GAU-17 (Dillon Minigun)

[John Gault]

6000 rounds per minute. Every 12th round is a phosphorous tracer, so try to fit in your mind another 11 rounds between each red tracer.

We had two of them, one on each side of our helo as a "side suppression weapon" to be used to keep the bad guys' heads down during CSAR. Clearly the boys in this video aren't suppressing anything. This lends credence to the phrase "It can never be blown up enough".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbXDmiqo6a4&mode=related&search=

Also, I searched, but could not find a better place to put this post than here. I could find no "Massive Destruction" or "Military Topics" Forum.

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

Dillon only rates their miniguns at 3,000 rounds per minute, not that it is anything to sneeze at either.

 

[rero360]

I wanted to put one on my truck over here in Iraq but couldn't find the NSN number for it. Plus seeing how I never got the silencers I asked for, I doubt I would hav recieved this either, shame really, would have been neat.

 

[John Gault]

Jorg said: Dillon only rates their miniguns at 3,000 rounds per minute,

I'm sharing my emperical, hands-on experience and knowledge. I am not interested in how Dillon rates their miniguns. I'm telling you what I know. A subscription to Jane's is expensive, but before you contradict me, I suggest you do the requisite background research.

One can toggle between 3000 rounds and 6000 rounds per minute in GAU-17s issued to Navy combat helicopters, depending on the mission. I frequently let my senior crew chief sit in my HAC chair so that I could fire this awesome weapon. I have scores of hours of hands-on experience with this weapon.

This is not a flame. I understand your willingness, even eagerness to post corrections based on published data, but you do understand that there is data not published, don't you?

 

[John Gault]

Rero360 said: I wanted to put one on my truck

I've contacted OPNAV N85 in the Pentagon and spoke to a Marine Gunny GSGT White and a Major Gambol. Your request is now known.

Now, it all begins and ends with the requirement boys, but that doesn't really mean crap. It has to translate to the Acquisition side. My conversations will likely amount to zero. But maybe, just maybe...

 

[brentn]

John, since you have quite a few hours with this weapon, how reliable is it? do they jam?

I would also love to know how often the barrels need to be cleaned/replaced?

 

[rero360]

John Gault, Thanks for making the call, perhaps I'll see trucks with them on them on my next tour. Although I'll more than likely be a squad leader by then.

I just know its feasible, especialy in the new powered turrets that we have.

 

[Andrewsky]

I got to tour their factory. There are several planes, helicopters, and military vehicles. Also they have a weapons locker with about 50 guns in it. I got to hold an M240, an M249, a Thompson, and some other cool stuff.

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

A subscription to Jane's is expensive, but before you contradict me, I suggest you do the requisite background research.

but you do understand that there is data not published, don't you?

If there is data that isn't published, what good would a subscription to Jane's do?

As you have personally counted the 6000 rounds per minute, it doesn't matter whether I cite Jane's, US Army TACOM, DTIC, the Royal Navy or any other source that will say the current versions are either a fixed rate of 3000 or selectable 2000/4000. Some of these sources will even mention how the earlier versions fired a selectable 3000/6000 rounds per minute. Apparently all these sources are incorrect. Whether is due to OPSEC or just bad data, I don't know.

I have no doubt your Navy helicopter probably 6000 round per minute. Many sources list all the different names for the current 7.62 miniguns (M134, GAU-2, GAU-17) as having lower rates of fire than 6000. Maybe it's just some of the newer ones?

Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us. I had indeed done the "requisite background research", but if Jane's, the manufacturer, and everyone else is publishing wrong data, what can we do?

 

[hankdatank1362]

"Who is John Gault"?

That's what I want to know. Not being a smartass, I'm serious. If you can share your credentials/military experience/ whatever, please do.

Sounds like it would be interesting.

 

[Deacon Blues]

Cool video. Fight Fire With Fire, how appropriate. I would love to operate one of those things. Maybe I missed my calling...

It sounds like these are the functional big brothers of the Uzi: keep them shaking in their foxholes while the good guys get out of Dodge. I can only imagine what it looks like having all those tracers coming at/I] you!

 

[DWARREN123]

Like most weapons of this type carrying a reload is a bear!

 

[MachIVshooter]

I understand your willingness, even eagerness to post corrections based on published data, but you do understand that there is data not published, don't you?

The 6K figure for the M134 is published in many places.

 

[RyanM]

Hm, those have 6 barrels, right? If it's every 12th round that's a tracer, that means one barrel only is firing every single tracer. And from what I've heard, tracers do always ignite in the barrel, and thus cause extra wear. Is that done intentionally, and if so, do they try to make sure that the tracer is always fired from a particular barrel? Otherwise, it might make more sense for it to be every 11th round, so that each barrel fires roughly equal numbers of tracers.

 

[Odd Job]

I am also curious about who John Gault is, but I suspect my credentials aren't of the required type to ask directly.
I must say, I would like to fire a rotary machine gun like that, some day.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

I'd like one, but boy, that would go through my stash rather quickly.

 

[ieszu]

The answer to "Who is John Gault?" is one that is the main theme of Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged".... I won't ruin the book by explaining it... too good a book to spoil

 

[CannibalCrowley]

No, Rand's character was "John Galt".

 

[bsf]

I will take 2 and 1 millions rounds of ammo please.

 

[ieszu]

hm... I was thinking that Gault and Galt were the same... merely a way of being original, while still keeping the flavor the same.....

 

[Shadow Shock]

Talk about point-and-shoot technology

 

[John Gault]

RyanM said: Hm, those have 6 barrels, right? If it's every 12th round that's a tracer, that means one barrel only is firing every (other) single tracer.

How insightful. I never considered that now obvious point. I'll look into it.

 

[John Gault]

Jorg

Jorg said: If there is data that isn't published, what good would a subscription to Jane's do?

You are absolutely right, and it was not my intention to try to "slam" you. You are working from the data you have, and I am too. Different data, right? Thank you for researching and coming to the conclusion you did. My respect for you is several notches higher.

Warm regards to you, my insightful friend.

 

[John Gault]

Odd Job said: I am also curious about who John Gault is, but I suspect my credentials aren't of the required type to ask directly.

Sir, as a senior member of this forum, that's all the credentials you need. I'm a retired Navy helo pilot. combat decorated a few times, OK many times, with experiance that translates to the folks here on this board. I'm here to assist where I can and learn from you, nothing more.

As for my nomiker, read the book "Atlas Shrugged". Be forwarned: Buy three rolls of duct tape first and roll up your brain; it's going to explode. Have fun and feel free to get back to me with your impressions when your done.

/R John

 

[Hanzerik]

I was able to fire the GAU-2 (Pretty much the same as the GAU-17 as far as I know) a few times from helicopters. I'm not sure what the RPMs were but we could change cyclic rates via, if I remember right, the second trigger. One trigger pulled would fire at a low rate, pull the other and the cyclic rate would jump up. Was about 10 years ago and it wasn't something we got to do much as maintainers. I don't know what the speeds were, but I would say "Fast and Freaking Fast" pretty much sums it up.

I didn't really care for the 7.62 Mini guns, I liked shooting the M2 on the ramp better.