The development of a 7.62-mm multi-barreled machine gun was started by the American company General Electric in 1960. These works were based on the M61 Vulcan 6-barreled 20 mm aircraft gun, created by the same company for the US Air Force based on the Gatling gun multi-barrel gun system. The first experimental six-barreled machine guns of 7.62 mm caliber appeared in 1962, and already in 1964 such machine guns were installed on the AC-47 aircraft for firing perpendicular to the aircraft's course (from the windows and doors of the fuselage) at ground targets. On the fact of the successful use of new machine guns, called "Minigun", General Electric launched their mass production. These machine guns were put into service under the indices M134 Minigun(US Army) and GAU-2/A(US Navy and Air Force). By 1971, the US military had more than 10 thousand machine guns, most of which were installed on helicopters operating in Vietnam. A number of M134 Miniguns were also installed on small river boats of the US Navy, which operated in Vietnam, including in the interests of special forces.

Due to the high density of fire, machine guns M134 Minigun proved to be an excellent means of suppressing lightly armed North Vietnamese infantry, however, the need for power supply and the very high consumption of cartridges limited their use mainly to vehicles. Some time after the end of the Vietnam War, the production of the M134 Minigun machine gun was practically curtailed, however, since the beginning of the 1990s, the US's involvement in a number of conflicts in the Middle East led to the fact that the production of modernized versions of the machine gun, which received the M134D index, was deployed under license to an American company Dillon Aero. New machine guns are mounted on helicopters, ships (on light boats for special forces support - as a means of fire support, large ships - as a means of protection against enemy speedboats and boats), as well as on jeeps (as a means of fire suppression to combat ambushes, etc. .).

Interestingly, the photos of the M134 Minigun on tripod infantry mounts in most cases are not related to military service. The fact is that in the United States, in principle, possession of automatic weapons is allowed, and a number of citizens and private companies own a certain number of M134 Miniguns manufactured before 1986. These machine guns can be seen at shootings periodically organized for everyone, such as the Knob Creek machine gun shot. As for being able to fire the M134 Minigun in Hollywood style - ie. from the hands, then here (even distracting from the mass of weapons and ammunition for it) it is enough to remember that the recoil force of the M134D Minigun machine gun at a rate of fire of "only" 3000 rounds per minute (50 rounds per second) averages 68 kg, with a peak recoil force of up to 135 kg.

Multi-barreled machine gun M134 Minigun uses automation with an external drive of mechanisms from a DC electric motor. As a rule, the engine is powered from the carrier's on-board network with a voltage of 24-28 Volts with a current consumption of about 60 Amperes (M134D machine gun with a rate of fire of 3000 rounds per minute; power consumption of the order of 1.5 kW). Through a system of gears, the engine rotates a block of 6 barrels. The firing cycle is divided into several separate operations carried out simultaneously on different barrels of the block. By default, the axes of the bores of the barrels are parallel, but if necessary, they can be given some angle to ensure the convergence of the trajectories of the bullets. Behind the barrels is a block of longitudinally sliding bolts (breech) rotating with them, the bolt locks the bore by turning its larva. Cartridges are fed into the breech by tape. The cartridge is removed from the tape and placed in the groove in front of the open bolt, as the block rotates, the bolt moves forward, gradually sending the cartridge into the chamber, the cocked drummer descends at the extreme front point, a shot occurs, after which the spent cartridge case is removed and ejected, and the bolt, completing the cycle automation, picks up a new cartridge. When the trigger is released, the power system is turned off to avoid the risk of self-ignition of the cartridge in the short period of time during which the block of barrels and bolts is braked.

