Top 5 Bullpup Shotguns

#5: Mossberg 500/590 Bullpup

The Mossberg 500/590 bullpup edition will start the countdown at #5. These Mossbergs are 80’s movie stars, starring in Predator 2, the Running Man, and Robocop probably due to their futuristic appeal. Collectors should be on alert: their value is set to only rise, because there isn’t anything like them currently being manufactured by Mossberg. (Update: I’ve been told there are bullpup kits out there for newer Mossbergs, and there’s a chance Mossberg will convert an existing shotgun to a bullpup for you.) And, being a Mossberg, they carry a certain degree of intrinsic reliability.

Like reliability, there are more pros that aren’t just superficial…the Mossberg 500/590 bullpups are good shotguns, too. Even though the stock has a lot of gadgetry in it (as with most bullpups), it does really well to mitigate recoil. This attribute is in part due to being heavy, which could be seen as a con. They still boast an 18.5” or 20” tactical-length barrel. They are easy to clean and break down for whatever purpose. The pump action is smooth and makes a great intimidating (for some too loud) sound, and it comes with a nice grip.

Modified Mossberg 500 bullpup

There are, of course, some nitpicky cons that prevent it from being higher on the list. The sight is disappointing to me. Admittedly, you won’t need a good sight if the target is close enough. Admittedly, you can change the sight to any one that you wish if you know your way around a gun. However, I don’t think I’m crazy when I think that a sight doesn’t need to double as a carrying handle. Personally, I don’t value a carrying handle enough to start sacrificing optics. There have been vast improvements in optics since the gun came out in the 80's, so my critique might be a little unfair. Anyway, moving on, here is a list of other cons:

• Annoying and unnecessary grip safety (there’s another safety on the trigger)
• Heavy by any standard
• Long/heavy trigger pull, although not unreasonable
• The Mossberg 500 has a low capacity relative to others on this list (5+1), although the Mossberg 590 has a better capacity (8+1).
• High cost because they’re pretty hard to find
• Ejection port is going to be on the right side next to your face (and literally in your face as a lefty, so lefties can’t use it).

The Mossberg conversions are still good weapons, and there isn't much that separates them from #1 on this list.

#4: Remington 870 Bullpup Conversion

Coming in at number four in the countdown is the Remington 870 bullpup conversion. This is a great build, only takes about an hour to convert for the mechanically challenged, and although it’s virtually all plastic, it carries with it the Remington reliability. It's impressively almost 10 inches shorter than a traditional 870.
I haven’t carried out 10,000 round tests on these shotguns myself, but my top bet judging from a random sample of internet comments and intuition is that the Remington bullpup would perform the best on this list. Obviously I’d love to gather data to confirm that, but that’s just not practical to do for me at the moment. Sometimes reliability alone is the most important quality in a home defense shotgun. If you don’t feel comfortable buying a lesser known brand, the 870 bullpup will get the job done. Also, a Remington 870 + the conversion kit + accessories are going to be very reasonably priced at about $750.

This is from a Youtube video made by Buds Gun Shop, but I'm almost sure I can't provide a link due to terms and conditions.

Other than a small edge in both reliability and price, the Remington doesn’t really separate itself from the pack much. There were three other small things I liked about it that I’ll mention quickly. First, it has a pump grip guard that prevents your hand from accidently sliding in front of the barrel (which is a potential issue with other shotguns on this list). Second, it has rails on the top, side, and bottom for a sight, grip, laser, flashlight, and so on. While rails are an upgrade over the Mossberg, it’s something that I almost come to expect these days. Finally, it’s not super fast to reload, but it is faster than others on this list.
There are a few cons, none of which are deal breakers. The most significant of these in my home defense metric is the pump. The pump action is noticeably unsmooth, and this could be an issue with a gun that is already prone to short shucking (which is a tendency with all pump shotgun bullpups). The second biggest issue is that it “only” holds 6+1, which is satisfactory, but like the Mossberg, isn’t exceptional. Third, like the Mossberg, its ejector port is on the right side next to your ear no matter what. This is obviously especially frustrating for lefties, but also frustrating for right-handers because of the smoke, noise, and heat that are right next to your face. This might seem inevitable for a bullpup, but we’ll look at a gun later that has a fix for this.
I’ll list the rest of my grievances:

• Takes a long time to clean…requires complete disassembly
• Only one color
• No place for a side saddle

You might notice the Remington has similar problems as the Mossberg. The difference makers for me were Remington’s lightness and rails. Some small edges that the Mossberg has (such as grip and guards) can be bought for the Remington, and the price will still likely be cheaper.

#3: UTS-15

Number three on the countdown is the Turkish UTAS UTS-15. I’m not sure why they didn’t go ahead and just call it the UTAS-15, they were only one letter short. Anyway, it’s a gun that immediately catches the eye (perhaps the word ugly comes to mind, but I prefer the term eye-catching). The UTS-15 has a lot of cool features that makes it and immediate competitor in the bullpup shotgun market. If you haven’t heard of its maker UTAS, you probably aren’t Turkish. I hear UTAS is kind of a big deal over there.

