View source for KS-23

{{Short description|Soviet pump-action heavy shotgun}}
{{Infobox weapon
| name               = KS-23
| image              = Карабин специальный КС-23М Дрозд, вид справа без приклада 01.jpg
| image_size         = 300
| alt                = 
| caption            = KS-23M Variant
| type               = [[Shotgun]]
| origin             = [[Soviet Union]]
<!-- Type selection -->| is_ranged          = yes
<!-- Service history -->| service            = 1985–present
| used_by            = See ''[[#Users|Users]]''
| wars               = <!-- Production history -->
| designer           = [[TsNIITochMash]]
| design_date        = 1971–early 1980s
| manufacturer       = [[Tula Arms Plant]]
| unit_cost          = 
| production_date    = 1985–present
| number             = 
| variants           = KS-23M<br />KS-23K<br />TOZ-123
<!-- General specifications -->| spec_label         = 
| mass               = {{cvt|3.85|kg|lb}} (KS-23)<br />{{cvt|3.5|kg|lb}} (KS-23M)<ref name="Janes">Gander, Terry J. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2002–2003. Jane's Information Group. 2002</ref>
| length             = {{cvt|1040|mm|in}} (KS-23)<br />{{cvt|650-875|mm|in}} (KS-23M, without/with stock)<ref name="Janes"/><ref name = gunsiteKS-23M>{{cite web|url=http://www.gunsite.narod.ru/ks23m.htm|title=KS-23m description in Russian|access-date=26 November 2014}}</ref>
| part_length        = {{cvt|510|mm|in}} (KS-23)<br />{{cvt|350|mm|in}} (KS-23M)<ref name="Janes"/>
| width              = 
| height             = 
| diameter           = <!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->
| cartridge          = 23×75mmR
| cartridge_weight   = 
| caliber            = {{cvt|23|mm|in}}(or 4 gauge)
| barrels            = 1, with rifled bore
| action             = [[Pump action]], multilugged rotating bolt <ref name="Janes"/>
| rate               = 
| velocity           = 
| range              = {{cvt|150|m|yd}} (KS-23, KS-23M)<br />{{cvt|100|m|yd}} (KS-23k)
| max_range          = 
| feed               = 3+1 shells in underbarrel tube (KS-23) <br /> 7 shell detachable box magazine (KS-23K)
| sights             = Front blade, rear notch.
}}

The '''KS-23''' ({{langx|ru|Карабин Специальный-23|Karabin Spetsialniy-23|Special Carbine-23}}) is a [[pump action]] [[shotgun]] manufactured by Russian company [[Tula Arms Plant]]. The KS-23 was developed by [[TsNIITochMash]] in the [[Soviet Union]] for use by the [[Ministry of Internal Affairs (Soviet Union)|Ministry of Internal Affairs]]. It is officially designated as a [[carbine]] in Russia because it uses a [[rifled]] [[gun barrel|barrel]].

The KS-23 is renowned for its large [[caliber]], firing a 23&nbsp;mm [[shotgun shell]], equating to 6.278 [[Gauge (bore diameter)|gauge]] using the British and American standards of shotgun gauges and approximately 4 gauge using the current European standards (based on the metric [[Commission Internationale Permanente pour l'Epreuve des Armes à Feu Portatives|CIP]] tables), making it the largest-bore shotgun in modern use. 

==History==
The KS-23 was designed in the 1970s by [[TsNIITochMash]], a key weapons developer in the [[Soviet Union]], as a [[shotgun]] for the [[Ministry of Internal Affairs (Soviet Union)|Ministry of Internal Affairs]] (MVD) with the purpose of suppressing [[prison riot]]s. The design implemented [[gun barrel|barrel]]s produced for the [[Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-23]], an [[autocannon]] that fires [[23×115mm]] rounds fitted to Soviet [[military aircraft]]. These GSh-23 barrels were rejected by [[quality control]] due to manufacturing flaws, but were deemed to be acceptable for the lower stress of firing slugs and [[Non-lethal weapon|less-lethal]] rounds. These barrels were then cut down in length for the KS-23, reducing production costs, and a 23x75mm [[Shotgun cartridge|shell]] was developed. As a result of reusing GSh-23 barrels, the KS-23 has the unique features of being a shotgun with a [[Rifling|rifled]] barrel.

