View source for Riot gun

{{Short description|Type of firearm}}
{{About|the less-lethal launcher|the shotgun|riot shotgun}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Weasel|date=March 2009}}
[[File:Beanbag shotgun.jpg|thumb|A [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police]] officer with a [[Bean bag round|bean bag]] [[shotgun]]]]In current usage, a '''riot gun''' or '''less-lethal launcher''' is a type of [[firearm]] used to fire [[Non-lethal weapon|"non-lethal" or "less-lethal" ammunition]] for the purpose of suppressing [[riot]]s or apprehending [[suspect]]s with minimal harm or risk.<ref>Combat Guns Hardcover – 1 Nov. 1987 by Chris Bishop (Author), Publisher: Book Sales; 1st Ed. (U.S.) edition (1 Nov. 1987), {{ISBN|1555211615}}</ref> Less-lethal launchers may be special purpose firearms designed for [[riot control]] use, or standard firearms, usually [[shotgun]]s and [[grenade launcher]]s, adapted for riot control use with appropriate ammunition. The ammunition is most commonly found in 12 gauge (18.5&nbsp;mm/.729 inch) shotguns and [[37 mm flare|37mm]] (1.46 inch) or [[40 mm grenade|40 mm]] (1.57 inch) grenade launchers.

In the United States, the term ''riot gun'' more commonly refers to a [[riot shotgun]].

==Ammunition==
[[File:Tropa de choque em São Paulo 1.jpg|thumb|A [[Military Police of São Paulo State]] officer firing a [[grenade launcher]] loaded with [[tear gas]]]]
Less-lethal launchers can fire various sorts of ammunition, including:
*Impact projectiles, which rely on kinetic energy, such as [[baton round]]s, [[bean bag round]]s, or [[rubber bullet]]s
*[[Tear gas]] cartridge
*[[Pepper spray]]
*[[Stun grenade|Stun]] rounds
*[[Smoke]] round
*Less-lethal [[shotgun shell]]s
*Less-lethal grenades
*Sound-emitting projectiles
*GLIMPS (Grenade-Launched Imaging Modular Projectile System), a round containing a small camera that transmits images

To avoid breaking the projectile up, less-lethal cartridges are often propelled by [[gunpowder]], which, when fired, may make an eruption of sparks and smoke larger than those made by modern cartridges propelled by [[smokeless powder]].

===Chemical agent ammunition===
Chemical agents may be dispersed in three ways: muzzle dispersion, canister, and ferret.

====Muzzle dispersion====
This method is the simplest: the chemical agent is in the form of a loose powder, which is expelled by the propellant of the cartridge. These rounds are used at short range, and have effect from the muzzle to a range of about 30 feet. This method is best used by operators wearing [[gas mask]]s, as the chemical agent can easily be blown towards the operator.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.defense-technology.com/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-DefenseTech-Library/default/dw89807bb7/product-pdfs/less-lethal/37mm_Muzzle_Blast.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2018-12-14 |archive-date=2018-12-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181214213927/http://www.defense-technology.com/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-DefenseTech-Library/default/dw89807bb7/product-pdfs/less-lethal/37mm_Muzzle_Blast.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[http://www.cainstructor.com/Articles/oak032187.pdf Chemical agents] cainstructor.com</ref>

====Canister projectiles====
These are also called gas grenades, and are used at longer ranges. They are analogous to [[rifle grenade]]s, providing increased accuracy and range over hand-thrown gas grenades. Gas grenades may be used by operators without gas masks, as the agent is only dispersed in the area of impact, as far away as {{convert|150|yd|m}}. The agent in gas grenades is dispersed as a gas or an aerosol spray.

====Ferret rounds====
These are specialized gas grenades designed to penetrate light barriers, such as windows, hollow core doors, and interior walls, and disperse chemical agents on the far side.

===Impact rounds===
Impact rounds come in a variety of shapes, sizes and compositions for varying roles.  Impact rounds are made out of materials of much lower density than the [[lead]] normally used in bullets, are larger, and are fired at lower velocities. Rounds are designed with low mass, moderate velocity, and large surface area to prevent the rounds from penetrating the skin significantly or causing severe injury, so they merely provide a painful blow to the target: but instances have been reported where rubber or plastic bullets have caused significant injuries to the body or eyes, and in some cases caused death.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/ruc-coverup-over-baton-round-death-of-mum-court-told-14594635.html|title=Belfast Telegraph: RUC cover-up over baton round death of mum, court told|accessdate=6 August 2023}}</ref>

One broad classification of impact rounds is direct fire and indirect fire rounds. Direct fire rounds can be fired directly at the target, ideally targeted low on the target, away from vital organs that are more prone to damage from the impact.

