Pancor Jackhammer combat rifle (USA). Automatic shotgun Jackhammer Weapon jackhammer

The table above shows the parameters of the latest model of the Jackhammer Mk3-A2 shotgun.

American combat automatic smoothbore shotgun Jackhammer.

The first prototype of the Jackhammer combat shotgun was developed back in 1978. In 1984, a patent was received for this unusual weapon. This sample was developed by engineers of the American company Pancor Corporation under the leadership of John Andersen. Sometimes this gun goes under the name Pancor Jackhammer. Translated into Russian, the name of the shotgun sounds like “Jackhammer”.

Interestingly, many online publications and printed books claim that this gun is in service with special forces in the United States. However, other sources say that the Jackhammer is not actually in service anywhere. Moreover, that it was never even mass-produced, and that there are only a few prototypes, the main merit of which is to be a locomotive for the promotion of new and unusual ideas in the field of weapons. It is unclear who is right.

The gun has an unusual design. Although the bullpup layout is quite common in modern small arms, it is very rare in shotguns. Another feature is the feeding system, which is a 10-round drum that can be quickly changed. The gun is made for the 12th hunting gauge.

One of the first prototype modifications of the Jackhammer shotgun with an integrated optical sight.

The entire shotgun is disassembled into seven main parts - the barrel, the muzzle, the body with the cocking mechanism, the trigger mechanism with the fore-end, the drum, the butt, and the return spring. Many parts of the weapon use plastic, which is polyethylene reinforced with fiberglass. Another material is steel. On top of the shotgun there is a carrying handle, on the top of which there are sighting devices - open, fixed front and rear sights. The whole design looks quite futuristic and as sleek as possible.

A later modification of the Jackhammer is Mk3.

The weapon's automatic operation is as unusual as its design. When fired, the gases press on the muzzle, which pulls the barrel forward along with it. The barrel, in turn, is connected by a special rod to the groove of the drum (which, by the way, is often called a cassette). When the barrel rod interacts with the groove of the drum, the latter rotates one tenth of a turn (ten-round drum), bringing the next chamber to the barrel. When the barrel, under the action of the return spring, moves back, it cocks the shotgun's firing mechanism. In the rearmost position, the barrel is rigidly engaged with the drum. The mechanism of the gun is quite fast and smooth, and allows you to accurately shoot 10 single rounds in 15 seconds. There is also a manual reloading mode by moving the forearm backwards.

Schematic drawing of all parts and components of a Jackhammer shotgun.

To eject an empty cassette drum, you also need to move the fore-end while not fully pressing the trigger.

There is information that the muzzle is also a brake-compensator, which, however, raises doubts due to its large diameter, but, judging by the design, it can play a certain role in preventing barrel flip. Another feature of this shotgun is the replaceable barrel. In order to change it (and this may be necessary due to intense fire or to increase the effective range of the shot by installing a long barrel with a certain drill), you need to remove the muzzle device, turn the barrel 90 degrees and pull it forward together with the return spring . Then a new barrel is inserted, rotated, the return spring and muzzle device are put on - that’s it, the barrel is replaced.

Interestingly, the gun is automatic. Not self-loading, but automatic. Single shooting is possible only with a short press of the trigger, which, in principle, is not difficult, since the rate of fire is low. In this regard, this shotgun, according to the Small Arms Act of 1934, is equivalent to a machine gun in the United States.

Shooting is carried out with 12-gauge cartridges with a case length of 76 mm. One of the ammunition is a cartridge with a container for 10 buckshots, which, according to the manufacturer, allows you to effectively hit targets at a distance of up to 150 meters. The second ammunition is called "Black Jack" and is a shock - it gives a strong bang (about 130 decibels) and a bright flash when hit. The use of bullet cartridges and some other 12-gauge special ammunition is also provided. Drum cassettes can be of two types: equipped with ready-made cartridges, or loaded at the factory. In the latter case, the drum-cassette chambers are directly filled with capsules, gunpowder and wads, after which these cassettes are sealed with film, which the shooter must remove before shooting; the shooter himself equips the chambers with the necessary striking elements (casings are excluded, their role is played by the internal surfaces of the drum chambers).

