Comments on: RCI XRAIL (Roth Auto Index Loader)

By: jd

jd — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 01:00:12 +0000

“And afterwards, what, you’re supposed to chuck in 26 shells one by one?”

Now that was funny.

Imagine the next drug related shooting or homicide trial, where someone was shot for breaking into a home, on court TV.

Why did you shoot him 25 times with a 12g? Because the front end was too heavy and my finger jammed.

neat concept.

By: AGuyInJoplinMO

AGuyInJoplinMO — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 02:31:40 +0000

I just wanted to comment that I just saw this on an Outdoor Channel show, American Guardian. Mark apparently offers at least 2 versions, the 4×2? and the 4×6? At the beginning of the show, it looked like he started off with 1 in the chamber, so the 4 x 6 came out well at 25 total. Wow. And it looks fairly simple. Only thing is, I have 2 Mossberg 500’s, which means I’m SOL for either one of these accessories. But it sure got my attention! I like it!

By: szabof

szabof — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 02:25:53 +0000

I’d like to see what Tom Knapp could do with it.

By: Mr XRAIL

Mr XRAIL — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 18:20:17 +0000

As the developer of this product I enjoy seeing all the cool comments even the critical ones. Its interesting to see your perception of the concept.
To all, keep in mind the XRAIL is only a tool for your existing firearm(s) as an attachment, and has always been our intent to produce a solution to the never ending capacity problem that stems from life and death situations. We do not believe this product that enables poor marksmenship when hunting, rather a suppression tool that provides time in a crisis.
Would you rather cary the ammo and have to load it, costing you valuble time, or would you prefer it in your gun?
Of course the answer is always “in my gun.”

FAQ.
Q. Is it front heavy?
A. Yes, but it gets light quick, and reduces muzzle jump by about 40%. We have found that when one builds muscle memory the target aquisition time is about the same as without it.

Q. Is it hard to load?
A. No, loading method of your gun does not change.
Fill main tube full rotate to auxilary tube fill full and repeate until all tubes are full. When unloading, whether firing or just cycling the action, the tubes will rotate on there own once empty. The last tube emptied is the first one loaded.
Keep in mind that when it is installed loading it full is optional. If you wish you have the option of just loading the main tube which replicates your normal shotgun with an extension tube.
This design allows you to use the additional rounds from the auxilary tubes and once they are empty you can continue to plus up your gun using only the capacity of the main tube untill you have completed your mission.

Q. How long does it take to load?
A. This depends on your ability to load, but for me I can load any of the models full in under 30 seconds from the box on a table.

Q. Can I use 3″ shells?
A. Not at this time, currently we have structured the design around the 2 3/4 ” shell because it is the one most commonly used by MLE.

Thanks for your time. Hopefully I have helped improve upon the basic perception of the XRAIL System with this posting.

Sincerely, MR XRAIL

By: Mad World

Mad World — Mon, 04 May 2009 10:45:25 +0000

A saiga 12 with 20 round drum would be my choice over this, but still an interesting concept.

By: Tony

Tony — Sun, 03 May 2009 13:40:03 +0000

BigDaddy: Umm… Ever heard of action shooting sports? Like in the aforelinked video?

As for that tactical/military work, I am having a hard time coming up how less rounds are better (except for the whole weight issue mentioned earlier). Okay, maybe if we’re talking about a strictly special purposes instrument like a shotgun meant just for breaching rounds, then a low round count wouldn’t matter. But anytime a weapon is used for “go out there and kill anything not wearing the same uniform” work, more ammo is merrier.

By: Big Daddy

Big Daddy — Fri, 01 May 2009 20:02:47 +0000

I tried hard to think of why people use shotguns, they are very useful for hunting and some military/tactical work. But I cannot come up with a reason to have that many rounds other than to make cool youtube videos.

Heavy, out of balance and hard to aim especially in a combat situation. I just can’t find any reason or need for it.

I guess you could take out a whole flock of birds or just do some type of new skeet shooting……in other words I have no clue.

By: Matt Groom

Matt Groom — Fri, 01 May 2009 16:23:43 +0000

Other than the weight, this is an interesting idea. I saw something similar to this at the 2008 SHOT show. This thing is gonna be featured as a special unlockable weapon in every Zombie Apocalypse video game to come out for the next 20 years.

It may be more practical in a .410 bore, me thinks…

By: Sven Ortmann

Sven Ortmann — Fri, 01 May 2009 14:08:59 +0000

I second the remark about front-heaviness.

