The best automatic shotguns. Pump or semi-automatic: Which “tactical shotgun” is better? Technical side of the issue

Colossal fire density, high rate of fire, crushing firepower— Combat shotguns occupy a narrow but important niche in the arsenals of special forces and armies around the world.

They are indispensable for short-range combat, use different types of ammunition and are superior in stopping power to any other small arms.

"Vepr-12" (Russia)

Russian smoothbore self-loading carbine"Vepr-12" was developed based on light machine gun Kalashnikov by craftsmen of the Vyatsko-Polyansky Machine-Building Plant. Designed in the early 2000s, the gun inherited the general layout and design of the RPK with a gas release mechanism and locking by rotating the bolt, but the bolt group and receiver were redesigned to accommodate the use of 12/70 and 12/76 caliber rifle cartridges. Food is supplied from detachable box magazines with a single-row arrangement of cartridges - for four, eight or ten pieces. In addition, drums for 20 or 25 rounds have been developed for the carbine.

In Russia, Vepr-12 is certified as a civilian and service weapon, and the carbine is also exported to other countries. It is known that the “Vepr” with a telescopic butt, EOTech sight and tactical flashlight is in service with the EKAM police special forces of the Greek Ministry of Internal Affairs. The same weapons are used by French police special forces. In September 2012, the Vepr-12 was tested by the NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency, after which approval was received to include the carbine in the list of weapons used by the countries of the North Atlantic Alliance.

Daewoo USAS-12 (USA, South Korea)

The Daewoo USAS-12 is an automatic shotgun produced by the South Korean conglomerate Daewoo's division, Daewoo Precision Industries, since the late 1980s. Automation is based on the removal of powder gases with locking the barrel by turning the bolt. The design feature is that the plastic stock of the USAS-12 is hollow; the bolt group rolls inward when firing, which significantly reduced recoil. The type of ammunition is a box magazine for ten or a drum magazine for 20 rounds. Sighting range - 40-50 meters, rate of fire - 360 rounds per minute. For ease of carrying, the shotgun is equipped with a special handle.

USAS-12 with ten-round magazine

In total, more than 30 thousand USAS-12 automatic rifles were manufactured. They are equipped with special forces South Korea, Colombia, Dominican Republic, and Brazil. The manufacturer tried to import self-loading versions into the United States for sale on the civilian market, but the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms banned this deal. Locally produced versions were sold to US government and police units, assembled by RAMO Defense from South Korean parts.

Benelli M4 Super 90 (Italy)

The Benelli M4 Super 90 shotgun is a shining example of a well-made Italian weapon. It is collected from special durable materials and is considered very reliable. The manufacturer claims the ability to shoot up to 25 thousand rounds without repair. The gun's automatic system works by removing gases from the barrel into two symmetrically located gas cylinders. The type of ammunition is an under-barrel tubular magazine for six rounds.

Benelli M4 Super 90

This shotgun is well known in the international commercial shotgun market. It can also be bought in Russia for private use. Benelli M4 Super 90 in use law enforcement agencies Australia, Great Britain, Greece, Georgia, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Libya, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia. In the United States, the gun was adopted by the Marine Corps in 1999 under the designation M1014. Today it is also used by the US Army, Navy SEALs and the Los Angeles Police Department.

UTAS UTS-15 (Türkiye)

UTS-15 is a smoothbore shotgun developed in 2011 by the Turkish company UTAS for the military and police. The South African Neostead shotgun was used as a basis. The UTS-15 retained the bullpup layout and two tubular over-barrel magazines, but redesigned the internal mechanisms. UTS-15 is a pump-action shotgun. The barrel is locked by turning the bolt onto three lugs that engage with the shank. The ejection of spent cartridges is only to the right, at the window for cartridges there is an automatically opening dust cover. The design of the gun's feeding unit ensures the chambering of cartridges in absolutely any position of the weapon, and the hinged lid provides quick access to the breech to control the cartridge in the chamber and eliminate delays in feeding if a deformed cartridge is encountered.

The main feature of the weapon is a twin double magazine with 15 rounds of ammunition, which can be loaded from the left, right or both sides at the same time. The shotgun is used to a limited extent in law enforcement and military structures of a number of countries, but the first versions of the shotgun were characterized by low reliability - this mainly concerned the cartridge supply system. After criticism from users, UTAS developed additional weapon options, correcting the shortcomings.

SRM Arms model 1216 (USA)

The SRM Atms model 1216 is a 12-gauge shotgun with a 16-round magazine and a relatively short barrel of 457 millimeters. It features an unusual design with an automatic semi-blowback mechanism, atypical for shotguns. The weapon is equipped with an under-barrel drum magazine, which is a block of four parallel tubular magazines with a capacity of four rounds each, in a single housing. The body is rotated so that cartridges are supplied only from the upper magazine in the block.

SRM Arms model 1216

Initially, the shotgun was produced exclusively for civilian needs, but today it is used by police units of several American states. The weapon is designed for deep “tuning”, allowing you to customize it for yourself: the receiver has Picatinny rails on which you can install various types of sights, laser sights, flashlights and other devices. The developers managed to combine a number of advantages in this weapon: small dimensions, multiple charges, tactical mobility and universal two-way control.

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For people of military specialty, whose professional activities involve the frequent use of firearms, situations are well known when success is brought by one powerful volley. Use of weapons for this purpose large caliber, firing bullets or shot charges, allows you to quickly achieve a certain tactical advantage. A shotgun smoothbore weapon can easily be included in this category. The name of the barrel alone speaks volumes about its mode of action.

