Pancor Jackhammer
Encyclopedia
The Pancor Corporation Jackhammer is a 12-gauge, gas-operated automatic shotgun
. It is one of very few fully automatic shotguns, and although patented in 1987, it never entered full-scale production. Only a few working prototypes of the Jackhammer were ever built; some sources state that only two fully automatic prototypes exist. In the late 1990s, the current owner of the design, Mark III, attempted to sell the patents, prototypes, and production rights for $350,000. Nonetheless, its distinctive appearance and futuristic, stylish design have made it popular in action television programs, films, and video games.
. Reportedly, a number of foreign governments expressed interest in the design and even ordered initial production units once ready for delivery. However, the design was held up for production by the testing of the United States Department of Defense
and the firearm design was eventually passed over in favor of existing 12 gauge weapons. The languishing of the design in administrative limbo caused Pancor to go bankrupt, as they could not fill foreign orders without the blessing of the State Department, and the State Department would not grant export licenses while it was being ostensibly tested by the Department of Defense
. The assets of Pancor were sold off, including the few prototypes of the Jackhammer that were built.
layout to preserve a 525mm barrel length in an overall 787mm package. The shotgun is fed by a 10-round capacity center-rotating drum using conventional 12-gauge cartridges. The shotgun weighs 4.57 kg and has a maximum rate of fire
of 240 rpm. The drum's method of rotation is very similar to the Webley-Fosbery Semi-automatic revolver
.
The floating barrel is driven forward by gas pressure from the fired round. The barrel is then returned by a spring
and moves the drum operating rod, breaking the tight seal between the barrel and the drum and allowing the drum to revolve to offer the next round. On the return stroke the barrel and drum are re-sealed, allowing the round to be fired without loss of gas (A la Nagant M1895
). Spent cartridges are not ejected, remaining in the magazine.
that fires all of the cartridges at once when tripped. The manufacturer advertised this as the "Beartrap."
in the United States under the National Firearms Act
(NFA) of 1934. As such, it is regulated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
.
Automatic shotgun
An automatic shotgun is a form of shotgun that is able to fire cartridges continuously while the trigger is pressed, unlike semi-automatic weapons which require the user to depress the trigger for each projectile fired.- Design :...
. It is one of very few fully automatic shotguns, and although patented in 1987, it never entered full-scale production. Only a few working prototypes of the Jackhammer were ever built; some sources state that only two fully automatic prototypes exist. In the late 1990s, the current owner of the design, Mark III, attempted to sell the patents, prototypes, and production rights for $350,000. Nonetheless, its distinctive appearance and futuristic, stylish design have made it popular in action television programs, films, and video games.
Development
The firearm was designed by John Anderson of Pancor Industries in New MexicoNew Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. Reportedly, a number of foreign governments expressed interest in the design and even ordered initial production units once ready for delivery. However, the design was held up for production by the testing of the United States Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
and the firearm design was eventually passed over in favor of existing 12 gauge weapons. The languishing of the design in administrative limbo caused Pancor to go bankrupt, as they could not fill foreign orders without the blessing of the State Department, and the State Department would not grant export licenses while it was being ostensibly tested by the Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
. The assets of Pancor were sold off, including the few prototypes of the Jackhammer that were built.
Technical definitions
The firearm, excluding the barrel, is constructed largely of a rynite plastic in order to reduce weight. It features a bullpupBullpup
Bullpups are firearm configurations in which the action is located behind the trigger group and alongside the shooter's face, so there is no wasted space for the buttstock as in conventional designs. This permits a shorter firearm length for the same barrel length for improved maneuverability, and...
layout to preserve a 525mm barrel length in an overall 787mm package. The shotgun is fed by a 10-round capacity center-rotating drum using conventional 12-gauge cartridges. The shotgun weighs 4.57 kg and has a maximum rate of fire
Rate of fire
Rate of fire is the frequency at which a specific weapon can fire or launch its projectiles. It is usually measured in rounds per minute , or per second .-Overview:...
of 240 rpm. The drum's method of rotation is very similar to the Webley-Fosbery Semi-automatic revolver
Automatic revolver
An automatic revolver is a revolver that uses the energy of firing for cocking the hammer and revolving the cylinder, rather than using manual operations to perform these actions...
.
The floating barrel is driven forward by gas pressure from the fired round. The barrel is then returned by a spring
Spring (device)
A spring is an elastic object used to store mechanical energy. Springs are usually made out of spring steel. Small springs can be wound from pre-hardened stock, while larger ones are made from annealed steel and hardened after fabrication...
and moves the drum operating rod, breaking the tight seal between the barrel and the drum and allowing the drum to revolve to offer the next round. On the return stroke the barrel and drum are re-sealed, allowing the round to be fired without loss of gas (A la Nagant M1895
Nagant M1895
The Nagant M1895 Revolver is a seven-shot, gas-seal revolver designed and produced by Belgian industrialist Léon Nagant for the Russian Empire. The Nagant M1895 was chambered for a proprietary cartridge, 7.62x38R, and featured an unusual "gas-seal" system in which the cylinder moved forward when...
). Spent cartridges are not ejected, remaining in the magazine.
Magazine function as an anti-personnel mine
As an interesting additional feature, it is possible to take the drum magazine off the firearm, attach a detonator, and use it as an anti-personnel mineAnti-personnel mine
Anti-personnel mines are a form of land mine designed for use against humans, as opposed to anti-tank mines, which are designed for use against vehicles...
that fires all of the cartridges at once when tripped. The manufacturer advertised this as the "Beartrap."
Legality
The Pancor Jackhammer is fully automatic and thus classified as a machine gunMachine gun
A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute....
in the United States under the National Firearms Act
National Firearms Act
The National Firearms Act , 73rd Congress, Sess. 2, ch. 757, , enacted on June 26, 1934, currently codified as amended as , is an Act of Congress that, in general, imposes a statutory excise tax on the manufacture and transfer of certain firearms and mandates the registration of those firearms. The...
(NFA) of 1934. As such, it is regulated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is a federal law enforcement organization within the United States Department of Justice...
.
Related developments
- Webley Fosbery - Automatic Revolver.
- Steyr Mannlicher M1894Steyr Mannlicher M1894The M1894 Steyr Mannlicher blow-forward, semi-automatic pistol was an early semi-automatic pistol.-General features:This earliest Steyr Mannlicher pistol, manufactured by FAB.D'ARMES Neuhausen, Switzerland, was designed to be self loading and to use a special rimmed cartridge in 6.5 mm caliber...
- Blow-Forward barrel. - Nagant M1895Nagant M1895The Nagant M1895 Revolver is a seven-shot, gas-seal revolver designed and produced by Belgian industrialist Léon Nagant for the Russian Empire. The Nagant M1895 was chambered for a proprietary cartridge, 7.62x38R, and featured an unusual "gas-seal" system in which the cylinder moved forward when...
- Gas Seal.