Re: ?? on a "Movie" gun

["Robert J. Hansen" <rjhansen@xxxxxxxx>]

> The only reason I've ever heard for cancellation of the program was "it's
> too deadly".  Ahem, wasn't that the point?  Perhaps the next version should
> come with a vase full of plastic flowers, ala the VW New Beetle.

"Too deadly" is a valid concern; remember, the Geneva Conventions
(ostensibly) exist to limit fatalities.  Shotguns are actually banned
weapons under the Geneva Conventions, and while some militaries (U.S.,
among others) get away with using shotguns on battlefields, fully-auto
shotguns might be too flagrant a violation.

The US adheres to Geneva voluntarily and at-will; we never signed it, so
according to US policy, we can use shotguns if we damn well want to.  In
a (rare) bow of the head to international will, though, the US tends to
follow Geneva pretty closely.

Other problems with autoshots:

* Extremely limited range.  An M4 can engage to 300m effectively, and an
M-16A2 out to 500m.  Shotguns are limited to 100m or less, mostly.

* Extremely bulky ammo.  25 shotgun shells takes up more space than 100
rounds of 5.56mm.

* Extremely heavy ammo.  The ammo isn't just bulky, it's frickin'
*heavy*.

* Extremely unwieldy magazines.  Box magazines are limited to 10
rounds--I've never heard of a shotgun box holding more.  Even in
controlled autofire, that's three bursts.  Drum magazines typically hold
20-25 rounds, but they are monstrously big and awkward.

* Extremely heavy.  A GPMG is tolerable for its weight, because you can
use a GPMG out to 500m+, you can engage light vehicles, you can shoot
down low-flying aircraft, you can turn enemy troops into ground beef. 
It's extremely versatile.  An autoshot is a tremendously specialized
weapon; you aren't going to shoot down aircraft with it, engage
vehicles, etc.  It's a special-purpose weapon, and oh boy, is it
*heavy*.

* Recoil.  During the HK-CAWS trials, one Special Forces trooper broke
his collarbone in a combination of (a) bad firing position and (b)
high-velocity all-brass 12g.  Given how often bad firing positions
happen on the battlefield, it's just not practical to use more than
2.75-inch 12g.

... Short version: autoshots are a nifty idea, but if I was a trooper, I
sure wouldn't want to carry one around.  Give me an M4 or MP5 instead.