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Semi-automatic pistol fires two bullets at once

By | March 16, 2012, 5:40 AM PDT

The revolutionary weapon being demonstrated in this video is as close as it gets to having two guns in one.

In honor of the legendary Colt 1911-A1, weapons manufacturer Arsenal Firearms has unveiled the AF2011-AF Double Barrel Pistol, the world’s first double-barrel semi-automatic handgun that fires two bullets at once. While the casing, parts and overall exterior has the look and feel of a Colt, the pistol features modifications such as twin barrel design that enable users to load as many as eight .45 caliber rounds (16 bullets). It’s essentially akin to melding a pair of the classic handguns together.

Since double-barrel and semi-automatic handguns were conceived as a way of compensating for an inaccurate shot without reloading, there hadn’t been much of a reason — at least functionally — to combine both technologies in one weapon. Besides, attempts to do so would mean the force of the shot would be off-center, which theoretically would lead to even greater inaccuracy.

The designers at Arsenal firearms claim they have figured a way around this problem. After six months of “intense and round-the-clock 3D designing, stereolithographic modeling and parts machining,” they’ve perfected a handgun that “is not only very pleasing, but very accurate,” according to the company’s website. Although they haven’t revealed how the technology works, their own internal testing demonstrated that shooters were able to accurately strike objects such as an orange located 15 yards away and a watermelon at a distance of 25 yards.

And with the force of two rounds, stopping power is said to be “tremendous.” One shot would be enough to drop wild animals as large and as fierce as a bull.

There’s no word on pricing or whether it would be made available in the U.S. That’s because Arsenal Firearms would have to get past some regulatory hurdles, which may prove to be quite difficult.

According to Military Times:

Arsenal plans to bring these to the states, though there are concerns over the pistol’s NFA classification since one pull of the trigger fires multiple rounds. Arsenal employees say their interpretation of the BATF’s regs lead them to think the pistol’s action does not make it a machine gun. Wishful thinking.

What do you think? Is the AF2011-AF technically a machine gun?

(via Arsenal Firearms)

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Tuan C. Nguyen

About Tuan C. Nguyen

Tuan C. Nguyen was a contributing editor for SmartPlanet from 2011 to 2013.

Tuan C. Nguyen

Tuan C. Nguyen

Contributing Editor

Tuan C. Nguyen is a freelance science journalist based in New York City. He has written for the U.S. News and World Report, Fox News, MSNBC, ABC News, AOL, Yahoo! News and LiveScience. Formerly, he was reporter and producer for the technology section of ABCNews.com. He holds degrees from the University of California Los Angeles and the City University of New York's Graduate School of Journalism.

Follow him on Twitter.

Tuan C. Nguyen

Tuan C. Nguyen

Tuan C. Nguyen does not hold any investments in the technology companies he covers.

He writes for SmartPlanet and is not an employee of CBS.

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27
Comments

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0 Votes
+ -
Cute gimmick.
This is of no practical value. A single .45 round has enough stopping power for any situation.

