Storm with "pomp". The five most effective combat shotguns. Basic information about modern shotguns The technical side of the issue

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"Dependence" on certain types of ammunition was a major problem for many years after the commercial success of the first semi-automatic shotguns. So there is nothing surprising in the fact that the developers of this type of weapon were mainly focused on finding technical solutions that 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 will have no difficulty using any 12/70 caliber cartridges. The average shot weight has also been increased from 24g to 52g.

In Europe, this technological leap has 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", self-loading shotguns have found their way into sports 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 with a long series of shots.

The main disadvantage we must mention here is that it is possible to use only one alternative choke for all shots in quick succession. On the shooting range, this disadvantage can be compensated, at least in part, by the correct choice of ammunition. Similar to over/under shotguns, interchangeable chokes are now also available for semi-automatic shotguns, and thanks to their simple 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 in the early 20th century. John Moses Browning was the creator of this new class of weapon. The development of his legendary self-loading shotgun "Auto 5", which uses the energy of the recoil of the barrel during its long stroke for reloading, was sold to the Belgian company "FN", which started 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 automation: based on recoil energy and based on the removal of powder gases.

In the first case, we are talking 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 sending 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 principle of locking and was taken as the basis for the manufacture of semi-automatic shotguns by other gun manufacturers, among which were the company "REMINGTON" and the company "FRANCHI". ".

Modern shotgun BROWNING A5 with recoil-based automatics

The main disadvantages of early semi-automatic shotguns were their rather rigid reliance on certain ammunition and their sometimes enormous recoil. Users were forced to fit these guns to their respective ammunition, for example, the "Auto 5" self-loading shotgun needed to install the famous friction rings to give extra 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, the designers initially turned their attention to rejecting 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 was clearly behind the principle of operation of automation based on the removal of powder gases.

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

The main disadvantage of the principle of operation of automation based on the removal of powder gases is the carbon residue from the gas stream. 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 are BERETTA "A-400 Xplor Unico", REMINGTON Versa Max And BROWNING "Maxus".

BERETTA puts its trust in the new gas exhaust system of the "A 400 Xtreme Unico" shotgun

REMINGTON VersaMax 12-gauge self-loading shotgun with "Realtree" camo finish

BROWNING Maxus shotgun in modest black color scheme

All three models can equally well shoot 12-gauge cartridges with a long sleeve from 70 mm to 89 mm and a weight of 24 g to 63 g. and gas pistons located in the region of the combustion chamber. This gas piston system independently regulates the gas pressure depending on the length of the sleeve for reliable cycling regardless of the load. The BERETTA "A-400 XPlor Unico" shotgun uses a different tactic to solve this problem. The "A-400 XPlor Unico" model integrates a new gas system with a rotating bolt head and supply system, and uses a self-cleaning gas vent mechanism. These two well-controlled lugs fit into matching recesses in the barrel sleeve to lock the bore.

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

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

WINCHESTER SX3 semi-automatic shotgun with Active-Valve-System

The "Power Drive" gas seal system is the heart of the BROWNING "Maxus" shotgun. Additional vents were designed to bleed propellant gases out of the mechanism faster than previous BROWNING vents when firing heavier shot shells. A new gas outlet sealing system removes excess powder gases from the mechanism, which, in turn, increase the stroke length of the gas piston. WINCHESTER's SX3 gas shotguns also claim the title of the fastest firing semi-automatic shotguns in the world.

Receiver of the semi-automatic shotgun WINCHESTER SX3

In order to minimize any risk of jamming or other problems that may arise in 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 accumulation, as well as from 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 specifically designed for dynamic sports shooting.

Basically it is the use of the recoil of weapons in general. Automation here works from a powerful spring installed between the combat larva and the bolt body, which, accumulating energy when the weapon recoils, then provides a full cycle of the gun's automation. The combat larva turns and unlocks the bore, clamping the inertial spring between the larva and the body. Due to the recoil force of the gun, the bolt moves forward by several millimeters relative to it under the action of inertia, while 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 a new one is fed in the return stroke of the bolt group. cartridge in the chamber.