The KS-23 began to see use during the mid-1980s by several MVD forces, including the ''[[Militsiya]]'' and the [[Internal troops of the Soviet Union|Internal Troops]]. During the 1990s, research was made into improving the original design to make it usable in confined indoor areas. Two prototypes were proposed, the KS-23M and KS-23K, although only the M version saw use.

==Ammunition==
The KS-23 was created with the capability to fire several different types of ammunition, listed below:
* "'''Shrapnel-10'''" («''Шрапнель-10''»): buckshot round with 10-meter effective range
* "'''Shrapnel-25'''" («''Шрапнель-25''»): buckshot round with 25-meter effective range
* "'''Barrikada'''" («''Баррикада''», "Barricade"): cartridge with solid steel projectile able to destroy the engine block of a car at up to 100 meters<ref name=":0" />
* "'''Volna'''" («''Волна''», "Wave"): inert version of cartridge used for education and practice during training
* "'''Volna-R'''" («''Волна-Р''», "Wave"): cartridge with less-lethal [[rubber bullet]]
* "'''Strela-3'''" («Стрела''-3''», "Arrow"): cartridge with less-lethal [[plastic bullet]] 
* "'''Cheremukha-7'''" («''Черёмуха-7''», [[Prunus padus|"Bird Cherry"]]-7): tear gas grenade with [[Phenacyl chloride|CN agent]]
* "'''Siren-7'''" («''Сирень-7''», "[[Lilac]]"): tear gas grenade with [[CS gas|CS agent]]
* "'''Zvezda'''" («''Звезда''», "Star"): flash-bang round
* '''PV-23''' (''ПВ-23''): blank (grenade launching) cartridge

Later, two add-on muzzle mortars were produced, the 36&nbsp;mm Nasadka-6 and 82&nbsp;mm Nasadka-12, bringing with them several new ammunition types:

* Blank grenade launching cartridge to be used with muzzle mortars
* 36&nbsp;mm "Cheremukha-6" tear gas grenade
* 82&nbsp;mm "Cheremukha-12" "high-efficiency" tear gas grenade for use on open areas

==Variants==
===KS-23===

The original KS-23 was developed jointly by NIISpetstekhniki (MVD) and TsNIITochMash in 1971, it was accepted for use by the Soviet police in 1985.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.gunsite.narod.ru/ks23.htm|title=KS-23 description in Russian|access-date=26 November 2014}}</ref> The gun has a barrel length of 510&nbsp;mm and an overall length of 1040&nbsp;mm. The KS-23 has an underbarrel tubular magazine capable of holding three rounds, with one in the chamber giving the gun a maximum round capacity of four. The gun's effective range is 150 m.

===KS-23-1===
It is a short barrel version of KS-23.

===KS-23M===
The KS-23M ''Drozd'' (Carbine, Special, 23&nbsp;mm, modernized ''Drozd'' "[[Thrush (bird)|Thrush]]") was developed on the base of the KS-23. Development for it was started in October 1990. Twenty-five carbines were submitted for testing on December 10, 1991. After which the winner, then designated S-3, became the KS-23M "Drozd" and was accepted for use by the police and the [[Internal Troops of Russia]].<ref name = gunsiteKS-23M/> The KS-23M includes a detachable wire buttstock and shortened barrel, as opposed to the fixed wooden stock on standard KS-23s. The gun is still chambered in 23&nbsp;mm. Its overall length with the buttstock is 875&nbsp;mm, without, 650&nbsp;mm, and the barrel is 410&nbsp;mm long. The gun's effective range is 150 m.

