FN 303

The FN 303 is based on a project by the Monterey Bay Corporation designated the XM303. The development team consisted of designers and researchers from two paintball related design and manufacturing firms, including Airgun Designs. The prototype was named the UBTPS, Under Barrel Tactical Paintball System.{{cite web|url=http://www.gunfx.com/pages/nonlethal.html |title=U.T.P.B.S Under Barrel Tactical Paintball System |publisher=Gun F/X |access-date=2012-06-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218100850/http://www.gunfx.com/pages/nonlethal.html |archive-date=2012-02-18 }}

The design could be attached to an M16 rifle{{cite web |url=http://montereybaycorporation.com/Monterey%20Bay%20Corporation_files/303.html |title=Non-Lethal Weapon Measures of Effectiveness |publisher=Monterey Bay Corporation |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091110112224/http://montereybaycorporation.com/Monterey%20Bay%20Corporation_files/303.html |archive-date=2009-11-10 }} and was conceived as a less-than-lethal weapon system coupled with a lethal weapon system, providing a wide range of response capabilities that were immediately available. A stand-alone version was also developed.

The UBTPS also featured a rotating barrel magazine, allowing for a wide range of different projectiles to be available and selectable without the need to change magazines.

Also developed was a bismuth-weighted projectile to provide the necessary mass, allowing the UTPBS to achieve the engagement range requirements.

The FN 303 fires a spherical, fin-stabilized projectile. According to FN, the fin-stabilized design provides greater accuracy than a standard paintball round. The forward half of the sphere is a non-toxic granulated bismuth shell designed to fragment on impact to prevent penetration damage. The rear half of the sphere contains one of several color-coded liquid payloads:

• Training/Impact (clear): non-toxic glycol base with no additives, used for training and when the impact sting is the preferred deterrent.
• Permanent paint (yellow): latex-based polymer paint used to mark suspects for later identification.
• Washable paint (pink): water-soluble fluorescent pink pigment in glycol base, similar to standard paintball filling, used to mark suspects short-term.
• Oleoresin capsicum (orange): glycol base mixed with 10% OC (pepper spray) at 5 million SHU, used to incapacitate targets.

The mass of the projectile is {{convert|8.5|g|gr|abbr=on}}, providing a muzzle energy of {{convert|31|J|ftlb|abbr=on}}.

In October 2004, in Boston, Massachusetts, Victoria Snelgrove was struck in the eye by an FN 303 round fired by a member of the Boston Police Department (BPD), leading to her death approximately 12 hours later.{{cite web |url=http://www.cityofboston.gov/police/pdfs/report.pdf |title=Commission Investigating the Death of Victoria Snelgrove |page=14 |date=May 25, 2005 |access-date=April 25, 2009 |website=cityofboston.gov |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610210149/http://www.cityofboston.gov/police/pdfs/report.pdf |archive-date=June 10, 2011 |via=Wayback Machine}} An autopsy found that the pellet opened a three-quarter-inch (1.9 cm) hole in the bone behind the eye, broke into nine pieces, and damaged the right side of her brain.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/46757370/in-snelgrove-files-officers-recount/ |title=In Snelgrove files, officers recount night of chaos |first1=Donovan |last1=Slack |first2=Suzanne |last2=Smalley |newspaper=The Boston Globe |page=1 |date=September 21, 2005 |access-date=March 15, 2020 |via=newspapers.com}} Subsequent tests by the BPD indicated that the FN 303's accuracy "decreased significantly" after about 300 firings.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/46773402/crowd-control-guns-accuracy-is/ |title=Crowd-control gun's accuracy is questioned |first=Shelley |last=Murphy |newspaper=The Boston Globe |page=17 |date=March 11, 2005 |access-date=March 15, 2020 |via=newspapers.com}} This is circumstantially corroborated by testimony of the officer who fired the weapon, stating that he was aiming at a rioter throwing bottles and did not know that a bystander had been hit.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/46773502/crowd-control-guns-accuracy-questioned/ |title=Crowd-control gun's accuracy questioned (cont'd) |first=Shelley |last=Murphy |newspaper=The Boston Globe |page=19 |date=March 11, 2005 |access-date=March 15, 2020 |via=newspapers.com}} A $15 million wrongful death lawsuit against the City of Boston and FN Herstal was settled in July 2006.{{cite news |title= Snelgrove family settles lawsuit|url= http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/07/14/snelgrove_family_settles_lawsuit/ |date=2006-07-14 |author=Murphy, Shelley |access-date=2009-06-05 |work=The Boston Globe}} In 2007, the BPD destroyed their remaining FN 303s, stating they were more powerful and lethal than had been anticipated.{{cite news|title=BPD: Pellet guns to be destroyed |url=http://media.www.berkeleybeacon.com/media/storage/paper169/news/2007/03/01/News/Bpd-Pellet.Guns.To.Be.Destroyed-2755628.shtml/ |date=2007-03-01 |author=Shea, Paddy |access-date=2009-06-05 |work=Berkeley Beacon |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070822051610/http://media.www.berkeleybeacon.com/media/storage/paper169/news/2007/03/01/News/Bpd-Pellet.Guns.To.Be.Destroyed-2755628.shtml |archive-date=August 22, 2007 }}

