Profile
- Origin
- United States
- Built by
- Defense Technology
- Type
- Frangible breaching cartridge for 12-gauge shotguns
Munitions
12 Gauge Breaching Round
The 12 Gauge Breaching Round is a 12-gauge frangible cartridge designed for tactical entry work against locks, hinges, and door hardware. Army ammunition handbooks identify the M1030 breaching round as a low-hazard, non-shrapnel-producing round that fits standard military 12-gauge shotguns, while Defense Technology describes its zinc slug as a breaching load that disintegrates on impact.
Specifications
- Designation
- M1030 / TKO 12-Gauge Breaching Round
- Payload
- Compressed zinc slug that fractures on impact
- Use profile
- Door-lock, hinge, deadbolt, safety-chain, and padlock breaching
- Launcher compatibility
- Standard military 12-gauge shotguns
Service And Conflict Use
Service History
- In service
- Used for ballistic breaching and tactical entry from standard 12-gauge shotguns.
- Used by
- Military and tactical entry teams
Shotgun Compatibility
Army ammunition guidance and the manufacturer product page both identify this cartridge as a 12-gauge breaching round fired from standard 12-gauge shotguns.
| Firing weapon | Weapon type | Firing evidence |
|---|---|---|
| 12-gauge shotgun | 12-gauge shotgun | The Army handbook lists the M1030 breaching round for Mossberg 590 and Remington 870 shotguns, and Defense Technology describes the round as a 12-gauge shell used for door-entry breaching. Sources: Range Safety, TKO 12-Gauge Breaching Round |
Compatible Shotguns
Army range-safety guidance lists the Mossberg 590 and Remington 870 as shotguns that can use the M1030 breaching round.
| Compatible item | Item type | Compatibility evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Mossberg 590 Shotgun | 12-gauge shotgun | Army ammunition guidance explicitly lists the Mossberg 590 as a shotgun that can use the M1030 breaching round. Sources: Range Safety |
| Remington M870 | 12-gauge shotgun | Army ammunition guidance explicitly lists the Remington 870 as a shotgun that can use the M1030 breaching round. Sources: Range Safety |
12 Gauge Breaching Round Images
Related Weapon Systems
Sources
MAS Handbook 2025Publisher: U.S. Army | Note: Supports the M1030 breaching round identification, its 12-gauge fit, and its door-opening capability against locks and hinges. | Accessed: 2026-06-23Range SafetyPublisher: U.S. Army | Note: Supports the M1030 breaching round's launcher compatibility by listing it for Mossberg 590 and Remington 870 shotguns in Army range-safety guidance. | Accessed: 2026-06-23TKO 12-Gauge Breaching RoundPublisher: Defense Technology | Note: Supports the product's 12-gauge shell description, compressed zinc slug, breaching purpose, and the claim that it disintegrates on impact. | Accessed: 2026-06-23TKO 12-Gauge Breaching Round imagePublisher: Defense Technology | Note: Image provenance for the manufacturer product image used on the page. | Accessed: 2026-06-23