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Trial by fire
Deployed soldiers put new shotgun to the test
Some soldiers serving in Afghanistan are testing a new shotgun that mounts under the barrel of their M4 carbines.
In November, officials from the Army’s Program Executive Office Soldier issued 199 Lightweight Shotgun Systems to units from the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) stationed at Kandahar Airfield and Bagram Air Base.
In Afghanistan, most soldiers admitted it was not what they expected, said Maj. Trevor Shaw, PEO Soldier’s assistant product manager for individual weapons.
“They were really surprised by the size and design,†Shaw said.
It weighs 2 pounds, 11 ounces. It has a 7¾-inch barrel, compared to most riot-style shotgun barrels that measure between 18 to 20 inches and weigh about 6 pounds.
Like the 3-pound M203 grenade launcher, the Lightweight Shotgun System is designed to mount directly onto the M4 carbine.
“They really like the weight,†Shaw said. “They are lighter than the M203, so it’s not any more cumbersome than soldiers are used to.â€
On the downside, the new shotguns cost $1,700 each, which is more than the Army would like to pay.
But the weapons were purchased under an “urgent need†request, said Lt. Col. Matthew Clarke, PEO Soldier’s product manager for individual weapons “The quantities are so small that each gun is handmade.â€
If the Army decides to adopt the new design, Clarke said, full production likely would cut the current cost in half.
There also would be a competitive bidding process, so other companies could compete, he said. “That shotgun may not be the eventual winner,†Clarke said.
What officials are sure of, however, is that soldiers, so far, seem to like the “straight-pull bolt action†and uncomplicated design of the weapon.
“It’s really simple,†Shaw said. “It’s much easier to disassemble than a commercial-grade shotgun.â€
— Matthew Cox
http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?f=0-ARMYPAPER-2595216.php
Deployed soldiers put new shotgun to the test
Some soldiers serving in Afghanistan are testing a new shotgun that mounts under the barrel of their M4 carbines.
In November, officials from the Army’s Program Executive Office Soldier issued 199 Lightweight Shotgun Systems to units from the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) stationed at Kandahar Airfield and Bagram Air Base.
In Afghanistan, most soldiers admitted it was not what they expected, said Maj. Trevor Shaw, PEO Soldier’s assistant product manager for individual weapons.
“They were really surprised by the size and design,†Shaw said.
It weighs 2 pounds, 11 ounces. It has a 7¾-inch barrel, compared to most riot-style shotgun barrels that measure between 18 to 20 inches and weigh about 6 pounds.
Like the 3-pound M203 grenade launcher, the Lightweight Shotgun System is designed to mount directly onto the M4 carbine.
“They really like the weight,†Shaw said. “They are lighter than the M203, so it’s not any more cumbersome than soldiers are used to.â€
On the downside, the new shotguns cost $1,700 each, which is more than the Army would like to pay.
But the weapons were purchased under an “urgent need†request, said Lt. Col. Matthew Clarke, PEO Soldier’s product manager for individual weapons “The quantities are so small that each gun is handmade.â€
If the Army decides to adopt the new design, Clarke said, full production likely would cut the current cost in half.
There also would be a competitive bidding process, so other companies could compete, he said. “That shotgun may not be the eventual winner,†Clarke said.
What officials are sure of, however, is that soldiers, so far, seem to like the “straight-pull bolt action†and uncomplicated design of the weapon.
“It’s really simple,†Shaw said. “It’s much easier to disassemble than a commercial-grade shotgun.â€
— Matthew Cox
http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?f=0-ARMYPAPER-2595216.php
