The Genesis Gen-12 shotgun is designed and manufactured by an American company called Genesis Arms. It was designed around 2017-2019 as a dedicated 12-gauge upper receiver conversion for .308 caliber AR-10 style rifles. This gun is available as either a complete gun, or as an upper receiver, which any user can install on an existing DPMS-308 compatible AR-10 style lower receiver.
Genesis Gen-12 shotgun with 18″ barrel
The Genesis Gen-12 shotgun is intended for both civilian and LE/Military use. In civilian hands, it can be best used for sport shooting (IPSC, 3-gun and other similar “practical” competitions) and home defense. In military and police hands it can be used as a tactical shotgun for anti-drone / CQB / MOUT / riot control operations, as well as a dedicated “breacher” variant, especially with very short 5-7 inch barrels. For government users company also offers a select-fire version of the Gen-12 shotgun.
Genesis Gen-12 shotgun with 10.5″ barrel
The Genesis Gen-12 is a semi-automatic shotgun that uses short recoil action, which is rarely encountered in modern long guns, both rifles and shotguns. This action uses a recoiling barrel which is locked by a rotary bolt, which is combined with an AR-style bolt carrier and spring-buffer system. However, most upper receiver and bolt group parts of the Gen-12 shotgun are not interchangeable with any AR-10 style firearm.
On the other hand, the lower receiver is directly based on, and is compatible with an DPMS-308 lower receiver, although manufacturer recommends to install some “beefed-up” small parts when using a rifle lower receiver. Genesis arms also offers complete Gen-12 shotguns with lower receivers of their own manufacture, which are in turn compatible with DPMS-308 style rifle upper receivers and magazines.
Genesis Gen-12 shotgun, breacher version with 7″ barrel
Genesis Gen-12 shotguns are fed using proprietary and patented magazines. Those include single stack box magazines with capacity of 5 or 10 rounds, as well as drum magazines with capacity of 15 rounds.
Upper receiver and forend of Gen-12 shotgun are provided with an integral Picatinny rail which can be used to mount various sights, including red dot or holographic sights. Optional accessories can be installed using MLOK slots on the forend.
Genesis Gen-12 shotgun specifications
Encyclopedia of firearms and ammunition of the XX and XXI centuries
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