Abstract: In a Gatling gun containing a rotary weapon barrel assembly and positively reciprocating breechblocks, each of which is operatively associated with one weapon barrel of the weapon barrel assembly, each breechblock is provided with a spring-loaded firing pin and a cocking pin which are cocked and released by two control cams for piercing a cartridge. These two control cams are displaced from a safety or unarmed position into a firing position by a control slide possessing oppositely extending control grooves or slots. This firing apparatus possesses no pivotable parts as opposed to known apparatuses.