KS-23
Tula Arms Plant · Shotgun · In Service · 1985
Also known as: Karabin Spetsialnyy 23, Special Carbine 23
Overview
The KS-23 is a Soviet 23mm pump-action shotgun developed for riot control and prison disturbance suppression. Because its barrels were manufactured from rejected 23mm aircraft autocannon barrels, the bore is rifled, giving it the distinctive 4-gauge (23mm) caliber that ranks among the largest of any production shotgun. Fed from a three-round underbarrel tube magazine and locked by a rotary bolt, it fires a wide family of less-lethal and special-purpose munitions including tear-gas grenades, rubber projectiles, flash-bangs, and buckshot, and can launch 36mm and 82mm muzzle grenades.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3850 g (135.8 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1040 mm (40.94") |
| Barrel Length | 510 mm (20.08") |
| Action Type | Pump Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 3 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Tubular |
| Muzzle Velocity | 350 m/s (1148 fps) |
| Effective Range | 100 m (109 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 150 m (164 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 23x75mmR · primary — also known as 23mm, 4 gauge, 4 bore
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Tubular Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: Rifled Bore, Underbarrel Tube Magazine, Rotary Bolt Locking, Converted Aircraft Cannon Barrel, Less Lethal Munition Capability
Variants
- KS-23M — Compact
- KS-23K — Bullpup
- TOZ-123 Drozd — Civilian
Service history
Operators
- Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) · adopted 1985
- Soviet Internal Troops · adopted 1985
Conflicts
- Dissolution of the Soviet Union (1989-1991)
- Chechen Wars (1994-2009)
Production
Production years: 1985-present
Produced by the Tula Arms Plant; remains in service with Russian and ex-Soviet internal security forces
Origin
Country of origin: Soviet Union
Designer: TsNIITochMash (Central Research Institute for Precision Machine Building)
Notes
The acronym KS-23 stands for 'Karabin Spetsialnyy' (special carbine); despite the name it is classified by gauge as a shotgun. The rifled bore stems from the use of out-of-spec 23mm aircraft cannon barrels.
Background
Soviet MVD planners in the 1970s wanted a weapon that could throw tear-gas grenades 100-150 metres with accuracy. The solution was to repurpose rejected 23mm aircraft autocannon barrels, producing the unusual rifled-bore 4-gauge KS-23, a riot gun so powerful it is often described as the largest-bore production shotgun in the world.