During protests in front of the Arcelor building in Luxembourg city on 11 May 2009, the weapon was used for the first time by local police. An RTL cameraman was hit in the hand, breaking one finger.{{cite news |title=ArcelorMittal: Siège am Viséier vun de Stolaarbechter |url=http://news.rtl.lu/news/national/18441.html |date=2009-05-11 |access-date=2009-05-20 |work=RTL.lu |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090515133739/http://news.rtl.lu/news/national/18441.html |archive-date=2009-05-15 }}

On 2 June 2013, during Gezi Park protests in Ankara, Turkey, a protester was wounded in the face by a "plastic bullet", later attributed to police use of the FN 303.{{cite web |url=http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/27934674.asp |title=Emniyet: FN 303 kullandık |publisher=Hurriyet.com.tr |date=2015-01-10 |access-date=2015-01-10 |language=tr |quote=Police Forces: We used FN 303}}

During Independence Day demonstrations in Finland on 6 December 2015, police used FN 303 against counter-protesters, with one receiving eye injuries from projectile fragments.{{cite news|title=Luodista silmäänsä saanut: "Aivan varmasti osallistun seuraavaankin mielenosoitukseen"|url=http://www.kansanuutiset.fi/artikkeli/3475541-luodista-silmaansa-saanut-aivan-varmasti-osallistun-seuraavaankin-mielenosoitukseen|access-date=12 December 2015|agency=Kansan Uutiset}}{{cite news|url=http://www.iltasanomat.fi/kotimaa/art-1449428658950.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208172638/http://www.iltasanomat.fi/kotimaa/art-1449428658950.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 8, 2015|title=Video: Poliisi käytti anarkisteja vastaan paineilma-asetta – tällainen on FN 303|date=6 December 2015|work=Iltasanomat|language=fi|access-date=6 December 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/a1449372082033|title=Poliisi epäilee yli 30 ihmistä rikoksista itsenäisyyspäivän mielenosoituksissa – kaikki kiinniotetut vapautettu|date=6 December 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/poliisi_ampunut_mielenosoittajia_paineilma-aseella__yli_130_otettu_kiinni/8507915|title=Poliisi ampunut mielenosoittajia paineilma-aseella – yli 130 otettu kiinni|date=6 December 2015 }}

A 2019 study found that the performance of the FN 303 was significantly worse outside of a laboratory setting. Operational conditions were simulated by inducing physiological and psychological stress, and measuring salivary cortisol; accuracy and reported ease of use were both lower than that of the control group.{{Cite journal|last1=Taverniers|first1=John|last2=Suss|first2=Joel|date=2019-09-02|title=A user-centred assessment of a less-lethal launcher: the case of the FN 303® in a high-pressure setting|journal=Ergonomics|volume=62|issue=9|pages=1162–1174|doi=10.1080/00140139.2019.1626916|issn=0014-0139|pmid=31151364|s2cid=172137056}}

