How many rounds does the GAU-8/A have and how many bursts does it translate to?

How many rounds does the GAU-8/A have and how many bursts does it translate to?

• A. 1,174 rounds; eight 2-second bursts
• B. 1,020 rounds; ten 1-second bursts
• C. 1,500 rounds; six 3-second bursts
• D. 900 rounds; nine 2-second bursts

Answer: (A)

The GAU-8/A is documented to carry about 1,174 rounds in its feed and is typically described in terms of eight bursts of two seconds each. This burst pattern provides a practical balance between delivering substantial firepower and allowing cooling and cycling time, which is essential given the gun’s high rate of fire. At roughly 3,900 rounds per minute, each two-second burst would expel a large chunk of rounds, and eight such bursts use most of the ammunition while still leaving a margin for the gun system to cycle and cool between bursts. The other options conflict with the gun’s known ammunition capacity or burst timing, so this pairing best matches the GAU-8/A’s documented specs.

The GAU-8/A is documented to carry about 1,174 rounds in its feed and is typically described in terms of eight bursts of two seconds each. This burst pattern provides a practical balance between delivering substantial firepower and allowing cooling and cycling time, which is essential given the gun’s high rate of fire. At roughly 3,900 rounds per minute, each two-second burst would expel a large chunk of rounds, and eight such bursts use most of the ammunition while still leaving a margin for the gun system to cycle and cool between bursts. The other options conflict with the gun’s known ammunition capacity or burst timing, so this pairing best matches the GAU-8/A’s documented specs.