Cartridges can be fed from a standard loose belt or using a linkless cartridge feed mechanism. In the first case, a special "delinker" mechanism is placed on the machine gun, which extracts cartridges from the belt before feeding them into the machine gun. The tape is fed to the machine gun through a special metal flexible sleeve from boxes with a typical capacity of 1500 (gross weight 58 kg) to 4500 (gross weight 134 kg) cartridges. On heavy helicopters (CH-53, CH-47), the capacity of ammunition boxes for powering one machine gun can reach 10,000 or even more rounds. To control the electric motor (as well as the optional booster for the tape feed mechanism), a special electronics unit is mounted on the machine gun. On this block is installed the main switch ("master arm" switch) and the release keys on the fire control handles (if the machine gun is used in the version with manual guidance). The rate of fire of the M134 Minigun machine gun is usually determined by the power of the electric motor and the adjustment of the electronic unit. Early versions of machine guns often had two rates of fire (say 2 and 4 or 3 and 6 thousand rounds per minute, the choice was made using two triggers), modern M134D machine guns basically have only one fixed rate of fire - 3 or 4 thousand rounds per minute . The main installations for Miniguns are various pivot, turret and pedestal installations, which provide electricity and ammunition supply and transfer the weapon's powerful recoil to the carrier.

Machine gun M134 Minigun / GAU-2/A used in suspended and turret installations. In particular, it is installed in a SUU-11B suspended container manufactured by General Electric. Container length 2160 mm, diameter 350 mm. The weight of the container without ammunition is 109 kg, with ammunition - 145 kg. Ammunition capacity - 1500 rounds. The machine gun is fixedly fixed in the SUU-11B suspension mount. The maximum flight speed of the aircraft, at which firing from a machine gun is allowed, corresponds to the number M = 1.2. The installation is mounted on the external hardpoints of tactical fighters, helicopters and aircraft of army aviation, naval aviation and marines. In addition, Emerson Electric's TAT-141 turrets are equipped with the 7.62 mm M134 Minigun machine gun. The TAT-141 nose turret mounts 2 M134 Minigun machine guns or an M134 Minigun machine gun and an XM129 grenade launcher, or two grenade launchers. When installing two machine guns, the TAT-141 ammunition load is 6000 rounds, and the weight is about 305 kg. Firing angles of the TAT-141 installation: horizontally ±120", vertically from -60 to +20". Guidance drives are electric. The turret can be controlled by both pilots (the co-pilot is also the gunner). If the shooter loses control of the turret during combat, it will automatically return to the neutral position. The pilot can continue firing, providing guidance to the target by maneuvering the helicopter. Turret TAT-141 is equipped with helicopters AH-56, AH-1 "Hugh Cobra" and others.

The performance characteristics of the M134 Minigun / GAU-2/A
Cartridge: 7.62x51 NATO
Full length: 800 mm
Barrel length: 559 mm
Machine gun weight without cartridges: 15.90 kg
Machine gun weight with electric motor: 26.80 kg
Grooves: 4 right hand
Feeding system: 4000-round belt
Rate of fire: up to 6000 rds / min

Marking
Usually a plate is riveted to the casing, on which the nomenclature designation of the weapon, serial number, account number, as well as the inscription "GENERAL ELECTRIC CO" or "ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL" are indicated.

Circuit breakers
The safety of handling these weapons is provided simply by a switch that opens the power circuit of the electric motor that rotates the block of barrels and breech, and is a function of the control panel, and not the mechanisms of the weapon itself.

Vacuum
Unloading is not necessary because the control system stops feeding cartridges and ensures that the chambers are emptied as soon as the trigger or release button is released. The weapon is constantly unloaded, except when it is firing.

The M134 Minigun machine gun is often used by Hollywood directors to create an epic picture when displaying combat confrontations. Alternative names for weapons are "meat grinder", "jolly Sam", "magic dragon". These "nicknames" characterize the product in accordance with its typical growling sound and strong fiery flash when fired. Consider its features and real possibilities.

Development and creation

The M134 Minigun machine gun was originally developed by the American company GE back in 1960. Its caliber was calculated at 7.62 millimeters. The weapon being created was based on the M61 Vulcan aircraft gun. This model was built for the air force, combined with the capabilities of the Gatling gun. The first prototypes of the 7.62 mm caliber appeared in 1962. Two years later, weapons began to be mounted on AC-74 aircraft. This decision made it possible to ensure perpendicular firing along the course of the aircraft. This design performed well with the support of the North Vietnamese infantry, firing from the windows and doors of the fuselage at ground targets.

