Don't know about feasibility, but it seems the shotgun would be an excellent platform to develop smart munitions for. Airburst capable shells, for example. It'll never be a battlefield weapon again (WW2 was measured in bombs dropped to hit one target, we're now counting how many targets we can hit with one bomb). The AR is still firmly the frontline soldiers weapon (with perhaps a distant change to bullpup). The shotgun is what it is.
The future of "tactical" shotguns
- Thread starter SantaClawz
- Start date
Have you guys seen the metal storm company? their maul shotgun is essentially a barrel with a trigger-with all the shells stacked in the barrel and fired electronically. Compared to other under mount shotgun systems its exceptionally small,sleek, and is semi automatic. I think if they could create a very compact unit that had a very small fold up stock and a quick detatch mount, so you could easily switch from and use the maul as a stand alone or under mount attachment it would be ideal for todays combat situations.
at least for Canada and its allies, we are capable of being very effective at longer ranges, which is not something that many of the opposing forces we may face can. As such, shotguns are a niche weapon, and having something that is sleek, portable, and able to work alongside our other weapon systems without competing will be the future.
also, another thought on a hindrance shotguns have with specialty rounds that keep them from being as big of a benefit as they should be. Shotguns have a lot of different rounds, allowing one weapon system to tackle all sorts of situations, including lethal and non lethal. This should be a benefit, but there comes safety risks when using a firearm loaded or previously loaded with lethal rounds, and most op for a totally different weapon to handle each round. Would there be a way to create a shotgun system that can determine the type of ammunition loaded, and would only fire when both the shell and shotgun was set to that particular setting. I am thinking perhaps a groove on the back of the non lethal shell, and a spring loaded peg near the firing pin. If the groove is there, the peg goes forward, allowing you to fire when in the non lethal firing mode. If a non grooved lethal round is placed, the spring would stay depressed and it would not fire. On electric systems round detection would be even easier. Just having a small non conductive material on the shell brass and a simple circuit inside.
at least for Canada and its allies, we are capable of being very effective at longer ranges, which is not something that many of the opposing forces we may face can. As such, shotguns are a niche weapon, and having something that is sleek, portable, and able to work alongside our other weapon systems without competing will be the future.
also, another thought on a hindrance shotguns have with specialty rounds that keep them from being as big of a benefit as they should be. Shotguns have a lot of different rounds, allowing one weapon system to tackle all sorts of situations, including lethal and non lethal. This should be a benefit, but there comes safety risks when using a firearm loaded or previously loaded with lethal rounds, and most op for a totally different weapon to handle each round. Would there be a way to create a shotgun system that can determine the type of ammunition loaded, and would only fire when both the shell and shotgun was set to that particular setting. I am thinking perhaps a groove on the back of the non lethal shell, and a spring loaded peg near the firing pin. If the groove is there, the peg goes forward, allowing you to fire when in the non lethal firing mode. If a non grooved lethal round is placed, the spring would stay depressed and it would not fire. On electric systems round detection would be even easier. Just having a small non conductive material on the shell brass and a simple circuit inside.
Until we move beyond cartridges and into lasers/phasers/raygun type of thing, we have maxed out essentially 150 year old tech. All 'we' do now is add gadgets and tinker with design but in the end its all the same crap just repackaged. A WW1 trenchgun in the hands of a conscript farmboy in 1914 can pump out the same amount of buckshot as a 'high speed,low drag, super operator' with the latest 'tactical' shotgun today. No real difference in almost 100 years. All the best designs have already been invented a hundred years ago and nothing revolutionary will occur again until we jump the gap to a '40 watt plasma array gun'.
I think we are gonna see more tech in the ammo...then the guns...shorter length of shells, maybe rimless?, faster and more powerful burning powder, greater effective range, lighter weight and so on. Would be great now...can fit more shells in the tube and carry more for the same weight restrictions.
Lets hope they are more durable then any of the junk KEL TEC puts out...