File:FN 303 Users.png

• {{flag|Argentina}}: Used by the Buenos Aires City Police.
• {{flag|Belgium}}: DSU counter-terrorism group,{{cite web |url=http://www.moustique.be/actu-societe/17197/sur-le-terrain-avec-lunite-speciale |title=Sur le terrain avec l'unité spéciale - Actu-Société - Moustique |publisher=Moustique.be |date=2011-05-24 |access-date=2012-02-16 |archive-date=2011-08-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814093246/http://www.moustique.be/actu-societe/17197/sur-le-terrain-avec-lunite-speciale |url-status=dead }} Police de Liège (PAB), Antwerp local police.{{cite web |url=http://www.gva.be/cnt/dmf20150817_01821360/antwerpse-politie-fn-303-wapens-zijn-uitbreiding-van-arsenaal |title=FN 303-wapens zijn uitbreiding van arsenaal |publisher=gva.be Politiezone Minos|date=2015-08-17 |access-date=2015-11-11 |language=nl}}
• {{flag|Bulgaria}}: In use with the Land Forces and the Military Police.[http://www.segabg.com/online/article.asp?issueid=2331§ionid=2&id=0000402 Армията се въоръжи и с газови пистолети] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060717070346/http://www.segabg.com/online/article.asp?issueid=2331§ionid=2&id=0000402 |date=2006-07-17 }}, Segabg, 30 June 2006
• {{flag|Georgia}}: In service with the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Used twice—once as a defensive weapon when protesters illegally entered a police station, and once during riots in November 2007.{{cite web|url=http://geworld.net/en/human_rights/100.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100526184408/http://geworld.net/en/human_rights/100.html |archive-date=2010-05-26 |title=Georgia and World |publisher=Geworld.net |access-date=2012-06-30}}
• {{flag|Finland}}: Used by the Police of Finland. First use by the police against the antifa demonstration Vapaus pelissä on 6 December 2015, hitting one person in the eye.{{cite web|url=https://varisverkosto.com/2019/11/four-years-of-antifascist-mobilisations-what-have-we-learned-from-the-independence-day-demonstrations-of-2015-2018/ |title=Four years of antifascist mobilisations – what have we learned from the Independence Day demonstrations of 2015-2018? |date=2019-11-23|access-date=2019-12-06}}
• {{flag|Japan}}: Used by some Special Investigation Teams, including that of the Aichi Prefectural Police.
• {{flag|Libya}}: Purchased 2,000 launchers in 2009.{{cite web |url=http://www.expatica.com/be/news/belgian-news/belgium-probes-arms-sales-to-kadhafi-regime_131541.html |title=Belgium probes arms sales to Kadhafi regime < Belgian news | Expatica Belgium |publisher=Expatica.com |access-date=2012-02-16 |archive-date=2012-07-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120705060836/http://www.expatica.com/be/news/belgian-news/belgium-probes-arms-sales-to-kadhafi-regime_131541.html |url-status=dead }}
• {{flag|Luxembourg}}: Unité Spéciale de la Police of the Grand Ducal Police.{{cite web |url=http://www.usp.lu/armement-lethales-fr.php |title=Unité Spéciale de la Police Equipement - Armes non Lethales |year=2008 |language=fr |publisher=usp.lu - Unofficial Website of Unité Spéciale, Officially Endorsed |access-date=2009-10-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227070520/http://www.usp.lu/armement-lethales-fr.php |archive-date=2012-02-27 }}{{cite news |title=RTL-Kameramann mécht Plainte géint onbekannte Polizist |url=http://news.rtl.lu/news/national/26804.html |date=2009-05-20 |access-date=2009-05-20 |work=RTL.lu |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090522105135/http://news.rtl.lu/news/national/26804.html |archive-date=2009-05-22 }}
