RB-12


Bandaevsky RB-12 shotgun

 


Bandaevsky RB-12 shotgun; barrel slid forward for reloading, magazine and side panels removed

 

Caliber

12 Gauge

Type

Pump action

Overall length

825 / 610 mm

Barrel length

525 mm

Weight, empty

3, kg

Magazine capacity

6 rounds

 

Bandaevsky RB-12 shotgun (РБ-12 – ружье Бандаевского 12) is a little known and unsuccessful attempt to create ‘tactical’ shotgun for home defense and police / security use. It was designed in about 1993 by Alexander Bandaevsky, chief designer of the Uralmashproject factory in the city of Zlatoust, Russia. RB-12 was produced in limited numbers (probably no more than 100), and soon disappeared from the market due to commercial failure, caused by unorthodox concept, complicated inner workings and problematic functioning. Today RB-12 shotguns are considered mostly as ‘exotic collectibles’, with very little practical value.

 

Bandaevsky RB-12 shotgun is manually operated, pump action shotgun. It employs stationary breech and movable barrel, which must be cycled “forward then backward” for reloading. This system reduces overall length of the weapon, but also causes problematic functioning due to numerous feed and ejection issues.

Receiver of the weapon is of skeletonized design, machined from solid block of steel and fitted with removable side panels, made of wood.
Gun is fed from proprietary detachable box magazines with 6-round capacity. Trigger is of double-action only type, with automated safety built into the rear of the pistol grip and no manual safety. Side-folding shoulder stock locks the trigger when folded (feature, mandated by Russian gun laws that prohibit ‘too short’ weapons for civilian use). Unfolding of the stock is automatic – it is spring-loaded, and its catch is disengaged automatically when operating slide (forend) is moved forward. Since the RB-12 shotgun is built with “linear layout”, it has very high sight line, with front sight mounted on the high base, and aperture-type rear sight built into the rear of the “carrying handle”.