Strange Guns: NeoStead 2000

The NeoStead 2000 (NS2000) Shotgun is a pump-action shotgun developed in the early 1990s by Truvelo Armoury of South Africa. It uses an unusual layout with twin tube magazines located above the barrel, which is enclosed by the forend, and features a forward-back pump action rather than the usual back-forward pump action. Due to this layout, it is not unknown for people to believe it is some kind of pump-action double-barrel shotgun.

It is weighing just over 3 kg, designed primarily for security and civil disturbance situations.

The firearm includes a 570-millimetre barrel despite the overall weapon length of just 690 millimetres (27 in). The short length makes the weapon easier to use in close-quarters situations; however, unlike most firearms of this type, it can still remain accurate at nearly long ranges. The long barrel length is achieved by using a bullpup configuration, with a rear-fed tubular magazine.

Another aspect of the weapon is its dual six-round magazines. The selector switch can be set to alternating left or right. In riot conditions, for example, less deadly flexible plastic baton rounds (PBR) can be fired with standard rounds in reserve.

A possible production variant of the NeoStead has a 460-millimetre barrel in a weapon with an overall length of 560 mm (22 in). The shorter length reduces the dual magazine capacity to 5 rounds and makes the weapon pass import restrictions or license in some countries.

The NeoStead has been available for civilian purchase since 2003, with the majority of sales in Europe. It has been in production in South Africa and has enjoyed steady adoption by special operations units around the world. While it has been exported to South America and Europe, it is currently not approved to bring into the US for sale since, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), it has "no sporting purpose".