This type of firearm is well known to hunters who hunt game birds. In this case, the main damaging element is shot, which allows you to achieve a large affected area. Despite the fact that the use of smooth-bore hunting rifles for military purposes turned out to be ineffective, the military was able to properly evaluate the effect when shooting shotguns. The result of the transformation of smooth-bore guns into powerful military weapons was combat shotguns, which are used today by the army, special forces and law enforcement forces.

Technical side of the issue

A shotgun is a smoothbore firearms, a derivative of a hunting rifle that was converted by gunsmiths to suit the conditions combat use. A pistol grip was added to the butt used for shooting from the shoulder, allowing firing from the belt line or offhand. Combat shotguns have also retained hunting calibers, which vary in the range of 5.5 mm - 5 cm.

Weapons of this type are divided into the following types:

by trunk type;
by the number of trunks;
according to the recharging mechanism.

Depending on the type of barrel, guns can be smooth-bore or combined, capable of firing both bullets and shot charges. Depending on the number of barrels, shotguns can be single-barrel, double-barrel or multi-barrel. This type of weapon also differs in its loading mechanisms. There are models with a pump-action reloading mechanism and with a lever-action reloading device. Available in model range self-loading and automatic shotguns.

The double-barreled shotgun is the most popular and common type. Most amateur hunters prefer to use this particular weapon design in their craft. Typically, a hunting shotgun is a typical double-barreled hunting shotgun that is loaded by breaking. The main effect is achieved through a double shot, when a double charge of shot is fired from two barrels with a difference of a fraction of a second. For all its enormous firepower, this type of gun suffers from a significant drawback - a rather intensive reloading process. A double-barreled shotgun is a first-strike weapon when there is no urgent need for urgent reloading. However, due to low accuracy, a large affected area is achieved. This quality is especially valuable when hunting birds and small animals. From the point of view of combat use, shooting from a shotgun may be the only effective one in close combat or in defensive combat conditions.

Shotgun Ammo

The main reason for the increased interest in this type of firearms from the military is ammunition. The short firing range is more than compensated by the enormous power of the shot and the high penetration ability of the striking elements, which are so necessary during a combat clash in a limited space. Today, most models of military smoothbore shotguns are designed to fire special cartridges. All of them are created on the basis of hunting ammunition. No, these are not the same hunting cartridges that you can equip at home. This is factory-made ammunition that meets all the necessary specifications.

If the main caliber for all hunting rifles is 12 gauge, then an assault shotgun (military weapon of special forces) can also have 10 gauge. Each caliber corresponds to certain conditions for using weapons. Despite the enormous recoil force when fired, 10-gauge cartridges have monstrous penetrating power, which is often necessary during assault operations.

It is enough to compare the power of a shot from a 12-gauge cartridge loaded with buckshot with the power of a shot made from a 9 mm caliber PM Makarov pistol. The weight of each buckshot with a caliber of 8.2 mm is 3.9 g. Initial speed flight when fired from a smoothbore gun is 380 m/s. In this case, the flight energy of buckshot is 280 J, which is almost the same as the flight energy of a 9-mm Makarov pistol bullet. There are 9 such buckshots in a hunting cartridge, so if we multiply 9 by 280, we get a total charge energy of 2520 J. Is it worth commenting?

Despite the enormous penetrating power, a significant drawback of such a powerful weapon is great strength recoil and low magazine capacity.

The 12-gauge hunting shotgun is a balanced weapon that allows you to shoot from the shoulder and still achieve the desired result. 20-gauge shotguns have limited firing capabilities due to the weak stopping power of the fired charge.

The main equipment of live ammunition is large-caliber shot (type 00), flechettes (rod shot) and special bullets (jacans). Combined-action cartridges are used in combat conditions, where, along with small shot, there is buckshot with a diameter of 8 mm. Each type of shotgun uses its own cartridges. If for a weapon with a manual reloading mechanism it is enough to have a cartridge with a 70 mm sleeve, then a semi-automatic shotgun or an automatic combat shotgun is equipped only with cartridges with a 76 mm sleeve. This is due to the fact that in this case the functionality of the reloading machine is influenced by the charge energy. The caliber of the cartridge for automatic rifles can be either 10th or 12th.

The history of the emergence of a shotgun as a melee weapon

Let's start with the fact that the prototype of modern pump-action shotguns and shotguns are ancient muskets. The first units armed with smooth-bore guns, which have enormous penetrating power, appeared in armies at the end of the 18th century. The first samples of these weapons were extremely imperfect. The muskets had a large combat mass, had a huge caliber and were loaded from the barrel. However, despite its clumsiness, this weapon demonstrated enormous power from its first days on the battlefield. Heavy large-caliber bullets at short distances inflicted huge losses on the enemy. Firing a shotgun during hand-to-hand combat became a favorite tactical technique during naval battles or during assault operations.

In those early years, a firefight between lines of opposing troops rarely exceeded 2-3 salvos, after which the opponents rushed into hand-to-hand combat, wielding a bayonet and knives. The use of shot as a striking element was limited and was used mainly to equip irregular combat units. With the advent of rifled firearms, smoothbore guns migrated to the hunting industry, where shotguns found their worthy use.

