Introduction
Machine guns are designed to be fully automatic weaponry which can eject successive rounds of ammunition rapidly. The term is generally used to describe the non-automatic firearms which have been modified to operate like an automatic rifle. Over the years, the machine gun has seen major improvements that now make it a weapon of choice in many warfare and security operations. Over the years, there have been different brand names given to the modified machine guns. The use of the ammunition belt to feed the rounds into the gun makes the gun light and thus can be hand held or held on a stand while in use (Fowler et al. 90).
Pre-1775 era; James Puckle and the Defense Gun
The defense gun developed by James Puckle is the most recognized earliest form of automatic weaponry in the world. The weapon could fire up to nine rounds per minute with the rounds being fed to the barrel from a rotating cylindrical contraption. The barrel was a whooping 0.91m in length with a 32 mm bore. Puckle developed two versions of the gun, one customized for use on Christian enemies and the other version which was potent was customized for killing Turkish Muslims (Willbanks 154). The gun never found sufficient market in Europe and thus its further development was halted until the British army started engaging in the external aggressions. In particular, much of the development of the gun occurred during the American Revolutionary War of 1775-1783 (Willbanks, 154).
1775-1783; Machine Guns During the War
The Billinghurst-Requa volley gun was invented during the war for use by the Union Forces. Replacing the rotating cylinder in the Puckel’s Defense Gun, this machine gun had a rotating wheel like structure which held eight compartments ...
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One weapon used in the Civil War is a Sharps Carbine. It was developed primarily for Calvary, because of the shorter barrel. They were much easier to handle on horse back than their longer brother the Breech-Loader. Sharps were preferred because they could be loaded on a moving horse, something virtually impossible with a Muzzle-Loader. Also, Breech-Loaders carbine which fired moisture proof metallic cartridges, where more reliable than rifles that fired paper cartridges. As I said be fore it is easier to load a Sharps than a Muzzle-Loader. A Muzzle-Loader took 9 long hard steps just to fire one shot. Even the most skilled solder could only get three rounds off in a minute on the old Civil War Muzzle-Loader. And No wonder. After each shot you have to (1) steady the gun on the ground take out a new cartridge out of a belt pouch. (2) Tear open a piece of paper with your teeth. (3) Empty the powder in the barrel and insert a bullet in to the muzzle. (4) Draw the long “rummer” out of its carrying groove under the barrel. (5) ram the bullet all the way down. (6) Return the rod back to its groove. (7) Lift the weapon half-cocked the hammer. (8) Fully cock the hammer, aim, and finally,(9) fire.
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During the years leading up to and during the American Civil War there were a number of advancements in firearms technology. This paper will focus on a few of those advancements, namely the inventions of the Minié ball, the Spencer and Henry repeating rifles, and of the Gatling gun.
A popular weapon used by both sides was the rifle. Rifles were invented before the Civil War and were greatly used in the War of 1812. However, more types were built and a larger amount was used during the Civil War. Rifles added a spin to bullets for a greater accuracy at longer ranges. Using this weapon, soldiers could fire 400 yards away, as opposed to the average 80 yards (Robertson 50). Rifles were the fastest and hardest weapon of the time. Rifles allowed their bullets to be shot harder and faster towards its target. New inventions, used by the Union more than the Confederate, included Parrott rifles. They were composed of iron. Robert Parker Parrott, an American soldier and inventor, created these weapons, hence the name Parrott rifles. Despite its name, the Parrott rifle was actually a cannon. Its size ranged from 10 to 300 pounders. It was not favored by most because it was considered unsafe (“Civil War Artillery”). Because of its bulkiness and heaviness, it seldom led soldiers to inaccuratel...
Lee, Robert W. "Gun Report: The Buford Furrow Tragedy." The New American 15 (1999): 33
A majority of weapons used in World War II were improved weapons from World War II. Most guns increased in power and abilities. In World War II people thought that pistols were useless but this was proved wrong due to the fact that the U.S. Mi...
Talking about the history of BB guns brings much scope for pointing out as many interesting facts related to BB guns, as possible. Therefore, it must be mentioned without fail that the first BB was actually a shotgun shot, which was sized no more than .180 i...
Ring, Ray. “Guns R Us.” High Country News (Paonia, Co) Vol. 39, No. 14 Aug. 6 2007:10-17. Sirs Issues Researcher. Web. 6 Oct. 2015.
The greatest advantage of the early rifles was that the weapon could be mastered in a matter of months, but it could take up to ten years to master the bow. Eventually the muskets overtook the battlefield, replacing t...
The next real step in the evolution of the gun came during the Civil War. Rifles were invented that ...
Some errors that could arise from this type of source include biases and limited points of views that lead to misinformation. However, using secondary sources does not detract from Chase’s ability to construct a general theory about firearms development, because a general theory does not require absolute accuracy. Chase also uses many paintings to show military formations in past societies and what weapons they possessed. The conclusions he makes are rational and the inclusion of the paintings provides visually engaging primary sources that further justify Chase’s thesis. Using more primary sources would strengthen the credibility of his descriptions of firearms development in the world, but his construction of a rational theory based on known facts is enough to give this work acceptable credibility.
...rounds per minute, all with just the pull of the trigger. The recoil operation was a milestone in machine gun development. Warfare had truly changed. “Point a machine, and killing men was like killing bugs” (Chivers, 2010, p.85). It used new forms of cartridges which were placed on a belt that was automatically fed into the gun via the recoil operation.
Haven, Charles T. and Frank A. Belben. A History of the Colt Revolver. New York: Bonanza
“In a large sense, however, the term when applied to firearms refer to the efforts toward creating a more effective, predictable, and longer bullet trajectory” (Projectile). All three of those improvements have to do with projectile motion calculations. If the bullet can slice through the air then there will be less air resistance, which is neglected in the calculation anyways. When the bullet just slices though it will improve its speed along with how far it will go. When you improve both of those variables then it will also improve the predictability of the bullet's path. “During the fourteenth century until 1500, muskets were hopelessly unreliable” (Projectile). This is because the bullet that was shot was just a ball, which couldn’t slice through the air. Due to the air resistance, the bullet would slow down quickly but also start to wobble in air. When the bullet slows down it won't penetrate like bullets today, which would mean that the bullet wouldn’t have enough force to exit the body. Also due to the wobbling of the bullet, it would miss the intended target more times than actually hitting it. Although the shape of the bullet has a huge impact the variables so does the barrel of the gun. The imperfections on the inside of the musket barrel and the bullet it would not fly straight. “When fired, they bounced erratically of the sides of the barrel, and this made their trajectory