History's Ten Greatest Guns

10

MG-42

“Hitler’s Buzzsaw,” invented in 1942, is infamous around the world as the weapon used at Omaha Beach to mow Americans down, but it was used in Russia to much more brutal effect. It fired 1,200 rounds of 8mm rifle ammunition per minute, which is sufficient to cut a man in half. It was air-cooled, and could melt its barrel if fired non-stop for 5 minutes.
That’s why the Germans had several barrel at hand, and could change to a new one in only 60 seconds.

9

Glock Handgun

The Glock is the ultimate in modern reliability. You can pour sand down the barrel and it will shoot. It will shoot underwater. It is commonly used in 9mm, but is chambered for .40 Sig and .45 ACP among others. It is the standard law enforcement sidearm today and will continue to be for a long time. It almost never jams, is waterproof, mostly plastic.

8

.303 Lee-Enfield

The British equivalent of the German Mauser has one trump on it, a 10 round magazine, compared to 8. The British adopted it into the army in 1895 and used it exclusively until 1957. Soldiers were drilled until they could perform “the mad minute,” firing 30 rounds in 60 seconds and hitting 30 targets. This required reloading twice, and working the bolt back and forth in less than half a second.
The rifle is accurate to 1,000 yards with open sights, and served in India (notoriously used against unarmed civilians), the Boer War, both World Wars, and many others.

7

.50 M2HB “Ma Deuce” BMG

The Browning Machine Gun is chambered for the most awe-inspiring shoulder-fired cartridge to date. It is designed with one thing in mind: power tends to corrupt; absolute power is kinda sweet. The 800 grain powder load has 14,895 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle, which is enough to put a full metal jacketed round through three approaching vehicles. It has shot down helicopters with one round.
Now imagine a belt-fed machine gun spewing a curtain of these rounds at you at 1,200 rounds per minute. Special Sabot rounds can go clean through tanks.

6

Smith and Wesson Model 29 .44 Magnum Revolver

Made famous by Dirty Harry in 1971, it was invented in 1955, and is still thought of as one of the most powerful handguns in the world, though it has been eclipsed by the .500 magnum, the Desert Eagle .50 AE, the .454 Casull and a few others.
But what those other hand cannons lack is controlability and comparatively low cost. The .44 Magnum will still run you at least $800 new, which is a lot for a revolver, but very cheap compared to other magnums. You will not break your wrist shooting it, and yet it can drop Cape Buffaloes and Polar Bears. If I may be afforded one bad joke, it will make your day. Provided that you feel lucky. Punk.

5

The Mauser Model 1893 Bolt Action Rifle

The bolt action had been kicking around since at least 1824, when Paul Mauser and Co. patented the 1893 version in 7mm. It has become the benchmark, on which all bolt action rifles are based, and against which all are compared. There are three primary bolt action systems: the Lee-Enfield, the Mauser, and the Mosin-Nagant.
Of the three, the Mauser system is by far the most widespread, the most reliable, and the most battle-proven rifle mechanism the world has ever seen. The 1893 Mauser was the first, and original models still operate perfectly.

4

Colt Single Action Army Revolver

The icon of the Old West, the Colt .45 revolver was invented in 1873 and immediately caught on as extraordinarily accurate at close range, compared to the ball and cap conversions popular at the time. Its caliber was sufficient to flip a charging man backward off his feet. It can be used today to hunt deer and black bears. The larger powder loads can take down grizzly bears.
It’s as famous as the gun of Wyatt Earp, among other Old West celebrities.

3

Henry Repeating Rifle

The granddaddy of all lever-action firearms. Benjamin Tyler Henry invented it in 1860, but neither the Union nor Confederacy wanted much to do with it, as they were afraid their soldiers would fire too quickly and waste ammunition. If I may use a cliched joke, “military intelligence.” Thank you.
It fired a revolutionary, self-contained cartridge in .44 caliber, with 568 foot-pounds of stopping power, more than enough to put a man down. It held 16 rounds in a tube magazine, and a good man could fire 28 rounds per minute, so much better than 3 per minute with a muzzle-loading percussion cap musket, that if either side had adopted the rifle as standard for infantry, that side would certainly have won.