With that being said, it’s not a brand that I would immediately trust simply out of lack of familiarity. As expected, most of the negative comments that I’ve seen have been about reliability. The sources that I trust more seem to agree that it is in fact reliable. Nevertheless, I would recommend trying the gun out as much as possible before buying. Reliability is why I’m timid to rank this gun higher. Well, reliability and these small cons:

• Loud when moving
• No choice of pump grip. The grip it comes with is frighteningly slippery, especially (potentially) when wet.
• Speaking of that, in my opinion, there isn't enough guard to prevent a hand from slipping in front of the muzzle.
• Like the Mossberg and Remington it only ejects to the right side, next to your face
• Expensive in that most go for over $1300, and you’re going to need to add a sight
• Relatively bulky

With all of those cons, does it really deserve a high place on this list? I believe so, for two main reasons. For one, it holds 12+1 low brass 12 gauge ammo and 14+1 high brass ammo. That’s a ton. There aren’t a lot of situations where that isn’t enough to get the job done. The second reason compliments the first. The UTS-15 feeds from two different barrels, and UTAS designed a selector switch that allows you to choose which barrel to feed from. Not only is it nice to be able to choose what type of ammo you want, but also you’re given the choice to alternate between the barrels. Also, one feeding barrel is selected and then emptied, the UTS-15 automatically switches to the other barrel. The selector feature is unique and offers quite a bit of versatility in a small package allowing you to potentially choose between two different types of ammunition on the fly.
There are a few smaller pluses as well. The UTS-15 is incredibly light and durable because it is manufactured with state-of-the-art materials. It can optionally come with a built-in flashlight, laser, or an attachable extended barrel. The extended barrel could be handy if you wish to shoot skeet. It wouldn’t be anyone’s first choice for a clay gun, but it might be kind of a fun one to take to the range. It has rails to attach a sight, and like I said before you'll probably need to do that. Lastly, it's easier to reload than the other pump shotguns.
Just as a note...If I hear more sentiment that this is an unreliable gun, it will probably drop to #5 on the countdown.

As a side-note, whereas normally with semi-autos you have to worry about occasional faulty cycling (and no exception with this gun), I’ve seen pump bullpup shotguns short shucked a lot too. I’d assume the Saiga-12 will reliably cycle with the right choice of ammo. I’d also assume the bullpups wouldn’t be prone to short shucking once the shooter is familiar with the gun, and so I didn’t really let those things factor into my list.

#2: Saiga 12 Kushnapup conversion

Coming in as the first loser is the Saiga-12 Kushnapup. I’ll admit I was a bit biased against this gun at first. The finicky plastic look made me think the semi-auto Kushnapup would fall apart or have too much recoil.
My skeptical predisposition was soon lost after witnessing the firepower of this gun. Semi-auto of course is potentially lifesaving fractions of a second faster than pump shotguns. With that being said, I think even professionals are more likely to go through ammo faster with the semi-auto shotgun. This could lead to emptying a clip without adequate and thoughtful target selection. Pump versus semi-auto is a matter of personal preference, and that is probably what determines this shotgun’s place on a top-5 list for a reader.

The Kushnapup is undoubtedly a fun gun. There's not a whole lot of kick, and you can fire it one handed. Rich mavericks (or pretenders) might potentially try to dual wield two of these babies, but again, the ejector port is on the right side, which is troublesome. The one handed thing has been known to come in handy in a firefight because hands are sometimes at a premium. If one arm is shot, if you have to open a door, etc. it will come in handy (don't think that I've been in that sort of situation, but it makes sense).
There are a couple of more notes that I'd like to share with you. The capacity of the gun is low, but can be improved by buying an extended clip. Drum magazines don't work particularly well because with the bullpup configuration the feed is farther back; hence the drum magazine is gaudily sitting on your chest.
There are sight rails, and you'll need a sight if you're accustomed to shooting traditional builds. Also, there isn't an easy, straightforward way to add a flashlight and a laser. The grip isn't optional but the one it comes with is satisfactory and ergonomical. Lastly, the Kushnapup conversion at times can be hard to find and acquire.
And with that, we move to #1...

Numero uno: The Kel-Tech KSG shotgun

The KSG is Kel-Tech's first shotgun, and it set the a good standard for bullpups. I must admit I get a little swoony over it, so I must ask that you bear with me. The KSG started as a curiosity for most gun owners but it has earned some enthusiasts since it came out in 2011. Unfortunately, demand is high and they have gotten very pricey. One might have to be patient for the prices to come back down. Here is my take:
Finally, we come to a bullpup that ejects downward, making it 100% ambidextrous. This wouldn't be such a big deal if the conversion kits and UTAS were more accepting of lefties, but when comparing it to other guns on the list downward ejection seems like a luxury. Also, at the range the KSG is more pleasant simply because there is less heat and smoke in your face.

I promise they aren't paying me.

You want capacity? You have capacity. The KSG can hold 7+7+1 rounds, meaning it has two feeding tubes that hold seven rounds each and of course you can chamber a round. Like the UTS-15, this means that you can have 7+1 rounds of one type of ammo and 7 rounds of another, and quickly choose between each whenever you desire. Also, there's a handy slide release on the trigger.
What really sets the KSG apart for me however is its lightness and compactness. There isn't a shotgun off the top of my head that I would rather have in tight corners or spaces. It doesn't look or feel like it should have 14 round capacity or an 18.5" barrel. Thus it is a true representation of what a bullpup shotgun should be. Plus, it looks pretty sexy. The most similar gun, the UTS-15, is bigger than the KSG but I don't like the feel as much, and you don't get anything (except for a selector switch mode) that the KSG doesn't offer. There are pictures of the KSG everywhere for good reason.
It's also pleasant to have rails. Like any of these bullpup guns, if you're used to shooting traditional shotguns you'll probably have trouble at first. The KSG can be fitted with any optics you desire to fix this problem, and you can add things like a grip guard and other accessories to the bottom.
If I had to complain I would complain that it's awkward to reload because the feed is so far back on the stock. However, I haven't seen a bullpup that really solved this problem except for the Saiga with a magazine feed. I would also complain that once a feeding tube is empty you have to find the selector switch and switch to the other tube or reload. This could be costly in the heat of action, although 7+1 is pretty good if you just count one barrel. Lastly, the MSRP is pretty cheap in the $800-900 range, but they're hard to find so they will probably go for much more than that ($1500 plus or minus $500).
The overall package is just a fun and reliable shotgun. When the KSG is laid out on a table next to other guns, it's hard not to pick it up first. Hopefully Kel-tech will come out with another model and/or there will be more shotguns like it in the future. For a first gen model, they knocked it out of the park.

