HISTORY
The Gatling gun was invented in 1861 by a doctor who never practiced medicine. Originally from North Carolina, Dr. Richard J. Gatling moved to Ohio and invented automated crop harvesting equipment before turning his attention to firearms. Gatling hoped to end the bloodshed of the American Civil War by offering his high-volume field gun to the Union Army. Although his Gatling gun was not completed and used in that conflict until 1865, the high-speed multi-barrel rotary design is the basis of today’s modern miniguns and cannons.
Fast-forward to 1983, and Dennis Tippmann Sr. began production of a 1/2-scale belt-fed Browning Model 1919 machine gun. Chambered in .22 LR, it is the ultimate full-auto miniature machine gun. Due to the onerous Firearms Owners Protection Act, no further full-auto guns could be manufactured.
Unstoppable, Tippmann simply switched to making miniature Gatling guns. His 9mm hand-crank rotary Gatling guns are well known as the standard in quality and performance. These guns were so popular that Tippmann Ordnance recently began offering a .22 rimfire belt-fed version.
MY IMPRESSIONS
When I read that Tippmann Ordnance had come out with a .22-caliber version of its famous Gatling gun, I had to have one. Finally, I can scratch that itch! Because they are hand-cranked, Gatling guns are not classified as machine guns and can be purchased through the same process as any other rifle or pistol.
This Tippmann is all steel, heavy, and high quality, with no plastic parts. It is supported by a modern-style 1919 Browning machine gun tripod – an attractive combination of old and new designs. The polished wood operating and traverse handles seem to say, “Crank me, I’m ready to shoot.”
The six barrels rotate smoothly when the operating handle is turned clockwise. Each barrel emits a clicking sound as the internal cam triggers the hammer to fire a round. Empty shell casings are ejected from the bottom of the gun. The linked polymer belt is fed from left to right by the rotation of the action, which is quick and smooth. Strong and built to last, this gun feels solid.
The most unusual part of the Tippman is its unique polymer ammo belt. Each link holds one round of .22 ammo, and capacity of the .22 LR Tippman Gatling gun is limited only by the number of links you have.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Length: 18 inches
- Weight: 15 pounds (including tripod and T&E)
- Height: 10 inches
- Barrels: Six, 8.5 inches each
- Action: Hand crank, cam-activated rotating barrels, belt fed
- Tripod: 21 inches by 14 inches
- Sights: Rear Adjustable for windage/elevation, front fixed pin
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Belt: Polymer interlocking links for unlimited shooting
RANGE TIME
When Area 52 is overrun with alien root beer jugs from the planet Jupiter, it’s a job for Ranger Ronbo and his Tippmann Gatling gun! A belt loaded with 100 rounds of .22 LR ammo should do the trick.
To load the belt into the gun, unlock and lift the loading gate. The belt must be laid over the exposed action with one bolt retracted. My only complaint about this gun is that the loading process is a bit slow and clumsy. The bolt must be in just the right position to accept and drive the belt forward, then the loading hatch may be closed and latched to firmly lock the belt in place. Next, simply crank away.
To unload the gun, rotate the operating handle counterclockwise until all rounds are ejected from the bottom of the gun. There is no mechanical safety on the firearm, and care must be taken to always control operation of the action and muzzle direction.
I shot Remington Golden Bullet brass-plated hollow point .22 LR bulk pack, which is quality, high-velocity ammo, but the strength of the Gatling gun design is that it will shoot any .22 LR ammo. Because the action is hand-driven, it cannot stop firing if one round is a dud. Under-performing rounds will simply eject with spent cases, and the gun will continue to function. I love that feature!
Field Notes
I added two custom accessories to my Tippmann. An oak wood box helps transport and protect the Gatling gun, making the Tippmann classier than ever. When fired from its attached tripod, the Tippmann is too low to aim and shoot accurately, so I built a plywood stand to support the gun while attaching it to my Vortex Switchback Carbon adjustable tripod. This arrangement allows me to shoot the Tippmann from sitting, standing, or any position in between.
Shooting the Tippmann is a pure adrenaline high. It feels solid as I crank the handle and reliably fires each shot with precision. The gun does not jam and can be fired very quickly. The T&E and gun sights work together to make the whole firearm accurate. Once I have found the elevation, I can traverse across a wide field of fire. I can even lift the gun from the T&E base to free-fire while it’s still connected to the tripod.
The final three targets of two root beer jugs and their leader, the Green Orb, were gunned down in a cloud of mist. This is the kind of shooting fun I wanted when I was a kid. The Tippmann .22 Gatling gun is a dream come true.
PROS & CONS
