# Are there any \*fully\*-automatic shotguns? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 15, 2003, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fully-automatic-shotguns/219036 "2003-12-15T01:53:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bob55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Bob55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob55)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fully-automatic-shotguns/219036/21 "2003-12-15T06:09:17Z")
I believe the Street Sweeper / Jackhammer / automatic shotgun is illegal according to the Geneva Conventions, so don’t expect to be seeing these on the battlefield. ---
**Author:** ![radar\_ralf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b2d939/32.png) [@radar\_ralf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/radar_ralf)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fully-automatic-shotguns/219036/22 "2003-12-15T06:10:04Z")
Oops, I should have said that the Striker / Streetsweeper is a 12 gauge example of the original firearm. Sorry ---
**Author:** ![Gunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gunslinger)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fully-automatic-shotguns/219036/23 "2003-12-15T06:28:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by 'possum stalker \* > **That’s why God created the three round burst.** Nah, that was for the poorly-trained kids that don’t know when to stop — Special Forces and such are going back\* to true full-auto\*\* with the M4. It may only last three seconds, but that’s enough to get the fun started. 🆒 > [@](#): > > \*\*Besides, I can see reloading an assualt rifle in the field, but look at the cookie jar on that freakin’ hand cannon! \*\* Point. He who reloads fastest, and all that. But if it’s gonna be solid mounted as **Derleth** suggests, you might as well make it belt-fed. And once it’s bolted down and belt-fed, why not raise the cyclic rate a bit?\*\*\* 😃 \*although I’m not sure _they_ ever gave it up. \*\*of course, they carry a bit more ammo than the standard poorly-trained kid. \*\*\*a 12-gauge Minigun firing buckshot might be…interesting. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fully-automatic-shotguns/219036/24 "2003-12-15T08:11:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ringo \* > \*\*Stinging gnats. Really mean gnats. \*\* Gnats that shatter bone and tear flesh around them. ---
**Author:** ![Bromley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4da419/32.png) [@Bromley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bromley)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fully-automatic-shotguns/219036/25 "2003-12-15T11:04:14Z")
[CAWS](http://www.kitsune.addr.com/Firearms/Shotguns/HK_CAWS.htm) - Only really available in computer games, but a real weapon. ---
**Author:** ![Gest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9d8465/32.png) [@Gest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gest)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fully-automatic-shotguns/219036/26 "2003-12-15T11:34:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bob55 \* > \*\*I believe the Street Sweeper / Jackhammer / automatic shotgun is illegal according to the Geneva Conventions, so don’t expect to be seeing these on the battlefield. \*\* That’s bizarre. DU, non-detectable fragments, anti-personnel mines, fuel-air explosives and napalm are allowed but fully-auto shotguns aren’t? ---
**Author:** ![dylan\_73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecccb3/32.png) [@dylan\_73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dylan_73)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fully-automatic-shotguns/219036/27 "2003-12-15T11:54:21Z")
Napalm is not allowed by Geneva. They’re trying to ban anti-personnel mines too. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fully-automatic-shotguns/219036/28 "2003-12-15T12:07:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dylan\_73 \* > \*\*Napalm is not allowed by Geneva. They’re trying to ban anti-personnel mines too. \*\* Geez, what a bunch of spoilsports. ---
**Author:** ![Gest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9d8465/32.png) [@Gest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gest)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fully-automatic-shotguns/219036/29 "2003-12-15T12:46:39Z")
It seems Napalm was banned in 1980 but the new, improved form used by US/UK forces skirts handily around the old definition. The last of the old stocks, unequivocably designated _napalm_ were apparently destroyed in 2001. Mind you, a large part of the arsenal was deployed in Gulf War I. _After_ the 1980 banning. [http://www.globalsecurity.org/org/news/2003/030805-firebombs01.htm](http://www.globalsecurity.org/org/news/2003/030805-firebombs01.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fully-automatic-shotguns/219036/30 "2003-12-15T14:50:00Z")
I think you can find what you’re looking for at S-Mart. “Shop smart. Shop S-Mart.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-fully-automatic-shotguns/219036.md?page=1)