuserized today.

Thanks to Billy, for taking the time to give us the RIGHT info.

muledeer · #13 06-07-2005, 05:46 PM

The M-61 Gatling gun (20mm) had a max fire rate on 6,000rds per min was tuned down to 4,000 rds to help on barrel heating. The VC thought we were firing a lazer beam.
muledeer

fabsroman · #14 06-07-2005, 06:20 PM

It is hard to believe that a person needs 80 rounds a second to hit a target, but I guess it takes care of shaky hands problem.

Seems as though the guns on the AC-130 are computer guided now. Anybody know if I am correct about that?

BILLY D. · #15 06-07-2005, 08:32 PM

MULEDEER AND FABS

MD. LIKE ANY FIREARM AND BARREL THE GATLING WAS SUBJECTED TO THE SAME STRAINS. ON THE STINGER STRINGS WERE LIMITED TO 600 ROUNDS. A GOOD PILOT COULD ROLL IN ON A TRUCK AND GET THE JOB DONE WITH 25 TO 50 ROUNDS. MY PILOT COULD ALWAYS GET A 20 TO 25 ROUND BURST. HE WAS THE BEST I EVER SEEN AT IT. THAT GUY WAS COOL AS A CUCUMBER.

ANOTHER REASON FOR LIMITING LENGTH OF BURST WAS THE LITTLE WIDGET THAT HELD THE BARRELS TOGETHER. IF THE BARRELS GOT TOO HOT THEY WARPED AND THE BARREL BAND COULD DEPART THE AREA IN A HURRY. WE HAD AN INCIDENT ONE NIGHT OVER THE PLAIN DE JARS WHERE OUR ILLUSTRIOUS AIRCRAFT COMMANDER NOT OUR REGULAR PILOT, FIRED A 900 ROUND BURST AND THE BARREL BAND LEFT AND CREATED SOME HAVOC. THE GUN PROCEEDED TO FIRE AND RIPPED IT SELF FROM IT'S MOUNTS BEFORE ONE OF US GUYS COULD GET TO THE BOX AND SHUT IT OFF. THERE WERE ALSO HOT ROUNDS GOING OFF IN THE CARGO COMPARTMENT. THERE WERE 5 OF US BACK THERE, 3 GUNNERS, AN ILLUMINATOR OPERATOR, AND A NIGHT OBSERVATION SIGHT OPERATOR. NEEDLESS TO SAY WE WERE SOMEWHAT DISTRAUGHT. MY B GUNNER AND I WERE REARMING THE BACK 20, THE C GUNNER WAS SCANNING FOR AAA ALONG WITH THE ILLUMINATOR OPERATOR. SCANNERS WERE VERRRRRRRRRY IMPORTANT. ALL THE ARAMENT IN THE WORLD DON'T DO YOU ANY GOOD IF YOU GET SNUFFED OUT BY AAA. WE CALLED AN INFLIGHT EMERGENCY AND HEADED BACK TO NKP.

BEING WE ONLY FLEW AT NIGHT WE COULD NOT FULLY ACCESS THE DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT.

WHILE TALKING ABOUT BARREL BANDS THERE WAS A SPOOKY AT PHU CAT IN 67 OR 68 THAT SAWED A BIG PORTION OF THE END OF IT'S WING OFF BECAUSE THE BARREL BAND DEPARTED THE AREA. THE SIX BARRELS JUST OPENED UP IN DIAMETER AND CHEWED IT UP. A TCTO TOOK CARE OF THE PROBLEM, SOMEWHAT. BY THE WAY THAT AIRCRAFT WAS FLOWN BACK TO BASE. A GREAT PIECE OF AIRMANSHIP. IF YOU CARE TO NOTICE ALL THE GUNSHIPS THAT CAME AFTER SPOOKY HAD HIGH WINGS. LIFES A DANCE, WE LEARN AS WE GO.

OUR AIRCRAFT WAS FIXED ALSO, NEW MOUNTS AND KEVLAR IN THE FLOOR, NEW GUN AND DRUM AND NEW FLIGHT SUITS FOR THE GUNNERS, IO AND THE NOS.

OK FABS YOUR TURN.

THE SHADOW WAS THE FIRST GUNSHIP TO USE A COMPUTER FIRING DEVICE USING RADAR AND MATCHING THE TARGET.

THE STINGER WAS THE FIRST TO UTILIZE SIDELOOKING AND FORWARD LOOKING INFRARED RADAR. SLIR AND FLIR. WITH HEAT SEEKING RADAR WE COULD PICK OUT HUMANS, ELEPHANTS AND TRUCKS. PLACED ON A COMPUTER SCREEN IT WAS VERY EASY TO HIT THE TARGET WITH A SHORT BURST. WE USED HIGH EXPLOSIVE INCENDIARY AMMO HEI FOR TRUCKS BUT WE ALSO CARRIED ARMOR PIERCING INCENDIARY, API, FOR THE HEAVY STUFF. ONLY PROBLEM WAS WE ALWAYS LOADED THE GUN FIRST WITH HEI BECUASE THAT WAS OUR PRIMARY MISSION. WE COULD UNLOAD A DRUM OF 1200 ROUNDS REBELT IT AND RELOAD FOR API IF NEED BE. WHILE WE WERE DOING THIS THE PILOT WOULD PULL OFF THE TARGET AREA AND THE REST OF THE CREW WOULD SIT AROUND PICKING THEIR NOSE TILL WE GOT DONE. THATS ALL THEY COULD DO. THAT IS STRICTLY A TWO MAN JOB LIKE IT OR NOT.

I CAN NOT PERSONALLY ATTEST TO THE FIRE CONTROL SYSTEM ON THE SPECTRE, I KNOW IN SOME WAYS IT IS VASTLY SUPERIOR TO THE ONE WE HAD IN THE STINGER. BUT THE BASICS ARE THE SAME.

YOU SAID YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHY YOU NEEDED 80 ROUNDS A SECOND TO HIT. WELL REMEMBER LITTLE GOMER ON THE GROUND IS PEDALING A** AS FAST HE CAN YOU ARE IN AN ORBIT AT 5K AGL YOU'RE DODGING AAA THE WIND IS BLOWING YOU AROUND SO YOU'RE DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY IS QUITE HIGH. ALSO DEPENDING ON THE AMOUNT OF AAA IN THE AREA SOMETIMES WE HAD TO FLY AT 8K AGL TO KEEP FROM GETTING HIT. ALSO REMEMBER THERE WERE 10 SOB, THATS NOT WHAT YOU THINK, IT'S SOULS ON BOARD, AND WE HAD FAMILIES TO GO BACK TO. WE TOOK OUR JOB SERIOUSLY. EVERYBODY HAD TO DEPEND ON EVERYBODY ELSE.

ONE NIGHT ON THE PLAINS DE JARS WE KILLED 26 TRUCKS WITH 1100 RDS. THATS DAMN GOOD SHOOTING PARDNER.

BY THE WAY THE NOS SIGHT IS A MODIFIED STARSCOPE THAT IS WIRED INTO THE COMPUTER FIRING SYSTEM , IT WORKED OFF A 2 MILLION CANDLEPOWER INFRARED LIGHT IN THE AFT CARGO COMPARTMENT. THERE WAS ALSO A 2M CP WHITE LIGHT WE COULD USE FOR TIC MISSIONS ALSO. THE GUYS ON THE GROUND LOVED IT. THEY COULD FINALLY READ THEIR PLAYBOY MAGS.

SORRY TO PUT YOU ALL TO SLEEP, IT'S JUST SOMETHING I ENJOY TALKING ABOUT AND AM VEEEEEEERY PROUD OF.