The cassette drum equipped at the factory has another application - a directed-action anti-personnel mine, which was developed by the designer of the shotgun itself, Andersen. It's called a Bear Trap mine. A special instantaneous detonator is inserted into the cassette and covered with a pressure cap. When you step on such a mine, all the chambers are triggered simultaneously, firing 100 buckshot towards the stepped one.

This shotgun has a modification Mk3-A2, which became its last. In this model, the shapes have been slicked even more. Weight has also been reduced and the housing has been redesigned to improve cooling. Some modifications in the design of the drum-cassette made it possible to make the operation of the automation smoother and less noisy. A handle was added for manually cocking the trigger mechanism, which is located in the butt window. Belt mounts were also added, which allow you to position the weapon on yourself as conveniently as possible (two swivels on top and bottom near the butt plate and one of the swivels rotates around the barrel).

The latest modification of the Jackhammer Mk3-A2 combat shotgun.

For use in special operations, a disposable silencer and a waterproof case were created, which allows you to overcome water obstacles, while adding buoyancy to the gun.

The unusual design played a cruel joke on this shotgun, which is undoubtedly a very interesting example of the approach to firearms design. The military is often very conservative and prefers time-tested weapons, their designs and layout, and ammunition. The use of automatic fire (the rate of fire is approximately 4 rounds per second) in combination with a sufficiently capacious drum and its rapid reloading would allow for a real barrage of fire at close ranges, which is especially important during assault operations in the city, for example. 100 buckshots in 2.5 seconds is no joke. Another advantage of this weapon is its good balance and relatively low recoil, which is mainly due to the layout of the shotgun and the operating principle of the automatic weapon, which divides the recoil impulse, partially transferring it to the forward movement of the barrel. However, it didn’t work out, just as it didn’t work out for many other representatives of the “smooth-bore machine gun” family. But who knows - perhaps their time will come. At least this shotgun has fans all over the world. It is used in computer games and films. There are even clubs for Jackhammer fans on the Internet. The new and unusual has been making its way for a long time, maybe “Jack” will make it in some even more unusual modification.

Jackhammer Automatic Shotgun

The Jackhammer is a unique weapon that has never made it onto the production line. Since 1978, only a few samples have been produced, each with its own characteristics. The descriptions found on the Internet, the Russian part of it, suffer from some inaccuracies, which can easily be eliminated by reading English-language literature. The first and probably most important thing is that these weapons did not enter service with any armies. Moreover, Jackhammer was not produced, at least not in a factory, it was not mass-produced and that’s it. But there were several different models, or prototypes if you prefer, created throughout the 80s and 90s with an eye to arming line infantry, police and special forces, but he never got around to them. We can say this about these weapons: they belong to that rare type that move the industry forward, while remaining not in demand.

Next we will talk specifically about the Jackhammer, the first model of this weapon, which is in many ways inferior to the Jackhammer Mk 3-A2. To create this smoothbore gun, completely atypical design solutions for this type of weapon were used, which were later used in other models. The impression is that the developers did not set themselves the goal of releasing a production model. They used solutions and materials that were new for that time, then patented this business, which, apparently, was how they made money, or at least they tried. Among the obvious features, one can highlight the layout based on the “bullpup” principle, as well as the unusualness of the magazine, presented in the form of a revolving drum with a capacity of 10 rounds of 12 gauge. And, of course, it is worth noting the overall futuristic design of the gun. From the non-obvious, first of all it is worth mentioning about automation. It is based on the movement of the barrel, pushed by powder gases through a special muzzle, which in turn leads to the rotation of the drum - magazine by 1/10 of a revolution. This is followed by a reverse movement of the barrel, leading to cocking of the firing pin, while the drum is rotated until the axis of the chamber coincides with the axis of the barrel. The Jackhammer, his first model, could only fire single shots and had a rate of fire of 40 per minute. In case of problems with the mechanism, it was possible to manually reload the movement of the forearm using a special handle located in the recess of the striker. For shooting, both cartridges loaded with shot and special light-noise charges were used. Jackhammer parts that do not experience heavy loads were made of high-strength plastic, and the barrel, cartridge feed lever and spring were made of high-quality steel. It was proposed that the gun be supplied with a special case that would protect it from water and a disposable silencer. The carrying handle contained a front sight and a permanent sight with a triangular slot.