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 01 May 2009 13:11:21 +0000

Cymond, thanks for the link to that video. Very interesting. So you can reload it normally.

By: James R. Rummel

James R. Rummel — Fri, 01 May 2009 06:20:53 +0000

Good post.

James

By: Cymond

Cymond — Fri, 01 May 2009 03:31:36 +0000

Watch this video to see it in extended use. Pay particularly close attention to the reloads around the 0:50 mark. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFgmQj3uFUw

I have seen videos of specialized sport shotguns with extremely long magazine tubes, even longer than an full-length barrel. This may be a more useful option. It keeps the length down and wouldn’t shift the center of balance as far forward as straight magazine tube of an equivalent capacity.

By: Crabula

Crabula — Fri, 01 May 2009 02:45:01 +0000

The practicality or need for the device may be debatable, but the design is really clever. It seems pretty well thought out from a mechanical point of view. Considering how complex this thing could have been I am pretty impressed. Now if they can adapt the device to be quick detachable from the shotgun, allowing the user to carry multiple “Auto Index Loaders”, then it could potentially have some military applications.

Just when I think that everything has been thought of someone comes out with a neat gadget like this. Cool stuff!

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 01 May 2009 01:16:41 +0000

Tam, LOL

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 01 May 2009 01:16:01 +0000

Mu, I also tried searching for it. Its still pending so maybe it is not online yet.

By: Tam

Tam — Fri, 01 May 2009 00:28:29 +0000

Heh. I thought it said “23 pounds” at first, and thought “That sounds about right.”

By: Daverino

Daverino — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:29:09 +0000

Very cool find. This type of content is why I love this blog so much. Thanks for all the hard work.

By: Mu

Mu — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:28:44 +0000

One odd thing, the patent application number they have in the one picture does not come up on a USPTO patent search; and current applications get number in the 12,xxx,xxx range, while issued patents are in the 7,xxx,xxx range.

By: Jay.Mac

Jay.Mac — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:32:25 +0000

Wow. Whatever happened to the KISS principle?

Perhaps it’s just me but wouldn’t a Saiga with a couple of box mags taped together be a more efficient solution to the “problem”?

By: Tony

Tony — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:11:39 +0000

While I love the idea of that much ammunition capacity, I do wonder about the balance of that thing… Wouldn’t an ammo drum like that so far forward move the center of gravity quite a bit towards the muzzle end of the gun?

By: Valhalla

Valhalla — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:02:33 +0000

Finally, realistic Sci-Fi shotguns with 20+ rounds… lol.

Maybe in Halo 4…

Wonder how long before the US Military starts using them… 8 years is my guess. (What with Obama’s idea of a military.)

By: cornelius

cornelius — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:58:20 +0000

Boy, that looks like fun! I want one. Their website says: “Models for military and law enforcement will be available soon.” I wonder if civilians will be allowed to own them.

Good to have you back, Steve.

By: Beamwalker

Beamwalker — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:43:05 +0000

They should put a rail on the bottom, so you could put a grip, because those shells are going to put a lot of weight towards the barrel.

By: clamp

clamp — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:39:42 +0000

I likey and I wanty. Now all I have to do is hit the weights so I’ll be able to carry.

My Mossberg 500 with a full tube, 5 on a side saddle, and 5 on the stock is unweildy enough.

By: moo

moo — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:22:53 +0000

And afterwards, what, you’re supposed to chuck in 26 shells one by one?

By: Mu

Mu — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:01:35 +0000

For the hunter with the really bad eyesight I presume, kind of a Mr. Magoo attachment? Since the position of the magazine will pretty much ruin the handling of the weapon as a quick-aim defense uber riot gun, I fail to see a practical application.

By: Vote For David

Vote For David — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:46:53 +0000

This is a ‘not a whole gun’ variety of the multi-magazine concept I seem to recall seeing here a while back. You know, the shotgun with like 4 magazines under the barrel? Yeah, this is an add-on for capacity instead of capacity or cartridge types.

And if you need 23, you need something besides a shotgun.

By: 22lr

22lr — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:32:24 +0000

Cool, but it looks like way to much weight up front. Even 8 rounds of #000 make a shotgun very muzzle heavy, 26 rounds would be crazy. But I guess if your strong enough to move that mass around then 26 rounds of #000 would be amazing if the SHTF.