Beretta LTLX7000 shotgun
Future Weapons recently demonstrated a fascinating prototype less-lethal shotgun from Beretta. What is interesting is that the kinetic energy expended on the target from the rubber bullet is constant regardless of the range. This fixes a common problem with less-lethal ammunition: they are often powerful enough to kill at close range and to weak at long range to stop the target.
View though the LTLX7000 scope.
The range is configured using the holographic scope. The distance is set by moving two red dots in the scope until the bottom dot is at the feet of the target and the top dot it at the top of the head of the target. Because the approximate height of people in the region will be programmed into the scope, it can easily calculate the distance to the target. This method of calculating distance is similar to how hunters and snipers calculate range using mil-dot scopes.
The round is then fired by pulling a trigger. In the video we see a round hitting a target placed at 50 and 230 feet away at the same speed ( 309 fps).
The video:
The only way I think this could work is by venting gas from the barrel. The amount of gas vented would depend on the range selected. The more gas vented, the lower the gas pressure behind the projectile, and so the speed is reduced. The slower the projectile, the lower the kinetic energy expended on the target.
When watching the video you can see a puff of smoke coming out of the action after each shot is fired. This is not a semi-automatic firearm so it cannot be coming from the action cycling automatically. It must be coming from a vent.
I did some patent searching and I managed to find a patent entitled “Variable velocity weapon system having selective lethality and methods” that describes almost this exact system:
The present invention relates to weapon systems that accelerate projectiles using gases generated by the rapid combustion of a solid propellant, in particular, such a weapon system is able to vary the barrel exiting velocity of the projectile through a barrel venting means. In one embodiment, a front venting means exhausts gas generated by combusting propellant from behind the accelerating projectile and redirects a portion of the exhausted gas either to at least one fixed volume, to the front of the projectile, or to a combination of at least one fixed volume and to the front of the projectile. Redirecting some of the exhausted gas to the front of the projectile restrains the projectile, thereby slowing the projectile, and thus further decreasing the muzzle velocity of the projectile. In another embodiment, gas from behind the projectile is exhausted into a fixed volume, thereby decreasing projectile acceleration, and thus, the muzzle velocity of the projectile. One can use a…
Venting system proposed by patent.
The patent suggests venting gas in front of the projectile in the barrel to increase the air pressure and slow it down.
It looks to me like there’s a puff coming out from right under the sight/computer thing, a bit forward of the action, so I’d guess it’s venting from the barrel right there.
Hmmm. Interesting concept. I have a buddy who did a little time in Attica and he told me when there was trouble in the yard or the dining area they would get shot at with rubber bullets by the guards. He said he was never hit but those who were usually bled and went down fast.
Stories from the big-house always make me thankful to God that I never went down those dark paths.
bad time to be a midget!
Steve, good insight and analysis!
I wonder why they don’t just use an integrated laser rangefinder in the scope, along the lines of the Bushnell Yardage Pro?
EmptorMaven, I did wonder about that. Cost could be a factor. Also this is much more simple and less chance of an error because it is manual not automatic. An error in calculating the distance could easily result in a kill.