Thanks for reading, be safe, and I hope to come out with some more weapons hubs in the near future. Suggestions welcome!

Interstate Arms Black GA Defender

Interstate Arms has been offering high-quality home defense and police weapons for 37 years. They have a strong track record of offering great weapons at reasonable prices. Interstate Arms Black GA Defender is a 12 gauge black matte finish shotgun with an 18.5 inch barrel. It comes with Ghost Ring sights, a 5+1 shell chamber, and weighs 7 pounds.
Suggested Retail Price: $209.00

Mossberg 500 Special Purpose Series

The Mossberg 500® & 590® Special Purpose Series features 12 gauge 18.5 to 20 Inch barrels. These come with available pistol grip options and thumb operated safety. These pump action shotguns include anti-jam elevators, and shell extraction for easy feeding. They have the ability to hold 6-8-9 shell casings of 2 3/4 inches, and include the proven Mossberg adjustable Ghost Ring Sights.
Price Range: $350.00 - $820.00

Remington MODEL 870 EXPRESS TACTICAL WITH BLACKHAWK! SPEC OPS II

The Remington Model 870™ Express® Tactical with BLACKHAWK! Spec Ops II is a seven-pound pump action 12 gauge shotgun that employs an 18-inch barrel. It has a 7 point length of position stock, cross bolt safety behind the trigger, and enhanced pistol grip. It comes with an adjustable sling-mount and recoil reduction system.
Suggested Retail Price: $638.00

Saiga 12 Auto Shotgun

For those who desire to break away from traditional pump and auto-loaders; the Saiga 12 is a 41-inch (19" Barrel) AK-47 model that has been adapted to act as a rifle to shotgun hybrid by Russian arms maker IZHMASH. The semi-automatic Saiga comes with a 5 round magazine that can hold 2 1/4" along with 3" shells and be upgraded to 8-10-12 round magazines. Originally designed for predator hunting, this model has the ability to serve as a home defense shotgun due to its gas operated system that reduces the risk of jams while providing magazines with fast reload time.
Suggested Retail Price: $580.00

Weatherby PA-459™ TR (Threat Response)

The Weatherby PA-459™ TR is an easy to operate home defense shotgun at a reasonable price to match. It comes with an 18.5 inch barrel, pistol grip butt stock, and adjustable ghost ring sight. It has an extended enlarged slide release located in front of the trigger guard and a 13.5 shoulder length of pull for a swift sight acquisition on targets.
Suggested Retail Price: $499.00 - See more at: http://gundata.org/blog/post/best-home-defense-shotgun/#sthash.hqm0Ke4d.dpuf

Interstate Arms Black GA Defender

Interstate Arms has been offering high-quality home defense and police weapons for 37 years. They have a strong track record of offering great weapons at reasonable prices. Interstate Arms Black GA Defender is a 12 gauge black matte finish shotgun with an 18.5 inch barrel. It comes with Ghost Ring sights, a 5+1 shell chamber, and weighs 7 pounds.
Suggested Retail Price: $209.00

Mossberg 500 Special Purpose Series

The Mossberg 500® & 590® Special Purpose Series features 12 gauge 18.5 to 20 Inch barrels. These come with available pistol grip options and thumb operated safety. These pump action shotguns include anti-jam elevators, and shell extraction for easy feeding. They have the ability to hold 6-8-9 shell casings of 2 3/4 inches, and include the proven Mossberg adjustable Ghost Ring Sights.
Price Range: $350.00 - $820.00

Remington MODEL 870 EXPRESS TACTICAL WITH BLACKHAWK! SPEC OPS II

The Remington Model 870™ Express® Tactical with BLACKHAWK! Spec Ops II is a seven-pound pump action 12 gauge shotgun that employs an 18-inch barrel. It has a 7 point length of position stock, cross bolt safety behind the trigger, and enhanced pistol grip. It comes with an adjustable sling-mount and recoil reduction system.
Suggested Retail Price: $638.00

Saiga 12 Auto Shotgun

For those who desire to break away from traditional pump and auto-loaders; the Saiga 12 is a 41-inch (19" Barrel) AK-47 model that has been adapted to act as a rifle to shotgun hybrid by Russian arms maker IZHMASH. The semi-automatic Saiga comes with a 5 round magazine that can hold 2 1/4" along with 3" shells and be upgraded to 8-10-12 round magazines. Originally designed for predator hunting, this model has the ability to serve as a home defense shotgun due to its gas operated system that reduces the risk of jams while providing magazines with fast reload time.
Suggested Retail Price: $580.00

Weatherby PA-459™ TR (Threat Response)

