Atchisson AA-12
{{Infobox weapon
| name = Atchisson AA-12
| image = AA-12.jpg
| image_size = 325
| caption = AA-12 automatic combat shotgun
| origin = United States
| type = Automatic combat shotgun
| is_ranged = yes
| designer = Maxwell Atchisson (1930–2003); further developed by Military Police Systems, Inc.
| design_date = Original design: 1972
MPS design: 2005
| manufacturer = Maxwell Atchisson{{cite web | last=Johnson | first=Robert | title=10 Incredible Weapons That Only America Has | website=Business Insider | date=2011-04-29 | url=https://www.businessinsider.com/american-battlefield-weapons-2011-4 | access-date=2021-03-08}}
| number =
| variants =
| weight = {{convert|5.2|kg|abbr=on}} less magazine. {{convert|7.3|kg|abbr=on}} with loaded 32-round drum (original version)
| length = {{convert|991|mm|abbr=on}} (Atchisson Assault Shotgun, 1972)
{{convert|966|mm|abbr=on}} (AA-12, 2006)
| part_length = {{convert|457|mm|abbr=on}}
| width =
| height =
| cartridge = 12 gauge
| action = API blowback{{cite web | title = Modern Firearms – Atchisson AA-12 | url = https://world.guns.ru/shotgun/usa/atchisson-aa-12-e.html |access-date = April 5, 2012 |author=Maxim Popenker}} (1972 design)
Gas-operated{{cite web | title = Modern Firearms – Atchisson AA-12 | url = https://world.guns.ru/shotgun/usa/atchisson-aa-12-e.html |access-date = April 5, 2012 |author=Maxim Popenker}} (2005 design)
| velocity = {{convert|350|m/s|ft/s|abbr=on}}
| range = {{convert|100|m|yd|abbr=on}} (12 gauge slug)
| max_range = {{convert|200|m|yd|abbr=on}} (FRAG-12 ammunition){{cite web | title=FRAG-12 Shotgun Ammunition Fact Sheet | website=Defense Review | date=2005-03-11 | url=https://www.defensereview.com/1_31_2004/FRAG%2012.pdf | access-date=2021-03-08}}{{cite web | title=Auto Assault-12 (AA-12) Full-Auto Machine Shotgun/FRAG-12 High-Explosive Round Combo/Weapon System!| website=DefenseReview.com | url=https://www.defensereview.com/auto-assault-12-shotgunfrag-12-high-explosive-round-comboweapon-system/ | access-date=2020-10-21}}
| feed = 8 rounds in box magazine, 20{{cite web |url=http://highcaliberhistory.com/post/the-aa-12-automatic-shotgun |title=AA-12 Magazines & History}} in drum magazine
| sights = Iron sight, 2× zoom optical scope|
}}
The AA-12 (Auto Assault - 12), originally designed and known as the Atchisson Assault Shotgun, is a fully automatic combat shotgun developed in 1972 by Maxwell Atchisson. However, the original development by Atchisson seems to have produced only a few guns at prototype-level, with the development that ultimately led to the gun entering the market being done later by Military Police Systems, Inc.{{cite web | last=Pike | first=Travis | title=The AA-12: The Full Auto Shotgun From The Future | website=SOFREP | date=2021-07-10 | url=https://sofrep.com/gear/the-aa-12-the-full-auto-shotgun-from-the-future/ | access-date=2023-04-09}} The most prominent feature is reduced recoil. The 2005 version was developed 19 years after the patent was sold to Military Police Systems, Inc. The original design later led to the development of several comparable firearms of such utility, including the USAS-12 combat shotgun. The shotgun utilizes fully automatic blowback action as its primary and only mode of fire. However, the relatively low cyclic rate of fire of around 300 rounds per minute enables the shooter to fire individual rounds through the use of short trigger pulls. It is fed from either an 8-round box magazine or 20-round drum magazine. The charging handle is located at the top of the gun and does not reciprocate during firing.