Essentially, therefore, the inertial system consists of a combat larva, a bolt body and an inertial spring. BROWNING has applied this system to 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) models of shotguns mentioned in this article were originally developed for use as hunting weapons, but subsequently they have found their way into new applications as weapons for the military, police or for sports shooters (participating in practical shooting competitions under the auspices of the IPSC (International Practical Shooting Confederation)).

In addition to the flawless operation of the automation, all the efforts of the engineers were also directed to reducing recoil. Recent years have seen significant advances in this area, especially among premium shotguns.

Colossal fire density, high rate of fire, devastating 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 surpass any other small arms in terms of stopping power.

Vepr-12 (Russia)

The Russian smooth-bore self-loading carbine "Vepr-12" was developed on the basis of the Kalashnikov light machine gun by the craftsmen of the Vyatka-Polyansky machine-building plant. Designed in the early 2000s, the gun inherited the general layout and device of the RPK with a vapor mechanism and locking by turning the bolt, however, the bolt group and receiver were redesigned to take into account 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, an EOTech sight and a tactical flashlight is in service with the EKAM police special unit of the Greek Ministry of the Interior. The same weapons are used by French police special forces. In September 2012, Vepr-12 was tested at the NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency, after which approval was received for the carbine to be included 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 Daewoo conglomerate Daewoo Precision Industries since the late 1980s. Automation is based on the removal of powder gases with the locking of the barrel by turning the bolt. The design feature is that the USAS-12 plastic stock is hollow, the bolt group rolls back during firing, which significantly reduced the recoil. Type of ammunition - box magazine for ten or drum 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 of South Korea, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and Brazil. The manufacturer tried to import self-loading variants into the United States for sale on the civilian market, but the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Control imposed a ban on this transaction. US government and police units were sold locally produced variants assembled by RAMO Defense from South Korean parts.

Benelli M4 Super 90 (Italy)

The Benelli M4 Super 90 shotgun is a prime example of high-quality Italian firearms. It is assembled from highly durable materials and is considered very reliable. The manufacturer claims the possibility of shooting up to 25 thousand rounds without repair. The automation of the gun works by venting gases from the bore into two symmetrically located gas cylinders. Type of ammunition supply - underbarrel tubular magazine for six rounds.

Benelli M4 Super 90

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

UTAS UTS-15 (Turkey)

UTS-15 is a shotgun developed in 2011 by the Turkish company UTAS for the military and police. Based on the South African gun Neostead. The UTS-15 retained the bullpup layout and two tubular over-barrel magazines, but redid the internal mechanisms. UTS-15 is a pump-action shotgun. Barrel locking - when the bolt is turned on three lugs that engage with the shank. The ejection of spent cartridges is only to the right, at the window for cartridge cases there is an automatically opening dust cover. The design of the feed unit of the gun ensures that cartridges are sent in absolutely any position of the weapon, and the hinged cover provides quick access to the breech to control the cartridge in the chamber and eliminate delays in feeding if a deformed cartridge is caught.

The main feature of the weapon is a 15-round twin magazine that can be loaded from the left, right or both sides at the same time. The gun is used to a limited extent in law enforcement and military structures of a number of states, however, the first versions of the shotgun were distinguished by low reliability - this mainly concerned the cartridge supply system. Following criticism from users, UTAS developed additional weapon variants, correcting the deficiencies.

SRM Arms model 1216 (USA)

The SRM Atms model 1216 is a 12-gauge shotgun with a 16-round magazine and a relatively short 457mm barrel. It features an unusual design with a semi-free-breech automation that is atypical for shotguns. The weapon is equipped with an underbarrel drum magazine, which is a block of four parallel tubular magazines with a capacity of four rounds each, in a single housing. The case rotates so that the supply of cartridges is carried out 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 in several US states. The weapon is designed for deep "tuning", which allows 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 the military specialty, whose professional activity is associated with the frequent use of firearms, situations are well known when one powerful volley brings success. The use of large-caliber weapons for this purpose, firing bullets or a shot charge, allows you to quickly achieve a certain tactical advantage. Shotguns can be safely attributed to this category. Already the name of the trunk speaks of its mode of action.

