In the late 1890's, Andrew Burgess developed a unique—and now quite rare—folding pump-action shotgun. It was designed primarily for use by police, and believe it or not, concealed carry! The receiver was hinged at the bottom so that the barrel, tubular magazine and fore-end could swing down to fold the gun in half. The sliding portion of the action, which is used to chamber the next round, was moved back into a steel sleeve that fits over the shoulder stock to form what was called a 'wrist action.' It was an innovative approach to a more portable scatter gun. But the Burgess shotgun would fall to the wayside of shooting-sports history due to the popularity and superior design of the Winchester Model 1897 pump-action trench gun.
Although it has a more tactical profile, the folding Pak-Out is intended to be a multi-purpose shotgun.
Time has passed but interesting design concepts tend to find their way back into the market place from time to time. This year, Rock Island Armory (RIA) has embraced the folding pump-action concept with the release of its new PK-12 Pak-Out series. Two models are currently available, including the 18.5-inch barrel, pistol-gripped and shoulder stocked 'Long' model, along with a non-NFA firearm 'Short' version with a 14.25-inch barrel and a 'chicken head' grip. This evaluation takes a closer look at the Long model 12-gauge Pak-Out.
The square notch rear sight is also the receiver release slider.
The Pak-Out's anodized aluminum receiver is based on (if not a clone of) the Axor Arms FP design. The hinged 'upper' receiver contains the bolt assembly, with a right side ejection port, while supporting the barrel, tubular magazine and the sliding fore-end. The 'lower' receiver houses the loading port with a spring-loaded gate, the trigger group and the polymer stock assembly. The markings on the gun show that some components, the barrel in particular, are made in Turkey. The receiver is made at RIA's Cedar City, Utah plant with the assembly of the gun completed here in the United States.
Overall, the Pak-Out looks a good deal like other security shotguns with the exception of the receiver hinge and sights. The front sight is a rifle-style blade sight with a large white dot. The rear sight looks more like a low profile, square-notch pistol sight.
However, the rear sight serves double-duty as the receiver’s spring loaded sliding release. It has a steel stud that protrudes into the upper receiver to secure upper and lower together for shooting. Thumbing the rear sight back retracts the stud allowing the Pak-Out to fold in half. In addition to the iron sights, the top receiver features an integral 4.5-inch long, 10-slot Picatinny rail for mounting red-dot or magnified optics.
This stud retracts into the lower receiver to allow the upper receiver to swing open and fold.
It's not uncommon for 18.5-inch barrel, 3-inch chambered combat style shotguns to feature a fixed-cylinder bore choke—(or no constriction at the muzzle)—which provides useful patterns with buckshot out to around 25 yards or so. Too much constriction can cause buckshot to pattern unpredictably. However, no choke allows birdshot patterns to open up too quickly, especially with a shorter barrel.
Thankfully, RIA opted to make the Pak-Out a more flexible, multi-purpose platform by threading the muzzle to accept Rem-Choke tubes (13/16X32 TPI). These are common chokes with several aftermarket options to choose from. The gun arrives with a choke case, a wrench and a total of three tubes including Full, Modified and Skeet sizes. The Modified tube was installed at the factory.
Folding the action provides easy access to the barrel for cleaning and magazine for loading.
The magazine is fitted with a removable cap with a pivoting sling swivel stud, and a red anodized aluminum follower. The tube will hold up to four rounds of either 2.75- or 3-inch shells. Some 2.75-inch shells are slightly shorter, so you may be able to squeeze in a fifth round. The shells are secured in the magazine by a spring-supported lever with an extension on the left side. This lever allows the magazine to be loaded with the receiver hinged open. If you press up on the extension, all of the rounds inside of the magazine will go airborne for a good distance if you are not ready to catch them. The black polymer spring-assisted pump has a waffle-pattern texture for improved purchase, and dual action bars.
The trigger housing is molded from black polymer. It is outfitted with a slide-release lever on the right side, in front of the rounded trigger guard, a steel bow trigger and a push-button type crossbolt safety. The trigger exhibited a short, smooth arch of travel with a clean break of 4 pounds 6 ounces of trigger pull.
The tubular magazine holds up to four rounds of 2.75-inch or 3-inch shells.
The finger grooved polymer pistol grip is integral to the adjustable, folding shoulder stock assembly. Behind the grip on the right side is a button that allows the shoulder stock to fold to the left side of the receiver. With the action and the stock folded, this shotgun can be fitted into a storage space that is around 23-inches tall, 9.5-inches wide and 3-inches deep. This means it can be fitted into mid- to large-size tactical and camping backpacks with relative ease.
