Hosting a capacity for 12-gauge shells that runs anywhere from 8+1 to 25+1, it’s no wonder KelTec’s KSG series of shotguns has become a Hollywood favorite when it comes to action flicks.
We’re certainly fans here at Guns.com, and epic gunfighter movies like “John Wick” have done a lot to put KelTec’s futuristic KSG shotguns, with their dual magazine tubes, in the limelight. But that’s hardly the only time these generous-capacity shotguns have shined on the silver screen.
Don’t get us wrong, the “John Wick” movies are great. We just think it’s time someone pointed out the fantastic other appearances these pump-action tactical beasts have made to save the day and slay bad guys.
Here are our top five KelTec KSG movie roles you likely missed.
Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials
The KelTec KSG appears as a main futuristic firearm in “Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials” and other films in the franchise. Notably, the 12-gauge powerhouse that is the KSG is actually an optional less-lethal firearm in the movies.
The KSG in the “Maze Runner” films renders opponents paralyzed with what is basically a three-pronged Taser-like claw that instantly disables any opponent and, presumably, requires a mop and bucket for cleanup after.
Still, it’s a merciful use of the gun when compared to its generous capacity for your classic 12-gauge nine-pellet 00 buckshot.
Fast X
Not only does John Cena’s character Jakob Toretto absolutely rock the bad guys with a suppressed KelTec KSG in “Fast X,” he starts it off with a literal Spartan kick to the chest of a masked attacker as he steels his gun for the fight.
If that’s not enough, he also outsmarts the attackers, shooting gaping holes in the wall that at first seem like a massive waste of ammo. This sends the bad guys looking for cover just long enough for our hero to sneak into another room and shoot them through the holes he just made in the wall.
It’s an intense, clever, physical, and unexpected scene that puts the KSG in its true CQB element.
6 Underground
Featuring the most compact variant of the KSG family, “6 Underground” shows that the extremely compact KSG Tactical scattergun makes for one heck of a party crasher.
Even in its chopped-down form, the KSG Tactical still offers 8+1 3-inch shells or 10+1 2.75-inch shells. That’s a potent capacity for even the loopiest gunmen featured in the Michael Bay-directed action flick starring Ryan Reynolds.
This one is a bit of a mind bender at times, but it’s certainly enjoyable for the laughable banter and explosive action.
Peppermint
The KelTec KSG becomes the great equalizer in this vigilante action thriller that pits a working mother against a corrupt system and ruthless gangsters. “Peppermint” makes full use of the capacity and compactness of the KSG Patrol shotgun.
This film once again shows off the KSG’s close-quarters-fighting chops. The dual magazine tubes on the KSG make it a true heavy hitter against multiple heavily armed attackers as our heroine Riley North (Jennifer Garner) avenges her murdered family.
“Peppermint” lets the KSG’s low profile, backed by ample capacity and controllability, really shine on the screen.
Escape Plan: The Extractors
It just seemed wrong to make this list without including the KSG variant with the most generous capacity: the KSG-25 shotgun. “Escape Plan: The Extractors” drops this 24+1 12-gauge shotty into the muscled arms of Trent DeRosa (Dave Bautista) so that he can “make a big impression.”
Bautista does exactly that in this third and final installment of the “Escape Plan” series that includes the likes of Sylvester Stallone and 50 Cent. While this film is more of a heist-style/mission-impossible escape movie, it also has some serious “Taken” vibes with extra firepower.
Bautista is a shoot first, reload, and shoot again kind of guy. That makes the ample capacity of the KSG-25 a welcome pairing for viewers.
Honorable Mention: John Cena’s ‘Peacemaker’
We think it’s fair to take a second and recognize one particular actor for elevating the tactical potency of the KelTec KSG shotgun to new heights. Whether it was in the aforementioned “Fast X” movie or the darkly hilarious “Peacemaker” TV series, few have ever wielded the KSG shotgun with more physical authority than John Cena.
[First, a quick note that the attached scene here is graphic in nature.]
Our antihero Peacemaker in the episode “Monkey Dory” puts the KSG shotgun to good use with the help of some X-ray vision. Few characters to grace the action genre can run the gun quite like the lovable – and often detestable – Peacemaker as he battles an invasion of what we’ll call parasitic brain-eating butterflies.
Many have wielded the KSG on screen, but John Cena does it with a level of cavalier bravado that earns a tip of the hat from us as viewers and fans.