Caliber, 12
The principle of operation is automatic based on the removal of powder gases, self-loading
Fixed bolt locking system
Magazine capacity, 10 rounds
Weight, kg 4.57
Weapon length, mm 787
Barrel length, mm 525
Height, mm 230
Width, mm 125
Rate of fire, rds/min 240
Effective firing range, m 150

The Jackhammer is a bullpup automatic shotgun which never entered production, using a revolver-style detachable cylinder (referred to as a "cassette") with a rotating action similar to the British Webley-Fosbery Automatic Revolver , and a gas-seal system similar to that of the Nagant Revolver , though with the barrel moving back to form the seal instead of the cylinder moving forward. A forward-back pump-action forend is used to cock the weapon initially, after which it indexes automatically. The mechanism is indexed by a cam on an operating rod attached to the barrel, which moves in a zig-zag groove to rotate the cylinder to the next chamber with each forward-back motion. The barrel is blown forward by gas tapped from the bore and returned under spring pressure.

It is often seen in videogames as a "super shotgun;" the Jackhammer's popularity is due, in large part, to the futuristic look of the weapon, and sometimes mistakenly described as the only fully automatic shotgun in existence. There is an element of unreality in featuring the Jackhammer in any context, as the weapon never made it past prototype stage; only two guns capable of firing in fully automatic mode were ever made. The real guns had problems with cassette grooves needing to be manufactured to extremely tight tolerances for the weapon to cycle correctly; typically, the full-auto guns could only manage two or three shots sequentially before failing to cycle. The weapon's design was also cumbersome and uncomfortable to shoot, and the factory-sealed ammunition cassettes of the final version could not be reloaded in the field. A well-known fact is that more Jackhammers have appeared in any given work of fiction than ever existed in real life.

One unique feature was that the ammunition cassette could be combined with an additional assembly containing an array of strikers and a pressure plate to turn it into an ersatz landmine, referred to as the "bear trap." The precise utility of this is debatable since the plate was almost as large as another cassette and the "mine" would expend ten rounds to kill one person, even if it was guaranteed someone would actually stand on it.

Two pre-production weapons were subject to full destructive testing, and just one functional Jackhammer remains in existence, a heavy toolroom prototype with a cylinder which accepts standard 12-gauge shells. This is not the final version, and among other things requires that the weapon be almost completely dismantled in order to reload it. For a time this weapon was owned by designer John Anderson; it was later sold to a movie armorer and fitted with the handguard grip of an MP5SD since the original smooth forend was thought to be too slick to reliably operate. The weapon is currently registered to a collector in New York.

The Pancor Jackhammer can be seen in the following video games:

Specifications

(Designed in 1984 and patented 1987, never produced)

• Type: Shotgun

• Caliber: 12 gauge preloaded (production), standard 12 gauge (prototype)

• Weight: 10.1 lbs (4.57 kg), about 14 pounds for toolroom prototype

• Length: 31 in (78.7 cm)

• Barrel length: 20.7 in (52.5 cm)

• Capacity: 10-Round preloaded ammunition cassette (production), 10-round revolver cylinder (prototype)

• Fire Modes: Semi/Full-Auto

Video Games

The American automatic revolver-type shotgun “Pancor Jackhammer” (literally translated as “jackhammer”) is intended for arming the police and army.

A version was also developed for arming combat swimmers, which differed from the standard version in that it had a sealed container for transporting weapons under water.

On the civilian weapons market in most countries, the sale of Pancor Jackhammer is prohibited.

The main feature is that the gun is fed with cartridges from a 10-round 12-gauge hunting drum.
The Pancor Jackhammer automatic operates by removing some of the powder gases from the barrel, and is reminiscent of the cylinder rotation mechanism of the 1896 Webley-Fosbery revolver.

The Jackhammer combat smoothbore automatic shotgun was developed in 1978 by weapons designer John A. Anderson specifically as a military model.

In 1984, Andersen patented the basic design, on the basis of which all further development of this weapon was based. The technical solutions implemented in the design of this gun were patented in the USA on December 1, 1987 under the numbers 4709617 and 4856410 and on January 4, 1990 in England under the numbers 2179429 and 2206188.

The first sample of the Pancor Jackhammer was released in 1985, the first tests were carried out in the 1990s.

However, the Pancor Jackhammer shotgun n but the weapons were not accepted.

