Multiple-barrel firearm

U.S. Special Warfare combatant-craft crewmen use an M134 minigun to lay down suppressing fire during a practice "hot" extraction of forces on a beach.

A multiple barrel firearm is a firearm of any type with more than one barrel, usually to increase the rate of fire/hitting probability and to reduce barrel erosion/overheating.

Definition

A multiple barrel firearm is any firearm with more than one barrel (usually in the same calibre), to increase the rate of fire/hitting probability and to reduce barrel erosion/overheating. Originally a primitive (and with the invention of the Gatling gun, successful) attempt of rapid fire before the introduction of belt-feed/magazines and automatic weapons. Project SALVO concluded that any Multi Barrel Assault Rifle/Machine Gun with a rifle calibre above 5.56×45mm NATO and the possible exception of Pistol/Intermediate rounds (IE: 9×19mm Parabellum, .30 Carbine, 7.62×39mm M43) would be unsuitable for infantry use.

History

Ottoman Empire volley gun with 8 barrels, early 16th century

Multiple barrel firearms date back to the 14th century, when the first volley guns were developed. Originally a primitive attempt of rapid fire before the introduction of belt-feed/magazines and automatic weapons, the application of multiple barrels to modern automatic weapons such as the M134 Minigun have effective performance on the battlefield.

See also

• Double-barreled cannon
• Double-barreled shotgun
• List of firearms
• List of multiple barrel firearms
• Multiple Rocket Launcher
• Small arms