2

AK-47

Accurate enough to do the job out to about 400 yards, which is all anyone usually needs in a battle, the AK-47 is the ultimate pinnacle in rugged reliability. It will not break down under fire unless something catastrophic happens to it. You can drive a tank over it, throw it against a wall, submerge it in sand, water, mud, and every time it will go right on firing when you pull the trigger.
I know a Vietnam veteran who was walking through triple canopy jungle one day in 1966, came across an abandoned AK-47, and couldn’t get the bolt to slide back. It was too corroded from the rain and weather. The wood was rotting off. But he put it butt first on the ground, stomped the action open, and it chambered a round, which he fired accurately at a tree 50 yards away. He stomped the action open again, and it chambered another round, which he fired accurately.

1

Colt 1911 .45 ACP

Every bit as rugged and reliable as the AK-47, this handgun was invented by John Browning for the Colt Company, in 1911, as a sidearm for American soldiers. It immediately proved itself a world beater in WWI, again in WWII, and has been a cornerstone of the American military ever since.
But its most impressive feat has been the ease with which even untrained civilians can fire it accurately, keep it in working order, and defend themselves ably with it. 7 + 1 rounds of fat, man-stopping power perfect for close-range self-defense. Soldiers have dragged it through swamps in the Pacific Theater of WWII, with their fingers on the trigger, then whipped it out of the muck and fired all 8 rounds accurately.
The only way to improve on it would be to make it cheaper. You’ll spend $1,000 on one.

Measuring Bullets in Caliber

You’ve heard it on your favorite cop show, “looks like the killer used a twenty-two,” or, “he was killed with a nine millimeter.” But, if you’re curious like I was, you’re asking yourself, “what the heck is a twenty-two and what does it mean anyway?”
Well, common sense would suggest that the numbers have something to do with size and that is exactly correct. When you hear various numbers being mentioned related to bullets, the number being referred to is what’s called the bullet’s “caliber”. Caliber is a unit of measurement related to a bullet’s size. Specifically, what’s being described is the bullet’s diameter.

To be even more specific, the caliber of a bullet is the measurement of the diameter of the slug (or projectile) part of the bullet cartridge. This is important because in some situations, the bullet casing can be wider than the slug itself. But the caliber is specifically describing the width of the slug portion. Caliber does not refer to the length or power of the bullet, but simply the diameter of the bullet.

The Bottom Line: The Width of a Bullet Determine’s Its Caliber

I know, you’re thinking, “but what’s a twenty-two compared to a nine millimeter?” Well, as with all measurements, there’s the American way and the Metric way of measuring. The metric is simple, a nine millimeter (9mm) is exactly 9mm in diameter. The American measurement is a little different. A twenty-two (or 0.22) is exactly twenty-two one hundredths (22/100′s) of an inch in diameter – or a little less than a quarter of an inch. Similarly, a 0.38 is 38/100′s of an inch, a .50 caliber is a half inch, and so on.

Metal Storm: Fastest Firing Weapon

July 2005, Port Wakefield, Australia. A wide angle lens gives a dramatic perspective at the business end of four 40mm Metal Storm barrels being prepared for live fire testing of the Area Denial Weapon System by the Australian military’s Defense Science and Technology Organization. (Courtesy of Metal Storm)

“Combine stacked rounds with electronic firing, and you get game-changing technology that will provide a significant enhancement of small arms effectiveness in current and future operations.  Metal Storm is at the core of what I believe will be an inevitable shift from mechanical to electronic individual combat weapons.”  - Peter A. Faulkner, General Manager, Metal Storm Inc.
Metal Storm is a radically different concept for weapons and ammunition, the brainchild of a self-educated Australian inventor with brilliant intuition for practical applications in engineering, physics and electronics.  Following its genesis in the early 1990s, this novel electronic ballistics technology has suffered from what might charitably be termed unrealistic expectations.
Early claims of a rate of fire capability at 1 million rounds per minute inspired some fanciful applications ranging from covert wrist guns to missile defense.  Metal Storm has been a darling of the media, frequently seen on the Discovery Channel and others in highly sensationalized depictions of supergun abilities.  In one particularly memorable TV episode of CSI Miami, Metal Storm-like guns were seen literally vaporizing anyone who was on the muzzle end of this terrifying weapon.

