The actual gun used in the movies.
I have seen a couple of suppressed shotguns up close. They were pretty bulky and I wondered how effective the suppression would be with such a big caliber. For comparison: the area of the cross section of a 12 gauge bore is almost twice as large as .50 caliber bore!
The bore is quite big but it’s the powder charge that makes the noise. So suppressing a shotgun with its comparativly light loads is easier than one might think. It looks strange, though.
0 
0Thanks for the math corrections.
0 0It’s not so much bore size, but charge and velocity that matters.
12ga shells typically use only about 30 grs. of power, while a 50 BMG uses 185-240 grs. depending on brand.
12ga shot only has a velocity of about 1200 fps, while 50 BMG is around 2800 fps.
Both of these figures result in a shorter can. There are fewer gasses and report to suppress, and the lower velocity increases the time the expanding gasses are in the suppressor.
Fully suppressed shotguns are used in the UK, and the suppressor is the full length of the barrel. I’m not sure what the db numbers are, but I’d like to see them.
0 0In the movie they dubbed over modified audio of a nail gun, when the shotgun fired. But I still love that movie A LOT.
0 0Whats your email Kurby?
Heres a good reference shot from the film.
Note that the screw heads in both photos are in the 2 o’clock and 8 o’ clock position.
0 0One of those “makes cool guns stuff” guys like MartyTW or Tromix made a suppressed shotgun. Yes, you have to port the barrel, rather than more normal baffels. That process of drilling thousands of perfect little holes was enough for them to say, never again!
I expect you could scale up a pistol suppressor, since pressures are similar, and do it on a Form 1. That means it could be light. But the marked it still small.
Many states specifically outlaw suppressors for hunting game animals, so not that big a market for shottys. Like Hog hunting in TX with suppressed weapons is rather normal, but thats because those are not ‘game animals’.
0 0My email is Kurby1400@aol.com
0 0Did you take the photos yourself? I was wondering because I would like to post one of the photos on a website if that is ok with you? What I wouldnt do to get a job where I could be around firearms all day lol.
0 0Thanks for the photos Matt.
0 0Here are some genuine silenced shotguns sold in the UK…
http://www.saddleryandgunroom.co.uk/Gunroom/SG_Hushpower.htm
0 0More Pics
0 0Matt, would you be able to take a good photo of the shotgun and email it to me? You must work in one of the coolest places in the US.
0 0A while back I saw some information on someone who made a ver long aluminum barrel extension (like 8 feet) that had a similar effect to a silencer.
In comparison, this thing looks positively svelte.
0 0I think the silent shells they developed during the 70′s are a bit more practical despite the smaller payload.
0 0I’d be a bit worried about the plastic shot cup or indeed the shot themselves hitting the baffles in the suppressor.
0 0That does not look like the actual gun to me.
0 0This thing is down the hall from my office. It is a generous loan from Independent Studio Services – a California based prop department that supplies motion pictures with firearms. We requested it for an upcoming exhibit where we will be displaying famous guns seen in movies. No Country for Old Men is one of my favorite movies as well as one of our Senior Curators, so of course it was a must have.
0 0Matt, you have a very cool job 
1 0Has anyone ever shot one of these before? I am curious to the effects on balance, recoil and how much noise suppression it actually provides.
0 0Just for giggles and grins, I volunteer to try it.
0 0Redchrome, interesting. I suppose you could fashion an integral suppressor from the barrel itself, in this way. Just drill some holes in it and put a larger tube over it. A plastic beverage bottle would probably do for a temporary DIY solution.
0 0You can do this with any two calibers, simply substitute D₁ for the larger and D₂ for the smaller.
D₁=0.68;
D₂=0.5;
( (π×(D₁÷2)² ) ÷ ( π×(D₂÷2)²) ) × 100 = 185%
0 0Carl,
The solution for silencing shotguns is to use a perforated tube rather than just a plain hole through baffles. Small Arms Review had an article on a shotgun silencer some months ago; and the core was a perforated tube wrapped in wire screen. Crude by modern silencer standards, but a useful proof-of-concept.
I’m sure if there was sufficient demand, Advanced Armament would have a well-designed and efficient model available.
0 0A 12 gauge is 73 cal, your math has a 68 which is a 20 gauge.
