Firearms of Film Predator (1987) "Ol Painless"
06/27/2022
Firearms of Film
Predator (1987)
"Ol' Painless" (M134 Minigun)
If you’ve seen the classic film Predator (1987) you can recall former Minnesota Governor/Navy SEAL/Professional Wrester Jesse Ventura’s character, Blaine, but more importantly you recall the weapon that Ventura used: the Minigun, a classic weapon in cinema history. The Minigun in the film was nicknamed "Ol Painless". It's easy to see why, with 6,000 RPM, you quite literally wouldn't have time to feel anything if you were in its path.
(Photo: Predator 1987)
History of the Minigun
During the Vietnam War in the 60’s, the U.S. explored electric-powered, rotating barrel Gatling-style weapons. They wanted something to defend helicopters dropping and picking up troops from enemy fire and RPG attacks.
(Photo: Seaforces)
(Photo: Seaforces)
The U.S. Military teamed up with designers at General Electric (G.E.) to develop a smaller and higher rate of fire 7.62x51 NATO round version of the existing Vulcan Cannon, which utilized a 20x102mm cartridge and was generally mounted on jets. The outcome was a gatling-style weapon that could fire up to 6,000 rounds per minute: The M134 “Minigun”. To put that into some perspective, if we say the cost of 7.62x51 NATO is about $1/round, that means the Minigun goes through roughly $6,000 of ammo in one minute.
Design
The Minigun is an electrically driven rotary machine gun which has six barrels that are air cooled. The electric drive rotates the weapon within its housing, with a rotating firing pin assembly and rotary chamber. The design of the minigun’s multiple barrels helps prevent overheating, but also allows the weapon for a greater capacity for a high firing rate, since the serial process of firing, extraction and loading is taking place in all barrels at the same time.
The minigun is composed of multiple closed-bolt rifle barrels arranged in a circular housing. The barrels are rotated by an external power source, usually electric, pneumatic, or hydraulic. Other rotating-barrel cannons are powered by the gas pressure or recoil energy of fired cartridges. A gas-operated variant, designated XM133, was also developed.
Behind the Scenes
Ventura’s Ol Painless, like the rest of the weapons in the film, was supplied by Stembridge Gun Rentals. The Minigun was fitted with an M60 handguard assembly, which was installed backwards under the barrels. It also featured a rear pistol grip taken from a Minigun spade grip, attached to the weapon via a custom Y-frame with an M16-style carry handle that mounts to the weapon's recoil absorbers. Ventura also wore a special custom harness to distribute some of the weight to his shoulders. Ol Painless had its fire rate reduced from 6,000 RPM to 1,250 RPM for the film so Ventura could manage the recoil and the set could save ammunition. The M134 requires a large amount of electricity to power. To give the illusion of the Minigun being a handheld weapon, the set ran cables down Ventura’s pant legs which led to off-screen batteries. The cables were only used during firing scenes.
The ammo pack for the weapon used an M23 armament system ammo box and cover assembly attached to an ALICE pack frame. The canisters hold about 550 rounds of the 7.62x51mm ammo. At the rate of fire for Ole Painless (1,250 RPM), it would expend all ammo within 25 seconds.
Ventura was quoted as saying: "you just had to grit your teeth and hold on" and that it was "like firing a chainsaw."
(Photo: Predator 1987)
Ol Painless firing scene.
(Photo: Predator 1987)
Ol Painless with the M60 machine gun handguard assembly.
Influence
Unfortunately, no such handheld version of the M134 is in existence. It wouldn’t be realistic due to the size, fire rate, amount of ammunition and most importantly, the power required. It makes sense that these weapons are found on helicopters and not in the hands of troops. The handheld Minigun is still a classic weapon of cinema and is etched into memories of 80’s action film watchers. Since the release of Predator, the firearm has become an iconic pop-culture symbol of action movies. You can find the handheld version of the minigun featured in some video games to this day!
(Photo: Predator 1987)
Ventura with Ol Painless and his Alice Pack/ammo canister filled with ammunition.
Bonus
The same M134 supplied by Stembridge Gun Rentals was used in the 1991 film, Terminator 2: Judgement Day. You can see Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character using it to shoot at the LAPD from the Cyberdyne Systems building. Arnold's minigun was slightly altered for the film, but is still the same Ol Painless that was used by Ventura.
(Photo: Terminator 2: Judgement Day)