History
In 1987, Max Atchisson sold the rights of the AA-12 to Jerry Baber of Military Police Systems, Inc., Piney Flats, Tennessee.{{cite news|first1=Jacob |last1=Moore |first2=Drew |last2=Ruble |date=July–August 2009 |title=The Automatic Warrior |work=BusinessTN |url=http://businesstn.com/content/200907/automatic-warrior |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090718023145/http://www.businesstn.com/content/200907/automatic-warrior |archive-date=2009-07-18 }} MPS in turn developed the successor simply known as Auto Assault-12 with the help of German-born machinist Boje Cornils, who redesigned the weapon over a period of 19 years with 188 changes and improvements to the original blueprint, modifications included changing the AA-12 from blowback- to gas-operated with a locked breech. Upon firing a round, around 80% of what would normally be felt as recoil is absorbed by a proprietary gas system. A recoil spring grabs another 10%, leaving the final felt recoil only 10% of the normal 12-gauge round.{{cite web | title=AA-12 combat shotgun | website=New Atlas | date=2009-04-03 | url=https://newatlas.com/aa-12-combat-shotgun-frag-12-automatic/11393/ | access-date=2021-03-08}} MPS also teamed up with Action Manufacturing Company and Special Cartridge Company to combine the gun with FRAG-12 High-Explosive ammunition as a multifunction weapon system.
The weapon was lightened to {{Convert|4.76|kg|abbr=on}} and shortened to {{Convert|966|mm|abbr=on}} but retained the same barrel length. The CQB model has a {{convert|13|in|adj=on}} 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 submachine guns, as well as heavy and squad-level machine guns. The weapon uses an Advanced Primer Ignition blowback which strikes the shotgun shell when moving forward before placed in-battery (fully chambered), overcoming the forward inertia of the bolt and offering low recoil. It uses 8-round box or 20-round drum magazines, as opposed to the original 5-round box magazine. Due to the abundant use of stainless steel and the designed clearance for fouling, MPS has stated that the weapon requires little to no cleaning or lubrication.{{cite web | title=Military Assault Shotgun | website=Guns, Hunting, Shooting at The Old Deer Hunters | url=http://www.clcweb.net/Shooting/Military_Shotgun/military_shotgun.html | date=August 11, 2010 | access-date=October 27, 2018 | quote="During a Blackwater shoot, 5000 rounds were fired through a single weapon without cleaning or a drop of Lube." | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723043148/http://www.clcweb.net/Shooting/Military_Shotgun/military_shotgun.html | archive-date=July 23, 2011 | url-status=dead }} The designer states that cleaning is required after 10,000 rounds.{{cite web | last=Bartocci | first=Christopher R. | title=Made in the USA: The AA12 Shotgun by Christopher R. Bartocci | website=SmallArmsReview.com | date=2014-05-16 | url=https://www.smallarmsreview.com/display.article.cfm?idarticles=2640 | access-date=2019-09-02 | archive-date=2021-11-07 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107230943/https://www.smallarmsreview.com/display.article.cfm?idarticles=2640 | url-status=dead }} A rail system is also available for modern sighting options.{{Cite web |title=The AA-12: The Full Auto Shotgun From The Future |url=https://sofrep.com/gear/the-aa-12-the-full-auto-shotgun-from-the-future/ |access-date=2022-05-14 |website=SOFREP |language=en}} Because of an open bolt design, the AA-12 can reportedly operate after being submerged in water.{{Cite web |title=AA-12 Fully Automatic Shotgun!!! - YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOoUVeyaY_8 |access-date=2022-05-14 |website=www.youtube.com}}
