Fear & Loading: HE Shotshell

by
posted on August 3, 2016
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
guyimg_lede1_8735-for-ann-possible-lead.jpg

It’s not often you get a chance for an up-close-and-personal inspection of gear designed for the military or silver screen, so when Frag12 asked me to take catalog photos of its shotshell—that explodes on contact with its target—I jumped at the chance, even though BATFE rules required I’d be working with an inert version.

Before you ask, I know even jokingly putting a single match head in the thing would break so many laws that they wouldn’t bother making a key for my jail cell. In fact, anyone from SOCOM who wants to take a close look is welcome to give it a new research home. I’d need official ID, and expect a signed receipt we can get notarized, though.  

Call me paranoid, but there’s good reason. Here’s the company’s look at what a live version does and a snippet of Discovery Channel’s coverage earlier this year.  

I received the guts—the most interesting part, anyway—of the company’s 3-inch, 12 gauge shotshell, which sheds its chamber-friendly polymer skin upon firing. The manufacturer, Frag12, has tested the load extensively in Benelli shotguns and it’s been in at least one movie.

Spring-loaded fins deploy once it ditches the hull to stabilize flight. Effective at up to 200 meters (video), it should help those who go in harm’s way maintain a safer distance when breaching doors, disabling vehicles or temporarily stunning their adversary. The explosive arms 3 meters from the muzzle.

Payload is 3.4 grams of RDX, European nomenclature for the active ingredient in C4. Ignition starts with a standard 209 primer and muzzle velocity is 900 fps. In-flight weight is 42 grams, although mine weighs less (did I mention this thing on my desk is inert?). Here’s the complete Frag12HE shotshell specs.

The warhead—their term, not mine, please no 2 a.m. raids—is thin and light, so there’s not much shrapnel produced, making it obvious it isn’t designed to replace the M203 grenade launcher. It’s a breaching tool and makes cool explosions, at distance, safely.

I’d love to test working versions, but there’s that BATFE thing. Of course, if someone from Delta picks this up—not that the unit really exists, although I am close enough to Fort Mackall that grenades and automatic fire lull me to sleep most nights, hint, hint—and decides real testing is needed, I’d love to be there. In fact, I’m going to include a clause in that receipt, notarized, with witnesses, by the way.  

Latest

Gotw Wilson Combat Divison 77 Project 1 Web
Gotw Wilson Combat Divison 77 Project 1 Web

Gun Of The Week: Wilson Combat Division 77 Project 1

Join American Rifleman staff on the range in this video to get a closer look at Wilson Combat’s somewhat cryptically named “Division 77 Project 1.” 

The Armed Citizen® July 18, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Review: POF-USA LMR BASE Rifle

The Patriot Ordnance Factory LMR Base offers a .308 Win. chambering in a lightweight, AR-15-size package, which makes it a capable platform for today's new gun owner. And it comes at a fair price.

2025 Accessory Of The Year: Wyoming Sight Drifter

For each of the past 23 years, the editors of American Rifleman have convened to select our top picks for the past year’s best and most innovative products. Here are the most recent winners.

Henry Donates Rifles To Support Young Leukemia Victim

Henry Repeating Arms has donated a limited run of 50 “Team Keane” Golden Boy .22 lever-action rifles to support 13-year-old Keane Rhodes of Universal City, Texas, who is currently undergoing aggressive treatment for ALL T-cell leukemia.

Rifleman Review: Springfield Armory Echelon

Springfield Armory introduced its Echelon in 2023, bringing a modernized, chassis-style, striker-fired handgun to the market that has since seen several notable line extensions.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.