Another button on the left side allows the four-position stock to be adjusted for a length-of-pull (LOP) between 12.75 to 16.25 inches. The shoulder stock's other features include four shotshell storage ports, a sling port and a soft rubber recoil pad. This shotgun tipped the scales at 6 pounds 11.7 ounces.
A spring-loaded catch allows the Pak-Outs magazine to retain shells with the gun folded in half.
At the shooting range, the Pak-Out proved to be utterly reliable in regards to the gun itself and the ammunition used. It fed, fired and ejected all of the 2.75-inch shells tested without any issues. The controls were smooth and clean with the hinged receivers locking up tightly when closed for shooting.
But to be honest, working the spring-assisted pump took some getting used to. I've spent years racking slides that glide back with relative ease and then shoving the pump forward firmly in order to avoid short-shucking the action. It's what my muscle memory expects.
The folding stock can store four additional 12-gauge shells.
This spring-assisted slide requires the added pressure in the opposite direction. You have to bear down to ensure it is pulled all the way back before it mostly shoves itself back forward. Is this a bad thing? No, it's just noticeably different. And as someone who is more compact in size, I have to work a bit harder than my longer-armed buddies when using any pump gun. More aggressive texturing, along with a lip or a ledge at the rear of the slide, would provide something for the support hand to press against when cycling the action. It would keep less experienced or tired hands from sliding off when operating the gun under pressure.
Why did RIA go with this spring-assisted design? My best guess is that the spring tension holding the forend forward is a necessary feature in order to significantly reduce the chances of the slide being cycled unintentionally as the gun is folded in half and transferred into and out of bugout bags, duffels or backpacks. And so, if you want the other features this gun provides you'll just need to get the hang of working the pump.
Test ammunition included commonly available lead birdshot and buckshot loads.
For the formal pattern testing, I went ahead and used the Modified choke installed at the factory. This choke size has a reputation for being a good all-around option for birdshot and buckshot. So I was curious to see what it would do with the three loads I had lined up. Individual 2.75-inch rounds were fired into Action Target brand IPSC 35" x 23" paper targets posted at a distance of 25 yards. I added some sticker dots to the center of the A zone to provide a more visible aiming point.
The birdshot load of the test was Federal Premium's High Overall target and competition round launching 1 ounce of No. 8 size lead pellets at a listed velocity of 1,290 fps. At this distance, the target was peppered from top to bottom but with a useful central pattern covering the A, C and D zones.
Some folks prefer smaller buckshot sizes for use in situations where over penetration is a concern. Remington offers an Ultimate Defense Managed Recoil round filled with No. 4 lead buckshot at a listed velocity of 1,200 fps. Of the 21 pellets launched, 13 landed in the target A zone with 7 in the right side of the C zone and one flyer in the D ring. It's safe to say that I pulled this pattern slightly to the right. However, the distribution of the pattern is right on the money.
Some of the most highly favored defensive and hunting 12-gauge loads are those loaded with eight or nine pellets of 00 buckshot. Hornady's American Gunner Reduced Recoil round launches eight lead pellets at a listed velocity of 1,350 fps. Six of the pellets passed neatly through the top and center of the A zone with two hitting close together off to the right in the C zone. In this case, the flyers look like flyers to me. But even though the pattern is a bit oddly shaped it is still an effective size. Overall, the Modified choke will do the trick at these distances.
The new Rock Island Armory PK-12 series of folding shotguns certainly does have the super-slick gadget factor that contributes to the mystique of folding and takedown long guns. But more importantly, it proved to be utterly reliable, it patterned nicely and it had a smooth trigger. Sometimes the more exotic scatter guns can be costly. But this version has a suggested retail price of $650 which is comparable to other mid-priced 12-gauge pump guns. For more information, visit armscor.com .
Rock Island Armory PK-12 Pak-Out Long Specifications
- armscor.com
- Type: folding pump-action shotgun
- Gauge/Chamber: 12-gauge; 3-inch
- Capacity: 4+1 rounds
- Barrel: 18.5-inch carbon steel alloy; interchangeable choke tubes
- Trigger : 4 pounds, 6-ounce pull weight
- Sights: white dot front, square notch fixed rear
- Safety: push-button crossbolt
- Stocks: black polymer
- Length of Pull: 12.75 to 16.25 inches
- Drop at Comb: 1 inch
- Drop at Heel: 2.25 inches
- Metal Finish: matte black, anodized
- Overall Length: 37 inches (stock collapsed)
- Weight: 6 pounds 11.7 ounces.
- Accessories: soft zippered carry case, choke tube case, three chokes, choke wrench, owner's manual
- MSRP: $650