1997, Australia. A video frame grab from the world-famous “Million Round a Minute” test firing shows the 36 barrel “Bertha” in full roar, launching 180 stacked 9mm projectiles in one-hundredth of a second. Video clips showing firing and effects on target have been widely broadcast by news organizations worldwide and continue to be a favorite on YouTube. (Courtesy of Metal Storm)

Million Rounds a Minute
James Michael O’Dwyer was 47 years old in 1991 when he sold his successful food wholesale business to devote his full energies to various inventions.  Two years later, he bet the remainder of his life savings and all the money he could borrow on development of a unique weapon system that, he strongly believed, would have revolutionary applications in military and law enforcement.
Years of work in O’Dwyer’s backyard garage/laboratory ultimately yielded what would become the internationally patented Metal Storm System.  A breakthrough came in 1996 when a formal study by US defense giant Lockheed Martin provided essential third-party validation for the radical concept.
Building on success of his single barrel prototype, constructed with the help of a local Australian engineer named Graham Bugden, O’Dwyer’s next breakthrough came in captivating media attention with a dramatic demonstration video.  News organizations worldwide picked up the demo clip showing an incomprehensibly fast burst of 9mm rounds from a box of 36 bullet-stacked barrels that O’Dwyer had whimsically named “Bertha.”  A lightning strike blast of 180 rounds stormed out in about one hundredth of a second.  Yes, that’s a rate of fire better than one million rounds a minute.
Bertha showed the way to a variety of devices utilizing O’Dwyer’s clever stacked munitions principle.  Prominent among these are a “smart” handgun, remotely fired munitions to replace traditional minefields, close-in protection for vehicles against ambushers and incoming rockets, plus gun pods for robotic vehicles.
But, thus far, none of these has achieved commercial success.
Game-Changing Technology
Finally, after many years of work, fueled by multimillions of dollars in developmental funding from private investors, industry partners and various military entities, the radically unconventional Metal Storm system seems on track for fielding in key roles in the Global War on Terror.
We recently talked to Metal Storm to separate the truth from the fiction and get an update on how the company has progressed from the patent office to the marketplace.
Peter Faulkner, General Manager of Metal Storm Incorporated, the U.S. licensee of Metal Storm Limited in Australia, told us, “The company has become intensely focused on product development over the past three years and the work is beginning to pay off.  We are close to offering the military and law enforcement communities real products rather than ideas.”
The real products Faulkner is referring to are the MAUL, 3GL and FireStorm.  Not nearly the million rounds per minute, battlefield clearing supergun once imagined by the Metal Storm inventor, but certainly more relevant to current tactical applications.

With a preloaded five-round ammo sleeve that extends from the tubular housing, Metal Storm’s 12 gauge (18mm) Multi-shot Accessory Underbarrel Launcher, fits neatly under a standard M4 Carbine. This simple, light and electrically fired shotgun is in an advanced state of development for Office of Naval Research on behalf of the US Marine Corps. It may be the first Metal Storm weapon to achieve actual military fielding and it has enormous potential for law enforcement sales. (Courtesy of Metal Storm)