The cross section areas are:
A 50 cal is 0.196 sq inches
A 20 gauge is 0.363 sq inches
A 12 gauge is 0.419 sq inches
0 0That is pimp and absurd at the same time.
0 0
Did you take the photos yourself? I was wondering because I would like to post one of the photos on a website if that is ok with you? What I wouldnt do to get a job where I could be around firearms all day lol.
My email is Kurby1400@aol.com
Thanks for the photos Matt.
Here are some genuine silenced shotguns sold in the UK…
http://www.saddleryandgunroom.co.uk/Gunroom/SG_Hushpower.htm
More Pics
http://imgur.com/XEOcL.jpg
http://imgur.com/6cKI0.jpg
http://imgur.com/ZCn1v.jpg
One of those “makes cool guns stuff” guys like MartyTW or Tromix made a suppressed shotgun. Yes, you have to port the barrel, rather than more normal baffels. That process of drilling thousands of perfect little holes was enough for them to say, never again!
I expect you could scale up a pistol suppressor, since pressures are similar, and do it on a Form 1. That means it could be light. But the marked it still small.
Many states specifically outlaw suppressors for hunting game animals, so not that big a market for shottys. Like Hog hunting in TX with suppressed weapons is rather normal, but thats because those are not ‘game animals’.
Whats your email Kurby?
Heres a good reference shot from the film.
http://imgur.com/LQhLZ.jpg
Note that the screw heads in both photos are in the 2 o’clock and 8 o’ clock position.
The bore is quite big but it’s the powder charge that makes the noise. So suppressing a shotgun with its comparativly light loads is easier than one might think. It looks strange, though.
Thanks for the math corrections.
It’s not so much bore size, but charge and velocity that matters.
12ga shells typically use only about 30 grs. of power, while a 50 BMG uses 185-240 grs. depending on brand.
12ga shot only has a velocity of about 1200 fps, while 50 BMG is around 2800 fps.
Both of these figures result in a shorter can. There are fewer gasses and report to suppress, and the lower velocity increases the time the expanding gasses are in the suppressor.
Fully suppressed shotguns are used in the UK, and the suppressor is the full length of the barrel. I’m not sure what the db numbers are, but I’d like to see them.
In the movie they dubbed over modified audio of a nail gun, when the shotgun fired. But I still love that movie A LOT.
Matt, would you be able to take a good photo of the shotgun and email it to me? You must work in one of the coolest places in the US.
A while back I saw some information on someone who made a ver long aluminum barrel extension (like 8 feet) that had a similar effect to a silencer.
In comparison, this thing looks positively svelte.
Redchrome, interesting. I suppose you could fashion an integral suppressor from the barrel itself, in this way. Just drill some holes in it and put a larger tube over it. A plastic beverage bottle would probably do for a temporary DIY solution.
You can do this with any two calibers, simply substitute D₁ for the larger and D₂ for the smaller.
D₁=0.68;
D₂=0.5;
( (π×(D₁÷2)² ) ÷ ( π×(D₂÷2)²) ) × 100 = 185%
Carl,
The solution for silencing shotguns is to use a perforated tube rather than just a plain hole through baffles. Small Arms Review had an article on a shotgun silencer some months ago; and the core was a perforated tube wrapped in wire screen. Crude by modern silencer standards, but a useful proof-of-concept.
I’m sure if there was sufficient demand, Advanced Armament would have a well-designed and efficient model available.
A 12 gauge is 73 cal, your math has a 68 which is a 20 gauge.
The cross section areas are:
A 50 cal is 0.196 sq inches
A 20 gauge is 0.363 sq inches
A 12 gauge is 0.419 sq inches
Just for giggles and grins, I volunteer to try it.
Has anyone ever shot one of these before? I am curious to the effects on balance, recoil and how much noise suppression it actually provides.
I think the silent shells they developed during the 70′s are a bit more practical despite the smaller payload.
I’d be a bit worried about the plastic shot cup or indeed the shot themselves hitting the baffles in the suppressor.
That does not look like the actual gun to me.
This thing is down the hall from my office. It is a generous loan from Independent Studio Services – a California based prop department that supplies motion pictures with firearms. We requested it for an upcoming exhibit where we will be displaying famous guns seen in movies. No Country for Old Men is one of my favorite movies as well as one of our Senior Curators, so of course it was a must have.
Matt, you have a very cool job
That is pimp and absurd at the same time.