NeoStead 2000
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The NS2000 is a type of shotgun developed for the South African company NeoStead by Tony Neophytou. It, along with the Pancor Jackhammer, is considered one of the most technologically advanced shotguns created. The NS2000 has been used in trial runs for a few years by special forces like the British SAS. There are hopes at NeoStead that larger weapons manufacturers will license the production rights. Production of the NEOSTEAD Shotgun has started and the first guns have been available from October 2001.
The gun is a 12 gauge pump action shotgun weighing a little over 3 kg designed primarily for security and civil disturbance situations.
The prototype NS2000 included a full 22.5 inch (571mm) barrel in a weapon with an overall length of 27 inches (690mm). The short length makes this weapon easier to handle in close quarter situations, while accurate at relatively long ranges. The long barrel length is achieved by using a bullpup configuration, with a rear-fed loading and a tubular magazine.
Another aspect of the NS2000 is its dual six round magazines. The selector switch can be set to left, right, or alternating. For example in riot conditions less-lethal flexible baton rounds can be used with standard rounds in reserve.
A possible production variant of the NS2000 has an 18 inch barrel in a weapon with an overall length of 22 inches. The shorter length reduced the magazine capacity to 5+5 rounds and makes the weapon easier to import or license in many countries.
Its pump mechanism operates in a forward-back motion, due to its rear-load configuration. This is different from conventional pump methods as the pump action is achieved by shifting the hand forward-back, as opposed to the standard back-forward motion of the non-trigger hand.
The NS2000 has been avilable for civilian purchase since 2003, with the majority of sales being in Europe (mostly in Italy), where it is cheaper than locally manufactured brand name shotguns. The NS200 is an "unrestricted" class shotgun in Canada (6/2005) but the BATF in the USA does not yet allow import (6/2006).