Given the success of the tests in theory and practice, General Electric Corporation began their mass production. These models were put into service under the indices M134 and GAU-124. In the early 70s of the last century, the US Army had over ten thousand copies of the M134 Miniguns. Most of them were mounted on helicopters stationed in Vietnam. The remaining versions were installed on river boats transporting special forces.

History of creation

The original idea for the development of these weapons was planned from the middle of the last century. At the same time, the creators wanted to introduce into the design the maximum possible indicators of power, rate of fire and aiming. All copies were built at the leading plants specializing in metal processing and firearm structures. As a result, a unique device appeared, designed for firing from cover or purposefully.

Initially, it was planned to release the installation with a caliber of 12.5 mm. However, the power of over 500 kgf at a speed of 6 thousand volleys per minute brought the idea to a standstill. The updated Minigun machine gun was tested in action on an AC-74 fire support aircraft, which was designed to support infantry from the air. The specialists liked the gun so much that after a few months they began to mount it on aircraft such as the UH-1 and AH-1 Cobra.

Peculiarities

The ability to adjust the firing mode of a multi-barreled machine gun made it possible to install this model on twin installations. At the same time, firing at the target ended with the shedding of its remains with spent lead. This unit terrified the rebels of North Vietnam, who simply fled in a panic after shelling forests and ambushes. By the 1970s alone, more than 10 thousand copies were created, which were mainly used to equip transport and assault helicopters. In addition, light boats and boats were equipped with such devices.

Partially considered weapons were installed on wheeled transport vehicles. However, in the event of a battery failure, the Minigun M134 machine gun worked for no more than 2-3 minutes. A few years later, the civilian version sold well in the US states, especially in Texas. The operation of the product was carried out with the help of infantry bipods with a stock of a thousand ammunition. For the correct operation of the gun, a constant supply source was required. The supply of cartridges was carried out by wiring a standard tape by sending charges without using links. In the first version, a cartridge case extraction mechanism with a special flexible metal sleeve is mounted on the gun.

Characteristics of the "Minigan M134"

Below are the main parameters of the weapon in question:


Principle of operation

Machine-gun "Minigan" M134, the description of which is given above, is focused on the defense of stationary structures. As an offensive weapon, this modification was absolutely unsuitable. With a mass of 30 kilograms and a supply of ammunition for 4.5 thousand rounds, no more than a minute was spent in battle until it was completely discharged.

The operation of the unit can be described as follows:

  • automation operates from an external drive mechanism with a DC electric motor;
  • the design includes three gears and a worm drive;
  • block of six trunks;
  • the charge-discharge cycle is divided into several stages, which manifest themselves at the junction of the receiver unit with the box.

Exploitation

Moving up and in a circle, the barrel simultaneously removes and ejects the spent cartridge case. The constipation of the barrel is carried out by turning the combat mask along with the movement of the shutters. The last elements are controlled by a groove of a curvilinear configuration. Power is supplied by a linkless supply of charges or by a belt mechanism.

The required rate of fire is guaranteed by an electronic specialized unit, which is equipped with a rate of fire switch and an activation button located on the gun handle. The modern variation of the machine gun in question has two versions of firing: 2 and 4 thousand volleys per minute. In working condition, there is no rejection of the trunk or its removal to the side. The cartridge is sent using a special mechanism that is responsible for the reliability and uninterrupted sending of charges from the very beginning of firing.

Equipment

On the machine gun "Minigan M134" it is possible to mount diopter, collimator and other sighting devices that are needed when using tracer ammunition. In this case, the trace after the shot is bright and visible, similar to a fiery stream.

It should be noted that the M134 was never shown on the movie screen in real display. This is due to the fact that the strongest recoil and loud sound can knock a person down and put him into a stupor. For filming cult films, analogues of the XM214 type (caliber - 5.4 mm) were used, the return of which fit into the face value of about 100 kg. Paradoxically, the second version was in no way suitable for the army, due to its small size and low rate of fire. But for the "cinema" Hollywood, he fit perfectly.

