Uncommon in other automatic shotguns, the AA-12 fires from an open bolt, a feature more commonly found in submachine guns, as well as heavy and squad-level machine guns. It uses 8-round box or 20-round drum magazines, as opposed to the original 5-round box magazine.
Unlike other automatic shotguns, the AA-12 fires from an open bolt, a characteristic more typical of submachine guns, as well as heavy and squad-level machine guns. It employs 8-round box or 20-round drum magazines, in contrast to the original 5-round box magazine.