Hi Adder I recall a while back when I was fortunate enough to...

Hi Adder

I recall a while back when I was fortunate enough to hold a maul, it was striking to realise how light-weight the loaded stacked-round barrel assembly was.

As I recall, the barrels are made of carbon fibre (MST Inc make them in the States) and are disposable. ie after you fire the 5 shots as fast (if necessary) as you can squeeze the trigger, reloading is a fast cinch because you drop the spent barrel and reach over your shoulder (or wherever) to slide out a new loaded one and put it back in the Maul in like a couple of seconds. Cool. Meanwhile, the dude with his M26 is just getting his third shot away, or alternately if he is working like lightening, he is just pushing his 2nd round into the emptied magazine. Heh Heh.

Now a relevant point is that I understand 'because' the Maul barrels are disposable, they are only required to handle a service life of the aforesaid 5 rounds. That means the determinant to meet TRL levels is surely much less onerous than say the 3GL. This is because the 3GL has a 'permanent' barrel tube that must withstand enormous repeat firings (much like any other 40mm grenade weapon). In a similar way, the M26 underslung shotgun is a mechanical magazine feed i.e. also has a 'permanent' barrel that would need to satisfy strict TRL performance.

I don't actually know for sure, but I expect there 'might' be some saving grace on 'deployment readiness' of the Maul with its disposable barrel tubes? This would be logical, given the apparent police and enforcement interest in the Maul....NOW - not in 3 years time? Of course 'logic' may not be a key item here?

I imagine the system probably still requires your TRL 9 for military deployment, but it must get there quicker (?) if blind Freddie can see it can handle the lousy 5 rounds - would hardly need an inquest and 5 years to prove that performance capability?

I could be wrong, but any comments from your experienced perspective about this potential aspect of the Maul's 'readiness'?