Heckler & Koch HK CAWS | |
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HK CAWS |
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Type | Automatic shotgun |
Place of origin | West Germany |
Production history | |
Designer | Heckler & Koch, Winchester |
Specifications | |
Weight | 3.7 kg (8.2 lb) empty, 4.3 kg (9.5 lb) loaded |
Length | 762 mm (30 in) |
Barrel length | 457 mm |
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Cartridge | 12 Gauge Belted (18.5×76 mm) |
Rate of fire | 200-300 |
Effective range | 150 m |
Feed system | 10-round detachable box magazine |
The Heckler & Koch HK CAWS (H&K CAWS) is a prototype automatic shotgun—designed as a combat shotgun—co-produced by Heckler & Koch and Winchester/Olin during the 1980s. It was Heckler & Koch's entry in to the U.S military's Close Assault Weapon System program.
It is a 10-round, 12-gauge, bullpup shotgun with three firing modes: safe, semi-auto, and full-auto, and is fully ambidextrous.
Contents |
The CAWS 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 U.S. military, the CAWS was canceled, and production, both military and civilian, has halted.
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