FN303 in the news

[Gunga]

GAO report on non lethal weapon programs

"The FN303 Less-Lethal Launching System, a souped-up paintball gun, was heavy and fell apart easily. Nevertheless, it was deployed for a while even though the DoD never figured out how to properly supply the compressed-air canisters the guns needed."

[Smoothice]

hmmm

Thats the first i've seen calling it a hunk of junk.

Interesting. Very interesting.

[mechman]

DoD never figured out how to properly supply the compressed-air canisters the guns needed

i dont get it they had trouble acquiring what a 13 yr old with his mothers credit card can get easily or was it a matter of not being able to figure out the fill stations? ......im very concerned about the individuals running our government honestly the stupidity boggles the mind.

[Geronimo7]

Nevertheless, it was deployed for a while even though the DoD never figured out how to properly supply the compressed-air canisters the guns needed.[/I]"

they coulda just posted here on AO...... we would have helped em

[Bagheera]

It's on "Fair & Balanced" FOX news, so take it with a grain of salt. Or a whole sackful of salt.

[zondo]

It's on "Fair & Balanced" FOX news, so take it with a grain of salt. Or a whole sackful of salt.

Well...

The FN303 Less-Lethal Launching System, a souped-up paintball gun, was heavy and fell apart easily.

Compared to...

For example, the FN-303 Less-Lethal Launching System program, which DOD spent about $2 million to evaluate, was terminated because the weapon was too heavy and
ergonomically cumbersome, the weapon and ammunition magazine was too fragile...

and...

Nevertheless, it was deployed for a while even though the DoD never figured out how to properly supply the compressed-air canisters the guns needed.

Compared to...

...and the weapon required compressed air canisters in order to launch its non-lethal munitions. However, several dozen FN-303s were fielded to units even though their utility was limited by the availability of the canisters and the infrastructure to replenish them (see fig. 4).

I don't think it's too much opinion...

[Old School 626]

The Emperor wears no clothes....

[druid]

Well, I'm no DoD employee but we use 6 of them at work and I have to tell you...our 870 shotguns are a lot heavier............My almost stock A5 weighs more.

........and the inmates really HATE getting shot with them....

........and are simple to fill that even my 9yr old could do it.....

.....but it's the DoD and they already have a predisposition to less-lethal implements. remember their job.......to kill people and blow crap up. Can't do that with the FN303 (unless you shoot them in the head like a zombie).....

[Destructo6]

I think it's more a matter of "where do I get a HPA tank filled in Kirkuk?" rather than, "how do I fill a HPA tank."

I have little interest in using it, past the novely factor. I'm certified in the pepperball launcher (Tippman 98) and rarely use it. If I'm carrying something long, it will be my M4.

[JesseB]

Probably hard to find a 3k compressor in Iraq. Makes good sense to me.

But you would think if they spent 2 million testing it they could afford a few hundred thousand to buy compressors for the places they were using them

Or buy one compressor and ship a few SCUBA tanks in the supply chain to the places that have the FN on duty.

[Watcher]

Sounds like a guy writing a report just to get the paycheck

I have sincere doubts that anything made by the combined efforts of Tom Kaye and the staff at Fabrique Nationale De Herstal would "fall apart"...

[Smoothice]

I wonder how one of these would work on co2?

It would have been pretty easy to put a 12 gram changer on there. Who cares if you only get 12 good shots. The thing only holds 10 rounds anyways.

So while you put a new magazine in you stick a new 12 gram in too.

Would be a big weight saver as well.

[paullus99]

GAO has a tendency to be over-critical, especially on anything related to DoD. They are also the same ones that claimed the HUMVEE was a huge waste of resources.

[doc_Zox]

a US soldier can break an aluminum baseball bat,
They can bend rifle barrels using flash hiders as prybars
stepping on a FN303 magazine would be quite easy to accomplish

I gather 3000 psi fill stations are not part of the supply chain

[rifleman wi]

a US soldier can break an aluminum baseball bat,
They can bend rifle barrels using flash hiders as prybars
stepping on a FN303 magazine would be quite easy to accomplish

I gather 3000 psi fill stations are not part of the supply chain

if i run into the guys again who use them out here, ill have to ask them what they do for fills.