If you haven’t seen it, Kel-tec has come out with yet another interesting addition to their lineup – a shotgun.
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For some strange reason, the first thing I thought of when I saw the KSG was a stormtrooper rifle from Star Wars. I know, I know. The E-11 is constructed out of an old Sterling rifle; and they actually don’t have a lot in common other than being compact and black. Never the less, that was the first association I had.
Then I saw a small demo video from the SHOT show and a feature mentioned was a switch to change which tube fed into the action. Wheels began to turn – you could put two different kinds of ammunition and use the switch to select; Buckshot in one tube, slugs in another. Or maybe breaching rounds, or even…bean bags…wait a minute…
Set for stun!
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Now I’ve never even seen a beanbag round, let alone know if they’re effective, but the concept is certainly something that caused me to laugh out loud. If the gun functions how I think it does, you’d have to chamber a new round after changing your selection, probably ejecting a live round. Overall, in my amateur opinion, its most likely not a feasible application.
But it was fun to think about.
Currently the KSG has a major trigger problem – if you rack the slide without releasing the trigger, it locks up and can only be reset by racking the slide again, incidentally ejecting the round you already chambered. Even worse, Kel-Tec’s initial response was along the lines of “Not a bug, but a feature!” Eventually somebody with brains got in front of the issue and admitted it was a problem and would be fixed before production.
And that’s my problem with Kel-Tec. Few firearms manufacturers can produce so many innovative ideas, and then screw them up in execution.
Incidentally, I do have experience with beanbag and other less lethal rounds. If fired within their minimum range, they are lethal and can kill just as dead as 00 Buck or a slug. They take training to employ properly. I’m not a lawyer, not do I play on on TV, but I suspect for liability reasons you’d be better off with pellet loads.
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They fixed the trigger problem, btw.
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That, and it would be far too easy to accidentally chamber the buckshot when you meant to chamber the bean bag, or vice-versa. Disaster in the making. I don’t think it is a good idea to have lethal and less lethal in the same firearm, from a liability standpoint.
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Awelowynt Reply:
March 1st, 2011 at 8:02 pm
If I gave the impression of suggesting it was a good idea, I apologize.
This was more of a fun, random thought than a foray into realism. I’m thinking of creating a disclaimer now, advising everyone to take me seriously at their own risk.
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