Welcome everyone to the 121st edition of ‘Hot Gat or Fudd Crap?’, one of our many series here on TFB. If you’re new to the series, this is where we look at the most obscure firearms that are actually for sale and ask the question – is this Gat a sweet deal or only has a Fudd appeal?  Each week the TFB staff weighs in with their thoughts, but readers get the final say in the poll at the bottom of each article.

In our last edition, our poll showed that you, the readers, by the thinnest of margins decided the Mammoth tusk clad 1911 was a hot gat.  

HGFC – Is this Mammoth Tusk Clad 1911 a Monster or Monstrosity? — Poll Results

At this time the original auction remains up on GunBroker with the pistol still listed for $5,800.  We hope this 1911 doesn’t end up going extinct before finding its way to a new home in the near future.   

In this week’s edition of HGFC, we look at a suppressed Armalite AR-17 chambered in 12GA. As is tradition, this custom one-off shotgun is currently up for sale on GunBroker for $580 Current Bid or $1,395 Buy It Now.  

HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP?

Sweet Silence or Bubba’d Up Violence?

HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP? Sweet Silence or Bubba’d Up Violence?

Let’s see what the Staff had to say about this week’s offering:

“Hot ugly gat! Pete, give it a home and a decent handguard.” – Giorgio O.

“When your neighborhood auto mechanic says he’s going to start working on guns as a complimentary service.. this is what you get: fudd crap.” – Adam S.

Selling this suppressed carbon fiber gat is GunBroker seller Midwest Tactical Inc, located in Jasper MO.  Let’s see what they had to say about this very custom AR-17.  

HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP? Sweet Silence or Bubba’d Up Violence?

Armalite AR17 Suppressed Single Shot Shotgun

* 12 Ga

* Single shot

* Dons gun shop EXP 002 Suppressor ($200 Tax stamp)

* Carbon fiber hand gaurd

From what we know this is a custom single shot 12 ga shotgun that started its life as a Armalite AR 17. The barrel has several small holes drilled in it and a carbon fiber hand gaurd that slips over the barrel. This makes the shotgun hearing safe and more enjoyable to shoot. The stock and the receiver have been painted black to cover up the original gold finish. It has a few scratches allowing that gold to show through.

The AR-17 was a recoil-operated, self-loading shotgun that was chambered for 12 gauge shells. It utilized the same forward-locking bolt design of the AR-16, with a series of multiple lugs that locked into a barrel extension. Like the AR-9, the external components of the AR-17 were constructed from lightweight materials, including an 7001-T6 aluminum receiver and barrel, and polycarbonate furniture.

May take 5-7 business days to ship

We accept MC and Visa with a 3% fee. We also accept ACH with no additional fee.

It is important to us that you are happy with your purchase. The buyer will have a 3 day money back inspection period. If you find the item was not as represented just return for a full refund! Thanks for bidding.

NO LOCAL SALES we ship to FFL’s only.

HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP? Sweet Silence or Bubba’d Up Violence?

I’ll be the first to admit that I love silencers, but this has to be one of the most confusing suppressed builds I’ve ever seen.  Of all the shotguns to suppress, someone decided an AR-17 from circa 1964 was the way to go.  It’s a strange choice of host paired with a painted-over gold receiver and carbon fiber handguard.  I’m hoping the carbon fiber is for heat mitigation and not some new-age high-speed weight reduction.

HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP? Sweet Silence or Bubba’d Up Violence?

Before it was heavily modified, this AR-17 was an already peculiar shotgun.  Designed for hunters and sport shooters it had a 2-round capacity and a 10-lug rotating bolt.  Similar to the one commonly found on AR-pattern rifles today.  There was no magazine, but simply a lifter/elevator that chambered the next round using a short recoil action.

HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP? Sweet Silence or Bubba’d Up Violence?

It looks like the creator of this suppressed AR-17 didn’t agree with short-recoil action, and instead decided to block the movement of the barrel with a simple bolt at the base of the receiver.  It looks goofy, but if it works it works.

HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP? Sweet Silence or Bubba’d Up Violence?

The suppressor ends at an interesting, let’s call it an adapter or endcap.  All I know is it’s certainly not threaded for chokes.  Either way, it all looks over the top proprietary, but oddly intriguing at the same time.  I’d be very curious to hear what this sounds like in person, and judging by the wear marks it looks like it’s been in and out of the safe a few times.  Either that or someone was more than a little clumsy.

With a price tag below $600 (plus the $200 tax stamp) and plenty of bids, this AR-17 is going to sell.  Was it worth it to modify a piece of history in order to “suppress everything”?  As always I leave it up to you, the readers, to decide.

HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP? Sweet Silence or Bubba’d Up Violence?

What do you think?  Is this suppressed AR-17 a Hot Gat or some home gunsmith Fudd Crap?  Be sure to let us know in the comments below, and cast your vote to let us know if this Armalite AR17 Suppressed Single Shot Shotgun is a Hot Gat or Fudd Crap: