SpudFiles

While it is probably not the best idea to start my first post with talk of a gatling gun...that is what I am going to do.

I have done some massive reading on the original Gatling gun and over several of the threads located here about them. I have part of the plans worked out though..they are currently unaccessible due to the fact that my dad's shop is locked up and my papers are in there lol.

However I am unsure how to proceed on the ammo front. I am building it for paintball, so would it be better to go with 3/4 inch PVC pipe and shoot .68 caliber paintballs or should I go with the 6mm BB sized paintballs?

And if this in the wrong section I apologize.

Well, the ammo that you choose from those two would depend on your air source. .68 caliber paintballs are going to require a larger air source than 6mm ones, but the 6mm ones rarely even break, but they could be substituted for regular plastic 6mm bbs. Either way, you're gonna have one bear of a project on your hands. I hope you are able to build it, I would really like to see a home made gatling gun.

I have access to a military grade compressor but I would like to be able to use it in a portable state. To play paintball with my friends. Considering the only real rules are don't kill each other or seriously maim each other I'm not too worried about fps or velocity right now.

Considering the only real rules are don't kill each other or seriously maim each other I'm not too worried about fps or velocity right now.

Now THAT'S the kind of people I like to play paintball with. Not little pansies who are afraid of broken limbs and concussions and such...

Paintball minigun at 1200psi

Hehehe Mine won't be quite that polished as I'm going more for a practical gatling gun rather than an ornate one

I'd say 6mm is more practical - you can carry more ammo, will get a higher velocity and be a lot more economical with air. I would however advise against a gatling design, as you would be better served with a single barrel launcher.

But who can argue with the effect of a gatling gun..? I mean if made well and works well, a gatling gun would strike fear into the hearts of the opposing team.

As far as I know from my severly limited knowledge of firearms, the point of multiple barrels on a Gatling gun is to combat the issue of overheating and destroying barrels. Extreme cooling is the issue on pneumatics, but it reaches a limited temperature, and unless you plan on really high pressure, the increased brittleness shouldn't be a problem with a steel or brass barrel.
In other words, I agree with JSR.

6mm ehh hrrmm..

However the rotation and thus the firing is going to be hand operated like the original gatling gun design.

That and I'm going to have to agree with ShowNoMercy lol

For someone operating a single shot musket that had to be muzzle loaded, the sight of a gatling gun truly was an impressive sight that had a deep psychological effect. Someone with a high tech semi auto paintball marker is unlikely to be impressed by the sight of sone hand-cranking away at some primitive device with multiple barrels.

jackssmirkingrevenge wrote:For someone operating a single shot musket that had to be muzzle loaded, the sight of a gatling gun truly was an impressive sight that had a deep psychological effect. Someone with a high tech semi auto paintball marker is unlikely to be impressed by the sight of sone hand-cranking away at some primitive device with multiple barrels.

simple solution = add motor to it = scary effect.

seriously though, a 12v DC motor and a lighter 12v gel cell battery couldn't be too much to carry for what it would be worth.

simple solution = add motor to it = scary effect.

That would make a good crew-served weapon - a heavy machinegun nest, so to speak - but if you're going to be lugging it around, you'd be at a distinct disadvantage.

To the best of my knowledge, 6mm paintballs cost more than my usual .68 ones per round. Regular paintballs would have a much grater effect on people since they go through clothes (can't really even feel 6mm) and when bought in bulk for an automatic, they can be cheaper also.

You're gonna need a massive volume air supply. You're looking at SCUBA tanks.

Why not just rock a DM7 if you want high BPS?