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A '''machine gun''' is an automatic weapon that is capable of rapid sustained fire.

A '''machine gun''' is an automatic weapon that is capable of a rapid rate of sustained fire.

The predecessor to the modern machine [[gun]] was developed in 1718, by James Puckle, an Englishman. This gun, known as the "Puckle gun", could fire around nine bullets per minute. However, the Puckle gun was a flintlock weapon, and cannot be considered a machine gun in the modern sense of the word.

The predecessor to the modern machine [[gun]] was developed in 1718, by James Puckle, an Englishman. This gun, known as the "Puckle gun", could fire around nine bullets per minute. However, the Puckle gun was a flintlock weapon, and cannot be considered a machine gun in the modern sense of the word.

The first modern machine gun was the [[Gatling gun]], a crank-operated weapon capable of firing over a hundred rounds per minute. It was invented for use in the [[American Civil War]].

With the development of preloaded cartridges auto-repeating guns were quickly developed. The first modern machine gun was the [[Gatling gun]], a crank-operated weapon capable of firing over a hundred rounds per minute. It was invented for use in the [[American Civil War]]. Though relatively easy to use, the barrels would soon overheat with successive volleys and the mechanism jammed.

   

   

The first automatic machine gun was the [[Maxim gun]], invented by [[Hiram Maxim]]. The Maxim gun was the first weapon to utilize a gas blowback system; the excess gas of the previously ejected round pushed the bolt back far enough to chamber a new round. The Maxim gun also saw the first use of a coolant system, in the form of a water jacket; the barrel of the gun was surrounded by a "jacket", or sheath filled with water. This greatly increased the sustained fire time of the gun. Maxim was an American inventor who lost some patent battles with [[Thomas Edison]] on the [[light bulb]] and other inventions, and was persuaded to move to [[Europe]] and make improvements to weaponry there.  

The first automatic machine gun was the [[Maxim gun]], invented by [[Hiram Maxim]]. The Maxim gun was the first weapon to utilize a gas blowback system; the excess gas of the previously ejected round pushed the bolt back far enough to chamber a new round. The Maxim gun also saw the first use of a coolant system, in the form of a water jacket; the barrel of the gun was surrounded by a "jacket", or sheath filled with water. This greatly increased the sustained fire time of the gun. Maxim was an American inventor who lost some patent battles with [[Thomas Edison]] on the [[light bulb]] and other inventions, and was persuaded to move to [[Europe]] and make improvements to weaponry there.  

[[Category:Guns]]

[[Category:Guns]]