Gatling Gun Oscillator Performance

[Kehas99]

While looking for data on the lateral spread of Gatling shots, came across 1873 test data in the Sacramento Daily Union newspaper (Oct. 9, 1873).

At 360 yards with an oscillator that automatically moved the barrels back and forth while firing, the shot spread across the extended centerline covered a distance of 18'. Applying the 360 yard "spread to range" ratio to 800 yard shots would result in an estimated 40' spread.

Since the lateral angle associated with 9' from centerline at 360 yards is only 0.477 degrees, the gun elevation wheel or elevation support wouldn't have to move much.

The accuracy against a 12' target using volley fire was remarkable, 90% at 900 yards (18/20), and 70% at 1100 yards (14/20) after a few single shots to find the range. I assume the oscillator was turned off for these shots.

The article stated that ordinary musket cartridges used in the gun contained 70 grains of powder, and 400 grains of lead. Four men make up the gun complement, and 80,000 cartridges are carried for each gun.

 

[Booner]

While looking for data on the lateral spread of Gatling shots, came across 1873 test data in the Sacramento Daily Union newspaper (Oct. 9, 1873).

At 360 yards with an oscillator that automatically moved the barrels back and forth while firing, the shot spread across the extended centerline covered a distance of 18'. Applying the 360 yard "spread to range" ratio to 800 yard shots would result in an estimated 40' spread.

Since the lateral angle associated with 9' from centerline at 360 yards is only 0.477 degrees, the gun elevation wheel or elevation support wouldn't have to move much.

The accuracy against a 12' target using volley fire was remarkable, 90% at 900 yards (18/20), and 70% at 1100 yards (14/20) after a few single shots to find the range. I assume the oscillator was turned off for these shots.

The article stated that ordinary musket cartridges used in the gun contained 70 grains of powder, and 400 grains of lead. Four men make up the gun complement, and 80,000 cartridges are carried for each gun.

Since the test was made in 1873, I'm assuming the round was a 45-70, especially since you give a 70 grain charge and a bullet weight of 400.
I think I recently saw an old thread recently regarding this test. The Gatling gun outshot a regiment at various distances.
I've always been very interested in the Gatling gun. When I was in the army in the early 70's I was a Vulcan crewman. The Vulcan was a direct descendant of the Gatling gun. We had a clamp we could put on the end of the muzzle that would change our shot pattern from round to oval depending on if we were shooting aerial or ground targets. In the 80's I got the opportunity to shoot an 1870's model of a Gatling gun in 45-70. It took some mussel to turn that crank. I'm thinking the rate of fire on the Gatling was around 800-1000 rps. My Vulcan was 3,000-3500.
A lot of people have shot either one, I might be one of the few that got to shoot both.