The gun was initially advertised under the banner of Pancor Corporation, and later by Mark Three Corporation (which had in its arsenal a number of equally original and equally unsuccessful developments in the field of small arms).

The Pancor Jackhammer smoothbore shotgun is built according to the bullpup design.

The weapon is built on the basis of a gas exhaust mechanism with a forward-moving barrel and power from detachable magazines - drums like revolvers.

The automatic gas engine consists of a gas cylinder formed around the barrel and an annular gas piston rigidly mounted on the barrel. After the shot, hot powder gases enter the gas cylinder through a hole in the barrel and, acting on the gas piston, push the movable barrel forward, compressing the return spring. In this case, the barrel first disengages from the fired chamber of the drum, and then, through a longitudinally sliding lever located above the barrel (automation drive rod), it activates the reloading and cocking mechanism of the trigger mechanism.

There are special oblique shaped grooves on the outer surface of the drum magazine. Two protrusions at the rear of the drive rod interact with these slots, causing the drum to rotate half a step clockwise, first as the rod (and barrel) moves forward and then backward. Thus, before the barrel reaches its rearmost position under the action of the return spring, the drum turns toward the barrel with the next loaded chamber. At the end of its return stroke, the barrel enters with its shank into the front part of the drum chamber, providing a tight connection that prevents powder gases from breaking out. At the same time, the rear end of the drive rod cocks the striker-fired firing mechanism.

The Pancor Jackhammer shotgun has an automatic fire mode only; Single shots are possible by briefly pressing the trigger due to the relatively low rate of fire.

Manual reloading for the first shot or in case of misfire is carried out by a movable fore-end, moving forward and backward, while special hooks inside the fore-end pick up the barrel and move it back and forth, carrying out a full reloading cycle.

The change of magazines - drums (in the original bearing the brand name "Ammo Cassette" - ammunition cassette) was also carried out in an unusual way.

To separate the magazine from the weapon, you need to squeeze the trigger halfway, and then push the movable forend forward until it stops. In this case, the barrel will move forward, disconnecting from the drum, the tubular axis of the magazine will also move forward from the drum, allowing it to freely fall out of the weapon. In the forward position, the forend and barrel will be automatically locked with a special latch located in the front of the trigger guard. Thus, while holding the pistol grip with one hand, the shooter with the other free hand can insert a new magazine into place and then release the forend by pressing the latch. In this case, the magazine axis will fall into place, the drive lever will automatically align one of the drum chambers opposite the barrel, and then the barrel will enter this chamber with its rear part. The trigger will also be cocked automatically and the weapon will be ready for battle.

In the opening of the butt behind the magazine there is a handle connected to the firing pin and allowing, if necessary, to manually cock the firing pin or remove it from combat cocking.

Another feature of the Jackhammer shotgun is the ability to quickly change the barrel. To do this, you need to remove the muzzle, rotate the barrel 90 degrees around its axis and remove it forward along with the return spring. Then insert the new barrel, rotate it 90 degrees so that it engages the drive rod, then put the recoil spring on the barrel and install the muzzle in place.

To supply the Jackhammer, two types of magazines were provided. The first type had ordinary chambers designed for special reinforced 12-gauge cartridges. After removal from the weapon, such a magazine could be freed from empty cartridges and reloaded with cartridges. The second type of magazine must be loaded at the factory, with gunpowder, projectile (buckshot, bullet, etc.) and primer loaded directly into the drum, without cartridges. The fully loaded drum ("Ammo Cassette") was hermetically packaged in plastic film and was to be delivered to users in this form. Before loading, the shooter had to tear off the plastic wrapping from the drum and load it into the weapon, and after using up all the charges, throw it away (or, if the situation allows, save it for later return to the factory for reloading).

Based on such stores, Andersen also developed a special anti-personnel mine, the Bear Trap, which featured a fuse attached to the store. When it was triggered, charges from all chambers were fired simultaneously, creating the effect of a directed fragmentation mine.

Single fire from the Pancor Jackhammer is achieved with jerky trigger pulls and a low rate of fire. The safety lever is located above the handle, on the left side of the weapon. When turned on, it blocks the trigger rod and trigger.

The sight of the weapon is open, consisting of a bar closed on the sides, like on hunting rifles.

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