The Weatherby PA-459™ TR is an easy to operate home defense shotgun at a reasonable price to match. It comes with an 18.5 inch barrel, pistol grip butt stock, and adjustable ghost ring sight. It has an extended enlarged slide release located in front of the trigger guard and a 13.5 shoulder length of pull for a swift sight acquisition on targets.
Suggested Retail Price: $499.00 - See more at: http://gundata.org/blog/post/best-home-defense-shotgun/#sthash.hqm0Ke4d.dpuf

Interstate Arms Black GA Defender

Interstate Arms has been offering high-quality home defense and police weapons for 37 years. They have a strong track record of offering great weapons at reasonable prices. Interstate Arms Black GA Defender is a 12 gauge black matte finish shotgun with an 18.5 inch barrel. It comes with Ghost Ring sights, a 5+1 shell chamber, and weighs 7 pounds.
Suggested Retail Price: $209.00

Mossberg 500 Special Purpose Series

The Mossberg 500® & 590® Special Purpose Series features 12 gauge 18.5 to 20 Inch barrels. These come with available pistol grip options and thumb operated safety. These pump action shotguns include anti-jam elevators, and shell extraction for easy feeding. They have the ability to hold 6-8-9 shell casings of 2 3/4 inches, and include the proven Mossberg adjustable Ghost Ring Sights.
Price Range: $350.00 - $820.00

Remington MODEL 870 EXPRESS TACTICAL WITH BLACKHAWK! SPEC OPS II

The Remington Model 870™ Express® Tactical with BLACKHAWK! Spec Ops II is a seven-pound pump action 12 gauge shotgun that employs an 18-inch barrel. It has a 7 point length of position stock, cross bolt safety behind the trigger, and enhanced pistol grip. It comes with an adjustable sling-mount and recoil reduction system.
Suggested Retail Price: $638.00

Saiga 12 Auto Shotgun

For those who desire to break away from traditional pump and auto-loaders; the Saiga 12 is a 41-inch (19" Barrel) AK-47 model that has been adapted to act as a rifle to shotgun hybrid by Russian arms maker IZHMASH. The semi-automatic Saiga comes with a 5 round magazine that can hold 2 1/4" along with 3" shells and be upgraded to 8-10-12 round magazines. Originally designed for predator hunting, this model has the ability to serve as a home defense shotgun due to its gas operated system that reduces the risk of jams while providing magazines with fast reload time.
Suggested Retail Price: $580.00

Weatherby PA-459™ TR (Threat Response)

The Weatherby PA-459™ TR is an easy to operate home defense shotgun at a reasonable price to match. It comes with an 18.5 inch barrel, pistol grip butt stock, and adjustable ghost ring sight. It has an extended enlarged slide release located in front of the trigger guard and a 13.5 shoulder length of pull for a swift sight acquisition on targets.
Suggested Retail Price: $499.00 - See more at: http://gundata.org/blog/post/best-home-defense-shotgun/#sthash.hqm0Ke4d.dpuf

The Most Fearsome Modern Weapons

Like many people, I am fascinated by the human capacity for violence and destruction.  Now, the stuff you see on the news, fires, shootings etc. is all pretty morbid but it is nothing compared to what humans are really capable of if we put our minds to it.

You see, when I am surfing the web, it is inevitable that my ADD will kick in, and I will mindlessly click through Wikipedia for hours.  The information I found regarding some of mankind’s most awesome and destructive weapons was truly terrifying.  It is in our best interest as a species that most of these weapons are never used.

Yet while using them may be a terrible idea, sharing their destructive capabilities with the world isn’t.  The more you know about how terrible modern warfare is, the better.

5. Nimitz Class Aircraft Carrier

I begin with a weapon that has already seen active duty for over 30 years.  The backbone of the US Navy, the Nimitz class is both massive in size and destructive power.  At over 1100 feet long and 100,000 tons fully loaded, the Nimitz class is capable of carrying 85 aircraft.  The ships feature twin nuclear reactors which don’t need to be refueled for 23 years, meaning that the Nimitz class ships feature a virtually unlimited range.  The massive destructive power of 85 jet fighter aircraft means that a single Nimitz class carrier is able to wage a war against a whole country and win.  A lone Nimitz class just showing up in a region is often enough to deter aggressors and influence global politics.  It’s that scary.

4. The Predator and Predator B (aka The Reaper)

Our next terrifying weapon isn’t terrifying because of its destructive power, size, or speed.  It is terrifying because of what it means for the future of mankind.  The Predator B or Reaper (pictured above) is the successor to the MQ-1 Predator, which has seen action in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bonsia, Serbia, Pakistan and Yemen.  The Predator is so significant and terrifying because it is the first unmanned aircraft ever to engage in armed combat (a Predator was shot down by an Iraqi Mig-25 after firing a missile at it in 2002).  If you don’t get how significant that is, think about this.

Robot wars.

Even though the Predator is remote controlled, it is the first step that I believe will eventually lead to robot warfare.

3. The Airborne Laser

Star Wars fans might like this one.  You see, The Galactic Empire had the Death Star, and now the American Empire has the YAL-1A Airborne Laser.

Where the Death Star was a moon sized space station with a planet destroying super laser, the YAL-1A is just a 747 with a really big laser mounted on the front.  Designed to shoot down enemy ICBMs from hundreds of miles away, the YAL-1A is revolutionary in its ability to destroy a high speed moving target at a massive distance instantly.