In 2018, the company Sol Invictus arms introduced a Semi-automatic version of the AA-12 for the civilian market,{{Cite web |last=office_zzam |title=Sol Invictus Arms introduces AA-12 automatic shotgun |url=https://armyrecognition.com/focus-analysis-conflicts/army/defence-security-industry-technology/sol-invictus-arms-introduces-aa-12-automatic-shotgun |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=armyrecognition.com |language=en-gb}}{{Cite web |date=2023-03-11 |title=Sledgehammer: Sol Invictus Arms Takes on the Legendary AA-12 Full- and Semi-Auto Shotgun - Small Arms Review |url=https://smallarmsreview.com/sledgehammer-sol-invictus-arms-takes-on-the-legendary-aa-12-full-and-semi-auto-shotgun/ |access-date=2025-05-27 |language=en-US}} being featured in the SHOT Show 2019.{{Cite web |last=Association |first=National Rifle |title=An Official Journal Of The NRA {{!}} SHOT Show 2019 Guns: Sol Invictus AA-12 Semi-Auto Shotgun |url=https://www.shootingillustrated.com/content/shot-show-2019-guns-sol-invictus-aa-12-semi-auto-shotgun/ |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=An Official Journal Of The NRA |language=en}} In late 2019, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ordered a recall of civilian AA-12 shotguns produced by BC Engineering (a company owned by Boje Cornils), claiming that the semi-automatic shotgun was a machine gun. As a result Sol Invictus Arms paused the production of their AA-12. {{Cite web |last=Chief |first=F. Riehl, Editor in |date=2019-09-05 |title=Sol Invictus Arms Statement Regarding AA-12 Shotguns & the ATF Recall |url=https://www.ammoland.com/2019/09/sol-invictus-arms-statement-regarding-aa-12-shotguns-and-the-atf-recall/ |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=AmmoLand Shooting Sports News |language=en-US}} {{Cite web |last=Crump |first=John |date=2019-09-04 |title=Semi-automatic AA-12 Shotgun Reclassified As A Machine Gun Due To Markings? |url=https://www.ammoland.com/2019/09/semi-automatic-aa-12-shotgun-reclassified-as-a-machine-gun-due-to-markings/ |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=AmmoLand Shooting Sports News |language=en-US}}
Ammunition
Usage
By 2004, ten firing models of the AA-12 had been produced{{cite web | last=Ratliff | first=Evan | title=Shoot! An Appalachian gunsmith's robot army.| website=The New Yorker | date=2009-02-23 | url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2009/02/23/shoot | access-date=2020-10-20}} and were demonstrated to the United States Marine Corps, who did not adopt the weapon.{{cite web |first=Logan|last=Metesh|date=29 January 2019 |title=The AA-12 Automatic Shotgun | website=High Caliber History | url=https://www.highcaliberhistory.com/post/the-aa-12-automatic-shotgun | access-date=2020-10-20}}
The Hammer unmanned defense system by More Industries proposed to use dual-mounted AA-12s on the H2X-40 turret.{{Cite web|url=https://www.defensereview.com/hammer-remotely-operated-weapons-system-for-robotic-and-manned-vehicles/|title=Hammer Remotely-Operated Weapons System for Robotic and Manned Vehicles|last=Crane+|first=David|website=DefenseReview.com (DR): An online tactical technology and military defense technology magazine with particular focus on the latest and greatest tactical firearms news (tactical gun news), tactical gear news and tactical shooting news.|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-12}} Neural Robotics also wanted to mount the weapon on their AutoCopter unmanned aerial vehicle.{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2006/03/01/neural-robotics-incorporated-equips-autocopter-with-12-gauge-sho/ |title=Neural Robotics Incorporated equips AutoCopter with 12-gauge shotgun |author=Blass, Evan |date= 1 March 2006|access-date=2 September 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://www.hightech-edge.com/helicopter-rc-automatic-shotgun-video/1251/|title=Remote Control Helicopter With Full-Auto Shotgun|date=10 January 2008|access-date=2 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902143542/http://www.hightech-edge.com/helicopter-rc-automatic-shotgun-video/1251/|archive-date=2011-09-02|url-status=dead}}
See also
References
{{reflist|35em}}{{API blowback firearms}}
Category:Weapons and ammunition introduced in 1972