Arrbi Betna
Marauder
Coin Shot Shotgun Shell
Intent: To provide “novelty”, big-game hunting ammunition to collectors, mercenaries, and soldiers looking for an “edge” in combat situations.
Manufacturer: Mythosaur Munitions
Affiliation: Mythosaur Munitions, Mandalorians, Open Market
Modularity: Yes. The lead discs can be swapped out for discs made of customer provided materials. The discs can even be made of actual coins, provided the customer supplies them.
Production: Limited Production
Material: Lead, propellant, plastic, brass.
Description: Mythosaur Munition's Coin Shot shotgun shell ammunition is designed to give interested buyers a top of the line ammunition choice while maintaining the “novelty” feel of the ammunition. Generally speaking, loading a shotgun shell with coins is highly ineffective and very inaccurate. However, operating on the same concept of both improvised weaponry and creating a highly effective and unorthodox ammunition type, Betna experimented with a few alternatives to this strange ammo choice.
The result was simple. By taking a small, lead disc, or "coin", and planting an equally small micro repulsor and beacon into each disc that allows the shot, when fired, to maintain both bullet spread and trajectory, allowing the shot to hit effectively and accurately as well as allowing each disc to make in flight corrections when used with a target lock system. The individual, 18mm discs are stacked on top of a chemical propellant and fired much like a regular shotgun shell. Once in flight, the micro repulsors and beacon combination allow the discs to stabilize and cause each disc to spin laterally, creating a "buzz saw" effect.
The beacons also allow the user to link each shot with a targeting system either attached to their weapon or built into a helmet system. This allows a shot, when properly synchronized with the systems, to track the target mid flight and make corrections accordingly, but only so long as the targeting system can maintain a lock. The micro repulsors mounted into each disc also causes the discs to spin upon leaving the muzzle, allowing the disc manageable trajectory and greater velocity while in flight to the target. This spinning creates a smooth "blade" that turns the disc into a miniaturized buzz saw, causing better penetration than traditional shotgun ammunition. In some cases, close range to point blank shots have been known to completely shred limbs and even bisect unarmored or lightly armored targets entirely. The shot is effective against armor levels of Class 5 and below. Anything above class 5 armor grade will hold up to the shot penetration except in rare circumstances, though the kinetic impact will still transfer*.
The shot has it's flaws, however. The shot is expensive and hard to produce, meaning the shell is hard to find in general. Also, Electronic Counter Measures, or ECM, will disrupt the targeting program and beacons causing both increased shot spread and loss of target tracking. The shot is less effective against heavier armor as the discs lack the ability to penetrate heavy materials and thick armor plating. Finally, the shot is less effective at longer ranges, making close range shots more preferable.
Also, on an aside, the shot is modular, so to speak. Interested buyers who desire specialized discs made from materials other than lead can have different discs made. The buyer just sends the materials to Mythosaur Munitions and, provided the material can be made into the discs required, the custom shot can be made*. Everything from steel to durasteel and even regular coins can be made into the shot shell, provided the buyer supplies the materials ahead of time.
Annotations:
* Mythosaur Munitions is not liable for any injuries, maiming, or deaths caused by the improper1 use of novelty "coin" shot.
** Mythosaur Munitions reserves the right to deny custom ammunition materials on a case-by-case basis.
Superscript Annotations:
1) Improper use is defined by Mandalorian Law2 as the weapon or ammunition use for purposes other than the original intent of the product.
2) Please see Resol'nare for entries on Mandalorian Law
Strengths:
Repulsors and beacon combination allow equivalent range and shot scatter compared to “standard” shot ammunition
Shot can be linked to helmet or targeting systems to provide target tracking in mid flight.
Discs allow better penetration when compared to “traditional” shot shells
Weaknesses:
Expensive with limited production
ECM will disrupt the beacons and cause severe shot spread.
ECM will also disable target tracking.
Less damage/penetration at longer ranges
