New machine gun capable of firing 1 million rounds a minute

www.wired.com ^ | Sept. 28, 2001 | Stewart Taggart

[webster]

SYDNEY, Australia -- It may not be ready for George Bush's "first war of the 21st century." But it may well be ready if there's a second.

In perhaps the most audacious upgrade of high-speed weaponry since the introduction of the Gatling Gun, Australian inventor Mike O'Dwyer has developed a machine gun that can fire bullets at a rate of 1 million rounds per minute.

[Dakmar]

Nah..you mount this thing on the roof with a swivel mount. Helpful for tailgaters and fastlane campers alike

How silly of me. I'm glad there are FReepers who know about this kind of thing or I'd be totally lost.

[techcor]

From what I read somewhere the igniting of the first bullet causes the metal of the second round to expand just enough to block off igniting the second round until the first bullet has left the barrel. When the first bullet has left the barrel the lessoning of pressure causes the second bullet to cool enough to then fire off. It was called "breach-blocking" I think but I'm definitely not an expert.

[Justin Thyme]

Cool concept, limited practicality for the foreseeable future.

The GAU's that the UH-1N used to carry could fire upto 4,000 rounds per minute. The ammo can's, which were large, heavy and took a long time to load would be out in less than a minute at that rate.

Firing it was cool, and it did a good job of spreading hate and discontent amongst those on the recieving end, but firing rate needed to be carefully controlled in order for ammo to last the duration of the mission.

[Cogadh na Sith]

This is a toy with no practical application.

I'm a HUGE sceptic of 'new and improved' military crap. However, I'm unwilling to write this design idea off so quickly....

[Constitution Day]

I'll have to check it out. Do you think the local public library will have it? /sarcasm

Seriously, thanks for the link. Sounds interesting!
I guess "military fiction" is not far from "military fact" in this case.

[Constantine XIII]

It wouldn't have fire at full blast all the time. It could have variable speed firing, with a sequence set to keep the firings symmetrical. If you want something for a soldier, think of maybe a 5 by 5 array of barrels encased in a light composite/polymer with ammo ten bullets deep. Make the barrels longer so the thing shoots acurately, and has a continuum of ROF from 1-a-pull to "atomize." The ammo could be held in a rectangular solid cartridge that attaches to the back to the barrels and locks into place. Thinks of the possibilities with a 250 round clip...(drools).

[Constantine XIII]

The need for dedicated specialist to haul ammunition for the new metal storm weapon has led the US military to introduce a new rank: Squire 1st class :o)

[Cogadh na Sith]

It's kinda like an M18/A1 Claymore mine with larger projectiles, better aimed, longer range and no backblast.

I can think of uses for that.

[ScreamingFist]

"It's kinda like an M18/A1 Claymore mine with larger projectiles"

Hmmmmm. Ok, I have to admit you got me thinking. This would be the Claymore from hell........

[ScreamingFist]

You'll like this thread.

[ScreamingFist]

And if you're lurking, your custom made A.G. Russel drop point hunter with the ATS-34 blade and India stag handle came in today. I suggest you come and get it soon, 'cause once I strap it on my belt, IT'S MINE.

[Cogadh na Sith]

I'm thinking--say three rotating 'rings' of these things mounted under a Blackhawk or a 'Pave Low'. Like a lazy susan.

With the ammo self contained in the barrels and an 'electronic fire control' system, one could program these to fire a pattern as the helicopter lands in a hot LZ.

This pattern creates safe 'channels' for the troops to unass the helicopter through while obliterating averything outside those channels while the air assault troops are setting up their own firing patterns.

Or you could program it to concentrate fire in any sector around the aircraft.

It would be great.

And with no back-blast, it would make a great 'ambush-breaker'. My mind reels with the possibilities.

[Cogadh na Sith]

'Panels' of these things on top (or on the side of) skyscrapers as Anti-Kamikaze-Aircraft protection. A few of these things with some rudimentary fire direction and controlto simply fire the right 'panels' in the right direction and the aircraft would fall out of the sky as chaff.

[yarddog]

An M-16 fires about 600-700 rounds per minute, Not 6,000, and can be reloaded in seconds not minutes

[Feiny]

My Glock does that!

I posted a thread earlier that has a link to a Shoot Bin Laden game. Good target practice & you can post your score!

[Cogadh na Sith]

An M-16...

Reread his post and then say 'Nevermind' in an Emily Litella voice. LOL...

[yarddog]

That's what I get for being a smart a... er, aleck.

I will have to admit that I don't even know what a M-61A1 is.

[Robert A Cook PE]

An M16A1 for dyslexic left-handers who worship dog?

[Cogadh na Sith]

I will have to admit that I don't even know what a M-61A1 is.

Just say: "GE brings good things to light."

Heh, heh... I crack myself up.