45 or 44

[Whitworth]

Very cool, Pete!

[txpete]

thanks did it for 21 years in the army then another 9 years for a defence contractor.now just a full time bum.

[MasterGunnerySergeant]

Army Aviation. Gotta love um

[Lloyd Smale]

but pete id have to spend 10 hours a day loading just to be able to shoot it for a few seconds a day.

[txpete]

and on a sad note LC 7.62 brass after going thru a mini-gun is trash.

[Whitworth]

That is sad, Pete.....

[odis]

Technically this is correct. I am a Master Gunnery Sergeant, that is my rank. My pay grade is E-9 Over 30.

The Master Gunnery Sergeant is unique to the Marine Corps. We are considered specialists in our MOS and for the most part spend our careers within our specialty. Mine was 03xx

A Sergeant Major is an E-9 as well but is considered a generalist and fills a command/administrative billet at the battalion level and higher.

Master Gunnery Sergeants and Seargents Major are peers, equal in rank. However, Sergeants Major usually but not always occupy a senior position by virtue of the command billet. With respect to discipline and morale of the particular unit the Sgt Major is senior regardless the time in grade. In all other settings, if the Master Gunnery Sergeant is senior by virtue of time in grade- ordinary customs and courtesies apply.

One other slight difference is, one may properly address a Command Sergeant Major (SgtMajMC) under certain circumstances as 'sir' or usually just Sgt Maj. The only proper address for a Master Gunnery Sergeant is just that. Master Gunns is informal and usually reserved for peers or seniors but it isn't proper. Top is sometimes used by juniors in informal settings but most Master Gunnery Sergeants don't allow it. I like 'Top'

Top

Jeff Cooper claimed that the Gunny is the highest rank in the world, even higher then the commandant

[pmeisel]

The best senior NCOs are respected by all who are wise, especially wise officers....

[Whitworth]

The best senior NCOs are respected by all who are wise, especially wise officers....

Yes indeed......

[MasterGunnerySergeant]

and on a sad note LC 7.62 brass after going thru a mini-gun is trash.

Why is that?

[txpete]

the chambers on a mini-gun are kind of sloppy.you have to remember that they fired 2000 on low and 4000 rounds a minute on high speed.
they had a time delay control relay in the TCA (turret control amplifier) which would only let them shoot for so many rounds and it would cut off the solenoid for a few seconds and let the barrels cool down.
I have seen that relay fail and when the aircaft came back the barrels got so hot the bullets were coming out the sides of the barrel 6" inches from the muzzle.
I have seen the barrels turn a nice orange color at night.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ye0fjkjYmOU

[MakeMineA10mm]

the chambers on a mini-gun are kind of sloppy.you have to remember that they fired 2000 on low and 4000 rounds a minute on high speed.
they had a time delay control relay in the TCA (turret control amplifier) which would only let them shoot for so many rounds and it would cut off the solenoid for a few seconds and let the barrels cool down.
I have seen that relay fail and when the aircaft came back the barrels got so hot the bullets were coming out the sides of the barrel 6" inches from the muzzle.
I have seen the barrels turn a nice orange color at night.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ye0fjkjYmOU

It's too bad the attack helo has become so centered on the anti-armor mission. That 7.62 mini-gun & 40mm MG combo always struck me as the most ideal set-up to support ground troops for most aspects of their "take-and-hold-ground" mission.

Nowadays it's at least a 25mm and AT missiles. Awesome against armor without a doubt, but it seems lacking in some ways.