This weird little gadget is probably one of the most unique and controversial guns released within the past couple of years. In a nutshell, the S333 Thunderstruck is an 8-round double-barreled revolver chambered in .22 WMR that fires two rounds every time the trigger is pulled. I guess we can say that it’s an 8-round but 4-shot revolver. Recently, Standard Manufacturing came up with the second generation of this blaster.

The two main differences of the Standard Manufacturing S333 Thunderstruck Gen 2 revolver over the first generation gun are the improved trigger pull and the longer barrels that protrude from the frame of the Gen 2 revolver. The longer barrels will of course slightly increase the muzzle velocity and are also advertised to improve the accuracy. Talking about the accuracy, almost like in the case of side by side double rifles, there are certain loads that this gun is regulated with and recommended to be used with. Particularly, CCI Maxi Mag 40 grain, Maxi Mag 40 grain HP, and PMC Predator 40 grain loads. The company notes that “there are large quality control issues with some ammo that cause issues with this gun”. They also recommend alternating normal bulleted and birdshot ammunition in the cylinder so that “each pull of the trigger will deliver an incredible combination of firepower and very light recoil”.

The S333 Thunderstruck Gen 2 features steel barrels and cylinder, aluminum frame and polymer grip. This is a double action only revolver with this enormously large trigger that is meant to be pulled with two fingers. Despite lacking a full trigger guard, this revolver is advertised to be an extremely safe gun because of the articulated safety lever built into the trigger that ensures the trigger can’t be pulled if its end snags on something. The overall weight of this revolver is 18 oz.

The S333 Thunderstruck Gen 2 revolver is listed on Standard Manufacturing‘s website at an MSRP of $429. The company also offers a rather large selection of accessories for this gun that include speedloaders ($32.5), speedloading block ($9.99) that organizes four sets of eight .22WMR rounds so that the speedloader can easily grab them, grip extension ($19.95), safety cylinder inserts ($14.99 for 2-pack) and five different holsters (shoulder, ankle, trigger guard and two belt holsters) with prices ranging from $16.95 to $29.95.

Note the speedloading block with two speedloaders and one set of aligned ammunition.

This simultaneous firing mode is generally known as volley fire. Standard Manufacturing have their own term, dual ballistic impact technology, although when this gun was first introduced it was actually called S333 Volleyfire. The reason why volley guns do not legally qualify as machine guns is that one round is fired from each barrel upon the trigger pull (unfortunately, this revolver is still illegal in the states of Maryland and Massachusetts). Correct me if I am wrong, but I guess a volley fire gun with more than two barrels should also be legal. If I am right, then I think one of the replica firearm manufacturers could relatively easily make a reproduction of Pieper volley fire rimfire rifles. Imagine seven rounds of .22 LR discharged simultaneously. That could make an interesting sort of long-range buckshot, if you will. The rounds exiting the muzzles simultaneously may affect each other, but I am sure there will be a solution. What do you think about the new S333 Thunderstruck and volley fire guns in general?