• {{flag|Netherlands}}: One launcher purchased by the Gelderland Province for use by their rangers to repel wolves in De Hoge Veluwe National Park.{{cite web |url=https://gelderlander.nl/binnenland/dit-is-het-wapen-waarmee-gelderland-de-wolf-mag-afschrikken-die-projectielen-komen-echt-wel-aan~ad4c42f3/ |title=Dit is het wapen waarmee Gelderland de wolf mag afschrikken: 'Die projectielen komen echt wel aan' |access-date=2024-01-24 |language=nl-NL}}
• {{PRT}}: 200 launchers purchased in 2018 by the Polícia de Segurança Pública.{{Cite web |title=About – Sodarca Defense |url=https://sodarcadefense.com/pt/about/ |access-date=2022-09-04 |language=pt-PT}}
• {{flag|Singapore}}: In use by the Singapore Police Coast Guard's Special Task Squadron{{cite web |url=http://www.spf.gov.sg/prints/annual/2008/08spfa_pcg.htm |title=Singapore Police Force Annual Report 2008 |publisher=Singapore Police Force |access-date=2013-08-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090413162141/http://www.spf.gov.sg/prints/annual/2008/08spfa_pcg.htm |archive-date=2009-04-13 |url-status=dead }} and the Singapore Prison Service SPEAR specialist unit.{{citation needed|date=December 2013}}
• {{flag|Thailand}}: Used by the Protection and Crowds Control Division under the Metropolitan Police Bureau, Royal Thai Police{{Cite web |title=2021_10 {{!}} Reports {{!}} Mob Data Thailand |url=https://blog.mobdatathailand.org/en/posts/2021_10.html |access-date=2022-05-18 |website=blog.mobdatathailand.org}} in September 2021.{{Cite web |title=ชาวแฟลตดินแดงร้องผู้ชุมนุมงดเสียงดังหลังเคอร์ฟิวส์ คนแก่-เด็กอ่อนได้ผลกระทบ ยันไม่ใช่ 'สลิ่ม' |url=https://prachatai.com/journal/2021/09/95020 |access-date=2022-05-18 |website=prachatai.com |language=th}}
• {{flag|Turkey}}: Çevik Kuvvet of the General Directorate of Security.{{cite web |url=http://www.dunyabulteni.net/news_detail.php?id=122880 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120801102024/http://www.dunyabulteni.net/news_detail.php?id=122880 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-08-01 |title=Cop yerine FN 303 | Dünya Bülteni |publisher=Dunyabulteni.net |date=2011-09-15 |access-date=2012-02-16 }}
• {{flag|United States}}: Used by the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Air Force. Also used by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Alameda County Sheriff's Office, {{cite web|url=http://www.dailycal.org/2011/09/16/%E2%80%9Cout-gunned%E2%80%9D-campus-response-to-protest |title=The Daily Californian - Berkeley's Newspaper |publisher=Dailycal.org |date=2011-09-16 |access-date=2012-06-30}} Los Angeles Police Department, {{cite web|url=https://biz.chosun.com/en/en-international/2025/06/09/BA7U5RGTCRDH5A25FXKNP5S7CE/|title=LAPD declares downtown LA a no assembly zone amid escalating protests

}} and the Portland Police Bureau.{{Cite web|title=Portland Police Under Scrutiny For Dangerous Crowd Control Munitions|url=https://www.opb.org/news/article/crowd-control-weapons-portland-police-rubber-foam-bullets-tear-gas/|access-date=2021-03-17|website=opb}}

{{Reflist|2}}

{{commons category|FN 303}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20160304090824/http://www.fnherstal.com/primary-menu/products-capabilities/less-lethal/general/product/255/254/255/3/_/fn-303R-1.html Official website]

{{FN Herstal firearms}}

303

Category:United States Marine Corps equipment

Category:Riot guns

Category:Weapons of Belgium

Category:Military equipment introduced in the 2000s