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Its shear size, coupled with its trademark sound, is enough to send anyone in its path running for cover. It's a great weapon for suppressing fire, letting others flank the unsuspecting enemy.Research Note - Minigun

The minigun is the most commonly encountered big gun in Fallout 3.

Characteristics[]

Since it is so common, the minigun is comparatively easy to find and repair, as well as one of the few big guns easy to find ammunition for; nearly every super mutant brute encountered with one has at least 30 5mm rounds for it. It is also carried extensively by Brotherhood of Steel units, Brotherhood Outcast units, Enclave soldiers, as well as occasionally on some raiders and slavers. This is offset somewhat by the minigun's high rate of fire, which quickly uses up ammunition. The minigun is designed as a sustained-firing weapon, and its rate of fire of 20 rounds per second means that it can fire up to 240 rounds in only 12 seconds of continuous firing. Because of this, those who intend to make use of it should buy additional ammunition, which is generally quite plentiful and cheap at shops.

When firing the minigun without V.A.T.S., there is a wind-up time between holding the fire button and when it actually fires. It usually takes under a second to begin shooting. This can be negated by tapping the "fire" button repeatedly to keep it spinning while not actually firing.

Durability[]

The minigun can fire a total of about 3333 rounds, the equivalent of 14 reloads, from full condition before breaking.

Variants[]

  • Eugene - A unique minigun which is available as a reward for completing the Reilly's Rangers quest with better firepower and durability.
  • Operation: Anchorage (add-on) - A version of the minigun that has extremely high HP. It must be pickpocketed from the T-51b soldiers dropped by the vertibird as the pulse field is approached. Once acquired, 5mm rounds can be drawn from the ammo dispensers.

Comparison[]

Legend 
Weapon name (current weapon is highlighted)- Weapon name (melee or unarmed)Attacks in V.A.T.S.- Attacks in V.A.T.S.
Weapon name (current weapon is highlighted)- Weapon name (gun, energy or explosive)Action point cost- Action point cost
Damage per attack (damage per projectile)- Damage per attack (damage per projectile)Damage per action point- Damage per action point
Damage per second- Damage per secondWeapon spread- Weapon spread
Area of effect damage- Area of effect damageMagazine capacity (shots per reload)- Magazine capacity (shots per reload)
Effect damage & duration- Effect damage & durationDurability (number of attacks before breaking)- Durability (number of attacks before breaking)
Bonus effects- Bonus effectsWeight- Weight
Attacks per second- Attacks per secondValue in caps- Value in caps
Critical chance % multiplier- Critical chance % multiplierValue to weight ratio- Value to weight ratio
Critical damage- Critical damageSkill required- Skill required
Critical effect damage & duration- Critical effect damage & durationStrength required- Strength required
With all mods attached- With all mods attached
Weapon name (current weapon is highlighted)Damage per attack (damage per projectile)Damage per secondAttacks per secondCritical Chance % multiplierCritical damageAttacks in V.A.T.S.Action Point costDamage per action pointWeapon spreadMagazine capacity (shots per reload)Durability (number of attacks before breaking)WeightValue in capsValue to weight ratio
Minigun 5
10020x008301.32.0240333318100055.6
Eugene 7
14020x008301.92.0240357118150083.3

Locations[]

Notes[]

  • The minigun is known to disappear from followers' inventories.
  • Brotherhood Outcasts occasionally hold the minigun like a rifle, without the ammunition box on their backs.
  • When using a minigun in 3rd person, one cannot fire as far down as they can in the first person.
  • The minigun appears in an illustration on a mural in the Museum of Freedom in Fallout 4.
  • The background art in the Fight for Freedom season in Fallout 76 features the minigun in the hands of several power armor users.

Bugs[]

  • PCPC Playstation 3Playstation 3Playstation 3 Xbox 360Xbox 360 Very rarely the minigun can actually jam while firing. The barrel will quickly move left and right as if the gun is repeatedly warming up but no bullets will fire.[verified]
  • PCPC If the player begins fires and crouches at the same time the minigun will not fire, but will still consume ammunition.[verified]

Sounds[]

BurstVB ReloadVB
JamVB

Gallery[]

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