This type of firearm is well known to game hunters. In this case, the main damaging element is the shot, which allows you to achieve a large area of ​​damage. Despite the fact that the use of smoothbore hunting rifles for military purposes proved ineffective, the military was able to properly evaluate the effect when firing shots. The result of the transformation of a smoothbore gun into a powerful military weapon was combat shotguns, which are armed today with the army, special forces and law enforcement forces.

The technical side of the issue

The shotgun is a smooth-bore firearm derived from a hunting rifle that has been modified by gunsmiths to suit combat use. A pistol grip was added to the butt used for shooting from the shoulder, allowing you to fire 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 type of trunk;
• by the number of trunks;
• by the recharge mechanism.

According to the type of barrel, guns can be smooth-bore and combined, capable of firing both bullets and a charge of shot. According to the number of barrels, shotguns can be single-barreled, double-barreled or multi-barreled. This type of weapon also differs in the loading mechanisms. There are models with a pump-action recharge mechanism, with a lever-action recharger. There are self-loading and automatic shotguns in the range.

The double-barreled shotgun is the most popular and common type. Most amateur hunters prefer to use just such a weapon design in their craft. As a rule, a hunting shotgun is a typical hunting double-barreled shotgun, loaded by breaking. The main effect is achieved by a double shot, when a double charge of shot flies out of 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 capacious reloading process. The double-barreled shotgun is a first-strike weapon when there is no urgent need for an urgent reload. However, due to the low accuracy, a large affected area is achieved. This quality is especially valuable when hunting birds and small animals. In terms of combat use, shotgun fire may be the only effective in close combat or in defensive combat conditions.

Shotgun ammo

The main reason for the increased interest in this type of firearm from the military is ammunition. The low firing range is more than compensated by the huge 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. To date, most models of military smoothbore guns are designed to fire special cartridges. All of them are based on hunting ammunition. No, these are not the same hunting cartridges that can be equipped at home. These are factory-made ammunition that meets all the necessary specifications.

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

It is enough to compare the power of a shot with a 12-gauge cartridge loaded with buckshot with the power of a shot fired from a 9 mm PM Makarov pistol. The weight of each buckshot with a caliber of 8.2 mm is 3.9 g. The initial flight speed when fired from a smoothbore gun is 380 m / s. At the same time, the flight energy of the 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 huge penetrating power, a significant drawback of such a powerful weapon is a large recoil force and a small 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. Shotguns of 20 caliber have limited firing capabilities, due to the weak stopping power of the released 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 a buckshot with a diameter of 8 mm. Each type of shotgun uses its own ammo. If for weapons 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 automatic reloader is affected by the energy of the charge. Cartridge caliber for automatic rifles can be either 10 or 12.

The history of the 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 tremendous penetrating power, appeared in the armies as early as the end of the 18th century. The first samples of this weapon 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 has demonstrated tremendous power from its first days on the battlefield. Heavy bullets of large caliber at a short distance inflicted huge losses on the enemy. Shotgun fire during hand-to-hand combat has become a favorite tactical technique during naval battles or during assault operations.

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

They remembered the fire properties of smooth-bore weapons already in the 20th century, when positional warfare came into fashion. Troops burrowed into trenches and hid under the protection of fortifications, from which they could only be smoked out during a direct combat encounter. The first to use shotguns in combat conditions were the Americans, who faced 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 has become 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 became an improved version of the sporting rifle. Both models have proven themselves as 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 the fighting in the tropical jungle, forced the Americans to return to this tried and tested means of armed struggle again.

