The folks who brought you the famous DP-12—the double-barreled bullpup shotgun—are at it again, and their latest offering is bound to turn heads!
Called the SKO-12, the new model uses a more conventional approach to combat shotgun design with a single-barrel setup. It’s still a very leading-edge shotgun—the SKO is a gas-operated semi-automatic magazine-fed 12-gauge shotgun with the handling characteristics of an AR rifle.
The SKO is inspired by the AR platform.
The SKO is in line with the DP-12 and possesses a lot of the flair that their first model brought to the table at last year’s SHOT Show, in a more practical package, and at an even lower price point.
Looking at the SKO it’s clear as day that this shotgun is designed to appeal to the tactical crowd. It handles a lot like a large AR, feeds from 5-round detachable magazines and it locks open on the last round. Looking at the receiver, it stays true to the AR design, with similar controls including a bolt release and ambidextrous AR-style safety levers.
Though it has AR-style controls, this shotgun uses a recprocating charging handle.
From back to front it features a collapsible stock on an AR-style adapter tube, an AR-pattern pistol grip, a flattop Picatinny rail along the receiver and a matching height front sight block rail, making mounting optics and accessories easy. Standard says the shotgun will ship with flip up iron sights.
Despite the limited trigger time available to us we shot the SKO as much as possible. Firing primarily 1-ounce game loads we found the gun to be both reliable and soft-shooting. The controls were smooth and familiar to anyone competent with the AR platform.
The one major difference between this gun and an AR rifle is the side-mounted reciprocating charging handle. Most importantly the gun went bang every time we pulled the trigger.
The forend of the shotgun has an aggressive texture.
Specs:
- 18.5-inch barrel
- 2 3/4-iinch chamber
- Cycles loads as low as 1 oz.
- Detachable 5-round steel magazine
- Flattop rail for optics and accessories
- Polymer furniture
- Adjustable AR-15-pattern stock
- Pistol grip
- Ambidextrous safety
- Last round bolt hold open
- MSRP: $999.00
For those of you who are curious about the new bullpup shotgun shown in the video, it’s another upcoming product from Standard Manufacturing, the SKO-BULL. As of now it is still in the prototype stages of development but is said to be going into production in the next few months.
A sneak preview of the SKO-BULL.
Make sure to check back in the following months for our full review as well as a follow-up on the SKO-BULL.
[one_half]
The SKO-BULL prototype. We hope to see it soon!
[/one_half]
[one_half_last]
Five-round steel magazine.
[/one_half_last]
GunsAmerica needs to get some weapons guys to write its’ articles. This is obviously an AK-pattern shotgun, utilizing a long-stroke piston operation, similar to Saiga, with AR furniture and some fancy milling to make it look “swoopy”. You confuse your readers by using the term AR-pattern numerous times. Relevant, accurate information would allow your readers to make informed decisions on the product, and not engender more questions.
does sko or the skobull have a spring recoil or gas?
My butt hurts from laughing so hard at this junk.
You need a rotary magazine of 20-25 round capacity. Then you have my attention.
+1
it’ll have to be cheaper and work better than the already flawless Lever Arms K12 bullpup boxmag 12guage… MSRP $899 Canadian… shot 50 rounds in one, was 13th in line, all shot 50rounds.. no cleaning, shot all day without cleaning or jamming or feed issues, i’d estimate 2000 high brass bird shells without issue
Meanwhile the MKA 1919 is $500 dealer cost, chambers 2 & 3/4 AND 3 inch, and 10 round mags are available. I love mine!
Good luck shooting the bullpup version if you are left-handed. That reciprocating charging handle is going to hit you in the face!
his one major difference is the side charging handle? thats not different at all. My AR has a side charging upper on it.
I can find more obvious and relevant differences than that over the AR platform. I’d say the biggest difference is AR’s don’t have a choke tube
Other than the detachable magazine, it looks to me like an ordinary semi auto field gun with a pistol grip and “AR style” screw on stock. It even has the gas system hidden in the forearm like every other gas operated bird gun. Come on Guns America, why even put the teaser of “AR-15 Pattern Shotgun” in the title, what a letdown. And where is the girl that usually does the interviews during Shot Show?
I like it, but I have to admit, I’m a gun guy and there are very few guns that I don’t like. That said, I think I’ll just stick to my Winchester model-12 “Defender”. Granted, t’s nowhere near as snazzy as this AR-15 styled room-cleaner, but my old pump-action, reliable, proven and extremely simple Defender does the job quite well.
Yup–any “tool” one is trained in will suffice be it your traditional pump instead of semi or a revolver instead of same…whatever floats one’s boat as they say…Myself, I have both for collection purposes but rely on the higher capacity choices for serious defensive needs.