Switching tubes on the thing is not that fast and it requires a pump to switch over tubes that doesn't feed a round (if that make sense?) so speed is not that great if your going tube-tube often and reloading is awkward and not as natural as the more "common" shotguns. Bullpup are nice in some ways (mostly packing/carrying them) but I find they do not shoulder/point/swing as fast as a full length shotgun to me and all those things are what make a shotgun a great tool that can be instinctively used when needed.
yeah larger capacity detachable magazines for shotguns are cumbersome., i would think that pre-loadable detachable magazine tubes would be easier to carry, havent really seen any designs come out with a detachable tube mag, cant see it being too hard..
imagine a KSG or UTS15 style shotgun ( that worked ) with 2x detachable tube mags, that preferably could be topped up if needed while in situ on the gun.
but the issue with shoguns is the ammo, its size means the guns and magazines are always going to be rounds limited. unless they can make new ammo without the rimmed boltface, that might help to simplify things, non rimmed cartirdges with faster powder and shorter OAL would increase ammo carrying capacity and ease. Magazines would be much easier to produce, and without the rim, you could have staggered mags instead of single stack.
and a shift from 12ga to 20ga wouldnt be an aweful idea.. the 20s ive shot have been really effective on game, slugs buck and bird
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way of the future
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Forbes/hutton, you are somewhat mistaken sir!
The shotgun in the military procurement/supply chain is no different than any other specialized arm which has a specialized role in military use.
In the law enforcement role, I myself cannot see it disappearing. Sure, it's no long range proposition. But in highly populated areas I do not foresee other long arms taking over it's multi-use role: IE-rubber bullets & buckshot for riot control, beanbag rounds, door breaching rounds, shell crackers for animal control. Not to mention the lesser penetrating buckshot with it's highly lethal close range load, in perhaps an apartment complex or suburb situation. And in rare instances the lethal .73 calibre slug, when all else fails and it's safe to do so. Few 'weapons' have the one shot stop reputation and the visually impressive deterant value of the modern 12 gauge shotgun against soft targets at close range IMO.
Again visiting upon the purely military use of shotguns:
Take for example the frequent use of shotguns at roadblocks, over in the sandbox and dangerous places such as Haiti and Somolia. The cavernous bore gets local respect and attention, along with it's extended magazine in the hands of a determined operator, deserved or otherwise. Have you been through the gates of any domestic USN base Post-911? I assure you there will be at least one 12 gauge Mossberg on duty 24/7 in the hands of trained military personnel.
One could argue it's urban law enforcement, foreign adventures (merely guarding embassies) and rural animal control duty use, could easily see ever increasing use in the future. Just as you will continue to see holstered sidearms, sniper rifles, & non-lethal weapons, I suspect shotguns will be a minor but constant companion to ARs for a very long time into the future for guard duty and more frequent use in low intensity conflicts.
The only change I could see is maybe for semi-autos to see increasing use, along with more imaginitive special munitions.
The shotgun in the military procurement/supply chain is no different than any other specialized arm which has a specialized role in military use.
In the law enforcement role, I myself cannot see it disappearing. Sure, it's no long range proposition. But in highly populated areas I do not foresee other long arms taking over it's multi-use role: IE-rubber bullets & buckshot for riot control, beanbag rounds, door breaching rounds, shell crackers for animal control. Not to mention the lesser penetrating buckshot with it's highly lethal close range load, in perhaps an apartment complex or suburb situation. And in rare instances the lethal .73 calibre slug, when all else fails and it's safe to do so. Few 'weapons' have the one shot stop reputation and the visually impressive deterant value of the modern 12 gauge shotgun against soft targets at close range IMO.
Again visiting upon the purely military use of shotguns:
Take for example the frequent use of shotguns at roadblocks, over in the sandbox and dangerous places such as Haiti and Somolia. The cavernous bore gets local respect and attention, along with it's extended magazine in the hands of a determined operator, deserved or otherwise. Have you been through the gates of any domestic USN base Post-911? I assure you there will be at least one 12 gauge Mossberg on duty 24/7 in the hands of trained military personnel.
One could argue it's urban law enforcement, foreign adventures (merely guarding embassies) and rural animal control duty use, could easily see ever increasing use in the future. Just as you will continue to see holstered sidearms, sniper rifles, & non-lethal weapons, I suspect shotguns will be a minor but constant companion to ARs for a very long time into the future for guard duty and more frequent use in low intensity conflicts.
The only change I could see is maybe for semi-autos to see increasing use, along with more imaginitive special munitions.
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I still think the "thumper" carbine will overtake the shotgun in the antipersonel role.
Whether you're launching big, lightweight, frangible aluminum cored projectiles with low sectional densities at 3000 fps, where downrange penetration or ricochet is a concern, or tough, heavy slugs with ridiculous penetration; the thumper should be able to outdo the shotgun in every area {including terminal ballstics} with the exception of hit probability with buckshot.
Whether you're launching big, lightweight, frangible aluminum cored projectiles with low sectional densities at 3000 fps, where downrange penetration or ricochet is a concern, or tough, heavy slugs with ridiculous penetration; the thumper should be able to outdo the shotgun in every area {including terminal ballstics} with the exception of hit probability with buckshot.