Picture this scenario.  The YAL-1A is flying hundreds of miles away from the battlefield over friendly airspace.  Troops on the ground call in an airstrike and radio GPS coordinates to the YAL-1A, which then immediately fires its laser delivering extremely precise killing power on target at the speed of light.  No waiting, no warning.

2. The Trident SLBM

So what could possibly be more terrifying than an unstoppable swarm of fighter jets, a killer robot plane, or a giant laser?  If your guess was “nuclear weapons” you would be correct.  The thing is though, nuclear weapons have come a long way since the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.  This little thing called the Cold War meant the United States and Russia spent unfathomable ammounts of money to develop nuclear delivery systems and increase weapon yield.

The result of all of this research leaves us with the Trident II D5, which is a submarine launched ballistic missile.  Deployed by both the United States and United Kingdom, the Trident II is one of the most powerful weapons system in use today.  (America’s most powerful land based missile, the Peacekeeper was taken offline in 2005.)

The nuclear powered subs that carry the Trident are pretty terrifying as well.  Like the Nimitz class carrier, the American Ohio class and British Vanguard class subs have an unlimited range.  They can stay submerged and loiter next to a target almost indefinitely for they are limited only by food supplies.

When the sneaky subs actually fire a Trident II, things start to get really scary.  Propelled out of the submerged submarine and into the air by pressurized gasses, the Trident ignites only after it leaves the water.  The Trident II can then target anything within its 9000 mile range.

Each Trident II has eight independantly targeted reentry vehicles (called MIRVS).  Each RV contains a 475 kiloton thermonuclear warhead (the weapons detonated over Hiroshima and Nagasaki were 15 and 21 kilotons respectively).  This means that a single Trident is capable of destroying eight targets or completely incinerating one.  As the eight reentry vehicles streak back through the atmosphere towards their targets at hypersonic speeds, they create streaks of fire through the sky called the “Fingers of God.”  Each Trident II is capable of delivering a total of 3.8 Megatons of explosives.  Although the image below was taken during a test of the Peacekeeper missile, the effect is the same.  At the bottom each each “Finger of God,” try to imagine a thermonuclear explosion.

1. R-36 ICBM

Topping off my list is the Russian R-36, which like the Trident is a nuclear armed ballistic missile with intercontinental range.  Unlike the Trident, the R-36 is a landbased missile, which takes away some of the terrifying factor.  You ask then, what makes this the most terrifying weapon ever created?

It’s not very accurate.

Now I know you are thinking, “Why is a weapon that misses its target scary?”

During the Cold War, both the United States and the Soviet Union were designing these things for the sole purpose of knocking out the enemies missiles so they couldn’t retaliate.  The US had the whole accuracy thing down so we didn’t have to worry about missing the Russian Silos.  The Russians on the other hand were having a problem hitting their targets, so their solution was to increase the ammount of nuclear ordinance on each missile.  Even if the missile was off by a few miles, the explosion would still be big enough to destroy the American silos.

Now, to create a bigger nuclear explosion, you need a bigger and heavier nuclear bomb.  To transport a bigger bomb, you need a bigger missile, and the R-36 is gigantic even when compared to America’s largest missile, the Peacekeeper

The 5 Most Terrifying Weapons of War

Number 10

TDI KRISS Super V XSMG Submachine Gun

Developer: Transformational Defense Industries (Switzerland) What it is: Named after the Indonesian sword that cuts down its enemies, the .45 Caliber KRISS XSMG submachine gun’s innovative design really shows itself off in the fully automatic mode. You don’t have to fight the recoil or muzzle climb as you would with other fully automatic weapons, making this future weapon a breeze to use.
What it does: The powerful .45 round has finally been tamed. While most machine guns kick like a mule, the revolutionary firing mechanism on the KRISS — the Super V — directs the recoil downwards, instead of directly into your shoulder, like other weapons.
Why war needs it: On today’s battlefields, there are no second chances. The time it takes to make an adjustment almost certainly means your demise. You need a fast, compact and accurate weapon, as well as a powerful round like the .45 Cal (operating at 4,500 rounds per minute on full-auto) for unsurpassed knock-down power.
Active duty: At the moment, the KRISS is still in final testing, and is used and operated by the controversial security and mercenary firm, Blackwater.

Number 9

CheyTac Intervention M-200 Long Range Rifle System

Developer: CheyTac LLC. (U.S.) What it is: Remember that ridiculously long-range soup-can shot in the Mark Wahlberg film, Shooter? Well, that was the Cheytac Intervention M-200. The CheyTac Intervention’s Long Range Rifle System (LRRS) shoots farther than any other weapon, ever. It is accurate just beyond 2,500 yards, which makes hitting your target akin to the enemy being struck down by God.
What it does: The magic behind the custom-made 408 caliber round lies in the system that supports it. At the center of the LRRS is the tactical ballistic computer (essentially a PDA featuring ballistic software) where wind speed, resistance, muzzle power, and the earth’s rotation are factored into the shot. This computer is linked with the Nightforce NXS 5 5-22X night-vision scope, the Kestrel 4000 sensors and the Vector IV laser rangefinder. It carries a precision range of 2,187 yards
Why war needs it: The CheyTac Intervention M-200 takes the guesswork out of sniping and you can save the lives of the infantry on the ground while stationed miles from the action. With all the battlefield variables accounted for, the M-200 produces world record setting kill shots, landing three bullets within 16 and 5/8 inches at 2,321 yards. With the Cheytac Intervention, one shot always means one kill.
Active duty: The CheyTac Intervention M-200 is  a standard-issue weapon for Turkey’s Special Forces team, the Maroon Berets and the Marines of the Turkish Army.

