Heckler & Koch HK CAWS

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The Heckler & Koch HK CAWS (H&K CAWS) was Heckler & Koch's entry in to the U.S military's Close Assault Weapon System program. It was a prototype shotgun co-produced by Heckler & Koch and Winchester/Olin during the 1980s.

It is a 10-round, 12-gauge, bullpup shotgun with three firing modes: safe, semi-auto, and full-auto, and was fully ambidextrous.

1 Statistics
2 History
3 Technical Definitions
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Statistics

Type: select-fire, recoil operated.
Gauge: 12 (special ammunition with belted case, 19.5x76 mm)
Length: 762-988 mm
Barrel length: 457-685 mm
Weight: 3.7-3.86 kg 4.3kg
Magazine: 10 rounds detachable box magazine

[edit] History

The CAWS - Close Assault Weapon System - program started in the early 1980s in the United States. The main goal of this program was to develop a new generation personal firearm, capable of firing high-impulse, multiple projectiles with effective range of 100-150 meters. Using multiple projectiles should increase the chances of hitting the target in combat. One of the teams entered in the CAWS race was Heckler & Koch Germany, coupled with Winchester Corp. USA. Heckler & Koch was responsible for developing a weapon, while Winchester was responsible for the development of new types of ammunition. Although tested by the US military, the CAWS was cancelled, and production, both military and civilian, has halted.

[edit] Technical Definitions

HK CAWS is a select-fire, smoothbore weapon, designed to fire special, high-pressure shotshells, loaded with tungsten buckshot or flechettes. HK CAWS utilised a patented recoil-operated action with a moving barrel and an additional, self-regulated gas assist system (used to help unlock breechblock from the barrel if low-power ammo is used). The main goal of this system was to decrease felt recoil down to a suitable level.

HK CAWS in appearance is somewhat similar to the HK G11 advanced assault rifle, being built in bull-pup configuration, with integral carrying handle. The charging handle is located under the carrying handle, at the top of the receiver, and is ambidextrous. The standard HK-style safety-switch/fire selector has 3 positions: Safe, Semi-auto and Full-auto. It had a rate of fire of approximately 240 shots per minute.