Russian FOUR GAUGE KS-23 SHOTGUN

**Emptymag** · February 14th, 2023, 09:03 PM

Just stumbled upon this on the interwebs.

My shoulder hurts just looking at it!

https://www.military-today.com/firearms/ks_23.htm

**Emptymag** · February 14th, 2023, 09:03 PM

That thing is just nuts.

**Emptymag** · February 14th, 2023, 09:07 PM

Brief article

The KS-23 is possibly the largest shotgun ever designed by the Soviet Union or Russia. At 23 millimeters in diameter, the KS-23 easily dwarfs the smaller but ubiquitous 12 gauge shotgun, which is 18.5 millimeters in diameter.

The huge KS-23 was designed for police and riot control officers. Rather than manufacturing new barrels, the original design incorporated cut-down 23 millimeter barrels designed for aircraft. These barrels had been rejected due to manufacturing defects which made them insufficiently robust for use in planes. However, for use in lower pressure firing, like shotguns, the barrels were deemed sufficient.

Since the barrels were originally designed to fire 23-millimeter ammunition, they were rifled, rather than smoothbore as many shotgun designs are. The shotgun was therefore classified as a carbine of sorts due to its barrel rifling. It also incorporates a pistol-style grip, rather than an older-style straight grip incorporated into many shotgun designs.