We remembered the firing properties of smooth-bore weapons already in the 20th century, when positional warfare came into fashion. The troops dug into trenches and hid under the protection of fortifications, from which they could only be driven out during a direct combat encounter. The Americans were the first to use shotguns in combat conditions, who encountered the factor of trench warfare during the battles of the First World War. The Winchester Model 1912 repeating shotgun is the first American 12-gauge shotgun used in combat. This gun became the weapon of choice for US Army infantry units during close combat when clearing enemy trenches. More advanced was the Trench Gun Model 1917, which was an improved version of the sporting rifle. Both models have proven themselves to be powerful melee weapons. From that moment on, shotguns of various models began to be used to solve certain problems by both the army and law enforcement agencies. Subsequent events on the fronts of World War II, in particular fighting in the tropical jungle, forced the Americans to return to this proven means of armed struggle.

Using the experience of combat use of smoothbore shotguns, specialists from security agencies and police units have developed their own concept for the use of shotguns. Six-shot pump-action shotguns came into use by the American police during a fierce fight against organized crime. In the post-war period, shotguns began to be equipped with law enforcement forces, gendarmerie, carabinieri and police. The police shotgun significantly increased the firepower of units during the suppression of street riots, and assault groups and the force of police special forces received a powerful tool for solving assigned tasks.

Modernity and the shotgun

On at the moment Almost all paramilitary structures adopted smoothbore guns. A tactical shotgun, depending on the ammunition used, allows you to solve various tactical problems.

This is facilitated by the extensive range of manufactured ammunition, represented by the following types:

rubber and regular bullets;
buckshot, large or small shot;
tear gas cartridges;
high-explosive and high-explosive fragmentation grenade cartridges;
flash-noise grenades.

The versatility of the design of modern models of these weapons is ensured by the presence of special attachments that allow not only firing with live ammunition, but also performing a number of tactical and technical manipulations. In law enforcement and assault army units, shotguns are used in the following cases:

means for quickly breaking doors;
non-lethal means of armed warfare;
offensive melee weapon.

Of all the listed methods of application, each is specific and is used in certain conditions.

Manufacturers today produce a wide variety of models of such weapons, among which the most popular are lever-action pump-action shotguns and an automatic shotgun. Typically, traditional shotgun models are single-barrel combat shotguns with a lever action mechanism. The best shotguns in this category are the legendary Remington Model 870, the FN SLP police shotgun - self-loading, and the Mossberg 500 smoothbore pump-action shotgun, produced since 1962. All of these models can be found in the arsenal of current police forces around the world.

Automatic shotguns, which are equipped with army units today, are much more perfect weapon. Together with an improved reloading mechanism, such models have an increased rate of fire and a larger magazine capacity. One of the latest innovations in this area was the appearance on the arms market of a double-barreled automatic shotgun. The DP-12 double-barreled shotgun is capable of firing at a distance of up to 22 meters from two barrels, alternately. In just half a minute, you can fire 16 rounds of 12 mm caliber from this weapon.

Despite the emergence of modern models of these weapons, it is difficult to call a combat shotgun a universal combat weapon. An increase in the number of barrels significantly increases the combat and firing characteristics of a smoothbore gun. The combat qualities were greatly affected by the appearance of an automatic reloading mechanism and the expansion of the range of ammunition that shotguns can be equipped with today. However, it does not change in better side sighting range situation. The maximum possible sighting range provided by a shotgun is no more than 60 meters. In modern products, the firing range is an order of magnitude shorter - only 22-25 meters.

The way out of this situation was the creation of rifled models of automatic weapons, complete with an under-barrel shotgun. Such weapons increased the firepower of the shooter several times, making him a universal combat unit.

Popular models of our time

Most models of pump-action shotguns are developed for the needs of the civilian weapons market. However, as they go on sale, as often happens, such weapons quickly find their niche in paramilitary structures. Currently, almost any automatic hunting shotgun has a military or police equivalent. The commercial market is driving progress in this regard as well. The creation and development of new types of smoothbore shotguns is proceeding at an accelerated pace. These weapons are produced all over the world. Among the popular models you can find American, Italian, Belgian and Turkish models of smoothbore shotguns, each of which was created for a specific category of consumers.

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"Addiction" to certain types of ammunition was a major problem for many years after the commercial success of the first semi-automatic shotguns. So it is not surprising that the developers of this type of weapon were focused mainly on searching technical solutions, which would allow the use of various types of ammunition without problems. It is thanks to their diligence that modern semi-automatic shotguns chambered in 12/76 chambers will have no difficulty using any 12/70 caliber ammunition. Average weight fraction was also increased from 24 g to 52 g.

In Europe, this technological leap brought semi-automatic shotguns out of the shadows and made them the weapon of choice for most hunters.

With the advent of the Beretta "UGB25 Xcel", semi-automatic shotguns found their way into the sport of skeet shooting.

In practice, semi-automatic shotguns have two main advantages over double-barreled shotguns: first of all, the third shot can be fired very quickly. Secondly, they have a softer recoil in accordance with the weight and power of the cartridges, which is no less important for the shooter during a long series of shots.

The main disadvantage we have to mention here is that it is only possible to use one alternative choke for all shots in quick succession. At the shooting range, this disadvantage can be compensated, at least in part, by the right choice ammunition. Similar to over-and-under shotguns, interchangeable chokes are now also available for semi-automatic shotguns, and thanks to their easy and quick installation and removal, even this category of weapon can be quickly adapted to any type of hunting.