====Baton rounds====
Baton rounds, often called [[rubber bullet]]s or [[plastic bullet]]s, are cylinders made of rubber, plastic, wood, or foam, and can be as large as the full bore diameter of the launcher. Smaller baton rounds may be encased in a shell casing or other housing. Baton rounds may fire one long baton, or several shorter batons. Harder or denser baton rounds are intended for skip fire, while softer or less dense batons are intended for direct fire. Baton rounds are the subject of significant controversy, due to extensive use by [[United Kingdom|British]] and [[Israel]]i forces, resulting in a number of avoidable fatalities.

====Beanbag rounds====
[[Beanbag round]]s consist of a tough fabric bag filled with [[birdshot]]. The bag is flexible enough to flatten on impact, covering a large surface area, and they are used for direct fire. Beanbag rounds may be wide and flat, designed for close range use, or elliptical in shape, with a fabric tail to provide drag stabilization, for longer range use.

====Rubber buckshot====
[[Image:Fiocchi rubber buckshot.jpg|thumb|right|Two rounds of [[Fiocchi Munizioni|Fiocchi]] 12 gauge rubber buckshot]]
These, also called '''stinger rounds''', consist of a number of rubber balls ranging from around {{convert|0.32|to|0.60|in|mm}} in diameter, and are used for direct fire.  The small diameter means that each ball contains far less energy than a baton round, but it also limits the range. ''Rubber slugs'', used in 12 gauge firearms, consist of a fin stabilized full bore diameter rubber projectile.  These are used for long range, accurate direct fire shots on individual targets.

====PepperBall rounds====
{{main|Pepper-spray projectile}}
PepperBall rounds also known as PepperBall projectiles are a patented impact sphere that is filled with either PAVA or an inert powder. PepperBall projectiles are deployed by air powered launchers and are similar in theory to a paintball marker. The term is not interchangeable with other projectiles on the market as PepperBall, pepper ball and pepperball are trademarked terms.

The PAVA in a PepperBall projectile is a pharmaceutical grade organic irritant and is based on one of the hottest of the six Capsaicinoids found in pepper plants. Capsaicin and Pelargonic Acid Vanillyl amide (aka “PAVA”) are the hottest of the six Capsaicinoids and are equal in heat value.

PAVA has other names:

* Pelargonylvanillylamide
* Nonivamide
* Capsaicin II
* Synthetic capsaicin

==Types of less-lethal launchers==
Purpose-built launchers are commonly large bore guns, formerly 25 to 27&nbsp;mm (0.98 to 1.06 inches), modern versions are 37 to 40&nbsp;mm (1.46 to 1.57 inches).  Dual-purpose guns are usually [[Gauge (bore diameter)|12 gauge]] (18.5&nbsp;mm/.729 inches) [[riot shotgun]]s, firing special less-lethal [[shotgun shell]]s.

Single-shot large bore launchers, such as the [[Milkor 37/38mm and 40mm Stopper]], [[M79 grenade launcher]], [[ARWEN ACE]], and [[RGS-50M]], are generally [[break open]] designs. The barrels are relatively short, resulting in a [[carbine]] sized gun, and may have a shoulder stock and/or a forward handgrip to provide greater control. [[Pistol]] launchers exist, but are generally only used for short range, muzzle dispersing chemical agents.

Multishot large-bore launchers, such as the [[ARWEN 37]], are usually in the form of a [[revolver]] holding five or six rounds in the cylinder.  Unlike normal revolvers, the cylinder of a revolving riot gun is too massive to be turned easily by the trigger pull, and is usually turned by a pre-tensioned spring or by a [[pump action]].

Shotguns used for riot control are nearly always in [[Gauge (bore diameter)|12 gauge]], as that is the gauge in which nearly all riot control rounds are made.  Generally riot shotguns are used, such as some models of the [[Remington 870]] and [[Mossberg 500]].  Due to the reduced power of riot control rounds, there is insufficient energy to cycle the actions of [[gas operated]] and [[recoil operated]] firearms, so riot shotguns are manually operated, usually [[pump action]].  The advantage of using a riot shotgun for riot control is that the shotgun is a dual use firearm, and can switch quickly to and from the riot control role by changing the ammunition.  The downside is that it can fire lethal projectiles, and so extra care must be taken in its use to prevent the wrong ammunition from being used.

A less lethal projectile gun, an example of which is the [[FN 303]], is essentially a [[paintball marker]], either purpose built for riot control, or modified from a commercial paintball marker.  The pepper ball guns use special [[pepper spray]] ammunition based on [[paintball]] technology, consisting of a gelatin capsule filled with the riot control agent.  The guns use compressed gas and provide semiautomatic fire, and the pepperballs act just like paintballs, fracturing on impact and splattering the chemical agent on impact.  These can be used for direct fire, to break the balls on the target, or indirect fire, breaking near the target and spraying the agent into the target's vicinity.