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

Modernity and shotgun

At the moment, almost all paramilitary structures have adopted smoothbore guns. A tactical shotgun, depending on the ammunition used, allows you to solve various tactical tasks.

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

• rubber and conventional bullets;
• buckshot, large or small fraction;
• tear gas cartridges;
• high-explosive and high-explosive fragmentation grenades;
• light-noise grenades.

The versatility of the design of modern models of these weapons provides the presence of special attachments that allow you to not only fire live ammunition, but also perform a number of tactical and technical manipulations. In law enforcement and assault army units, shotguns are used in the following cases:

• means for quick breaking of doors;
• non-lethal means of armed struggle;
• 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 lever-action pump-action shotguns and an automatic shotgun are the most popular. As a rule, traditional models of smoothbore guns are single-barreled combat shotguns with a lever-operated reloading mechanism. The best shotguns in this category are the legendary Remington Model 870, the FN SLP police shotgun, the Mossberg 500 self-loading, smoothbore pump-action shotgun produced since 1962. All 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 advanced weapons. 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 rifle. 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, 16 rounds of 12 mm caliber can be fired from this weapon.

Despite the appearance of modern models of these weapons, it is difficult to call a combat shotgun a universal combat weapon. Significantly increase the combat and firing characteristics of a smoothbore gun by increasing the number of barrels. 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, the situation with the aiming range does not change for the better. The maximum possible aiming range that the shotgun gives is no more than 60 meters. In modern products, the firing range is an order of magnitude smaller - only 22-25 meters.

The way out of this situation was the creation of rifled samples of automatic weapons, which comes with an underbarrel shotgun. Such a weapon increased the firepower of the shooter several times, making it a universal combat unit.

Popular models of our time

Most models of pump-action shotguns are designs for the needs of the civilian arms market. However, as it goes on sale, as often happens, such weapons quickly find their niche in paramilitary structures. Currently, almost any automatic hunting shotgun has an army or police counterpart. The commercial market is driving progress in this regard as well. The creation and development of new models of smoothbore guns is proceeding at a faster pace. These weapons are released all over the world. Among the popular models, one can find American, Italian, Belgian and Turkish samples of smoothbore guns, each of which was created for a certain category of consumers.

Smoothbore repeating shotguns are the most popular type of weapon in Hollywood action films. But even on this side of the screen, "shotguns" are very popular among shooting enthusiasts. They are used for hunting, sports shooting or self-defense. Thanks to the volley of buckshot, the area of ​​​​damage increases, which levels the accuracy of aiming. First used in the battles of the First World War, such guns are still widely used by security forces today. In this article, we will talk about the most popular and best shotguns.

10. Kel-Tec KSG

The KSG shotgun from the American company Kel-Tec is very popular today. Its unusual design, reminiscent of the South African Neostead shotgun, and excellent performance have made this firearm a regular in the arsenals of many shooting enthusiasts.

This shotgun was first presented to the public at ShotShow 2011 and became available to everyone a year later. The shotgun with a manual “pump-action” reloading has a compact size, an original high-capacity double-tube magazine and a light sight. Purpose of Kel-Tec KSG: army, police, private collectors and connoisseurs of this type of weapon.

9SRM Model 1216

This American-made tactical shotgun is chambered in 12 gauge and has a 4-chamber magazine. The weapon began to be produced in 2008 and has gained great fame over the 10-year history. To date, there are three modifications of this shotgun, differing in magazine capacity and barrel length.

The main difference between this model and other guns of this type is the unusual design of the bolt and magazine. Small dimensions and a plastic case allowed the manufacturer to reduce the weight of the shotgun. In the likeness of the M16 rifle, the body of the gun consists of two parts, fastened with transverse pins.

8. UTAS UTS-15

This repeating shotgun from Turkish gunsmiths from UTAS is well known to everyone who is interested in this type of weapon. It was originally created for the military and police. The main feature of the UTS-15 is the twin magazine.