Outcome

It should be emphasized that the development and operation of the M134 Minigun machine guns is focused on equipping transport, assault aircraft and military water transport. The effectiveness of the weapon was shown in the campaigns in Vietnam and Iraq. At the same time, the economic side is incomparably more significant than the practical aspect, which became a prerequisite for removing the machine gun from service.

Such multi-barreled systems, otherwise called Gatling machine guns (named after the American designer of the 19th century who created the manually operated multi-barreled shotgun), are used mainly for installation on airplanes and helicopters. So, the aforementioned "Minigun" is the armament of the American helicopters UH-1, AH-1G, OH-6 and others.

In 1946, the American company General Electric received a contract to develop high-speed aircraft guns, code-named "Project Volcano". The first experiments of GE engineers were the installation of electric motors on old hand-operated Gatling guns recovered from museums, which immediately made it possible to achieve a rate of fire of up to 4000 rounds per minute. By 1950, GE introduced the first prototypes of new machine guns built according to the Gatling scheme, and in 1956 the T171 20mm caliber was standardized in the United States under the designation M61 "Volcano". The M61 gun had an external drive of a block of 6 barrels (from the onboard hydraulic or electrical system of an aircraft or other carrier), an adjustable rate of fire up to 6000 rounds per minute and became the main cannon armament of US jet aircraft. In addition, on its basis, anti-aircraft artillery systems M161, M163 (land) and ship-based Vulkan-Phalanx were created.


With the entry of the United States into a series of wars in Indo-China (Korea, Vietnam), it turned out that conventional machine guns, originally used to arm helicopters and light aircraft, have insufficient fire density, therefore, based on the M61 cannon, its reduced version was developed under the name M134 "Minigan "(M134 Minigun) caliber 7.62 mm NATO. The machine gun had an electric drive and a switchable rate of fire - 2000 or 4000 rounds per minute. The M134 was massively installed both on the UH-1 Iroquois and AN-1 Cobra helicopters, and on aircraft, including the first versions of the gunships, the A / C-47 Spooky. The typical armament of the UH-1H helicopter was 1 or 2 Miniguns with an ammunition load of 10-12 thousand rounds, the AH-1G Cobra helicopter - 1 or 2 M134 in the nose turret with an ammunition load of 4 or 8 thousand rounds (not counting aviation rockets). Later, after the adoption in the United States of a new weapon system chambered for the 5.56-mm caliber, GE developed a reduced and simplified modification of the M134 for this cartridge, designated XM-214. This machine gun was tested by the aria of the United States, but it never entered service. It provided a rate of fire of up to 10,000 rounds per minute.
In addition to those listed, a significant number of systems were developed in the United States according to the Gatling scheme, including 3-barrel 12.7-mm machine guns, 3 and 6-barrel systems of 20-mm caliber, 5-barrel systems of 25-mm caliber and 7-barrel systems of caliber 30- mm. All these systems are used to arm aircraft (airplanes and helicopters), as well as in anti-aircraft artillery systems.

The main advantage of multi-barrel systems is a high total rate of fire at a relatively low rate per barrel, which makes it possible to increase the resource of the weapon. Disadvantages - the need for an external drive (not for all systems - domestic Gatlings, as well as some foreign ones, are driven by the energy of powder gases), design complexity, increased dispersion of shells due to barrel rotation (can, however, be regarded as an advantage). In addition, such systems have a significant mass and a relatively high return. Taken together, all of the above excludes, among other things, the use of such systems, even small caliber (5.56 - 7.62 mm) in the role of infantry, and even more so - hand weapons.





In the first half of the 90s, when American cinema flooded our screens, Hollywood action films provided a lot of food for various military and technical disputes - what is true and what cannot be, what really exists, and what was done only for cinema.

One of these products was the "hero" of the films "Predator" and "Terminator-2" - the six-barreled machine gun "Minigan". At that time, we did not yet know about its existence, so we stubbornly called it the "Volcano" - a 20-mm six-barreled aircraft gun. And from here, being logically savvy, and many technically, they did not believe that this weapon exists in reality and that an ordinary mortal, and not a superhero from a Hollywood production, can easily shoot from it like that.






