I could care less about specifically what you're developing / the proprietary stuff... But let's get real....whatever you develop will have to be "way" better than what we can do with a shotgun today ---/ we have changeable screw in chokes in our shotguns today ..making them versatile ...and a wide variety of fairly affordable shells to effectively :
a. break clays or to kill live birds...
b. hunt some big game, like deer, with slugs
c. use for Defense in tactical shotguns shooting 00 Buck...
shotshells using lead or steel pellets ...for clays or birds...are usually between $ 0.25 - $ .50 each......
shotshell using slugs ....for big game ...are about $ 2.50 - $ 3.50 each...
shotshells using OO Buck for defense...are about $ 0.50 - $ 0.60 each ...
Having an exotic choke system to extend the range for a lead pellet shell to break clays with is probably a non-starter. Most of us that shoot 10 - 25 boxes ( 25 shells each ) a week or 250 - 600 shells a week...reload our own shells. None of us are going to give up our dedicated "clays" guns ...that we paid $ 2,000 - $ 15,000 for - and whatever you come up with is going to have to not detract from the looks of our guns / not change the balance or swing characteristics of our current guns - mostly Over Unders...and since we shoot O/U's we need 2 chokes.
Many of us that shoot a lot of "clays" games ...also use the same guns to hunt upland birds with ...so same issues apply there.
Big game hunting...in most of the western states we hunt with rifles - not shotguns. I think the market is limited for big game hunting with shotguns...and I think its fair to say that most big game hunters with shotguns are using "pump guns" ...guns costing from $ 200 - $ 600 .../ the current chokes they have work just fine / there are so many deer around - that taking a shot at a deer at over 50 yds, with a shotgun, probably isn't something anyone is too interested in. In areas where you expect to take longer range shots ...at Elk, etc ....its a rifle environment / not shotguns.
Tactical shotguns...its a "Close Quarters Battle" scenario ...choke in a gun isn't really a factor. Chokes we have now work just fine with 00 Buck, slugs, etc. Assault Rifles (AR's) and sniper rifles are the preferred platforms for longer shots...not shotguns. I don't see a need or desire for a shotgun that will execute longer range shots....
Given all those issues, in my opinion mind you --- the question is, how does your proprietary system fit into that real world. I'm assuming you're going to be asking for some money for your system - any idea on costs ? Will it make our current shell options a lot cheaper ? Will it require us to give up any of our current shotguns ? What is your target market group ( clays shooters, hunters, tactical guys ) ??
Guys like me - may not be your target market group ( over 60, mostly clay target shooters, some limited bird hunting)...but a lot of guys like me collect and shoot specific guns for specific games:
I have about 25 shotguns ...in 12ga, 16ga, 20ga, 28ga and .410....
1. a couple of them are Benelli semi-autos ( 12ga, 20ga - with 28" and 30" barrels )...hunting, clays,...
2. two pump guns..Browning BPS models in 12ga and 20ga with 28" barrels ...hunting, clays...
3. the rest are all Browning O/U's or Browning break open single barrel guns..like Browning Citori BT-99's, BT-100's / XT Trap / XS Skeet ....with
30", 32" or 34" barrels... clays and hunting....
Guys like me are traditionalists....we have money to spend on our hobby / but you have to bring something to the table that is a really big deal ...or we'll just ignore it ! Can you respond to any of the issues I've raised without getting into your proprietary stuff ???