Atchisson AA-12
| AA-12/Atchisson Assault Shotgun | |
|---|---|
| Type | Combat shotgun |
| Place of origin |  United States |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Maxwell Atchisson, further developed by Military Police Systems, Inc. |
| Designed | original 1972, 2005 MPS version |
| Manufacturer | GWA[citation needed] |
| Produced | soon to be confirmed[citation needed] |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 5.2 kg less magazine. 7.3 kg with loaded 32-round drum |
| Length | 991 mm |
| Barrel length | 457 mm |
| Cartridge | 12 Gauge |
| Action | Selective fire, forced gas blowback operated |
| Rate of fire | 350 rounds per minute |
| Muzzle velocity | 1150 ft/sec |
| Feed system | 8 rounds in box magazine, 20 or 32 rounds in drum magazines |
| Sights | Iron sight, 2x zoom optical scope |
The Auto Assault-12 (AA-12) (originally designed and known as the Atchisson Assault Shotgun) is a shotgun developed in 1972 by Maxwell Atchisson. The current 2005 version has been developed over 18 years since the patent was sold to Military Police Systems, Inc. The original design was the basis of several later weapons, including the USAS-12 combat shotgun. The weapon is selective fire, operating as a semi-automatic, or in fully automatic mode at 300 rounds per minute. It is fed from either a 8-shell box magazine, or a 20 or 32-shell drum magazine.
MPS version
In 1987, Max Atchisson sold the rights of AA-12 to Jerry Baber of Military Police Systems, Inc., Piney Flats, Tennessee.[1] MPS in turn developed the successor simply known as Auto Assault-12, which was redesigned over a period of 18 years with 188 changes and improvements to the original blueprint. MPS also teamed up with Action Manufacturing Company, and Special Cartridge Company to combine the gun with FRAG-12 High-Explosive ammunition into a multifunction weapon system.
Changes to Present Day Version
The weapon was lightened to 4.76 kg and shortened to 966 mm but retained the same barrel length. The CQB model has a 13-inch barrel, and is half a pound lighter than the regular model. Uncommon in other automatic shotguns, the AA-12 fires from an open bolt, a feature more commonly found in heavy and squad level machine guns. It uses 8-round box, 20-round drum, or 32-round drum magazines, as opposed to the original 5-round box magazine. It is designed to fire three different types of 3" 12 gauge shells: Buckshot, slug, or Frag-12 rounds. Due to the abundant use of stainless steel and the designed clearance for fouling, MPS has claimed that the weapon requires zero cleaning or lubrication.[2] The designer states that cleaning is required after 10,000 rounds. [3]
Cartridges
The AA-12 uses many different types of cartridges such as 00 buck shot, #4 bird shot, 12-bore lead slugs, or less-than-lethal rubber stun batons. It can also fire flares or special FRAG-12 18.5mm fin-stablized HE, HEAP, and sensor fused HEAB "air-burst" fragmentation shells that can detonate in mid-air.
Usage
In 2004, ten firing models of the AA-12 were produced and demonstrated to the United States Marine Corps.
The HAMMER unmanned defense system by More Industries uses dual-mounted AA-12s on the H2X-40 Turret.[4]
Neural Robotics has also mounted the weapon on their AutoCopter Unmanned aerial vehicle. [5]
See also
References
- ^ July/Aug 2009 The Automatic Warrior: "A veteran-turned-inventor aims to make soldiering a safer business"
- ^ Military Assault Shotgun: "During a Blackwater shoot, 5000 rounds were fired through a single weapon without cleaning or a drop of Lube."
- ^ Defense Review AA-12, June 2005, includes detailed information about development and operation
- ^ Product page for HAMMER unmanned weapons system, combined with the H2X-40 Turret
- ^ Video of the AA-12 in-use mounted on the AutoCopter UAV by Neural Robotics, posted on Google Video
External links
- YouTube video from Future Weapons on the Discovery Channel
- Defense Review MPS AA-12 review with in-use videos, July 2008
- Defense Review MPS AA-12 review, June 2005
- Modern Firearms Atchisson AA-12 page
- THE AUTO ASSAULT-12: A Killer Shotgun for the War on Terror
- Action Manufacturing Company press release