The six-barreled machine gun in the hands of Schwartz in the movie "Terminator 2" looks ... well, very impressive. Rotating barrels, a sheaf of fire create a surreal picture. But for some reason, many viewers considered this weapon a simple dummy. And absolutely in vain!

The machine guns and cannons of this system (the common name for all these systems is the Gatling system) have been in service with the US Army and many other countries since the end ... of the century before last and, it seems, are not going to give up their positions in the near future.

Since then, multi-barrel systems have become known throughout the world as Gatling systems. The doctor's idea was outrageously simple. The soldier turned the handle of the rotary device. Rotating, each of the six barrels in a circle went through six stages of the cycle of firing a shot: sending a cartridge into the chamber, closing the shutter, preparing and actually firing, opening the shutter, removing the spent cartridge case and starting a new cycle. By the way, during a misfire, the cartridge was simply thrown out unfired.

Supply of a tape of cartridges from a box



The system called the Gatling Gun Model 1865 immediately entered the army of the northerners, but due to interruptions in the supply of ammunition, they participated in the battles very limitedly, probably to the great delight of the southerners, who did not have any quick-firing Winchester type rifles, nor such "card players".

Then, with the advent of single-barreled automatic systems, such as the Maxim machine gun known from films about the revolution, they safely forgot about Gatling systems, heavy, clumsy, requiring at least two people in the service (one turned the handle, the other shot, and this was in the war!) .

But why are they reborn? And that's why the speed of warfare kept growing, and the rate of fire of single-barreled systems turned out to be limited, metal, like any physical body, expands when heated. And a weapon with an overheated barrel does not shoot, but “spits”. And it was then that they remembered multi-barreled systems. The thing is that while one barrel heats up when fired, the other five cool down. We replace the soldier with an electric motor, make a reliable supply of cartridges and that's it, a weapon with a maximum practical rate of fire of 15,000 (fifteen thousand!) Rounds per minute is ready!

"Minigun" in combat position

First of all, this system was put on combat helicopters and aircraft. And then they began to install similar ones on ships. Then, during the Vietnam War, a “portable version” of the Gatling machine gun appeared under the 7.62 cartridge of the NATO standard M134 Minigun. It was intended mainly for fire support of troops from transport helicopters. By the way, after the “publication” of this model, all weapons of this type chambered for a rifle cartridge began to be called miniguns.

Although shooting from such a minigun "from the hands" is almost impossible, standing on a tripod (in a helicopter, car, boat or just on the ground) it provides quite a decent rate of fire (up to 4000 rounds per minute). Its shortcomings, by the way, also showed up quickly.
1. The M134 Minigun has an electric drive - you need a powerful battery to power it, and if it runs out in battle, then! I always had to have a spare battery on hand.
2. Sufficiently large weight: only the ammunition load (2000 rounds of 7.62 NATO) weighs more than 25 kg), and in fact the machine gun itself and the battery for it.
3. High ammunition consumption: 2000 rounds is enough for a minute of firing (this is in slow mode! Accelerated mode 4000 shots. There is, however, a slow mode of 300-066 shots, but then the Minigun loses in all respects to single-barreled systems.
4. Too much recoil.
5. Long recharge. And you need to recharge often!

We press the red button ... let's go!



The designers of the General Electric company, which produces miniguns, tried to correct all these shortcomings in a new minigun for lighter 5.56 mm ammunition, “native” for the American M-16 rifle. The new system was called the XM214 Minigun, but it did not fundamentally fix anything, although it was for this system that a special backpack magazine, a carrying strap and a belt battery were made. The machine gun was still too bulky, its only advantage was a unified standard cartridge. Now there was no need to worry about two types of ammunition, one for a machine gun, the other for a rifle. By the way, it was from such a minigun that a soldier fired in the movie Predator with Arnold Schwarzenegger in the title role. And in Terminator 2, the minigun (by the way, the 134th model) was picked up by Schwartz himself. True, the tape was loaded with lightweight blank cartridges, the machine gun was powered by a hidden cable. The actor himself was propped up with a special stand and dressed in a special body armor. The recoil is up to 110 kgf after all, and, most importantly, the shells fly out at such a great speed that they can injure no worse than an enemy bullet! But, how beautiful!

