Minigun madness

["Eric Benson" <ebenson@xxxxxxxx>]

General Dynamics - one of the manufacturers - lists the recoil force as 100
lb and the peak force as 300 lb.
http://www.gdarm.com/GDAS_Products/fact_sheets2/m134/M134_minigun.html

(The page also includes limited dimensions, but not enough to calculate the
torque.  I will mention that I did find some typos on their other pages...
an M2QCB that weighed 380 kg).

Other comments from the files of rec.guns include:
Predator
Yet More Minigun Info
by Greg Donkin
 (Greg.Donkin@roke.co.uk)

Predator was released in 1987 and in Jane's Weapon Systems of the same year
there was an entry detailing the XM214 Automatic Gun, based on the M134
minigun. The XM214 was designed for helicopters & light aircraft & fires
5.56mm rounds (as used in the M16 rifle, yes?) at variable rates of fire
from 1,000 to 10,000 rpm. The gun and drive weigh 15kg and the driven
variant uses 0.75 -> 3.2 hp dependent on the rate of fire. The gun can be
powered by NiCad batteries (don't know the weight, sorry) with a duration of
80,000 rounds at 1,000 rpm. Unfortunately the recoil force is 110kg at
10,000 rpm which would knock you off your feet, but (assuming a linear
relationship) if the rof were 1,000 rpm (as limited by the battery pack)
then the recoil should be only 11kg which might be manageable. So, in theory
you could have a man-portable version that would fire at 1,000 rpm if you
could carry the gun + ammo + batteries. There was a self-powered version,
but it would be heavier than the driven version (if it follows the pattern
of the M134 and the Vulcan 20mm).

The Truth about the Minigun
by Kelly Kutz
      (kutz@ix.netcom.com)

My name is Kelly Kutz and from 1986 to 1089 I worked for a former Marine
corp. Gunsmith named W. W. Wiesman. (College Station, Texas). After he had
gone to see the movie Predator, he told me that he thought the mini gun used
in the movie was actually a .223 version that had been built buy a friend of
his ( I can't remember the name.).  Then he told me the story of when they
filmed a demo spot for the movie.  The first person to fire the gun was
almost torn apart by the spent cases that aparently eject with great force,
upwards.  Everybody that fired the gun after that wore a flak jacket and
face mask.  The power source for the gun was an industrial power supply with
the cables run along the ground and up the leg of the shooter.  The firing
of the gun was also handled by a second person at the power supply, the
shooter would just hang on for dear life.  Mr. Wiesman did say that he
thought that most of the shooting scenes used light loads or blanks because
all that was needed was to show some smoke and fire out of the gun, and the
moterized mini gun didn't need any internal pressure or recoil to
cycle.

Note: I have no affiliation with any of these people, companies, etc.  The
information sounds somewhat realistic.

Ultimately, we're playing a game.  It's the GM's discretion.  Based on the
General Dynamics information, it's feasible to carry it.  If Mr. Hero type
wants to carry an M134, let him.  Just tag on a speed penalty and some hefty
firing modifiers.  He'll also have the dubious distinction of being the most
important target on the battlefield ... and having the shortest lifespan.