As with the Kel-Tec KSG shotgun, UTAS engineers took the original Neostead design as the basis. They kept the bullpup layout, but changed the working mechanism of the shotgun, making it more efficient and productive. Thanks to this, the UTS-15 has high firepower with a fairly compact size.

The popularity of this shotgun is indicated by the fact that it is used in the computer games Battlefield 4, GTA V and Warface.

7.AA 12

Fighting in the lush tropical vegetation of Vietnam, the American army appreciated all the advantages of repeating 12-gauge smoothbore guns. But at the time of these hostilities, gunsmiths could only offer the Winchester M1912 to the needs of the army. The model, which by the beginning of hostilities in Vietnam was already somewhat outdated. Maxwell Atchisson managed to solve the issue of developing a new shotgun. Which in 1972 submitted to the US Commission AAS. It was subsequently upgraded. Since 1981, it has been produced under the name AA 12.

The improved model has gas-operated automatics, which allows the use of more powerful cartridges for firing. In addition, the manufacturer has slightly changed the design of the shotgun. It consists of two halves fastened together. It is also worth noting the more convenient location of the firing mode translator.

But the main difference is the time-stretching recoil impulse, which makes it possible to conduct quite comfortable shooting with the help of the AA 12 model.

6 Mossberg 500 Tactical Persuader

The next hero of our review of the best shotguns is the most common pump-action shotgun in the world. This shotgun has been in production since 1962. It is used for self-defense, hunting, armed protection of facilities and law enforcement agencies. Its main advantage is the design that allows this smoothbore gun to be used quite intensively. A small weight (about 3 kg) is not an obstacle when shooting in conditions of frequent change of firing points.

It is worth noting the high ergonomics of the Mossberg 500. Most of the structural parts are made of steel. Aluminum was chosen as the material for the manufacture of the main part, and wood or plastic (depending on modification) was chosen as the material for the manufacture of the butt and forearm.

A distinctive feature of this model is the location of the fuse. It is located on top of the receiver, which makes it easy to control it with your thumb. The Tactical Persuader is considered by many gunsmiths to be the best model in the series.

5 Benelli M4 Super 90

This shotgun is a prime example of high-quality Italian weapons. The M4 Super 90 is built from durable materials and delivers high performance. Chief among which is reliability. The manufacturer claims the possibility of carrying out up to 25 thousand shots without repairing the gun.

The chamber of this model is made under the 16th caliber. But it can also be used for shooting 12-gauge. The standard design has a telescopic stock. The shotgun is widely used by hunters. Due to its high reliability resource and the possibility of quick maintenance, it is an excellent choice as a hunting rifle.

4 Remington Model 870

This famous American shotgun has been produced since the middle of the last century. The shape of the forend of this shotgun makes it the most recognizable model of this type of weapon. Cartridges are fed from below, and used cartridges are ejected from the side. The reliability of the Remington 870 design is due to the manufacture of the receiver from a single piece of steel. The manufacturer produces many accessories for tuning this model. In addition to its reliability, this shotgun is lightweight.

3. FN SLP

Unlocks the top 3 FN SLP shotguns. The repeating shotgun is produced by the Belgian company FN Herstal. It is assigned to power structures. In 2009, the model received the title of "Shotgun of the Year". The advantages of this model are ease of use, ergonomic body and a long service life.

The FN SLP features a chrome-plated barrel with interchangeable choke elements. The material of the receiver is aluminum. The stock is made of durable plastic. The manufacturer has provided the handle with additional cheeks for the possibility of its adjustment to different dimensions of the palm.

2. Super Black Eagle 3

The third model of the famous shotgun has become a worthy continuation of the line. The design allows the Super Black Eagle 3 to be used in the most severe climatic conditions. The weapon has excellent characteristics in terms of power, rate of fire, reliability and accuracy of fire. Externally, the gun has a rather aggressive design, which adds some zest to it.