A real jet of metal, not figuratively.







The machine gun was massively supplied to the army; in 1971, more than 10,000 Miniguns were in service. The design of the Minigun provides for power supply, in addition, the high rate of fire required a large amount of ammunition, so most machine guns were mounted on vehicles, mainly helicopters. Machine guns were also used on small river boats and boats that took part in the Vietnam War.

After the end of the Vietnam War, where the Minigun was widely used and performed well, production was practically discontinued. In the early 90s, an updated version of the machine gun, which received the M134D index, was again mass-produced under license by Dillon Aero.

The M134 "Minigun" machine gun uses an electric drive to rotate a block of 6 barrels, powered by a DC electric motor, which is powered by the electrical system of the machine on which the machine gun is mounted. The rate of fire is controlled by an electric motor rheostat. The first modifications of the Minigun had two rates of fire - 3000 and 6000 rounds per minute, the rate of fire was regulated by two triggers. The modern modification of the Minigun - M134D has a fixed rate of fire - 3000 or 4000 rounds per minute.

The firing cycle consists of several parallel operations that are performed in different barrels. The cartridge is fed into the barrel located at the upper point of rotation of the block. At the lower point of rotation, the bolt is locked and a shot is fired. During the return of the barrel to the upper position, the spent cartridge case is removed and ejected to the right side.

Tape shot in five seconds

Ammunition is fed both from a standard loose belt and using a linkless cartridge feed mechanism. When using a standard tape, a special "delinker" mechanism is installed on the Minigun, which removes the cartridge from the tape before feeding it into the machine gun. The tape is fed by a special flexible metal sleeve from cartridge boxes with a capacity of 1500 (weight 58 kg.) Or 4500 (weight 134 kg.) cartridges. On heavy helicopters (CH-53, CH-47), the capacity of ammunition boxes for powering one machine gun can reach 10,000 or more rounds.

The mass of the mount without ammunition systems is 22.7 kg, so turret, pedestal, pivot mounts are used to mount the Miniguns, which compensate for the powerful recoil of the machine gun. The recoil force of the M134D Minigun machine gun at a rate of fire of 3000 rounds per minute (50 rounds per second) is about 68 kg, with a peak recoil force of up to 135 kg. In the famous science fiction action movie Predator, one of the heroes, Blaine Cooper, pours lead from the XM-214, an experimental 5.56 mm machine gun made specifically for the filming of the film and firing blanks. The rate of fire during filming was forcibly reduced to 2000 rounds per minute, and the power cable was "disguised" in the actor's trousers. In order not to fly away from the recoil and hold the machine gun in his hands, the actor rested on a special support, of course, this is not visible in the frame.









































And these are airsoft players:







Multi-barreled machine gun M134 "Minigun" (Minigan) manufactured by General Electric on a pedestal-type mount (mid-1960s).



Multi-barreled machine gun M134D "Minigun" (Minigun) manufactured by Dillon Aero (modern issue), complete with engine and belt feed sleeve.



Multi-barreled machine gun M134D "Minigun" (Minigan) manufactured by Dillon Aero (modern issue), mounted on the roof of an army jeep.


Multi-barreled machine gun M134D "Minigun" (Minigun) manufactured by Dillon Aero (modern issue) on a marine pedestal mount, complete with cartridge box.



Multi-barreled machine gun M134 "Minigun" (Minigun) on an infantry machine; weapons on such an installation in the armed forces are practically not used.

