If you ever needed another reason to get your federal firearms license, the AA 12 is it. The AA 12 shotgun, otherwise known as the Auto Assault 12 shotgun, is a selective fire 12 gauge that’s capable of firing in semi-automatic or fully automatic mode (300 rounds per minute). It was originally designed in 1972 by a man named Maxwell Atchisson, and was originally called the Atchisson Assault Shotgun. It was intended to be used in close combat situations, and crowd control type situations.

Mr. Atchisson sold the patent and the rights to the shotgun in 1987 to a company called Military Police Systems, Inc., and they’ve been continuously refining the design ever since.

Overall length is 38 inches (966mm), and barrel length on the Model CQB is 13 inches. The weight comes in at 4.76 kg without the magazine. There are at least 3 different magazines for the AA 12 -- an 8 round box, a 20 round drum, and a 32 round drum.

As a shotgun, it can fire any of the traditional shotgun cartridges including buckshot, slugs, crowd control non-lethal rubber batons, and birdshot. A company called Action Manufacturing has designed a high energy cartridge called the FRAG-12 High-Explosive Round. According to the press release issued, the FRAG-12 HE is designed to stop vehicles in urban areas before they reach a checkpoint. The intended target of these FRAG-12 HE rounds are the suicide bombers that have become so popular within the last decade.

So where can you buy an AA 12 shotgun? Unfortunately, you can’t. They’re not even in production for the military. 10 of them were made for the Marines to test in 2004, but as of yet there are no plans or contracts to supply more. Even so, the Marines have ordered more of the FRAG 12 HE rounds to continue testing and safety certification, so it’s quite possible that this weapon will be produced on a larger scale sometime in the near future. And if the military doesn’t choose to employ this weapon, don’t worry. Due to the upcoming Zombie invasion, someone is sure to place an order. Zombies don’t stand a chance against the AA 12!

Check out this envy inducing video of the AA 12 -- Atchisson Assault Rifle in action.

Tags: aa 12, aa 12 shotgun, aa12 shotgun, action manufacturing, atchisson assault shotgun, automatic assault 12, federal firearms license, frag 12 he, high explosive, marines, military, military police systems, shotgun, zombie

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There are several different firearms classifications within the National Firearms Act, and each of these different types of firearms are clearly defined within the act. In order to classify a firearm as an NFA firearm, certain characteristics that are specific to each weapon type must be met. In order to do this, definitions of the dimensions, functions, configurations, or designs are used. If the weapon in question meets the requirements specific to it’s type, then it is classified as a National Firearms Act (NFA) weapon, and will require a Federal Firearms License or FFL

Lets take a look at shotguns. It’s a very popular firearm that’s typically fired from the shoulder, and utilizes a shotgun shell. One of the criteria that is used to define a shotgun as an NFA weapon is the barrel length. Any shotgun that has a barrel that is less than 18″ in length is subject to the NFA, and is deemed an NFA shotgun. As you’re probably aware though, the vast majority of shotguns do not meet this requirement, and are not NFA firearms. This is also why you’re breaking a federal law if you possess or manufacture a homemade sawed off shotgun.

According to the NFA, in order to measure the barrel length of your shotgun, you’ll typically measure it from muzzle to the face of the breech on a line that runs parallel to the axis of the bore of the shotgun. In special circumstances, and for non typical shotguns that the breech isn’t an integral part of the barrel, it’s measured differently. They point out the case of a revolving shotgun. To measure the barrel length on this, you’d measure from the muzzle to the front of a cylinder that doesn’t include the chamber.

One thing to take note of is that this measurement does NOT include anything attached to the barrel like a choke, muzzle break, or compensator that isn’t permanently attached to the barrel. And to get even more specific, none of these devices are considered permanently attached to the barrel unless they’re welded with a full penetration gas or electric weld, or silver soldered.

And finally, any weapon that’s constructed from a shotgun, or any shotgun type weapon, is considered to be an NFA firearm if the overall length is less than 26 inches, or the barrel is less than 18 inches in length.

Tags: breech, choke, compensator, federal firearms license, ffl, firearms, manufacture, muzzle, national firearms act, NFA, sawed off shotgun, short barrel shotguns, shotgun, welded

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From 18 U.S.c. § 921(a)(16) the term “antique firearm” means –



…(A) any firearm (including any firearm with a matchlock, flintlock, percussion cap, or similar type of ignition system) manufactured in or before 1898; or
(B) any replica of any firearm described in subparagraph (A) if such replica —
(i) is not designed or redesigned for using rimfire or conventional
centerfire fixed ammunition, or
(ii) uses rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition which
is no longer manufactured in the United States and which is not
readily available in the ordinary channels of commercial trade; or



(C) any muzzle loading rifle, muzzle loading shotgun, or muzzle loading pistol, which is designed to use black powder, or a black powder substitute, and which cannot use fixed ammunition. For purposes of this subparagraph, the term ‘antique firearm’ shall not include any weapon which incorporates a firearm frame or receiver, any firearm which is converted into a muzzle loading weapon, or any muzzle loading weapon, which can be readily converted to fire fixed ammunition by replacing the barrel, bolt, breechblock, or any combination thereof.



Following this legal definition, ATF has made a judgment and it says that there are certain muzzle loading models that are considered firearms and do not qualify as antiques. The reason for these exceptions are that the frame or the receiver of these firearms are capable of accepting other barrels. These barrels are designed for rimfire or centerfire ammunition. And because of this, these muzzleloaders don’t fall under the definition of an antique firearm.



The following is a partial list of muzzleloaders that are classified as firearms, and not antiques. This is by no means a complete list and is subject to change at any time:



1. Savage Model 10ML (early, 1st version).
2. Mossberg 500 shotgun with muzzle loading barrel.
3. Remington 870 shotgun with muzzle loading barrel.
4. Mauser 98 rifle with muzzle loading barrel.
5. SKS rifle with muzzle loading barrel
6. RPB sM10 pistol with muzzle loading barrel.
7. H&R/New England Firearm Huntsman.
8. Thompson Center Encore/Contender.
9. Rossi .50 muzzle loading rifle.

Tags: ammunition, antique firearm, barrel, black powder, breechblock, centerfire, flintlock, matchlock, muzzle loader, percussion cap, rimfire, shotgun

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