I would rather have a modified 1911 .45 with a 16 round mag than this toy.
Posted by Hates Idiots
16th Mar 2012
+1 Vote
+ -
Toy
Come on man, I know you would love to give this a try. Think of it as an academic exercise, of no practical significance, but fun nonetheless.
Posted by Arctic Char
16th Mar 2012
-6
BRILLIANT!
Posted by Mouseboy007  |  Below your threshold
-6
An undesirable product.
Posted by Stephen-Engard  |  Below your threshold
-5 Votes
+ -
Unbelievable
At time of typing, you (Stephen-Engard) had -4 votes. I've just +1'd it to -3. I'm on -1. What I find unbelievable is that deriding toys for criminals is somehow a bad thing? Who on earth is giving negative marks to this comment?! I presume it's the gun loving nutters that shout ye-ha and flail bullets like breadcrumbs for birds. Get real people, even if you like guns, Stephen-Engard's comment is nothing but entirely valid. Do we REALLY applaud the criminal underbelly and the misery they bring? I don't like guns but I respect those that do. I do not respect trigger happy morons.
Posted by Mouseboy007
16th Mar 2012
+8 Votes
+ -
Criminal
What's criminal is morons calling guns "something for criminals". Last time I checked it was illegal for a criminal (con) to even own a handgun. And even worse is someone that characterizes pro-gunners as "gun loving nutters that shout ye-ha and flail bullets like breadcrumbs for birds". Obviously you've been watching way too much tv, or you just haven't "Gotten Real" yet yourself....
Posted by Tinman57
16th Mar 2012
-3 Votes
+ -
Psychopath
The only nut in this post is you.
Posted by Arctic Char
16th Mar 2012
+2 Votes
+ -
More weapons coverage?
Seems like there's strong feelings on both sides of the issue. So let me ask all the SmartPlanet readers: Would you like to receive more news of weapons and defense innovation or more focus on other areas? Would love to know what you guys like to read more of. Thanks!

- Tuan
Posted by tuancnguyen
Updated - 16th Mar 2012
+4 Votes
+ -
More or Less
I'd like to see more news of weapons and defense innovations, however, you will most definitely get all kinds of grief from anti-gun drama queens spewing out lies and half-truths.
Posted by Tinman57
16th Mar 2012
+3 Votes
+ -
Weapons
This is for everyone, all do not like some, some do like all.
Posted by fooooot@...
17th Mar 2012
0 Votes
+ -
Yes.
But we need to find out if a gun shoots 3 bullets at a time, not just 2. ; )
Posted by DoctorEigenFlow
23rd May
0 Votes
+ -
More Weapon Info Please!
I think it's interesting and we need to be more informed and not bias
Posted by jacci1000
1st Aug
+4 Votes
+ -
Epic Drama Queen
Why label it as something to kill people with? I've owned weapons all of my life, including the M1911 A1 and I"ve never killed anyone. But it is nice to know that if some lunatic breaks into my house or tries to harm me I'll have a way of dealing with him/her. But I suppose your against that too....
Posted by Tinman57
16th Mar 2012
+6 Votes
+ -
Intelligence
Ye must be 2 neurons connected by a spirochete. Guns don't murder people, people do.
Posted by Arctic Char
16th Mar 2012
0 Votes
+ -
You're right...
But....guns make it sooo much faster and easier for people to shoot guns that don't murder people, so they can murder people with guns that do murder people instead of murdering them with their bare hands. Tsk, tsk, So messy...
Posted by SmartPlanetORelse
17th Aug
+14 Votes
+ -
Pleased with this Coverage
I am very pleased that this forum has increased its coverage of firearms and related technology. Coverage of this kind -- neither fetishizing nor demonizing the tool -- is an important contribution to our society's ongoing debate about the place of firearms in our lives.
Posted by mdwalls
16th Mar 2012
+7 Votes
+ -
Too big
I once tried a Desert Eagle and couldn't get a solid hold on the grips. I'm an average size guy, not a little gal (no offense intended to women, but you do tend to be smaller than guys), but the size of grips around those long cartridges was just too much for me to be comfortable with firing the weapon. I suspect that that double clip will make it too wide for me to get a comfortable grip as well.
Posted by metaphysician
16th Mar 2012
+7 Votes
+ -
Targets
I'd like to see where each round hits on a paper target, say at 10, 15 and 20 yards. That would give you a better idea of how accurate it is.
Posted by walnutkitten
16th Mar 2012
+3 Votes
+ -
Something for the gang bangers.
Other than possibly being "cool" I don't really see a practical use.
I'm sure that some will buy it for the look, but I'd rather have two
guns and switch. Less ammunition used, more precise, and you
can give the 2nd weapon to another person to lay down suppressing fire, etc.
Posted by richard233
16th Mar 2012
+5 Votes
+ -
?machine gun-no.
A machine gun is a gun that uses mechanical energy in the form of a rotor (in the case of a circular magazine) or exhaust gas (in the case of a clip) to set the gun into an automatic firing mode. That is why machine guns are called "automatic" weapons. This gun is a double barreled handgun that fires two shots at once with the force of the shooter's trigger finger. It is analagous to firing two guns at once. That does not qualify as an automatic weapon. It should be available for public purchase. From a second amendment standpoint, so should all other weapons.
Posted by Arctic Char
16th Mar 2012
+1 Vote
+ -
That won't stop congress
Not to get into Partisan hackery, but when you have a government that is willing to invent terms such as "assault weapon" to ban firearms that they do not want you to have, then I have no doubt that a double-barreled pistol will be classified as a Machine gun by them and banned. Look it up - the definition of "Assault Weapon" was contrived for the 1994 Weapons Ban. Assault Rifles are Machine guns, and as such were already HIGHLY regulated for public sale. So they had to make up a term just based on the aesthetics of a certain type of gun, although they are no more or less powerful than a similar caliber of Hunting rifle.
Posted by gandalas
23rd Jul
-6
Coach ******** Outlet Store For Sale Cheap Coach Bags & Cheap Coach Handbag
Posted by topandgd  |  Below your threshold
0 Votes
+ -
What A Stupid Idea
Doesn't seem to have practical value.

