The Chairman of Curve Aerospace is a CMP Distinguished Rifleman.
But his weapon of choice is his old Winchester Model 1300 Defender 12ga shotgun, holding 6+1 three inch shells.
The reason? One of his company’s research projects for future military sales is ammunition development.
And the 12ga format provides for considerable flexibility in ammunition design.
An example is the Rocket Propelled, Fin Stabilized, 400 grain hardened lead alloy slug shell. The ‘beanbag’ round for armored folks.
Traveling at over Mach 6.5 it’ll deliver over 40,000 ft-lbs of energy into the target. More than a 20mm cannon shell.
Externally a shell looks like a typical 3″ magnum shell, complete with primer and brass base.
It even fires like one. The specially designed wad inside allows for a standard powder charge to eject the rocket motor and shot combo. An impulse activated, time delay fuse ignites the rocket approximately three feet from the muzzle.
Other payloads include, but not limited to:
RPFS armor piercing
RPFS high explosive, armor piercing
RPFS grenade
Gas shells
Signal shells
EMP shells. These use a special gel and electric charge to deliver a damaging, high amperage shock to electrical systems, computers, etc.
The beauty of the 12ga. That’s why he loves it so much and why his humadrones use the shotgun format for base and home security.
Besides, ‘shells’ sounds cooler than ’rounds’. 😀
Dan Passaro 