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Old May 31, 2011, 04:15 PM   #24
Technosavant
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Join Date: May 29, 2007
Location: St. Louis, MO area
Posts: 4,040
Quote:
People are referencing the S12's rock-and-lock as an inherent problem with shotgun detachable magazines. It doesn't need to be that way. Heck, you can buy S12 magwells, and the Russians even have some models that come with them. Same thing goes for loading on a closed bolt; don't confuse the S12's problems for "shotgun box magazines in general" problems.
If people are going to bring up the S12 as an example of how box magazines are better than tubes, then YES, its drawbacks do indeed come into play. When you use a design to point out advantages, the disadvantages of that platform also enter the field of discussion. In practice, they just don't swap well. trying to hurry it is a great way to have the thing fall off because you didn't get the front lip secured properly.

You are correct that it doesn't need to be that way; somebody could indeed make a shotgun with a straight-in method of insertion a la AR-15 (IIRC, CMMG was working on a .410 bore upper for use on AR lowers, but I've not seen if they've come to fruition). But is it worth that much trouble to design and tool up for such a thing when the good old tube with shell lifter works great? We agree that once you get past 6-7 shells, the mag becomes ludicrously long, and guess what... you can get that many into a regular mag tube on a 18.5" shotgun.

And that's assuming you can get it to feed. The 12 gauge shell is remarkably wide for its length, and getting that to feed well is not easy. You have to have a mag that will present the shell rather high for loading into the chamber, but that results in pressing the shell against the bolt when left loaded.

There's finally the use of the shotgun. They generally aren't the weapon of choice for those having to engage in running gunbattles. If you're room clearing they're great to have, but you can usually pause and top off your mag tube while your buddies with the AR-15s and/or MP-5s cover you if you had to bust off 3-4 shots in one given room. Defensive shotguns work best for up close work, and you won't be blowing through several magazines worth in rapid succession in that kind of scenario.
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