===KS-23K===
The KS-23K is a redesigned KS-23 that features a bullpup layout. The KS-23K was accepted in 1998 for the use of the [[Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs]] (MVD).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gunsite.narod.ru/ks23k.htm|title=KS-23K description in Russian|access-date=26 November 2014}}</ref> Development and adoption of this carbine was motivated by the fact that in the earlier accepted configurations of the KS-23 and KS-23M a major noted deficiency was that the tubular magazine did not make it possible to rapidly reload or change the type of ammunition being used, because of this a major design change for the KS-23K is that it has an extended box magazine that holds seven shells instead of the three shells seen on the other models. The gun has a mechanical safety located on the left side, above the pistol handle and open non adjustable sights. The gun's effective range is 100 m.

===TOZ-123===
The civilian version of the KS-23 is the ТОZ-123 ''Selezen'-4'' ("[[Duck|Drake]]-4") (ТОЗ-123 «Селезень-4»). It is manufactured by Tulsky Oruzheiny Zavod and features a [[smoothbore]] barrel design, making it more similar to a traditional shotgun, and is chambered in standard [[4 gauge]]. The first shotgun was made in 1995.<ref>"Селезень-4" // В. Н. Трофимов. Отечественные охотничьи ружья гладкоствольные. М., ДАИРС, 2000. стр.110-111</ref> It has been legal to purchase and own it as a civilian hunting shotgun in Russia since August 1996.<ref>"''2.3.2. Охотничье огнестрельное оружие гладкоствольное... Ружье гладкоствольное "Селезень-4"''"<br />Распоряжение Правительства РФ № 1207-р от 3 августа 1996 г. "Перечень служебного и гражданского оружия и боеприпасов к нему, вносимых в Государственный кадастр служебного и гражданского оружия"</ref>

The gun maker's website has this as the description for the shotgun.

<blockquote>The shotgun is multicharged, with a tubular underbarrel magazine of 3-cartridge capacity. Reloading is provided with a removable fore-end. The presence of the special barrel rear projection on the frame combined with the rear sight gives the possibility of mounting an optical sight. The shotgun is intended for the amateur hunting with shot cartridges.<ref>[http://www.tulatoz.ru/en/toz123.html TOZ-123 product page] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080615154150/http://www.tulatoz.ru/en/toz123.html |date=2008-06-15 }}</ref></blockquote>

The TOZ-123 was banned from import into the United States during the [[Clinton administration]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&rgn=div5&view=text&node=27:3.0.1.2.2&idno=27#27:3.0.1.2.2.6.1.1|title=eCFR — Code of Federal Regulations|access-date=26 November 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006020508/http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&rgn=div5&view=text&node=27:3.0.1.2.2&idno=27#27:3.0.1.2.2.6.1.1|archive-date=6 October 2012}}</ref>

