Tagan Arms Model 1882 Battery Gun

Based on Richard Gatling's latest 1881 design, the Tagan Battery Gun features eight barrels with a top-feed system designed to take a variety of hoppers, from the gravity-fed Stick- or Bruce- style magazines similar to those of the Gatling Gun to Tagan Arms' own innovative "pan" design.

Operated by hand crank and a crew of 3-4, the Tagan Battery Gun can reach nearly 1300 rounds per minute, though 450 is more easily achievable during actual combat. Chambered in .303 Fanaglian, the internal mechanics are nearly identical to the 1881 Gatling Gun.

Each barrel fires once per revolution at about the same position. The barrels, a carrier, and a lock cylinder were separate and all mounted on a solid plate revolving around a central shaft, mounted on an oblong fixed frame. The carrier was grooved and the lock cylinder was drilled with holes corresponding to the barrels. Each barrel had a single lock, working in the lock cylinder on a line with the barrel. The lock cylinder was encased and joined to the frame. The casing was partitioned, and through this opening the barrel shaft was journaled. In front of the casing was a cam with spiral surfaces. The cam imparted a reciprocating motion to the locks when the gun rotated. Also in the casing was a cocking ring with projections to cock and fire the gun.

Turning the crank rotated the shaft. Cartridges, held in a hopper, dropped individually into the grooves of the carrier. The lock was simultaneously forced by the cam to move forward and load the cartridge, and when the cam was at its highest point, the cocking ring freed the lock and fired the cartridge. After the cartridge was fired the continuing action of the cam drew back the lock bringing with it the spent cartridge which then dropped to the ground.