Number 8

Active Denial System

Developer: U.S. Military What it is: Is your fleet facing an unruly mob supported by small-arms fire? No worries, just roll out the Active Denial System (ADS) and they’ll disperse like ants under a magnifying glass. The ADS uses an invisible electromagnetic radiation beam to deliver a non-lethal burning sensation to the skin of its directed adversary.
What it does: The ADS delivers a beam of electromagnetic radiation, at a frequency of 95 GHz, (much higher than a microwave oven’s 2.45 GHz) and gradually heats water molecules on your skin to 130F at a distance of up to 500 yards. While it doesn’t burn you, penetrating only 1/64 of an inch of skin, it does exploit your autonomic response to pain.
Why war needs it: The ADS can disrupt, dissuade and disperse any hostile mob using non-lethal force with little effort. However, there are still questions about its potential application as a weapon of torture and whether it truly has no lasting effects on the human body.
Active duty: ADS is expected to be deployed to Iraq by late 2008.

Number 7

CBU-97 Sensor Fused Air Deployed Bomb

Developer: U.S. Air Force What it is: The CBU-97 is the Air Force’s smartest 1,000-pound class freefall cluster bomb. It can search a radius of 1,500 feet and can literally clear a battlefield of tanks, vehicles and bunkers.
What it does: The CBU-97 is like a space shuttle launch in reverse. The outside shell falls away to reveal the 10 BLU-108 submunition units. Each unit uses rocket power and a small parachute to right it vertically and help spin the four hockey-puck sized skeets out from their holding unit. The skeets deploy and search out enemy targets using their laser sensors to zero in and rain down explosive molten copper.
Why war needs it: To have smart skeets that can pinpoint and follow enemy targets means that more innocent lives than ever before aren’t needlessly taken, thus reducing civilian casualties.
Active duty: The CBU-97 Sensor Fused Bomb was first used during the March 2003, invasion of Iraq.

Number 6

CornerShot

Developer: Corner Shot Holdings LLC/ Israel Defense Forces What it is: The original CornerShot is a semi-automatic pistol with a hinge in the center that allows the barrel to swivel from left to right while the handle and trigger portion of the gun remain stationary, allowing the operative to shoot around corners in either direction. It can be seen fired by Angelina Jolie in the film Wanted.
What it does: In all custom variations, the weapon of choice is mounted on the front of the CornerShot and it bends horizontally in either direction at a 60-degree angle, or can be locked in a straight position. A flashlight and a digital camera are mounted on what is normally considered the bayonet position, and the operative uses a hinged screen on the left side of the trigger part of the gun to see what he’s shooting at while the barrel snakes around the corner.
Why war needs it: The CornerShot has the advantage in unpredictable terrorist or hostage situations. The operative is kept safely shielded by a wall, while the weapon is fired around the corner so the hostile enemy never knows what hit him.
Active duty: CornerShot has been used by SWAT Teams and Special Forces battalions in 15 countries, including Israel and the U.S. It was recently evaluated by Britain’s Ministry of Defense.

Number 5

Metal Storm Stacked Projectiles

Developer: Metal Storm Technology (Australia) What it is: The genius of Metal Storm starts by combing the barrel with the magazine. There is no traditional firing mechanism, instead, when the trigger is pressed, electronic impulses are sent to the bullets igniting them all in rapid succession at a rate of 16,000 rounds a second from multiple barrels. Metal Storm can also be modified to launch grenades at a rate of a half-a-million rounds a minute. It is the fastest automatic weapon in the world.
What it does: In addition to its two modes and innovative ignition system, Metal Storm can be left completely unattended as a silent assassin. Its motion detecting sensors relay situational awareness stats on the battlefield to the commanding generals, so if an enemy intruder crosses paths with the Metal Storm, they'll most likely be full of holes. Metal Storm’s electrical ignition system allows it to more closely bond with computer targeting systems and it can be fired at lethal or non-lethal speeds.
Why war needs it: The ability to load different types of ammunition in the same weapon and to control the rate of speed that they’re fired gives the operative an infinite number of options in an infinite number of situations; from the tank-busting, armor-piercing rounds to a volley gun used in riot and crowd control situations.
Active duty: Metal Storm is still undergoing testing and has yet to be certified for deployment. Metal Storm is also partnering with iRobot (makers of the Roomba vacuum) to create a weaponized robot.

Number 4

Boeing YAL-1 Airborne Laser

Developer: Boeing/U.S. Air Force What it is: The Boeing YAL-1 Airborne Laser (ABL) is designed to intercept and shoot down Tactical Ballistic Missiles (TBM) with a Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser (COIL) mounted on the nose and hood of a modified Boeing 747. The ABL heats the missile from the inside out until it explodes. The ABL is capable of shooting a missile at the speed of light from a range of hundreds of miles out.
What it does: Four sensors pick up on the heat signature and vapor trail of the missile initiating the destruction sequence. First, the laser on the hood fires, calculating the course and speed of the missile, then a series of three other lasers on the aircraft’s nose calculate the trajectory of the missile and the atmospheric turbulence it causes. All of this data is fed back to the ABL. Once changes are made, the COIL laser fires from the nose heating the missile and causing it to crack and explode. The whole process takes 8 to 12 seconds.
Why war needs it: Boeing’s YAL-1 Airborne Laser can shoot down missiles infinitely faster and more accurately than any other anti-ballistic weapon. Its classified range is somewhere outside hundreds of miles, so it can destroy missiles before they ever leave enemy territory, and can probably never be shot down.
Active duty: The ABL took its first test flight in 2002 and was scheduled to be ready for 2008, but it was delayed for further testing. It’s now $6.3 billion over budget with an uncertain future.