The first semi-automatic shotguns appeared at the beginning of the 20th century. John Moses Browning was the creator of this new class of weapon. The development of his legendary auto-loading shotgun "Auto 5", which uses the recoil energy of the barrel during its long stroke for reloading, was sold to the Belgian company "FN", which began mass production in 1905. It was the first technically and commercially successful semi-automatic shotgun.

In fact, self-loading (semi-automatic) shotguns can be divided into two categories, which differ in the principle of operation of the automation: based on recoil energy and based on the removal of powder gases.

In the first case we're talking about about the principle of locking based on recoil energy, where the barrel moves a certain distance in engagement with the bolt until it is released, which allows the bolt to linger in the rear position and the barrel to return to its original position, while the bolt ends its cycle by chambering the next cartridge into the chamber .

The era of semi-automatic shotguns began at the beginning of the 20th century with the advent of the legendary BROWNING "Auto 5", which operated on the basis of this locking principle and was taken as the basis for the manufacture of semi-automatic shotguns by other gun manufacturers, including REMINGTON and FRANCHI. ".

Modern shotgun BROWNING A5 with recoil-based automatic action

The main disadvantages of the first semi-automatic shotguns were their rather rigid dependence on certain ammunition and their sometimes enormous recoil. Users were forced to adjust these shotguns to match the corresponding ammunition, for example, on the Auto 5 semi-automatic shotgun it was necessary to install the famous friction rings to provide additional force that would slow down the recoil of the barrel, providing it with a stable recoil speed for using cartridges with different powder and shot loads .

Self-loading hunting shotgun BROWNING "A5" in action

Some users were also annoyed by the recoil of the barrel. Therefore, designers initially turned their attention to eliminating barrel recoil and minimizing dependence on certain ammunition. There were several more attempts to improve the principle of operation of automation based on recoil, but by the beginning of World War II, the future clearly lay with the principle of operation of automation based on the removal of powder gases.

The operating principle of this mechanism is extremely simple: The gas outlet is located in the barrel bore around the bolt group. The gas drives the piston to recharge the cartridge.

The main disadvantage of the operating principle of automation based on the removal of powder gases is the carbon residue from the gas flow. However, in recent years even these systems have undergone significant improvements in terms of reliability with any type of ammunition and greater resistance to the accumulation of carbon residues - in some cases, almost to perfection.

Vivid examples of this were BERETTA "A-400 Xplor Unico", REMINGTON "Versa Max" And BROWNING "Maxus".

BERETTA trusts the new gas system of the "A 400 Xtreme Unico" shotgun

REMINGTON VersaMax 12 Gauge Self-Loading Shotgun with Realtree Camouflage Finish

BROWNING Maxus shotgun in a modest black color scheme

All three of these models can shoot 12-gauge cartridges equally well with case lengths ranging from 70 mm to 89 mm and weights ranging from 24 g to 63 g. The REMINGTON "Versa Max" shotgun has a gas piston system that vents gas to operate the system through ports and gas pistons located in the combustion chamber area. This gas piston system self-regulates gas pressure based on liner length for reliable cycling regardless of load. The BERETTA "A-400 XPlor Unico" shotgun uses a different tactic to solve this problem. The A-400 XPlor Unico integrates a new gas system with a rotating bolt and feed system, and also uses a self-cleaning gas venting mechanism. These two well-controlled lugs fit into corresponding recesses in the barrel sleeve, locking the bore.

In order to ensure normal operation of weapons with a wide variety of ammunition, it is necessary to regulate the pressure of the gases required for the chamber, depending on the corresponding load. This effect is achieved using an innovative gas piston with a cleaning ring that doubles as a seal.

Pressure rises as gas enters the valve, causing the piston to move. The manufacturer claims that these guns are 36% faster than any other semi-automatic gun known today. To achieve this goal, the recoil action has been reduced compared to the previous model "AL 391". BERETTA calls this new "high efficiency engine" A 400 Unico "Blink".

Self-loading shotgun WINCHESTER SX3 with gas exhaust system Active-Valve-System

The "Power Drive" gas sealing system is the heart of the BROWNING "Maxus" shotgun. Additional gas vents were designed to remove powder gases from the mechanism more quickly than was the case with the previous BROWNING gas venting system when firing heavier shot shells. New system sealing the gas outlet removes excess powder gases from the mechanism, which, in turn, increases the stroke length of the gas piston. WINCHESTER's SX3 line of gas shotguns also claim to be the fastest-firing semi-automatic shotguns in the world.

Receiver of a semi-automatic shotgun WINCHESTER SX3

In order to minimize any risks of jamming or other problems that may arise on hunting or shooting ranges, designers have also put a lot of effort into finding solutions to problems encountered in modern gas exhaust systems: the aforementioned phenomenon of carbon residue buildup, as well as dust and moisture. However, there is no doubt that in some extreme situations, residual risk still remains. Even modern gas rifles must be kept clean to remain in good working order.

The BENELLI M2 IPSC semi-automatic shotgun has been specially designed for dynamic sport shooting

It's basically taking advantage of the weapon's recoil in general. The automation here operates from a powerful spring installed between the combat cylinder and the bolt body, which, accumulating energy during the recoil of the weapon, then provides a full cycle of operation of the gun’s automation. The combat cylinder rotates and unlocks the bore, clamping the inertial spring between the cylinder and the body. Due to the recoil force of the gun, the bolt, under the influence of inertial force, moves forward relative to it by several millimeters, compressing the inertial spring, which, overcoming the inertia of the bolt, throws it back, and at the same time the spent cartridge case is ejected, and reverse stroke The bolt group feeds a new cartridge into the chamber.

