12 Gauge Bean Bag Round

The 12 Gauge Bean Bag Round is a less-lethal 12-gauge impact cartridge for shotguns. Defense Technology describes its drag-stabilized model as a translucent shell with a 40-gram tear-shaped bag, #9 shot, and 270 fps velocity for law-enforcement use.

12 Gauge Bean Bag Round, Less-lethal 12-gauge shotgun round, Munitions

Image source: Defense Technology

Profile

Origin: United States
Built by: Defense Technology
Type: Less-lethal 12-gauge shotgun round

munitions 12-gaugeless-lethallaw enforcement

Specifications

Gauge: 12-gauge
Projectile mass: 40 grams
Muzzle velocity: 270 fps
Effective range: Up to 75 feet

Compatible Shotguns

Army range-safety guidance, a Marine Corps training photo, and Morgan Hill's controlled-equipment report identify shotguns that fire 12-gauge bean bag rounds.

Firing weapon	Weapon type	Firing evidence
12-gauge shotgun	12-gauge shotgun	Army range-safety guidance specifically discusses firing 12-gauge bean bag rounds from a 12-gauge shotgun, confirming the round's intended launcher. Sources: Range Safety
Remington 870 12-Gauge Shotgun	12-gauge action shotgun	Orange County Sheriff's Department policy says the 2581 12-gauge super sock bean bag is fired with the Remington 870, 12-gauge action shotgun. Sources: OCSD Policy 711
Remington M870	12-gauge pump shotgun	The Marine Corps photo caption identifies the Remington M870 12-gauge pump shotgun as the launcher while it is loaded with a ballistic bean bag round during non-lethal weapons training. Sources: Marine Corps Non-Lethal Weapons Training Photo
Mossberg 500 Less Lethal 12-Gauge Shotgun	Less-lethal shotgun	Morgan Hill's controlled-equipment report identifies this Mossberg 500 less-lethal shotgun as the platform used to deploy the 12-gauge Super-Sock Bean Bag Round up to 75 feet. Sources: Morgan Hill Controlled Equipment Report 2024

12 Gauge Bean Bag Round Images

12 Gauge Bean Bag Round, Less-lethal 12-gauge shotgun round, Munitions - view 1 — Source: Defense Technology

12 Gauge Bean Bag Round, Less-lethal 12-gauge shotgun round, Munitions - view 2 — Source: Defense Technology

Related Weapon Systems

Mossberg 500 Less Lethal 12-Gauge Shotgun, Less-lethal pump-action 12-gauge shotgun, Infantry Weapons

Infantry WeaponsMossberg 500 Less Lethal 12-Gauge ShotgunLess-lethal pump-action 12-gauge shotgunThe Mossberg 500 Less Lethal 12-Gauge Shotgun is a Mossberg 500-based police shotgun configured with orange furniture for less-lethal use. Morgan Hill's controlled-equipment report says it deploys the 12-gauge Super-Sock Bean Bag Round to 75 feet, keeping distance between officers and suspects during de-escalation.

Remington 870 12-Gauge Shotgun, 12-gauge pump-action shotgun, Infantry Weapons

Infantry WeaponsRemington 870 12-Gauge Shotgun12-gauge pump-action shotgunThe Remington 870 is an American pump-action shotgun introduced in 1950 and still in production. Orange County Sheriff's Department policy identifies a 12-gauge action-shotgun configuration that fires the 2581 Super-Sock bean bag round, making the 870 a documented less-lethal launcher platform as well as a general-purpose shotgun.

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12-gauge slug, Single-projectile 12-gauge shotgun cartridge, Munitions

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Mossberg 590 Shotgun, 12-gauge pump-action shotgun, Infantry Weapons

Infantry WeaponsMossberg 590 Shotgun12-gauge pump-action shotgunThe Mossberg 590 is O.F. Mossberg & Sons' pump-action shotgun line, built in the United States and marketed for military, law-enforcement, and home-defense use. Mossberg's 590 pages list 12-gauge, 20-gauge, and .410 bore offerings, and Army guidance identifies the Mossberg 590 as a compatible shotgun for the M1030 breaching round.

Sources

Drag Stabilized 12-Gauge Bean Bag RoundPublisher: Defense Technology | Note: Supports the product's 12-gauge designation, 40-gram bag, #9 shot fill, drag-stabilized design, velocity, and effective range. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 Range SafetyPublisher: U.S. Army | Note: Supports the direct launcher relationship by identifying 12-gauge bean bag (AA29) rounds in 12-gauge shotgun range-safety guidance and noting the ammunition can be fired from the shotgun. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 Test Methodologies for the Assessment of Less-Lethal Kinetic Energy MunitionsPublisher: U.S. Department of Justice / National Institute of Justice | Note: Supports general less-lethal bean-bag munition background and law-enforcement use context. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 Morgan Hill Controlled Equipment Report 2024Publisher: City of Morgan Hill | Note: Supports the Mossberg 500 Less Lethal 12-Gauge Shotgun launcher relationship by identifying the shotgun used to deploy the 12-gauge Super-Sock Bean Bag Round up to 75 feet. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 OCSD Policy 711Publisher: Orange County Sheriff's Department | Note: Supports the direct launcher relationship by stating the 2581 12-gauge super sock bean bag is fired with the Remington 870, 12-gauge action shotgun. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 Marine Corps Non-Lethal Weapons Training PhotoPublisher: U.S. Marine Corps | Note: Supports the Remington M870 launcher relationship by captioning a public-domain photo of a ballistic bean bag round being loaded into a Remington M870 12-gauge pump shotgun during non-lethal weapons training. | Accessed: 2026-06-23