==Users==
[[File:KS-23 Users.png|thumb|Map with KS-23 users in blue]]
* {{flag|Armenia}}:<ref>"''По закупкам вооружений Армения уступает не только Азербайджану, но и Грузии. Эксперты жалуются на то, что эта сфера покрыта в Ереване завесой секретности. Известно лишь, что в прошлом году Армения получила из России 35 танков Т-72 и 110 ББМ (БМП-2 и/или БТР-80), а несколько лет назад - 480 автоматов АК-105, 36 пулеметов РПК-74М, несколько снайперских винтовок ВСС и 52 СВ-98, '''32 специальных карабина КС-23'''''"<br />Е. Тесемникова. [http://www.vestikavkaza.ru/articles/Kak-obespechivaetsya-balans-sil-v-Zakavkaze.html Как обеспечивается баланс сил в Закавказье] // "Вестник Кавказа" от 14 июля 2014</ref> Used as service firearm by [[Police of Armenia|police]]<ref>«''23 մմ հատուկ կարաբին ԿՍ-23, ԿՍ-23Մ ''»<br/>Հավելված N 1 ՀՀ կառավարության 2011 թվականի հունիսի 23-ի N 867 - Ն որոշման</ref>
* {{flag|Kazakhstan}}: Used by prison guards<ref>"''2. Перечень специальных средств... карабин специальный (КС-23)''"<br />Приказ Министра юстиции Республики Казахстан № 146 от 11 декабря 2001 года "Об утверждении Инструкции по применению сотрудниками исправительных учреждений Комитета уголовно-исполнительной системы Министерства юстиции Республики Казахстан специальных средств"</ref>
* {{flagcountry|North Korea}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nknews.org/2014/12/china-exports-shotgun-ammo-to-north-korea-without-notifying-un/|title = China exports shotgun ammo to North Korea without notifying UN &#124; NK News|date = 4 December 2014}}</ref>
* {{flagcountry|Russia}}: Used by [[FSB (Russia)|FSB]] [[Border Guard Service of Russia|Border Guard Service]]<ref>Перечень специальных средств, состоящих на вооружении органов и войск Федеральной пограничной службы Российской Федерации (утв. постановлением Правительства РФ № 634 от 24 июня 1998 года)</ref> 
* {{flagcountry|Soviet Union}}
* {{flag|Ukraine}}<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bilenko |first1=О. І. |last2=Pashchenko |first2=V. V. |title=Підвищення стабільності дульної швидкості поражаючих елементів кінетичної зброї несмертельної дії |journal=Збірник наукових праць Національної академії Національної гвардії України |date=2010 |volume=2 |issue=16 |pages=5–10 |doi=10.33405/2409-7470/2010/2/16/150687 |url=http://znp.nangu.edu.ua/article/view/150687 |trans-title=Increasing the stability of muzzle velocity of striking elements of the kinetic non-lethal weapons |publisher=National Academy of the National Guard of Ukraine |doi-broken-date=12 July 2025 |language=uk |issn=2409-7470}}</ref>
* {{flag|Uzbekistan}}: Used by customs service<ref>"''К специальным средствам относятся: ...карабин специальный («КС-23»)''"<br />Инструкция о порядке применения таможенными органами специальных средств (зарегистрирована Министерством юстиции Республики Узбекистан от 9 ноября 1999 года. Регистрационный № 835, 06.08.1999)</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of Russian weaponry]]
* [[Zlatoust RB-12]]
* [[TOZ rifle]]
* [[OTs-28]] [[:ru:ОЦ-28]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* Игорь Скрылев. КС-23 - наш полицейский карабин // журнал "Мастер-ружьё", No. 1, 1997. стр.48-51 {{in lang|ru}}
* Карабины КС-23, КС-23М "Дрозд" // А. И. Благовестов. То, из чего стреляют в СНГ: Справочник стрелкового оружия. / под общ.ред. А. Е. Тараса. Минск, «Харвест», 2000. стр.420-424 {{in lang|ru}}
* {{cite book |title= Jane's Special Forces Recognition Guide|last= Southby-Tailyour|first= Ewen|author-link= Ewen Southby-Tailyour|year= 2005|publisher= Collins|location= New York|isbn= 0-00-718329-1}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|KS-23}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070822135630/http://world.guns.ru/shotgun/sh30-e.htm Modern Firearms: KS-23 riot shotgun / carbine]
* [http://www.securityarms.com/20010315/galleryfiles/3000/3077.htm Security Arms: KS-23 Shotgun]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080615154150/http://www.tulatoz.ru/en/toz123.html Tulsky Oruzheiny Zavod: TOZ-123]

[[Category:Bullpup shotguns]]
[[Category:Carbines]]
[[Category:Pump-action shotguns]]
[[Category:Riot guns]]
[[Category:Teargas grenade guns]]
[[Category:Rifles of the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Rifles of Russia]]
[[Category:Cold War firearms of the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Tula Arms Plant products]]
[[Category:TsNIITochMash products]]