Essentially, therefore, the inertial system consists of a combat cylinder, a bolt body and an inertial spring. BROWNING has used this system in its new A5 semi-automatic shotgun.

All components of the inertial system in the Vinci model move exclusively coaxially and in line with the barrel. BENELLI has also set new standards with its Vinci shotgun. The Vinci shotgun, consisting of three main modules, can be easily assembled and disassembled without the use of additional tools.

All (or almost all) of the shotgun models mentioned in this article were originally designed for use as hunting weapons, but have subsequently found new applications as weapons for the military, police or for sports shooters (participating in practical shooting competitions under the auspices of the IPSC (International Confederation of Practical Shooting)).

In addition to the flawless operation of the automation, every effort of the engineers was also aimed at reducing recoil. Recent years have seen significant advances in this area, especially among premium shotguns.

A shotgun is a smooth-bore firearm that uses small round balls called shot as ammunition. Mainly used for shooting from the shoulder. At the moment, many people actively use a shotgun for self-defense, which is explained by its high stopping power at short distances. What you need to purchase a shotgun and how to choose the right type of weapon will be discussed below.

Before purchasing one or another type of weapon, it is necessary to determine the specifics of the legal framework regulating the possibility of obtaining and using such products. All currently existing weapons can be divided into two large groups:

Service, which is used by various military units, special forces, police, etc. As a rule, these types of weapons have enhanced firepower without any restrictions in characteristics.
Civilian weapons. Such products are intended for sports, self-defense, hunting, and can also be used in educational purposes. As a rule, these are weapons with reduced firepower that are not capable of causing serious injury to the enemy.

The Law “On Weapons” stipulates the following types of self-defense means that do not require obtaining permission for storage and use:

stun gun (except for those models that are very powerful and operate remotely);
gas sprayer;
axe;
household knife;
rubber batons and sticks;
"Udar" type devices;
weak pneumatic weapons (caliber no more than 4.5 mm, power up to 7.5 J);
speargun;
those types of signal revolvers that, due to their characteristics, cannot be used as military weapons.

To acquire the above mentioned means of self-defense, a citizen only needs to reach the age of majority.

Weapons such as shotguns cannot be possessed or used without the appropriate permit. Moreover, such a weapon needs certain place for storage that meets certain standards. It must be a securely locked safe that is inspected by an authorized representative.

Consequences of using a shotgun

In self-defense, you should never shoot in the face or head of the attacker.

A shotgun is a smooth-bore gun that uses shot—small metal balls—as ammunition. So it's not even about traumatic weapons, but about firearms. At the moment, both storage and use of shotguns without permission involves administrative or even criminal liability. The degree of punishment will depend on the nature of the illegal actions.

Important! According to the legislation of the Russian Federation, carrying bladed and long-barreled firearms for self-defense is unacceptable. Thus, even after obtaining all the appropriate permits, you can only use such weapons to protect your private property.

Now we must consider the consequences of using a shotgun for self-defense. In this case, several important aspects must be taken into account:

Due to its specificity, a shotgun is designed to hit close targets. If we are talking about a range exceeding 25 meters, then the results of the shot will be unpredictable due to the scattering of cartridges. Even if we are talking about high-quality buckshot, using a shotgun for self-defense is only suitable at short distances.
The capabilities of this gun are significantly limited even if it is used in small spaces. Use at a distance of less than 5 meters requires very precise aiming, since the scree in this case will be insignificant. However, if hit, the attacker is guaranteed to be incapacitated.

It should be remembered that a shotgun is a serious weapon that can cause significant damage to an opponent and lead to death. In this case, the defendant may be tried for negligent homicide. In addition, the use of a rifle must be justified. If the court proves that there was no threat to the life of the defender, then he himself will sit in the dock.

To ensure that using a shotgun for self-defense does not have negative consequences, you must adhere to the following rules:

Under no circumstances should you shoot in the face, head, or neck. Shot damage to these areas will most likely lead to death.
You should not shoot in the peritoneal area, as buckshot can cause multiple injuries internal organs with profuse bleeding.
It is advisable to fire a warning shot in the air, giving the attacker the opportunity to change his mind about what he has planned. As a rule, such actions are quite sufficient to resolve the conflict.
If the previous point did not have the desired effect, you should shoot at the limbs.

When using any firearm, you should also consider the following nuances:

Physical training. Any gun has a certain recoil force, and therefore before using it directly for self-defense, you should practice shooting. In addition, without the skills to conduct aimed fire, firearms become only an irritating factor for the attacker. And although the affected area of a shotgun will be much larger than that of the same pistol, accuracy in this case will be useful.
Psychological preparation. In practice, not everyone can shoot a person. To perform such actions requires a certain mindset and special training. Therefore, if you are not able to act carefully and decisively while holding a shotgun, then you should consider other methods of self-defense, for example, stun guns or gas sprays.

Types of shotguns

Benelli M4 Super 90 is a smooth-bore semi-automatic repeating self-loading shotgun, developed in Italy by Benelli Armi S.p.A.

In most cases, shotguns are shotguns that use the energy of a fixed projectile to fire the shot. The direct predecessor of the shotgun is the musket, which nowadays can also be used for riot control and self-defense.

Regardless of the type, shotguns are designed for combat at short distances (up to 25 meters). This is due to two features:

No threading inside the barrel. Rifled shotguns are extremely rare.
Using shot as a projectile. Due to the large spread of metal balls, the shotgun's damaging ability at long distances is insignificant.