Number 3

Dragon Skin Body Armor

Developer: Pinnacle Armor (U.S.) What it is: The traditional body armor of the U.S. armed forces consists of a ceramic plate that can take a few well-placed rifle shots, but the more hits it takes in the same place, the more it cracks. On today’s battlefields, soldiers don’t stand a chance. Enter Dragon Skin: the future of body armor that can protect a soldier lying down on a grenade without even busting a seam.
What it does: The secret behind Dragon Skin’s unparalleled strength and flexibility lies in its scales. They’re made from ceramic carbide discs that interlock and overlap like chain mail. It can not only take more damage, but it can also spread the brunt of the impact over a greater surface area.
Why war needs it: It is more effective than the Interceptor vests currently used in the U.S. and it offers greater range of motion for the soldier wearing it. In test after test, Dragon Skin has taken punishment from all sides and come out unscathed, while the competition cracked and left unquestionably fatal holes in its design.
Active duty: Dragon Skin has been purchased for use by many SWAT teams across the country, but will never see active duty on the battlefield until U.S. Forces reverse their controversial and disputed claims that Dragon Skin did not meet army testing requirements. The results of what the army says were failed tests have been released to the public, but Pinnacle Armor still maintains that the shots fired did not penetrate the actual ceramic disks.

Number 2

SWORDS Weaponized Robot

Developer: TALON Robotics at Foster-Miller (U.S.) What it is: Imagine a soldier that doesn’t eat, doesn’t sleep and as it lines you up for a kill, you can't even look into its eyes and plead for mercy. This is SWORDS: The world’s first weaponized robot and what Time magazine called, “One of the greatest inventions of the 21st century. ... It can be outfitted with everything from a machine gun to a rocket or grenade launcher, seriously violating Asimov’s three laws of robotics."
What it does: The three-foot 100-pound robot can climb stairs, go underwater at a depth of 100 feet and navigate through snow, sand and rock at the same pace as a running soldier. It can see in the dark, has infrared vision and its two zoom cameras are so detailed they can pick up the name on your nametag and see whether your weapon is cocked from 1,000 feet away. The SWORDS is operated from a computer remote control posted at a distance of 15 football fields.
Why war needs it: Even though it’s not smart enough to replace soldiers on the battlefield completely, since it is still operated by remote control, SWORDS can execute missions too dangerous for humans with its operator at a safe and undetectable distance from the action.
Active duty: In 2007, three TALON SWORDS robots were deployed on missions in Iraq.

Number 1

8 Megajoule Electromagnetic Railgun

Developer: U.S. Navy What it is: It may not look like much now, but it is actually the first working step in the U.S. Navy’s quest to develop a weapon that can expel a projectile at nearly Mach 8 — eight times the speed of sound. It doesn't use explosive energy, instead it creates an electromagnetic field that currently creates an eight-megajoule force, and by 2017 the operational power will be an awe-inspiring 5,000 mph. You could cover the range of an entire battlefield with one offshore weapon. These weapons don’t even need warheads in some cases.
What it does: Electrical magnetic energy is generated by the high voltage in a giant bank of flux capacitors that send electrical energy across upper and lower rails of pre-stressed steel bolts, creating a charge that has enough kinetic energy power to reach unbelievable speeds.
Why war needs it: The Navy’s new Electromagnetic rail gun could potentially end wars faster without delivering as lethal a payload as a nuclear bomb. It could also protect more soldiers on the ground without spreading resources too thin, since it can cover such a wide area of land.
Active duty: The Navy will begin testing a working prototype that is four times faster than the current eight-megajoule model. The navy plans to equip their next generation of electrically powered ships with these rail guns by 2020.

The Most Powerful Handguns

10. Smith & Wesson .44 Magnum Revolver (Dirty Harry’s gun)

True or False: The “giant handgun” craze began with the Dirty Harry movie series. The answer: False. Harry’s use of the outrageously chambered .44 Magnum revolver was widely popularized, leading to the sales of countless Smith & Wesson and other spin-off model .44s. Action sequences in the movie depict bad guys flying backward through windows or spinning in circles before landing flat on the ground after being struck by Harry’s “badass .44.” The simple fact of the matter is that no projectile, short of a 20mm cannon or .50 cal BMG, will cause the human body to fly backwards through the air or even change direction to a noticeable degree. Despite its famed impracticality, the .44 Magnum was not the first oversized revolver and it would certainly not be the last.

9. Desert Eagle .45 Long Colt / .410 Shotgun Load Pistol

Somewhere along the line weapons engineers realized that if a shotgun and a pistol got married, they would produce a baby that looked like it was on steroids and who could hold a .410 shotgun shell or a .45 long Colt pistol round. The results were variants on the classic Long Colt revolver like Taurus’ “The Judge” and Desert Eagle’s “.410/.45 Long Colt” revolvers. While the .410 shotgun shell theory has tested well in close quarters scenarios, it is not highly recommended for anyone attempting to engage a target at over, say, fifteen feet. The shotgun blast, since it is spun by the rifling of the pistol barrel, will fly in a circular pattern and spread to the size of a small car after 15 or more yards. Not only will you risk missing your target, you will risk hitting other targets that may not have been targets in the first place.