My comment is the same as always with these jimcracks and gee gaws. The magazine is the pitfall. Just like always, a guy armed with a Mossberg 930 10 shot will probably win a battle of combat shotguns.
I like it too, But is it going to be CA. legal also why didn’t they make a 10 round mags for it. Also I already have 5- 12ga.
shotguns I would really like if they did it in a .410ga. that would be fun to shoot…..
What, no 3.5″ magnum chamber?
Looks good, but don’t like all the garb as is, light weight and straight forward on a shot gun. This one is for looks and at $1000.00 you can keep it on the shelf, but not mine.
Some of the comments here were made by people who obviously didn’t watch the video. Magazines come in several sizes. The video was a little unclear on rd count, but it souded like there are 3 options, 5, 15 & 25. At one point I thought I heard 12, also, but I didn’t want to watch it again.
The mags look alot like the MK1919, but they are described as ‘proprietary’. There is some kind of a choke system, but no real specifics. Like a few others, I want to know what the internals are. If it’s another glorified vintage sporting gas gun design redressed in cosmetic plastic, I’ll pass. If it’s truly based on sonething newer and more robust, we’ll see. Tough to beat the AK-based shotguns, though. And I really like my Benelli M4. Time will tell if this is just another flash in the pan or if the design has legs. I am a little more interested in the bullpup version, although the bullpup design will always have some serious hurdles to overcome in a new release. I remember long ago when I bought my High Standard 10B. Not my finest purchase. Should have kept it, though. Probably a collectible now.
That handguard is 3D printed! Pretty cool to see it used on a firearm prototype.
I own the MK1919 and the USAS 12 AR style shotguns as well as the Remington Versa Max Competition Tactical.I prefer the MK1919 and USAS 12 for 3-Gun Competition. They are easier (faster) to reload than my Versa Max. Target acquisition between shots is fast as well. Contrary to another post, they are NOT awkward to handle or operate. The MK1919 retails for under $700 vs the Versa Max at over $1,300. Regarding the DP12: I carry them at my shop but in my opinion, much like the KelTec KSG, they are more of a novelty. The light weight makes accurate multiple shots difficult. The DP!2 requires an unnatural thought process when operating. Most customers end up pulling the trigger once and ejecting a spent and a live round. I hope you find my post useful if you are considering purchasing any of these guns.
P&J Arms, Burton Ohio [email protected]
5 rounds? contact xrail or
make the dp12 semi auto
or at least change the dp12 so that you pump the action after each pull of the trigger
These AR platform shotgun look impressive but also awkward and clumsy. I still think lean and mean is best, neither of these has this. The Kel-Tec 12 gauge pump with the double feeder tubes is still far ahead of these 12 gauge AR’s.
Until it comes time to reload and then you’re screwed.
If you used more than 15 rounds of 2 3/4″ 12 ga. 00 buck and then need a fast reload, methinks you should have brought a crew served weapon to that gunfight. Plus it’s easier, and you can carry more shot-shells in bandoleers than you can with those heavy, bulky mags. Also you can top off a tube feed shotty during a lull far more quickly than you can a mag fed one. And you can load and shoot 25 Aguila mini shells in the KSG. Try that with the SKO mags! Not saying I wouldn’t love to have one of these semi autos, but my KSG would be my first choice for defense.
This comment just made my night. “Crew served weapon”. Just hilarious!
Choked or choke tubes?.. What, no three-inch capability?.. Seriously?.. If so, that’s a serious design flaw… Had it been chambered for three-inch shells and if it were to allow choke tubes this would be a handy-dandy wild turkey-hunting shotgun, especially since such a short barrel facilitate use from a ground blind or in tight-fitting turkey woods…
Neat idea, however just like the MKA1919 this is going to flop. Shotguns based on the AR15 platform are just no good. The high price tag and low capacity will doom this firearm to the “gotta have the newest thing” crowd. For the money pick up a Saiga 12 and convert, super easy, super inexpensive and hi-cap mags/drums are everywhere relatively inexpensively. OR look for a KSG, 14 rounds and the price has come to reasonable levels. I wish Lou luck in this endeavor however I can see these in the bargan bins at CDNN or Atlantic within a few years..
Now, how much does it weigh?
I’m sure competition guys will complain about how high the rail over the bore is.
Anything about the internals? You talk about its similarities to the AR platform, is this DGI or piston? This article is maddeningly unspecific.
Would be nice if they offered a 10 rd mag for the weapon. I might consider one then.
I would love to see more updates on the sko bull!