If you can't shoot, two bullets at a time isn't going to help. Would rather have 16 rounds than 8 doubles. If hitting a target is a problem, use a shotgun, or scatter shot. Would be difficult to carry as well as grip.

A Mauser broomhandle would seem to be an ideal weapon. Tested in battle; used worldwide, and in China so extensively against Japanese, warlords, and civil war. Too bad no one makes a modernized version--would be awesome, especially with modern 20 round clip and high build quality--wonder what it would take to make such a weapon.
Posted by Backbutton
28th Mar 2012
0 Votes
+ -
Not quite there...
I promised myself when the gun comes out that fires 3 bullets at a time, THEN I'd look into it
Only 2?? ...not quite there.
Posted by DoctorEigenFlow
Updated - 23rd May
-1 Votes
+ -
Ok, actual comment
I think this company is selling SEX, not a weapon. Otherwise they would have shown the metrics and dimensions of the kill... the force delivered, the pattern at various distances, some comparison strikes, etc. Instead they had a sound track and a super serious gnarly guy who could barely wrap his fingers around that double wide grip AND wearing gloves! In my opinion, they should have redesigned the clip so two stacked bullets at a time could be loaded into two vertical chambers, or in fact, used a barrel clip, like a small Thompson to achieve that same thing, etc. In other words, it looks glued together, and no... if you want sexy, give us a gun with a 12 inch barrel and have a babe shooting it! ; )
Posted by DoctorEigenFlow
23rd May
0 Votes
+ -
silly
Impractical on every level , unless you have giant hands it's gonna be hard to control or hold and as far as carrying concealed it's way too big and using a regular hip holster the girth and weight work against it as well .
Posted by cptfreakout
4th Aug
0 Votes
+ -
Real World
The Colt 1911A1 wad designed to be a "man stopper". Hit him/her almost anywhere and drop the body. The pistol was used for many years by our military as the issue side arm. Then, in a fit of community the US adopted the NATO standard 9mm pistol and dropped the .45 and bought the 9mm. One reason given was that it was easier to teach marksmanship using the milder recoiling 9mm. Well folks, I am here to tell you that the recoil produced by the .45 is substantially more than the 9mm. Lots of recoil from one round is doubled when two are fired together. It is my belief that the pistol as described will be a real hand stinger, but then people purchase and shoot a .50 cal magnum. So where is the beef? Let the market decide if the double tap is worth owning.
Posted by ValFitzAndrew
6th Sep
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