8. Desert Eagle .50 Caliber Handgun

This baby is quite unique. The Desert Eagle .50 cal. is one of the largest (if not the largest) magazine-fed handguns in the world. Developed for use in the Israel’s military, the .50 caliber projectile packs a massive punch that will tear apart any human target. The gun looks incredibly modern and “sexy” (as some would describe it), thus increasing its popularity amongst gangsters, young people, and crime bosses. The Desert Eagle brand, although they create a multitude of other pistols, has become synonymous to meaning “fifty caliber handgun,” and when a person refers to a “Dezzy” you can bet they mean the .50 cal.

7. Smith & Wesson Model 460XVR Compensated Hunter

Leave it to the hunters to begin making a series of firearms to dwarf anything else on the U.S. production schedule. These moose killing, beer drinking, moonshine stilling, happy-go-lucky animal hunters needed a revolver that would penetrate dense brush, foliage, even small trees, and still bring down a grizzly bear. A 5-shot-wonder, the 460XVR, as its name suggests, will compensate for the hunter’s package size and allow a brief moment of glory in the field comparable only to dropping an atomic bomb.

6. Smith & Wesson 500 Magnum

Read the piece about the 460XVR and imagine adding .04 calibers to the diameter of the round and pinching more powder into the larger cartridge. I once witnessed this projectile strike a deck of Bicycle poker cards at 25 yards. The deck of cards literally, and I mean literally, disintegrated into the air.

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5. .50 Caliber Black Powder Wheel Lock Pistol

The .50 caliber flintlock or hammerlock pistols date back hundreds and hundreds of years. The need for the .50 caliber chambering was due to the production standards of the day. A .50 caliber round is exactly one half inch in diameter, making it easy to measure and reproduce accurately by any weapon or ammunition manufacturer. Back in those fabled times, little clamps were produced in the shapes of this common load, meaning that any regular metallurgist could melt down a block of lead or steel and create a projectile for his weapon. It was as easy as using a modern day hole punch. Couple this easy-to-replicate ball projectile (this is not a pointed bullet, rather a ball which is not rifled) with the fact that you can put a whole heck of a lot of black powder behind it, and you have created a weapon which can take down a horse—much less a man—with relative ease. But remember, you only get one shot, and that one shot is not going to be accurate beyond 15 yards and will severely decelerate beyond this distance. Why would you want one for self defense? You wouldn’t. Regardless, they are highly prized collector’s items.

4. Colt 45-70 Peacemaker

At some point during the 1970s some genius was under the impression that the .45 caliber Colt Peacemaker (John Wayne’s gun of choice) did not “have enough stopping power.” How anyone could arrive at this conclusion is beyond sane reasoning, given that discharging the standard .45 caliber load feels akin to slapping a brick wall. American engineering, however, devised a way to make this gun even larger and more powerful. Thus, the 45-70 load, originally developed for use in an infantry and/or “buffalo” rifle, was introduced into the sphere of modern day handguns.

3. Magnum Research 45-70 Government Hand Cannon

Despite what some people will tell you, there are variants on the standard 45-70 government load. Some feel like a jackhammer, while others feel like you’ve pulled the pin on a grenade and forgot to let go. The “Hand Cannon” delivers that good old “grenade-in your-hand” feeling. It is a weapon that should not be fired by the unsuspecting individual, or anyone for that matter. It is utterly beyond practicality in every sense of the word. Certain models measure over two feet in length and are impossible to wield (safely or effectively) with one arm

2. WTS .50 BMG (Browning Machine gun Cartridge) Pistol

Beyond all reasonable doubt, this is the largest and most formidable handgun you could ever actually wield in a gunfight. Following in the footsteps of Hitler’s obsession with giant railroad cannons, the Germans are still producing the biggest, most outlandish crap on the market today. The .50 Browning Machinegun cartridge was designed for use against tanks, airplanes, armored personnel carriers, and in some cases it may be used by high-powered sniper rifles. It is more than twice as powerful as the fabled 45-70 government round, and one can only imagine that shooting it in a pistol format would be painful, unwieldy, and quite hazardous for everyone involved. If a soft target is hit with a .50 caliber BMG bullet, it will be shredded/exploded into pieces. The gargantuan .50 caliber death-monster projectile can fly at a breakneck speed for miles, even after penetrating one or two targets. Discharging it at your common household thief is ill advised… unless you don’t mind the possibility of inadvertently pegging one of your neighbors. Would someone be scared of it? Yes. Would they run away? Yes. Would you be able to use your right hand to jot down the grocery list post-firing? Doubtful.

1. Pfeifer Zeliska 28mm Revolver

The biggest, most worthless manifestation of an inferiority complex ever created by one man. Originally manufactured under the name “Remington Model 1859,” this copy of the formerly U.S.-made revolver was built by Ryszard Tobys and measures 4-foot-(1.26 m) long. To give some basis for comparison, the 28mm projectile is 8mm wider than the U.S. military’s fabled “20mm Cannon,” a weapon used primarily for destroying tanks, sinking boats, or shooting down heavily armored airplanes. While entirely impractical and, one would guess, impossible to use as an even mildly effective tool for any purpose other than felling trees, the 28mm revolver has made its mark as truly being the world’s largest pistol. And simultaneously the world’s most comical waste of lead.