The 12 Gauge Breaching Round is a 12-gauge frangible breaching cartridge used to defeat locks, hinges, deadbolts, and similar door hardware from standard military shotguns. Army ammunition records identify the M1030 breaching cartridge as a low-hazard, non-shrapnel-producing load with a 617-grain projectile, while Defense Technology describes the TKO round as a compressed-zinc shell that disintegrates on impact.
Army ammunition records and the Defense Technology product page both describe a compact breaching load built to defeat door hardware while minimizing fragmentation.
| Characteristic | Documented value |
|---|---|
| Army MR date | October 2007 |
| Projectile weight | 617 grains |
| Overall length | 2.45 inches (62.23 mm) |
| Muzzle velocity | 1,148 feet/second at 3 feet from the muzzle |
| Effect | Low-hazard, non-shrapnel-producing breaching load that disintegrates on impact |
Army ammunition guidance and the manufacturer product page identify this cartridge as a 12-gauge breaching round for standard 12-gauge shotguns, with Army range-safety guidance naming the Mossberg 590 and Remington 870.
| Compatible item | Item type | Compatibility evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | 12-gauge shotgun | Army ammunition guidance explicitly lists the Mossberg 590 as a shotgun that can use the M1030 breaching round. Sources: Range Safety |
 | 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 shotgun | Army ammunition guidance says the M1030 breaching round fits current standard military 12-gauge shotguns, and the same handbook lists it for standard military 12-gauge shotgun use. Sources: MAS Handbook 2025, Range Safety |
The Army Program Executive Office Ammunition portfolio book lists the 12 Gauge M1030 Breaching Cartridge with an MR date of October 2007 and places it in the Operations & Sustainment phase.
Sources: PEO Ammunition Portfolio Book 2017
A U.S. Army photo caption says the Army had recently approved the M1030 as a new anti-material cartridge and describes its use for defeating doors, deadbolts, knobs, hinges, and padlock hasps.
Sources: Breaching Door image
The FY 2017 Iraq Train and Equip Fund budget amendment lists 12 gauge M1030 door breaching ammunition at $3.88 per round.
Sources: FY 2017 ITEF Budget Amendment