Police have been known to use paintball guns loaded with paint projectiles, to mark particular rioters so that police can easily identify and arrest them later.

Some weapons discharge teargas as a solution in water.

==Legal issues==
Large-bore launchers are classified as firearms in most countries. Shotguns intended for riot use are semi-automatic shotguns subject to relevant regulations.  Riot control ammunition may be restricted in various jurisdictions, to a lesser or greater degree than normal [[shotgun shell]]s.

===United States===
In the U.S. large-bore launchers are subject to [[Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives|BATFE]] regulations.  Since firearms over .50 caliber (12.7&nbsp;mm) with [[rifling|rifled]] barrels are considered destructive devices under the [[National Firearms Act]], only [[smoothbore]] riot guns may be sold to civilians without an [[National Firearms Act|NFA]] permit; a common form found on the civilian market are [[M203]] [[grenade launcher]] replicas, which can be used to fire 37&nbsp;mm practice rounds.  The 40&nbsp;mm guns are usually rifled, and may fire [[40 mm grenade]]s; explosive grenades rely on the spin both for stabilization and for arming the fuze.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070629182827/https://mdtt.hood.army.mil/capability/documents/ground/FM3-22.31.pdf FM 3-22.31, 40-MM GRENADE LAUNCHER, M203] section 2-1. </ref>

==Lethality==
Riot guns have been documented to be lethal in some cases, with the use of an [[FN 303]] by the [[Boston Police Department]] in October 2004 resulting in the fatal [[shooting of Victoria Snelgrove]] being one such incident.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cityofboston.gov/police/pdfs/report.pdf |title=Commission Investigating the Death of Victoria Snelgrove |page=14 |date=May 25, 2005 |access-date=April 25, 2009 |website=cityofboston.gov |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610210149/http://www.cityofboston.gov/police/pdfs/report.pdf |archive-date=June 10, 2011 |via=[[Wayback Machine]]}}</ref>