MAUL Underbarrel Shotgun
Breaching shotguns of various types are in widespread use by American forces; all relatively heavy and mechanically actuated in form and function essentially unchanged for more than a century.
The Office of Naval Research, acting on behalf of the US Marine Corps, turned to MS for a better solution.  Of particular interest was the need to more efficiently launch the devilishly effective FRAG-12 fin-stabilized high explosive 12 gauge projectiles.
This was a Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory project to see if these specialized breaching rounds could be stacked.  MS delivered a bench test gun that proved successful as seen in live fire video linked on the MS website.  This has led to an ONR contract to actually build a weapon for the M4 carbine, the weapon of choice for MOUT scenarios, along with lethal and non lethal rounds.
It’s now known as MAUL, a particularly appropriate acronym derived from its formal name of Multishot Accessory Underbarrel Launcher.  Backed by funding of nearly a million dollars from ONR, this slim, light, electrically-fired semiauto clamp-on quickly loads with slip-in tubes pre-packed with up to five rounds of various types.  MAUL is fast tracked for delivery to the Navy by June 2009 for more detailed operational evaluations.
Caliber:  18mm (12 gauge)
Ammunition:  Lethal and less-lethal
Capacity:  Up to 5 rounds in preloaded sleeves
Operation:  Manually reloaded, electrically fired, semiautomatic
Weight Unloaded (underbarrel):  2 pounds
3GL Three Shot Grenade Launcher
The 40mm grenade launchers currently in US and allied military service that are suitable for mounting to a primary weapon such as the M4/M16 family are single shot devices.  Critical seconds are lost in reloading during intense firefights.
MS offers an alternative in the light and fast-firing 3GL, a semiautomatic grenade launcher with a trio of beefy 40mm rounds stacked in a single barrel.
While externally similar to recent modular grenade launchers with a pistol grip and rail mount points, the 3GL can be manually loaded by the soldier with three rounds in any combination of ammunition types, potentially from irritant cloud to high explosive.
Battery-powered electronic ignition cuts weight and complexity, allowing ultra-fast firing and improved reliability.  The grenadier can immediately engage up to three targets, “walk” his rounds to a precise impact point, or put multiple rounds into a single target for maximum effect.
Caliber:  40mm
Ammunition:  All common less lethal to lethal payloads
Capacity:  3 rounds
Operation:  Manually loaded, electrically fired, semiautomatic
Weight Unloaded (underbarrel):  5.1 pounds
Configuration:  Stand alone or attached to host weapon
The 3GL weapon and a new family of 40mm grenades that can be individually loaded by the grenadier are developing rapidly in close partnership with Singapore Technologies Kinetics (STK), known as one of the largest defense firms in Asia.
Dr. Lee Finniear, Metal Storm Limited’s CEO, confidently anticipates system safety certification so that sales demonstrations can begin soon.  “We can confirm that early in the New Year (2009) we expect to qualify the 3GL and ammunition for safe man-firing….”

.905 JDJ: Largest Caliber Rifle Round Ever Made

Shooting a .700 caliber packs a punch. Step it up to an almost unheard of .905 caliber, and you have a ballistic beast in your hands.

The Blaze brings you the  SSK industries .950 JDJ. It’s the biggest centerfire rifle ever made.

With a 2400 grain bullet, propelled by 240 grains of powder, the JDJ is comparable to a World War I-era tank round or a 20mm cannon in terms of kinetic energy.

Estimates are that one of these rounds would easily pass through several human targets– even if each were equipped with full body armor.

It was almost classified as a “destructive device” but a special “sportsman exception” was made for the JDJ.

The guys from Knight Rifles headed out to the range to give this monster a try. Very few people have ever shot the .950 JDJ as a rifle, as only 3 have been made.

This model was the first and the lightest coming in at a robust 50 lbs. The custom bullets cost about $40 each.

So what’s it like to shoot a bullet that nearly an inch wide and four inches tall? Well, it has been described as having “significant recoil” and in the video below, one of the shooters say “it’s like firing ten .30-06′s at once.”

Another shooter, after getting a taste of that vicious recoil, turned to his buddies and yelled “you lied to me. it kicks like a mule.”

The Greatest Sniper Shots Recorded

Snipers are the elite masters of the art of killing somebody from a distance before he or she has any idea what is going on. Of course, shooting from such a long range incurs a wide array of difficulties, leading to situations where making a successful shot is, by all logic and reason, impossible. It is in these situations where the best snipers sniff, wipe the sweat from their eyes and make the shot anyway.

#5. Matt Hughes Curves the Bullet

 
  Photos.com

Welsh Royal Marine sniper Matt Hughes was participating in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, looking for a perfect occasion to shoot some dudes from really far away. He found it in two Iraqi troops who were holding up the offensive. Hughes was ordered to take them out. And not out to dinner, unless they both ordered a lead steak. A tiny one, shaped like a bullet.

Photos.com
"Sir, I understand you didn't like it, but you've already eaten most of it. I'll have to get a manager."

