[Real Life] New Underbarrel Entry Shotgun, New Prototype from US Dept. of Energy Options

[Fresno Bob]

Makes sense to me.

[Phaeton]

...Erm, shotguns already suffer doubled recoil with the exception of the Roomsweeper (depending on your nitpicking)...And most SMGs I think have a conceal of 5, usually 4.

But...Bleah.

[FlakJacket]

I thought that was just for firing in burst or fully-automatic mode? 'Cause if not, well I've been lucky with past GM's then I guess. :) And on 5 or 4 ratings, I usually use Raygun's general scale of things since that seems a little less broken to me.

[Fresno Bob]

No, they have doubled recoild for uncompensated burst fire.

Like, a shotgun with 2RC firing burst would negate the first 2 points, but the 3rd would be doubled to +2 recoil, because its not compensated.

[Phaeton]

Ahhh, okay then.

[Crusher Bob]

Notice that it needs to be pump to feed the door breaching rounds, they are too low pressure to work a gas operated shotgun. This is why some combat shotguns will switch from semi to pump, so you don't need another weapon to fire 'special purpose' munitions.

The breacher rounds fire a pellet of powdered metal, you fire the shotgun somewhere between 1-2 inches to contact with the door (pointing at the lock/hindge) and there is not too much danger for anyone on the other side. The main advantage of this system over explosives: it's cheap, you don't need too much additional training, and it's less dangerous to people on the other side of the door.

[Siege]

[FlakJacket]

To recap what Bob said, and pimp Ray's site, here's a couple examples of a convertable shotgun that's useful for situations like that, plus lockbuster rounds and associated barrel accessory.

[Phaeton]

[Zen Shooter01]

This seems like a complicated solution to a simple problem.
First, don't carry a breaching shotgun, just carry a shotgun, period. Load a Mossberg 590 with 00 buckshot, blow the door, go through the door, blast the crap out of anyone on the other side of the door with the same weapon. Standard movement procedure anyway is the first guy in dodges right and the second guy in dodges left, so you'll have an assault rifle in there no matter what.

Or just carry breaching charges.

I've never understood the unbarrel shotgun. What do I need a shotgun for that the assault rifle won't do? The only application I can see is loading the shotgun with nonlethal rounds and the rifle with lethal.

Although the article's mention of a shotgun redesign that achieves higher muzzle velocity by more efficient use of gasses is intriguing.

[Phaeton]

[Siege]

Zen, you will note this wasn't a military design program, suggesting civilian LE applications.

Which means you can either:

1) train SWAT units to use breaching charges
2) risk a major SNAFU with explosives

-or-

Use existing training and equipment that also offer minimal risk scenarios.

-Siege

[Crusher Bob]

Also note that in poorer places, 'regular' officers might be the ones doing the forced entry, which would mean refresher training in explosives every 6 months for several officers, or just 1 hour more range qualification, showing door breaching techniques.