==Types==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name
! Caliber
! Capacity
! Notes
|-
| [[ARWEN 37]]
| 37&nbsp;mm
| 5
| drum magazine<ref>[http://192.139.188.71/Police_Ordnance/ARWEN/PDF/SpecSheet-Arwen37.pdf ARWEN 37 Specification sheet] Police Ordnance</ref>
|-
| ARWEN 37S "Shorty" CQB
| 37&nbsp;mm
| 5
| Short barrel, no stock, drum magazine<ref>[http://192.139.188.71/Police_Ordnance/ARWEN/PDF/SpecSheet-Arwen37S.pdf ARWEN 37S Specification sheet] Police Ordance</ref>
|-
| [[ARWEN ACE]]
|
| 1
| single shot, telescoping stock<ref>[http://192.139.188.71/Police_Ordnance/ARWEN/PDF/SpecSheet-ArwenAce.pdf ARWEN ACE specification sheet] Police Ordnance</ref>
|-
| CM-55 gas gun
| 37&nbsp;mm
| 1
| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://37mm.com/launchers/m5gas.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020629051346/http://37mm.com/launchers/m5gas.asp |archive-date=2002-06-29 |title=37mm.com: Launcher Varieties: M-5 Gas Gun}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://37mm.com/reviews/CMPLaunchers.asp |title=37mm.com: Review: CMP Gun Parts 37mm Launchers |publisher=37mm.com |access-date=2008-12-26 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080630101928/http://37mm.com/reviews/CMPLaunchers.asp |archive-date = June 30, 2008}}</ref>
|-
| Cobray 37&nbsp;mm launcher
| 37&nbsp;mm
| 1
| aluminum barrel, retractable stock<ref>{{cite web |url=http://37mm.com/launchers/cobray.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010601120353/http://37mm.com/launchers/cobray.asp |archive-date=2001-06-01 |title=37mm.com: 37mm Launcher Varieties: Cobray}}</ref>
|-
| Defense Technology 37&nbsp;mm Launcher
| 37&nbsp;mm
| model dependant
| single-shot and multi-shot versions<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defense-technology.com/launchers.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060602102642/http://www.defense-technology.com/launchers.aspx |archive-date=2006-06-02 |title=Armor Holdings, Inc. - Defense Technology :: Launchers}}</ref>
|-
| DPMS M-37 flare launcher
| 37&nbsp;mm
| 1
|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://37mm.com/launchers/m37arupper.asp |access-date=December 7, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061213034816/http://37mm.com/launchers/m37arupper.asp |archive-date=December 13, 2006 |title=37mm.com: 37mm Launcher Varieties: DPMS M-37 Flare Launcher }}</ref>
|-
| [[Federal Laboratories|Federal Labs]] 37&nbsp;mm rotary gas gun
| 37&nbsp;mm
| 6
| rotary drum magazine, top-folding stock<ref>{{cite web|url=http://37mm.com/launchers/federalarmsrotary.asp |access-date=December 7, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061213034804/http://37mm.com/launchers/federalarmsrotary.asp |archive-date=December 13, 2006 |title=37mm.com: 37mm Launcher Varieties: Cobray }}</ref> 
|-
| Federal Labs 37&nbsp;mm single-shot [[Federal Riot Gun]]
| 37&nbsp;mm
| 1
|{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}
|-
| [[FN 303]]
| 18&nbsp;mm
| 15
| drum magazine
|-
| [[Heckler & Koch]] launcher
| 37&nbsp;mm
| 1
| retractable stock<ref>{{cite web|url=http://37mm.com/launchers/hklauncher.asp |access-date=December 7, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061212053205/http://37mm.com/launchers/hklauncher.asp |archive-date=December 12, 2006 |title=37mm.com: 37mm Launcher Varieties: H&K }}</ref>
|-
| Hilton multi-purpose gun
| 37&nbsp;mm
| 1
|
|-
| [[M203 grenade launcher]]
| 40&nbsp;mm
| 1
| underslung attachment for rifles
|-
| [[M79 grenade launcher]]
| 40&nbsp;mm
| 1
| break-action
|-
| MGL-MK1 40&nbsp;mm multi-launcher
| 40&nbsp;mm
| 6
| rotary drum magazine<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.37mm.com/launchers/mgl-mk1.asp |title=Archived copy |access-date=4 September 2016 |archive-date=18 June 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060618075808/http://www.37mm.com/launchers/mgl-mk1.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| [[Milkor Stopper 37/38 mm riot gun]]
| 37/38&nbsp;mm
| 1
|  break-action
|-
| MK40 40&nbsp;mm under barrel launcher
| 40&nbsp;mm
| 1
| fits under rifle barrel<ref name="37mm.com">{{cite web|url=http://37mm.com/launchers/mk40.asp |access-date=December 7, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061213035018/http://37mm.com/launchers/mk40.asp |archive-date=December 13, 2006 |title=37mm.com: 40mm Launcher Varieties: MK40 40mm Under Barrel Launcher }}</ref>
|-
| MSRG-38
| 37&nbsp;mm
| 6
| rotary magazine
|-
| Ramo RT 37
| 37&nbsp;mm
| 1
| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://37mm.com/launchers/ramo.asp |access-date=December 7, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060618075713/http://www.37mm.com/launchers/ramo.asp |archive-date=June 18, 2006 |title=37mm.com: Launcher Varieties: Ramo RT 37 }}</ref>
|-
| MK40 40&nbsp;mm under barrel launcher
| 40&nbsp;mm
| 1
| fits under rifle barrel<ref name="37mm.com"/> 
|-
| [[RGM-40]]
| 40&nbsp;mm
| 1
| stand alone version of [[GP-30]] grenade launcher 
|-
|-
| [[RGS-50M]]
| 50&nbsp;mm
| 1
| break action, specialized rounds such as door breakers 
|-
| Sage Control Ordnance SL1
| 37&nbsp;mm
| 1
| <ref name="Sage"/>
|-
| Sage Control Ordnance SL6
| 37&nbsp;mm
| 6
| rotary magazine<ref name="Sage">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sageinternationalltd.com/sco/launchers/launchers.html|title=SAGE Control Ordnance, Inc|website=www.sageinternationalltd.com}}</ref>
|-
| [[TW73]]
|
| 1
| breech loading
|-
| Webley Schermuly
| 37&nbsp;mm
| 1
| 
|-
|Narendra Explosives Limited
|38/40&nbsp;mm
|model dependant
|single-shot and multi-shot variants
|-
|[[RWGŁ-3]]
|50mm
|1
|can use a net adapter, uses tear gas grenades
|-
|AWGŁ-3
|50mm
|5
|box magazine, fully automatic, mostly mounted on vehicles
|}

==See also==
*[[Traumatic pistol]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/39502000/jpg/_39502929_baton_gun203.jpg Image of one-shot teargas grenade gun]
*[http://people.howstuffworks.com/riot-control1.htm How Stuff Works] page on riot control:
**image of [https://cdn.hswstatic.com/gif/riot-control-8.jpg single-shot 40&nbsp;mm riot gun]
**image of [https://cdn.hswstatic.com/gif/riot-control-10.jpg 6-shot 40&nbsp;mm riot gun]
**image of [https://cdn.hswstatic.com/gif/riot-control-11.jpg looking into end of cylinder]
**image of [https://cdn.hswstatic.com/gif/riot-control-5.jpg 40&nbsp;mm riot cartridges]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Riot Gun}}
[[Category:Firearms]]
[[Category:Non-lethal firearms]]
[[Category:Riot control weapons|Gun, Riot]]
[[Category:Riot guns| ]]