The Shot:
The problem was that the wind was blowing tremendously. See, this is something that doesn't come up in the movies -- when you're trying to shoot from far away with any kind of wind, you have almost no goddamned idea where the bullet will end up. Sniping isn't just holding the cross hairs steady on the tiny soldier in the scope; it's trying to predict gusts of wind that could push the bullet into some innocent tree trunk 50 feet away. And yes, that's how much of a difference wind can make. You can not only miss the guy, but miss the whole house he's standing in.

Photos.com
So that's what happened to all those road signs in the country!

Oh, and as if his fate were being written by the vengeful spirit of a vaudeville comedian, Hughes discovered that his targets were a little over a half mile away, which, powerful wind notwithstanding, was beyond the range of the rifle he was using. To make matters worse (and yes, there apparently was still room for them to get worse), the enemy soldier he was targeting was covered in a fortified position, with only a small portion of his head and torso exposed. Hughes would have only one chance, because if he took a shot and missed, the Iraqi would simply duck completely behind cover and never come back up. It'd be like if Luke Skywalker had been commanded to park his X-Wing at the beginning of the trench, and to lean out of the cockpit with a grenade wedged in his ass and try to power-shit it into the Death Star's exhaust port.
Cackling in the face of insurmountable odds, Hughes did his best to judge, based on the haze from the heat, how to aim the rifle to hit his target. His judgment led him to aim the shot 56 feet to the left and 38 feet high, which is another way of saying "Hughes pointed his gun in a totally unrelated goddamn direction."

Photos.com
"If I can take out the sun, we'll kill the whole Iraqi army."

Either way, Hughes presumably prayed to the sniper gods and let off his first and only possible shot, not even remotely pointed toward his target, and watched as the arc of the bullet formed the shape of a giant banana and struck the enemy soldier directly in the chest. Needless to say, the Iraqi was killed, though we're fairly certain his last words were the equivalent of "Oh, no fucking way."

#4. Steve Reichert Shoots Through a Wall

Now here is one that you're not even allowed to do in most video games.
It happened when Marine Corps sniper Steve Reichert was taking part in a routine mission in Iraq, providing cover for a squad of fellow Marines from atop an oil tank, when the squad fell under attack by insurgents. Steadying himself and taking careful aim at the enemy onslaught, Reichert noticed something: three enemy soldiers sneaking around the back of a nearby building in an attempt to ambush his comrades with a very large machine gun.

Photos.com
A rare shot of the actual event.

The Shot:
Not about to let this happen, Reichert aimed his rifle at them just as they disappeared behind one of the building's brick walls. Refusing to let this seemingly minor vision handicap stop him, Reichert made his best guess and shot the goddamned wall from his position on the oil tank a little over a mile away.

At that distance, you'd never hear the shot. One second you'd have a head, and the next, you wouldn't.

The single round took out all three of the insurgents.
One of them had been hit by the bullet and was killed outright, while the other two were struck down by brick and bullet fragments blasted out by Reichert's shot. He had neutralized three targets that were behind a wall with a single shot made a mile out. For his actions, he was awarded the Bronze Star and a full scholarship to Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.

We're pretty sure they did it out of pure fear.

#3. Carlos Hathcock Shoots a Dude Through His Scope

Carlos Hathcock was a U.S. Marine Corps sniper who had racked up a high enough kill count during his two tours in the Vietnam War to earn a bounty on his head for $30,000 from the North Vietnamese government. Inspired by the bounty, an unknown Vietnamese sniper set out to try and kill Hathcock, unaware that to do so would be like trying to sneak up on Batman and slap him in the penis.

Via Atruepatrio.tumblr
"I'm gonna take on this next assassin drunk and blindfolded. It just isn't sporting otherwise."

The Shot:
Hathcock was drawn out of camp when the enemy sniper shot several of his fellow Marines, despite knowing that the man was simply trying to bait him. So it was sort of like Enemy at the Gates, only with fewer fake German accents. To avoid a hasty debraining via high-velocity bullet, Hathcock would have to move slowly and stay out of sight, so he crawled the distance between himself and the other sniper on his stomach, making sure to keep the sun behind him.
He kept going like this until he thought he saw a glint of light, like when the sun is reflected off a piece of glass during a boss battle in Metal Gear Solid 3.

