Quick Look
The .22 Gatling gun, developed in the late 19th century, was an early rapid-fire rotary firearm designed by Richard Jordan Gatling. It featured a mechanically driven multi-barrel system aimed at improving firing rates and reliability. Today, it remains a significant piece of firearms history, valued by collectors and historians.
Why It's a Top Choice
- Innovative multi-barrel rotary design
- High rate of fire for its era
- Robust mechanical reliability
- Influenced modern machine gun development
- Collectible historical firearm
Key Variants
Early .22 Gatling Gun
The original manual-crank model designed for demonstration and testing rapid-fire concepts in the 1870s.
Scaled .22 Gatling Gun
Smaller-caliber variants developed for training and display purposes in later years.
Competitor Comparison Table
| Feature | .22 Gatling Gun | Maxim Gun | Hotchkiss Gun |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSRP | N/A (historic) | Historic military pricing | Historic military pricing |
| Capacity/Size | Multiple barrels, 10-.22 cal rounds each | Single barrel, belt-fed | Multi-barrel, various calibers |
| Weight | Heavy (industrial scale) | Heavy machine gun | Heavy artillery |
| Optics-Ready | No | No | No |
| Trigger Type | Manual hand crank | Automatic | Manual crank or automatic |
| Notable Pro | Pioneered rapid-fire technology | First true automatic machine gun | Versatile multi-barrel design |
| Notable Con | Manual operation limits rate of fire | Complex and prone to overheating | Heavy and cumbersome |
Best Use Cases
- Historical firearms collections
- Firearms museums and educational exhibits
- Study of early rapid-fire technology
- Demonstrations of mechanical firearm design
- Military history research
FAQs
Can I fire a .22 Gatling gun today?
Original .22 Gatling guns are rare and typically for display; operational replicas may exist but require compliance with firearm laws.
What is the trigger mechanism of the .22 Gatling gun?
It uses a manual hand crank that rotates the barrels and cycles the firing mechanism mechanically.
How does the .22 Gatling gun differ from modern machine guns?
It uses multiple barrels rotated manually, while modern machine guns use automatic firing with single or multiple barrels powered by gas or recoil.
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