The Super Black Eagle 3 features a stock with recoil reduction technology. It is ideal for skeet shooting and game hunting.

MOSCOW, June 16- RIA Novosti, Nikolai Protopopov. Stop an attacker with a powerful shot offhand or knock out door locks on the move - assault groups of special services around the world widely use smooth-bore guns in battles in the city. The US police and security organizations were especially successful in using the lethal 12-gauge. In Russia, combat shotguns are historically not so popular - only some units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs are armed with them. RIA Novosti talks about the most serious "shotguns".

Bucket wall

The American automatic shotgun AA-12 was developed in the 1980s. Its main advantage over its predecessors is the ability to fire bursts. The design of the shotgun involves the installation of a large-capacity drum magazine - 32 rounds. This allows you to conduct heavy automatic fire with 12-gauge cartridges, sending impressive masses of buckshot towards the enemy.

When developing the AA-12, the experience of using shotguns in the Vietnam War was taken into account. Then the American army effectively used guns in dense thickets, when they had to fight at a short distance with an enemy suddenly appearing from the jungle. However, in case of misses of time, there was no reloading, so a multi-charged and rapid-fire "smoothbore" was required.

Despite its advantages - high rate of fire, relatively low weight and weak recoil - the AA-12 shotgun did not go into production. Today it can only be seen in the hands of the heroes of Hollywood action films and computer games.

Italian Cuisine

Made in Italy, the semi-automatic shotgun Benelli M4 Super 90 is distinguished not only by its outstanding reliability and ergonomics, but also by its beautiful design. This is one of the best combat shotguns in the world. Equipped with a telescopic buttstock and Picatinny rails for mounting optical sights, underbarrel grips and tactical lights.

The development was initiated by the Pentagon, which in the late 1990s needed a new single smooth-bore army rifle. Today, the US Marine Corps has almost 20,000 Benelli M4 Super 90 units under the M1014 index. In addition, the secret services and law enforcement agencies of twenty more countries are successfully using the "Italian", speaking only positively about this gun.

Universal "Turk"

The design of the Turkish pump-action shotgun UTAS UTS-15 combines the bullpup layout, rare for shotguns, and the classic "pump" with a longitudinally sliding bolt. The advantage of UTAS is high firepower with a fairly compact size.

Another feature is two twin magazines of seven rounds, between which you can switch directly when firing. This allows you to use different types of cartridges depending on the situation.

The shotgun was created in 2011 specifically for police units and army special forces. Its main purpose is assault operations. Like most modern weapons, the UTAS is equipped with Picatinny rails to enhance functionality, and the body is made of high-strength composite materials.

Old school

The Remington Model 870 is one of the most famous and widely used shotguns in the world. It was developed back in the 1950s for big game hunters. Later, the US Army became interested in him, and the shotgun was slightly altered for the military - they increased the magazine capacity to seven rounds and installed a device for attaching a bayonet-knife.

The success of this low-cost, all-steel-bodied pump-action shotgun with a tubular under-barrel magazine is due to its simplicity, ruggedness, ease of maintenance, and incredible structural integrity. A wide range of ammunition of various calibers is provided for it - buckshot, bullets, signal, gas and many other charges.

The Remington 870 is the best selling shotgun in the world. In total, more than 11 million different modifications of guns of this type were produced.

Russian character

Shotgun 18.5 KS-K Izhevsk gunsmiths made for the units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs on the basis of the civilian "Saiga". However, the Russian police are in no hurry to arm themselves with them. Having impressive dimensions, the KS-K is less convenient when storming premises than the usual compact submachine guns or machine guns.

Now manufacturers rely more on foreign orders.

The abbreviation KS-K means "special carbine", but it is still a full-fledged self-loading shotgun. The scheme of operation of automation is borrowed from AK and is highly reliable. For shooting, highly effective short-range cartridges with bullets or buckshot of the 12th caliber with a sleeve of 70 or 76 millimeters are used.