At the moment, the following types of shotguns are distinguished:

Single-barreled. Classic version, which is highly valued by experts for its ease of use and unpretentiousness.
Double-barreled (similar to rifles). Such weapon models have a higher lethality compared to their single-barreled counterparts. Currently, such models are especially common among hunters.
Multi-barreled. Such models can have more than two barrels and are not found among civilian weapons.

Regarding the reloading method, the following shotgun options are distinguished:

Pump-action. This is the most popular design with which many people associate the very concept of a shotgun. It assumes the presence of a movable front handle, by sliding which the bolt group moves. Thus, when moving the handle back and forth, the spent cartridge case is ejected, and a new cartridge is sent into the chamber. This mechanism has a higher rate of fire compared to classic rifles and double-barreled shotguns, allowing you to keep your hand on the handle until the magazine is completely empty.
Lever type. This is a multi-shot weapon, the reloading procedure in which occurs in manual mode, through a semicircular movement of the trigger guard. To change the cartridge, it should be passed around the trigger. At the moment, this reloading method is considered somewhat outdated and is largely inferior to its pump-action counterparts.
Self-loading or automatic shotgun. This is a weapon that allows you to fire in automatic mode. Here the recharging process occurs without direct human participation. Regarding the device, such designs resemble automatic rifles and machine guns. Today this is the most advanced type of such weapon, characterized by a high rate of fire. Civilians are not allowed to own this type of shotgun.

Shotgun Ammo

The cartridge is grapeshot, has an ideal accuracy of 80-85% at a distance of 35 meters

In addition to being cheap of this weapon(about half the price of a classic rifle), the shotgun attracts attention with a wide variety of ammunition. In this case, the short firing range can be easily compensated by the significant power of the shot, due to which the shotgun is characterized by truly high penetration ability. This criterion determined the use of a shotgun for assault purposes.

Nowadays, most shotguns are designed to fire special cartridges, which can be 10, 12 or even 20 gauge. They are created on the basis of hunting ammunition, which is manufactured in a factory and meets all modern standards THAT.

However, despite the enormous penetrating power of the shotgun, exceeding 2500 J, its significant drawback is the small magazine capacity and strong recoil.

Review of the best shotgun models

Let's look at several of the most popular and technically advanced models of shotguns that can be successfully used for self-defense and hunting:

Mossberg 500 Tactical Persuader

Mossberg 500 is a smoothbore hunting shotgun with a pump-action reloading system (a feature of this pump-action shotgun is a safety located on top of the receiver and controlled by the thumb)

A classic model, production of which began back in 1962. It is characterized by a wide range of applications, being used for self-defense, for hunting and in various law enforcement agencies. The structural elements of the shotgun are made of steel, while the body of the model is aluminum, and the fore-end and butt are made of plastic or wood. The fuse is located on top of the receiver, which is very convenient.

Super Black Eagle 3

The model is excellent for use in complex climatic conditions. The key feature of this shotgun is the presence of a special stock that helps reduce recoil. The weapon is characterized by excellent rates of fire, power, accuracy of fire and reliability, and a certain aggressive design is an additional advantage, allowing this weapon to be successfully used for self-defense.

Remington 870

The Remington 870 is a shotgun with an under-barrel tubular magazine for 8 rounds and a longitudinally sliding forend (“pump-action” shotgun)

A popular shotgun model that has been produced by an American manufacturer since the middle of the last century. Thanks to the special shape of the fore-end, the gun is easily recognizable. The design is characterized by a lower supply of cartridges, while the ejection of spent cartridges is carried out from the side. The high reliability of this model is due to the presence of a solid receiver, which further reduced the weight of the shotgun, making it more convenient to use.

M4 Super 90 from the Italian company Benelli

It has excellent characteristics and is made from high-strength materials. Experts highlight the high reliability of this weapon - it is designed to fire 25 thousand shots before the first repair. This shotgun can use 12-gauge and 16-gauge cartridges. The telescopic butt allows you to choose the most convenient rest for using the weapon. High reliability and ease of maintenance have made this model popular among professional hunters.

Nowadays, there are many types of weapons with very strict defining criteria and distinctive features. This selection of 10 will help you make a choice before purchasing your own gun.

In this article, tactical shotguns are arranged in no particular order.

It was created by Kel-Tec CNC Industries, known for its innovative and original designs for the civilian weapons market. The Kel-Tec KSG was first shown at the 2011 Shot Show in Las Vegas.

The Kel Tec KSG is a smoothbore bullpup shotgun with a longitudinally sliding fore-end (pump-action reloading), the main feature of which is the presence of two tubular magazines located parallel under the barrel, each of which holds up to 7 rounds of 12 gauge (or 6 rounds of 16 caliber).

Kel-Tec KSG is externally and conceptually similar, but structurally the two systems differ in almost every way.

The Kel Tec KSG shotgun has completely “manual” control, which means that it does not have an autoloading system as such. The shotgun is reloaded using a longitudinally sliding forend, which is made of high-strength plastic and is connected to the bolt using two metal rods.

The cartridges are fed only from one of the magazines; switching between magazines is easily done by the shooter manually using a switch in the lower part of the receiver behind the pistol grip.

All functional components of this shotgun are located so ergonomically that there is a complete feeling tactical weapons in hands. And the double-sided push-button safety located in the upper part of the pistol grip makes the shotgun equally convenient to use for both right-handers and left-handers.

