PieFedGun nuts of the fediverse. Do any guns use two magazines at once?
I hope folks read more than just the title. So im watching a show with a gun exchange and the person has to reload and you can see they are nervous to get the new magazine in so they can fire again and it made me think. Do any guns have two magazine where you can either manually switch to the other magazine or maybe automatically do it when the first one is empty. With the idea that if you need to fire while in the middle of changing out the empty magazine you could. I feel like this seem obvious enough that someone must have tried it. I mean considering the crazy gun things I have seen. Since im not aware of anything I figure if it has been done it had an issue or was just not useful enough to make worth it. So for the folks that are really into guns, especially wierd protoype ones. Has there every been anything like this?
There are at least a few. There’s the little villar perosa submachine gun from ww1 that everyone remembers from Battlefield 1, although that’s basically two guns in one body. As far as something modern that truly is just one gun with two magazines, the Keltec KSG shotgun uses two tubes side by side that can be toggled between with a switch. Not only does it double the gun’s capacity without adding any extra length, but it also allows you to load each tube with a different kind of shot and switch between the two at will. Adds a good amount of weight though.
It’s not really worth it. A lot more complexity for the trigger and firing mechanisms, barrel alignment; etc. Weight is also a concern with any carry weapon. There were a couple of weapons in history that tried a dual mag setup
MP40I
The Burton
AF2011 (More double barrel but does fire simultaneously)
There’s also the DIY jungle style
In general these days, belt fed weapons are used for more capacity where needed.
I got turned on the mp401 which was what I was thinking. The whole point to me is to people to fire while reloading if you need to whereas the tape two together is just about faster reloading which allows it faster every other magazine swap. Im going to check out the burton so thanks for another thing.
Note, the designation is
MP40/Inot1:P May help your research.luckily the search still found it. Its actually pretty much exactly what I was thinking but with a pistol.
If you’re going to be firing while reloading, you aren’t going to hit much. Practicing your reload can get it to a speed where the time of the loss of your ability to fire is almost indistinguishable from the time it takes you to get your gun accurately back on target after a shot.
yeah im not looking to use practical things myself it was more an idle thought while watching a show. Curious though. Would you never fire a shot unless you where accurately back on traget. Like to dissuade someone from motion who was armed?
Depends, if we’re in the jungles of vietnam? Sure, suppressive fire, still need to retain ammo yourself though.
In a self defense situation in an American city? Bad idea, you’re responsible for every round that leaves your barrel, if you hit a bystander while wildly winging shots at an attacker you’re fucked and will be going to prison. Unless you’re a cop, it would seem.
Well in most of the movie situations its an area where people are far enough away that the gunshots don’t bring police and usually there are some family or such that is in a known direction usually behind them a ways that they are out of the fray. So its an idealized situation. I actually thought more pistol as soldiers will mostly be in a team where hopefully only one person is reloading at a time. I assumed that is why you would hear individual ones shouting reloading sometimes (again in movies). granted if separated and down to one I could see it being useful again. I mean im guessing given the 40i never took off so the idea is out there that it must not be all that useful.
@HubertManne Nazi Germany tried it with a version of the MP 40, didn't work due to putting too much weight towards the front and the mechanism constantly jamming.
What what you can find in the modern era are shotguns with multiple tube mags, although that's more for being able to have a mixture of shot and slugs. On a similar line is the STK 50MG which takes two belts, again to allow quick switching between standard and armour-piercing rounds. There's also dual purpose weapons like the Ares Shrike which can be used as either a mag fed rifle or belt fed machine gun.
ah new there had to be something. sounds like the mp40 might have been for the reasons I put so I will look to see if I can find videos about that. might also try to find the shotguns as it sounds like that would work like I was thinking even if not made for the purpose. Its funny Im not even a gun person but I geek out on goofy things.
*weird (sorry to be that person) and I’m pretty sure there is. I’m not that much of a gun nut, but I think I’ve heard of one or two (I can’t remember the names)
Have a great day and be kind! :D