Combat shotgun

Currently, smooth-bore weapons of various types are widely used by many power units of the planet and are used to solve a wide class of tasks. As a rule, his tactical niche is determined by an extensive range of available ammunition ^[1] , including conventional and rubber bullets, shotgun , shot ^[2] , tear gas cartridges, high-explosive, high-explosive fragmentation ^[3] , light-noise shots ^[4], and so on. e. Additional flexibility is provided by the ability to install various muzzle nozzles that allow you to throw an assault cat , a rifle grenade ^[4] , a listening device, etc., into the right place, etc.

According to modern ideas of Western experts, due to the large selection of non-lethal ammunition, the main specialization of smooth-bore weapons is the area of ​​countering riots. When conducting street battles and special operations, the shotgun is surprisingly convenient for ensuring the rapid penetration of an assault team into a closed room by quickly knocking locks and locks in doorways. For these purposes, a number of manufacturers offer a wide range of special ammunition (see, for example, a cartridge with a divided powder charge ) ^[5] . Under the conditions of a short-term fire contact in close combat, it is considered expedient for a forward fighter of an assault group to use a shotgun weapon in order to be able at short range if not destroyed, then at least without aiming with a very high probability of disabling the enemy ^[6] . It is also noted that with the release of hostages, the use of a shotgun in a tightly closed space can be no less accurate and selective than the fire from regular submachine guns , while ensuring significantly lower chances of an undesirable barrage of ammunition ^[6] . In addition, some experts suggest that in the context of traditional hostilities, shotguns can be an effective and inexpensive means of combating small-sized tactical UAV reconnaissance and surveillance ^[7] .

The disadvantages of combat guns include a low target range (about 50 meters with a shot and 75 meters with a bullet), a small magazine capacity, bulkiness, the inability to equip silencers , a significant weight of ammunition and low reloading speed ^[6] . Despite attempts to overcome the main problems by developing a number of automatic combat models (see USAS-12 , AA-12 , Pancor Jackhammer , etc.), no special forces of the world have adopted these systems (although their manufacturers state the opposite) ^[6] .

Combat shotgun leads its history from the musket . ^{[8] The} modern concept of using such weapons was developed during the First World War , when American expeditionary forces began to use short-barreled six-shot pump - action shotguns with a bayonet in a trench war ^[9] , due to the very high probability of hitting the enemy with a shotgun at a short distance ^[8] .

Shotgun was also convenient in the conduct of street fighting . An example is the event of September 27, 1918, when Sergeant Fred Lloyd, armed with the Winchester Model 1897 trench gun, single-handedly fought off a French village captured by the Germans, putting 30 German soldiers to flight ^[10] .

The German army tried to counteract the legal way, declaring shotguns not relevant to the Hague Convention and promising to shoot every shotgun holder, but did not realize its threat when the Americans promised similar reprisals against German prisoners ^[8] .

The combat smooth-bore weapon in the overwhelming majority uses special cartridges, although based on the usual hunting ones, but not compatible with the hunting weapons, according to the requirements of the legislation. The 12-gauge “magnum” cartridges (with a 76-mm sleeve) are almost universally used due to the fact that the more powerful 10-gauge has a monstrous return, limits the magazine capacity and makes the design of multiply-charged systems much more difficult. the caliber does not provide an acceptable stopping power ^[6] . The ammunition equipment is a large-caliber shot / case-shot (type 00), a rod ( flashset ) ^[11] shot or special bullets. Promising results were obtained when using cartridges with combined attacking elements, for example, during the Vietnam War, high efficiency was demonstrated with a mixture of 8-mm ratchet and 3.25-mm shot ^[12] . Ordinary 70mm hunting cartridges can also be used, but their energy, however, is often insufficient to activate the reloading mechanism in automatic and semi-automatic rifles.

A short shotgun as a grenade firearm is used both for hitting enemy personnel and for other purposes - non-lethal impact, knocking the door (for which he was nicknamed Masterkey in the USA ). It can be single or low charge (for example, have a magazine for 3 rounds). Used mainly by police and special units.

MAUL

Since 2008, there have been reports of new shotgun barrel models being developed in the USA .

Thus, the model MAUL ^[13] , the contract for the creation of which is concluded with a commercial company, is intended for installation on M16 and M4 assault rifles. It weighs about 1.2 kilograms and has a 12th caliber, and the fire can be fueled by ammunition of various destructive forces - non-lethal, special ammunition for kicking doors. ^[14]

• Winchester Model 1897
• Winchester Model 1912
• Remington 1100
• Masterkey - rifle-master pistol.
• M26 MASS - M26 Modular Accessory Shotgun System

• Leroy Thompson. US Combat Shotguns. - Osprey Publishing, 2013. - ISBN 978-1-78096-014-2 .
• Charles Cutshaw Tactical Shotguns // Tactical Small Arms of the 21st Century. - Gun Digest Books, 2006. - p. 326-349. - ISBN 978-0-87349-914-9 .
• Max Walmer. Shotguns // An Illustrated Guide for Special Forces. - London, New York: Salamander Books, 1989. - ISBN 0-86101-438-3 .

• Americans are developing a new under-barrel shotgun // Portal "Military Parity" based on materials Lenta.ru , June 10, 2008