Above the barrel of the Kel-Tec KSG there is a Picatinny rail on which various optical and red dot sights can be easily installed. Another Picatinny rail on the forend allows you to mount a front grip, tactical flashlight or laser designator on the shotgun.

It was first introduced at the Shot Show 2008 in Las Vegas, where SRM Arms presented to the public its new series of semi-automatic blowback shotguns. The highlight of this series is the ammunition supply system - four-chamber drum magazines.

The SRM 1216 is a 12-gauge shotgun with a 16-round magazine and a 457 mm barrel that was originally intended for the civilian firearms market. The designers took care to make the weapon as mobile as possible (quite light and short).

The SRM Arms 1216 has an unusual design with an automatic semi-blowback mechanism, atypical for shotguns. The shutter opening is slowed down using a pair of rollers (similar to the system in the Heckler & Koch weapons: G3 or MP5, as well as in the early version of the Stg.45 M assault rifle).

This shotgun is equipped with an under-barrel detachable drum magazine with a capacity of 16 rounds, which is a block of four parallel tubular magazines with a capacity of 4 rounds each, in a single housing. This body rotates so that cartridges are supplied from only one - the top - magazine from the block.

To reduce weight, the SRM Arms 1216 shotgun is equipped with a polymer stock and body, and the necessary strength is provided by a steel receiver, which consists of two halves connected to each other by cross pins like an M16 rifle. The weapon is disassembled quickly and easily. The cocking handle, cartridge ejection window and manual safety are located on the right side.

In the basic version, the SRM Arms 1216 shotgun is not equipped with standard sighting devices, however, the receiver has Picatinny rails on which you can install various types of sights, a laser sight, a flashlight, etc. The developers managed to combine a number of advantages in this weapon: small dimensions, multi-charging, tactical mobility, universal two-way control.

It was developed in 2011 by the Turkish company UTAS for the military and police, as well as for the civilian market.

The UTAS UTS-15 12-gauge pump-action bullpup shotgun has a twin 15-round double magazine that can feed rounds from the left or right tube, or from two magazines simultaneously. The gun has a manual safety located on the left, above the pistol grip. The ejection of spent cartridges goes only to the right; the window for ejecting cartridges has an automatic dustproof cover.

The design of the gun's feed unit ensures good feeding and chambering of cartridges in any position of the weapon. The shotgun body is made of impact-resistant carbon fiber reinforced plastic, making it both strong and lightweight. The bore is chrome-plated, the barrel itself has replaceable chokes.

The integrated Picatinny rail in the upper part of the body allows you to install various sighting devices on the UTAS UTS-15 shotgun. And on the bar on the fore-end under the barrel a laser target, a flashlight, etc. can be installed.

Among the advantages of the UTAS UTS-15 shotgun are ease of use, high firepower, modularity and compact size. The main characteristic features of this pump-action shotgun: its “bullpup” design, a twin double magazine for 15 rounds with a choice of the type of cartridge feed, an upper rail for mounting optics, a laser sight and a flashlight, as well as a muzzle thread on the barrel for installing a DTK, etc.

Featuring a removable magazine, the Vepr-12 Multi-Purpose Shotgun is one of a kind when it comes to design and construction. This shotgun inherited the general layout and design of the RPK light machine gun, with a gas release mechanism and locking by rotating the bolt, but the bolt group and receiver were redesigned to accommodate the use of rifle cartridges, and the trigger was deprived of a self-timer.

The Vepr-12 shotgun is recognized by armed forces all over the world, it eliminates the occurrence of such malfunctions as non-ejection of cartridges, it is possible to conduct rapid fire, it is extremely ergonomic and easy to operate. The Vepr-12 shotgun is used for hunting, sports competitions and self-defense.

One of the most common multi-shot pump-action shotguns in the world, produced by O.F. Mossberg & Sons since 1962, designed for hunting and self-defense, for police and security.

The Mossberg 500 is a pump-action shotgun with manual reloading with a movable forend; the barrel bore is locked by a combat cylinder moving inside the bolt through a cutout in the barrel shank. The cartridges are fed from an under-barrel tubular magazine.

The shotgun is designed to withstand heavy use, its ergonomics ensure exceptional comfort for shooters, and its low weight (only 3 kg) ensures high mobility of this weapon.

The receiver is made from high quality aluminum and the steel bolt lugs fit into the breech, reducing stress on the receiver.

The barrel, bolt, most trigger parts and other parts are made of steel, the receiver (the only numbered part) is made of aluminum alloy and has thick walls, the trigger base and pistol grip are made of plastic, the butt and fore-end are made of plastic or wood.

A characteristic feature of this shotgun is the safety, located on top of the receiver and operated by the thumb, equally convenient when shooting from both the right and left shoulder.

The Mossberg 500 Tactical Persuader modification can be called one of the best in this series.

Italian shotguns have long made a name for themselves in the weapons market, thanks to the high quality of the materials used and functional features.

Super 90 - smoothbore semi-automatic self-loading shotgun the highest level reliability - 25,000 shots can be fired from it without the need to replace any weapon parts.

The Benelli M4 Super 90 shotgun features an automatically adjustable gas system. The barrel is locked by turning the bolt to 2 lugs. This shotgun has a 7-round under-barrel tubular magazine and is the only shotgun with an undocumented feature: the M4S90 can easily load 9 rounds without magazine extensions, in a 7+1+1 configuration where the ninth round is placed on the feed tray. The chamber is made for 16-gauge cartridges (76 mm), but the design of the gun also allows it to work reliably with 12-gauge cartridges (70 mm).

