Breaching round

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Breaching rounds, or slug-shots, are shotgun shells made to open locked doors. They’re fired at very close range—about 6 inches (15 cm) or less—and aimed at hinges or the area around the lock and doorjamb. The round is designed to damage the lock or hinges and then break apart into a harmless powder, reducing the risk of dangerous debris or ricochets. They’re built from a dense sintered material, usually metal powder bound with wax, that can destroy a lock or hinge and then disperse. Used by military and SWAT teams for fast entry into locked rooms, these rounds are sometimes called "master keys" by police, with the nickname "Avon calling." Breaching rounds can be fired from standard combat or riot shotguns, or from specialized shotguns and some rifle-mounted systems. A common setup is a stand-off breacher attached to the muzzle to control gas pressure. The British SAS use them in Remington pump-action shotguns. While designed to be safe around people behind a door, breaching rounds can still be lethal if aimed at a person.