Centrifugal machine gun

[wm]

https://armourersbench.com/

More then one way to skin a cat

Wm

[AJMD429]

"...According to Julian Hatcher the gun could fire steel ball bearing projectiles at approximately 1,200 feet per second..."

That isn't shabby....

I wonder if All that energy couldn't also be used to impart a spin on the projectile so you could lose long high-b.c. bullets....

[wm]

I think you would call those proof of concept models to demonstrate there was potential there to explore. IMO they demonstrated some potential.

Wm

[piller]

If someone could fix the accuracy issue, it could be quite the suppressive firepower/keep the enemy from looking around weapon with little noise.

[gamekeeper]

I had never heard of such a gun. Interesting though, I could imagine Pitchy making one out of a souped up old gramophone....

[GunnyMack]

The tv series Mythbusters did make one of these. They powered it with steam and if memory serves it was orignally developed during the civil war. They used golf balls. They also made and fired the Hale rocket, civil war again I believe.

[Old No7]

Very interesting...

But you know, every time I watch "Blackhawk Down" or some other military action where you're in a narrow street or gully and there are multiple combatants on all quadrants firing down on you... I think instead of "aimed fire" per se, that a multiple-short-barreled multi-projectile rapid-fire shotgun loaded with buckshot would be just the ticket for providing effective suppressive fire. Think of a 4-barreled gun mounted so the open-choked unrifled barrels cover 4 quadrants from 9 to 10:30, 10:30 to 12:00, 12:00 to 1:30 and 1:30 to 3:00 on a clock; and there would be 4 triggers, 2 for left hand and 2 for right, on the grip so the shooter could pull all 4 at a time or other combos (like both left, both right, or center only). Or maybe just one trigger per side that rocks up/down or can be pulled back to fire both. The gun wouldn't need to be swiveled much, though it would have that capability, and the shooter could concentrate on elevation changes and which barrels to engage. I think the trigger pulling would be reflexive and intuitive -- threat on the right, pull the right triggers; threat on hard left, swivel left and pull the left triggers, etc.

I cringe every time I see a battle scene of our soldiers trying to make aimed fire at multiple targets in tight quarters at the same time, and a weapon like this -- with a blast radius of up to 180-degrees -- firing rapid shots of "canister" could do an effective job at helping the convoy get through. Picture a modern version of that centrifugal machine gun just mowing down the bad guys with boat loads of .25 or .30 balls propelled out in front and to the sides, just like a shield. That would allow other members of the squad to be more effective with their aimed fire.

Oh well, maybe I do need more coffee...

But I'm afraid if I do that, then I'll start making up more drawings of the "180 Shield Gun".

Old No7

180-degree blast zone of concept "180 Shield Gun"

180 Blast zone.jpg

[wvfarrier]

If they could miniaturize it to be man portable, it might be a good "area of effect" weapon. Or to even fit it into a warhead.

[GunnyMack]

Claymore mines come to mind ! Very effective blast radius.

[wm]

If they could miniaturize it to be man portable, it might be a good "area of effect" weapon. Or to even fit it into a warhead.

I was thinking on a HUMMER instead of a 30 or 50 cal as the lead vehicle. Literally hose down a hard point encountered by a convoy.

Wm

[wm]

Very interesting...

But you know, every time I watch "Blackhawk Down" or some other military action where you're in a narrow street or gully and there are multiple combatants on all quadrants firing down on you... I think instead of "aimed fire" per se, that a multiple-short-barreled multi-projectile rapid-fire shotgun loaded with buckshot would be just the ticket for providing effective suppressive fire. Think of a 4-barreled gun mounted so the open-choked unrifled barrels cover 4 quadrants from 9 to 10:30, 10:30 to 12:00, 12:00 to 1:30 and 1:30 to 3:00 on a clock; and there would be 4 triggers, 2 for left hand and 2 for right, on the grip so the shooter could pull all 4 at a time or other combos (like both left, both right, or center only). Or maybe just one trigger per side that rocks up/down or can be pulled back to fire both. The gun wouldn't need to be swiveled much, though it would have that capability, and the shooter could concentrate on elevation changes and which barrels to engage. I think the trigger pulling would be reflexive and intuitive -- threat on the right, pull the right triggers; threat on hard left, swivel left and pull the left triggers, etc.

I cringe every time I see a battle scene of our soldiers trying to make aimed fire at multiple targets in tight quarters at the same time, and a weapon like this -- with a blast radius of up to 180-degrees -- firing rapid shots of "canister" could do an effective job at helping the convoy get through. Picture a modern version of that centrifugal machine gun just mowing down the bad guys with boat loads of .25 or .30 balls propelled out in front and to the sides, just like a shield. That would allow other members of the squad to be more effective with their aimed fire.

Oh well, maybe I do need more coffee...

But I'm afraid if I do that, then I'll start making up more drawings of the "180 Shield Gun".

Old No7

180-degree blast zone of concept "180 Shield Gun"
180 Blast zone.jpg

Used with rubber or CS pellets it would be effective for Embassies or riot control efforts.

Imagine one of these mounted on the wall overlooking a prison yard? That would shut down a riot quickly.

Wm

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

On the legal side, this can be called a gun but it is not a firearm. So, by definition it would not be BATF regulated. No fire no firearm.