Photos.com
"Ha! Found you!"

The experienced Hathcock fired at the glimmer, knowing it to be either his foe or a tiny mirror placed out in the jungle for no conceivable reason. As it turns out, it was the former, and Hathcock's bullet passed clean through the enemy sniper's scope from 500 yards away, threading the needle at close to one-third of a mile.
Bear in mind that the typical rifle scope is only a couple of inches wide at the very most, so Hathcock had to place his shot perfectly for the bullet to pass through it and not hit the sides of the device. Also, the enemy sniper had to have been facing him, with his gun more or less leveled directly toward Hathcock's position. So, in the span of the half-second he had to spare before his foe spotted him and erased him from time, Hathcock fired a round through a 2-inch circle he wasn't even positive was there, draped in dense jungle about three city blocks away.

Getty
"My unexploded face sense is tingling!"

#2. Mike Plumb Saves His Victim's Life

Photos.com

SWAT sniper Michael Plumb arrived on the scene with the rest of his unit to find a suicidal man named Douglas Conley sitting on a lawn chair in the middle of the street, ranting and holding a revolver to his head. Conley refused to let any police officers come near him, becoming more and more agitated each time they tried to approach and raising the gun to his chin. Conley's volatile state, coupled with the fact that he was ignoring all the police's demands, led Plumb's commander to finally give him the go-ahead to fire.
Wait, what? That's how we handle a guy who's threatening suicide -- we call in a sniper to shoot his ass and get it over with?

Photos.com
And people say the government isn't efficient!

Not exactly. Plumb's task was to shoot Conley in a way that would prevent him from shooting himself. Good luck!
The Shot:
Instead of trying to hit the man, Plumb was to attempt to assassinate the tiny .38 snub-nosed revolver Conley was holding in his hand, from 60 yards away. You've seen this gun in countless movies -- this is a weapon that is barely larger than a person's hand:

Via Wikimedia Commons
It's the one they let Joe Pesci use so he looks normal sized by comparison.

So, with Conley's crazy ass fingers wrapped around it, there was maybe about an inch or two of non-person for Plumb to target. It was the first time that group of SWAT snipers had ever been cleared to fire their rifles during a call, and it was arguably the craziest shot ever attempted by police.
So, Mike Plumb lined up over half a football field away and shot a single round that smashed into Conley's gun and blew it to pieces.
Here is a video of Plumb's sorcery:

A stunned Conley struggled to maintain his composure, as if he had ordered the gun to explode with his thoughts, and was promptly tackled by the police.

#1. Navy SEALs

Via Kpbs.org

The Maersk Alabama was a cargo ship that was captured by pirates while floating off of the coast of Somalia. In exchange for the lives of his crew, the captain of the Maersk, Richard Phillips, offered to be taken captive. The pirates agreed.
Following the hijacking, the pirates set off in a lifeboat with their captive and demanded a ransom of several million dollars, because evidently Phillips had told them he was Bruce Wayne or something. The United States government responded by sending the Navy's USS Bainbridge to follow the lifeboat, which, to be fair, is what several million dollars would look like if you spent it on a guided missile destroyer.

Via Wikipedia
"You can even have the missiles, too. Catch!"

As the USS Bainbridge followed the boat, it picked up a team of Navy SEALs who had parachuted into the sea nearby, because being a SEAL means you are required to make your entrance like William Shatner on a game show.
The Shot:
The SEALs had orders from the president not to act unless the life of the captain was in immediate danger, so they took up positions around the Bainbridge and waited. They managed to get their chance when two pirates poked their heads out of the lifeboat, and they were able to see the last pirate through the boat's window, pointing an AK-47 at Phillips' back. After deciding that an assault rifle aimed at the captain sufficiently constituted an immediate danger, three of the SEALs fired.

Photos.com
"Aim for their good eye."

And three pirates fell dead.
By using what we assume was telepathic communication, the moment the SEALs saw the pirates, they fired, each at a different target and in unison so that no pirate had any time to react before his head turned into memories. Phillips was rescued, and the SEALs presumably rose from the ocean on jet packs to rendezvous with a space helicopter that flew them back to their base in a hollow mountain.

Photos.com
On the fucking moon.

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