Re: 7.62 chaingun? was Re: UK Sabre CVR(T) type vehicle

Brian Bilderback wrote:

> This brings up a subject which I'd like to address because of my own
> semi-ignorance:
>
> Can someone explain to me the difference between a chaingun and a
minigun?
> I thought that both were types of gatling weapons, with revolving
barrels.

Nope...chainguns are often single-barrel.  "Chaingun" denotes that the
weapon is
actuated by an electric-motor driven chain drive.  Thus, when a round is
fired,
the spent casing is ejected and the next round is chambered by a bolt
riding on
a chain driven around a rectangular race by an electric motor.	The
primary
advantages here are:  A) precise control of ROF, B) increased
reliability
(electric motors are very reliable, plus duds don't result in stoppages,
the
motor simply advances the next shell into the chamber), and C) fewer
moving
parts.

A gatling weapon has multiple revolving barrels fed by a single
receiver.  Since
each barrel only "hosts" every second or third or fifth or sixth
bullet(depending on # of barrels, natch), they cool off more
efficiently,
allowing a higher rate of fire.  Miniguns are simply gatling machineguns
(i.e.
15mm or less, incl. both 7.62mm & 5.56mm), as opposed to gatling cannons
(20mm
+).

Thus, gatling guns (miniguns) and chainguns don't necessarily have
anything to
do with each other...the former is a barrel configuration, the latter is
an
action type.

--Rich Spainhour