The barrel is chrome-plated and equipped with screw-in chokes. The receiver has a Weaver rail for installing sighting devices, etc. As standard, the gun is equipped with a telescopic sliding butt.

Partial disassembly and assembly of the gun is carried out without additional tools. Cleaning the M4 S90 in the field after shooting takes only a few minutes.

7. REMINGTON MODEL 870

An American shotgun first introduced by Remington Arms in 1950. Thanks to its signature action, the Remington 870 is one of the most famous pump-action shotguns in the world.

The Remington 870 shotgun is a pump-action shotgun with an under-barrel tubular magazine and a sliding fore-end that features side-ejection, bottom-feeding, an 8-round tubular magazine located directly under the barrel, and an internal firing pin. Locking is carried out by a swinging combat cylinder located in the bolt, behind the breech of the barrel.

The receiver is milled from a single piece of steel and is incredibly reliable. The thick-walled receiver design has remained unchanged for decades.

One of the big advantages of the Remington 870 is its virtually unlimited selection of options for tuning and modification, as well as weapon accessories: stocks, receiver pads, sights, belts, mounts for cartridges on the receiver, etc.

As standard, the shotgun barrel is thick-walled, made of 4140 steel, with a chrome-plated channel, the service life is at least 30,000 shots.

The Remington 870 fuse is located quite conveniently; it is possible to install a larger fuse. There are also kits for moving the safety button to the left side.

The Remington 870 can be equipped with both classic rifle sights and rifle sights.

The Remington 870 handguard has two pull rods, which increases reliability. And the Picatinny rail on the forend allows you to install a flashlight or laser sight on the shotgun.

The relatively light weight of the Remington Model 870 shotgun gives it good mobility. And the design of the shotgun itself was developed to ensure its simple and easy operation, as well as reliability.

The main advantage of this shotgun can be easily expressed in one phrase: “Remington 870: It always goes bang!” - “Remington 870: always shoots!”

The FN SLP self-loading police shotgun is an excellent tactical weapon that is assembled and produced by the Belgian company FN Herstal. In 2009, this weapon rightfully received the title “Shotgun of the Year 2009”.

The FN SLP shotgun is a semi-automatic smoothbore shotgun with gas-operated automatic operation. The FN SLP shotgun is easy to operate and ergonomic.

The barrel is chrome-plated and equipped with replaceable Standard Invector chokes. FN SLP shotgun receiver made of aluminum alloy with MIL-STD-1913 rail.

The cartridges are fed from an aluminum tubular under-barrel magazine with an extension. Sights - rear sight and front sight - adjustable, high profile. The butt and pistol grip are made of impact-resistant plastic. The buttstock has three different thicknesses of the butt plate, and the pistol grip has interchangeable cheeks for different types of palms.

The legendary Benelli Super Black Eagle shotgun has been the gun of choice for game hunters for 25 years. A special edition Benelli Super Black Eagle II was created to celebrate Benelli's 25th anniversary.

The design and construction of the Benelli Super Black Eagle II Shotgun makes it a top-notch weapon designed to withstand the harshest conditions, and the results are truly impressive. Power, convenience, accuracy, stability, rate of fire and reliability are the main advantages of the Super Black Eagle II.

The Super Black Eagle II shotgun is a self-loading semi-automatic shotgun with a magazine capacity of 3+1 rounds of 12/89 Super Magnum caliber. Cryogenic treatment of barrels and replaceable chokes ensures excellent shooting performance of the gun. The new, aggressive and original design of the safety guard and trigger makes it easier to access the trigger, improves reliability and comfort of the grip. The brushed nickel receiver is corrosion resistant.

The shotgun is equipped with a 71 cm long barrel with three interchangeable chokes: Extended Crio IC, Extended Crio M and Extended Crio F. An elongated, luminescent red front sight helps the shooter to aim accurately. The Benelli ComforTech stock reduces recoil and reduces muzzle jump. The shotgun weighs just under 3.3 kg.

This weapon is great for both hunting and sport shooting.

One of the popular shotguns for self-defense is the Benelli Supernova pump-action shotgun - a reliable, versatile, safe and durable weapon that is chosen by hunters, athletes and civilians.

The Benelli Supernova shotgun guarantees optimal performance with 12 gauge ammunition. The design of this gun provides maximum comfort and quick release. Features This shotgun has a solid and durable receiver, an enlarged trigger guard that is strong and reliable, and the stock comes with a set of additional pads.

The Benelli Supernova shotgun features a comprehensive ComforTech system, consisting of a buttstock, recoil pad and highly elastic comb, which reduces recoil by 47% without increasing the weight of the gun and increases shooting comfort.

The high-tech polymer stock features 12 boomerang-shaped holes on both sides of the stock, designed to increase stock flexibility and reduce recoil propagation. The butt pad and comb made of Technogel material have a special anatomical shape to increase the area of contact with the shooter’s shoulder and cheek, optimizing the distribution of recoil energy.

The stock and forend are made of Rilsan technopolymer and are resistant to temperature changes. They feature Air Touch corrugation, based on the aerodynamic properties of spherical surfaces, which promotes natural ventilation of the palm and securely holds the weapon.

High functionality, rate of fire and accuracy, modern design and ease of maintenance - these are the characteristic elements of the SuperNova Benelli shotgun.