Data machine gun M134D Minigun modern release

The development of a 7.62mm multi-barreled machine gun was started by the American company General Electric in 1960. These works were based on the 20mm M61 Vulcan 6-barreled aviation gun (M61 Vulcan), created by the same company for the US Air Force based on the Gatling gun multi-barrel gun system. The first experimental six-barreled 7.62mm machine guns appeared in 1962, and already in 1964, such machine guns were installed on the AC-47 aircraft for firing perpendicular to the aircraft's course (from the windows and doors of the fuselage) at ground targets (North Vietnamese infantry). Upon the successful use of new machine guns, called "Minigun" (Minigan), General Electric launched their mass production. These machine guns were adopted under the M134 (US Army) and GAU-2 / A (US Navy and Air Force) indices. By 1971, the US military had more than 10 thousand Miniguns, most of which were installed on helicopters operating in Vietnam. A number of Miniguns were also installed on small river boats of the US Navy, operating in Vietnam, including in the interests of special forces.
Due to the high density of fire, Miniguns proved to be an excellent means of suppressing lightly armed North Vietnamese infantry, however, the need for electrical power and a very high consumption of cartridges limited their use mainly to vehicles. Some time after the end of the Vietnam War, the production of Miniguns was practically curtailed, however, since the beginning of the 1990s, the involvement of the United States in a number of conflicts in the Middle East led to the fact that the production of modernized versions of the machine gun, which received the M134D index, was deployed under license from the American company Dillon Aero . New machine guns are mounted on helicopters, ships (on light boats for special forces support - as a means of fire support, large ships - as a means of protection against enemy speedboats and boats), as well as on jeeps (as a means of fire suppression to combat ambushes, etc. .).
It is interesting that the photos of Miniguns on infantry tripods in most cases are not related to military service. The fact is that in the United States, in principle, the possession of automatic weapons is allowed, and a number of citizens and private companies own a certain number of Miniguns produced before 1986. These machine guns can be seen at shootings periodically organized for everyone, such as the Knob Creek machine gun shot.
As for the possibility of shooting from the M134 in Hollywood style - i.e. from the hands, then here (even distracting from the mass of weapons and ammunition to it) it is enough to remember that the recoil force of the M134D Minigun machine gun at a rate of fire of "only" 3,000 rounds per minute (50 rounds per second) averages 68 kg , with a peak recoil force of up to 135 kg.

Multi-barreled machine gun M134 "Minigun" (Minigun) uses automation with an external drive of mechanisms from a DC electric motor. As a rule, the engine is powered from the carrier's on-board network with a voltage of 24-28 Volts with a current consumption of about 60 Amperes (M134D machine gun with a rate of fire of 3000 rounds per minute; power consumption of the order of 1.5 kW). Through a system of gears, the engine rotates a block of 6 barrels. The firing cycle is divided into several separate operations carried out simultaneously on different barrels of the block. The supply of a cartridge to the barrel is usually carried out at the upper point of rotation of the block, by the time the barrel comes to the lowest position, the cartridge is already fully loaded into the barrel and the bolt is locked, and a shot is fired in the lower position of the barrel. When the barrel moves up in a circle, the spent cartridge case is removed and ejected. The locking of the barrel is carried out by turning the combat larva of the shutter, the movement of the shutters is controlled by a closed curved groove on the inner surface of the machine gun casing, along which the rollers placed on each shutter move. Cartridges can be fed from a standard loose belt or using a linkless cartridge feed mechanism. In the first case, a special "delinker" mechanism is placed on the machine gun, which extracts the cartridges from the tape before feeding them into the machine gun. The tape is fed to the machine gun through a special metal flexible sleeve from boxes with a typical capacity of 1500 (gross weight 58 kg) to 4500 (gross weight 134 kg) cartridges. On heavy helicopters (CH-53, CH-47), the capacity of ammunition boxes for powering one machine gun can reach 10,000 or even more rounds.
To control the electric motor (as well as the optional booster for the tape feed mechanism), a special electronics unit is mounted on the machine gun. On this block is installed the main switch ("master arm" switch) and the release keys on the fire control handles (if the machine gun is used in the version with manual guidance). The rate of fire of the Minigan machine gun is usually determined by the power of the electric motor and the adjustment of the electronic unit. Early versions of machine guns often had two rates of fire (say 2 and 4 or 3 and 6 thousand rounds per minute, the choice was made using two triggers), modern M134D machine guns basically have only one fixed rate of fire - 3 or 4 thousand rounds per minute . The main installations for Miniguns are various pivot, turret and pedestal installations, which provide electricity and ammunition supply and transfer the weapon's powerful recoil to the carrier.