GATLING GUN with tripod 45LC, cap and ball or blanks

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Twiki357

Twiki357

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Not to sure where to but this so Mod’s, please move as necessary.

I came across this “For Sale” ad today and wondered if this is actually a legal weapon without ATF registration and permits. The seller doesn’t give any indication. Since it is apparently capable of firing modern 45LC ammunition, would this fall into the machine gun category or AOW or would it be considered an antique (C&R) or reproduction? At $6,000 it's well out of my price range so my question is strictly out of curiosity.

http://prescott.backpage.com/Sports...or-convert-to-cap-and-ball-or-blanks/28575808
 
No, a hand cranked Gatling gun, regardless of caliber below .50", is not a machine-gun or destructive device in the eyes of the law.

If you attach a electric or hydraulic motor operated by a push button or valve, it does become one.

A crank is fine.
A motor, or trigger / push button firing more then one shot per pull or push isn't.

rc
 
Yup. Hand-cranked gatling guns are just normal firearms. (Technically an "other firearm" on the 4473 form.)

And $6,000 is probably a steal!
 
Gatling style guns are good to go so long as you don't live in a state with limits on magazine capacities (you can't buy "antique" Gatling drums in California).

My dream build for when I get a real mill (not just a Gris Mini-mill) is a double barrel Garnder gun in 45-70. I worked out my own crank and firing mechanisms as the old design was needlessly intricate and over complex. A great design in its day but there are simpler, sturdier, and much more easily accomplish mechanisms for crank fired and operate purposes.

I thought about a puck gun since its flint lock and technically considered a muzzle loader (meaning you can go larger than .50 [not legal advice, do at your own risk]). But the safest device I come up with turns in to a large breach fed multi-barrel design (each load has its own barrel). At that point I might as well pony up and build a Militareuse variant. Using paper cartridges with potassium chlorate kernels in the rear of the paper cartridge.
 
Twiki357 said:
Not to sure where to but this so Mod’s, please move as necessary.

I came across this “For Sale” ad today and wondered if this is actually a legal weapon without ATF registration and permits. The seller doesn’t give any indication. Since it is apparently capable of firing modern 45LC ammunition, would this fall into the machine gun category or AOW or would it be considered an antique (C&R) or reproduction? At $6,000 it's well out of my price range so my question is strictly out of curiosity.

http://prescott.backpage.com/Sports...or-convert-to-cap-and-ball-or-blanks/28575808
Click to expand...

It's legal in most jurisdictions, your state may have qualms about you having it though.

Should you ever see it face to face check just in front of the crank and a little above. If you see a makers mark that is a circle with a lightning bolt through it I can tell you much about the person that made it.
 
30-06 gatling gun

Came across a 30-06 gatling gun at a gun show in Niagara Falls NY about 30 years ago.

It was totally legal,and the owner wanted to sell it because he and his son were wasting too much ammo ,playing with it.

Used 100 round stick mags's and he wanted 3 K for it then.

I seriously thought about it,but that was a stretch for my account AND it was a "bit" heavy.

Still think of all the fun [ and ammo ] that I could have had with her.
 
My Subaru NEEDS this!

Just curiosus, if you converted it to cap and ball, how would that work? Would you just fire a "burst" of one round per barrel, or is there some intricate loading system I'm unaware of?

No, a hand cranked Gatling gun, regardless of caliber below .50", is not a machine-gun or destructive device in the eyes of the law.

If you attach a electric or hydraulic motor operated by a push button or valve, it does become one.

A crank is fine.
A motor, or trigger / push button firing more then one shot per pull or push isn't.

rc
Click to expand...

So, hypothetically, what if you had a hand crank and a trigger? The crank causes the barrels to rotate, but it doesn't actually fire without the trigger being depressed? If that is legal, but you switched to a foot pedal and trigger system would that still be kosher? What about a gearing any flywheel system that allowed you to crank it and build up momentum, then stop cranking and use the inertia to operate the mechanism for say 2-3 revolutions?
 
So, hypothetically, what if you had a hand crank and a trigger? The crank causes the barrels to rotate, but it doesn't actually fire without the trigger being depressed? If that is legal, but you switched to a foot pedal and trigger system would that still be kosher? What about a gearing any flywheel system that allowed you to crank it and build up momentum, then stop cranking and use the inertia to operate the mechanism for say 2-3 revolutions?
Click to expand...
Almost certainly, "no." The ATF has agreed to consider a partial turn of the crank to be equivalent to one operation of the trigger. Something that stores mechanical inertia and lets you release a burst of shots (powered by the stored energy in that flywheel) with one pull of the trigger wouldn't be any different from a chemical system that let you store electricity in a battery and unleash a burst of shots (powered by an electrical motor) with one pull of the trigger. Or a spring, or whatever else.
 
I've seen the Gatling on the Colt site. However, it says "dealer inquiries only", so I don't even bother.

Here's a gunbroker link to someone selling new .45 Gatlings:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=434497477

Starting bid $6549.


If I WAS going to buy a centerfire Gatling, it would be in .45 ACP. At least I wouldn't have to pay .45-70 prices or some other more expensive ammo.

A .22 LR Gatling would be REALLY cool, though...and I haven't seen one anywhere near what I would consider affordable.

So the Gatling hasn't knocked my next planned purchase down a notch on my list o' guns to get.

:)
 
Last time I checked Dixie Gun works had a couple of different gatlin guns for sale, out of my price range but neat. I couldn't afford to keep one feed.
I just looked , Dixie has a 22lr gatling gun for 15,000 and a 45-70 for $45000 .
 
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A Gatling gun is a rapid-fire gun, not automatic fire and therefore not a machine gun. A machine gun uses recoil or gas from the previous cartridge to eject the case and feed the next cartridge. It fires as long as you hold down the trigger and there are cartridges to feed. A Gatling individually and mechanically feeds and fires each cartridge in separate operations. It also - as with the machine gun - only works with self-contained cartridges, so cannot be a cap-and-ball.
 
I guess someone could build a Gatling Gun for personal use if someone had the money, means, talent and the tool shop. Did anyone ever build a 'home made' version? Could someone build one for less than $2000? Just curious...
.
 
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