From:	Robert Watkins <robertdw@*******.NET.AU>
Subject:	Re: 6 gas vents on a minigun (was Re: Assault cannons)
Date:	Fri, 6 Dec 1996 11:33:45 +1100

>I don't think this would be the case. The first the individual
> barrels on a mini-gun do not rotate. They are fixed. The barrels
> are arranged in to a cylindrical structure. That structure
> rotates as a unit on its own center axis. This means that the
> orientation of any barrel mounted gas vent would remain constant in
> relation to the axis of the barrel assembly. That is a vent that
> throws the gas out (up at top dead center) would always throw the
> gas out regardless of where the barrel is in the rotation.

One problem... the gas goes up. Reaction means something else goes down.
Okay, the barrel going down isn't a bad thing... it will compensate
slightly for the lift the spin of the barrel would give (but it wouldn't
compensate for the sideways thrust, however). But, the bullet would also
be affected, surely. From what I know, and I admit I don't have much
experience in these things, you'd need a symmetrical release of the gas,
or you'll just impart an instability to the bullet.

--
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