America’s Military Shotguns – The 5 Shotguns in the Armory

Military Shotguns are highly effective close-range weapons that are brutally efficient in close-quarters combat (CQC). No one just can’t take a blast of 00 buckshot and shake it off. Not only that but in warfare, the shotgun’s spread of buckshot can help hit moving targets and be incredibly handy at night when visibility is limited.

For home defense or police use, these tactics might not be sound, but in war, the rules are fairly different.

Shotguns are niche weapons that don’t see daily use. However, when necessary, they are tough to replace.

So with that said, what shotguns does America use and have in the armory?

Here are the five combat shotguns currently in the United States’ arsenal.

1 | Remington 870 MCS

The Remington 870 was first made way back in 1951. However, according to the book “Vietnam: An Epic Tragedy, 1945-1975,” it first saw use in Vietnam, where it became a favorite of point men on patrols, Navy SEALs, and others. It stuck around with all four military branches and then became the Remington 870 MCS or Modular Combat Shotgun. As far as military shotguns go, the Remington 870 MCS stays true to its name and is by far the most modular of them all.

• Gauge: 12 Gauge
• Action Type: Pump-action
• Barrel Length Variants: 18”, 14”, 10”
• Capacity: 3-6 (Depending on variant) +1

The MCS brings the users a complete system within one receiver. The MCS comes with three barrel options, including a 10-, 14-, and 18-inch option. The gun has an M4-style stock and a pistol grip-only configuration. It can become a fighting, non-lethal, or breaching shotgun in just a few minutes.

Additionally, a magazine extension allowed for more capacity depending on how the gun will be used. This fascinating system allows the weapon to be as modular as the mission requires which is why it’s been so popular not just for armed forces and law enforcement, but also with civilians.

2 | Mossberg 590A1

Introduced in 1987, the Mossberg 590 is the most common and varied military shotgun. These days, the military is now using the Mossberg 590A1, which is updated to be more reliable and durable, but is essentially the same shotgun.

• Gauge: 12 Gauge
• Action Type: Pump-action
• Barrel Length Variants: 18”, 14”, 10”
• Capacity: 5-8 (Depending on variant) +1

Various models exist with different-length barrels and sighting systems. Sometimes, we have a bayonet, and other times, we don’t. The 590A1 is a pump-action, 12-gauge shotgun purposely made for combative use.

The 590A1 features a thick, heavy-walled barrel, a metal trigger, safety, and, most often, a bayonet lug. Barrel lengths vary between 14 and 18.5 inches, and various models may feature fixed stocks, collapsing stocks, or pistol-grip-only guns.

There’s not much to be said since the Mossberg 590A1 is a simple but brutally effective shotgun.

It’s known for its robust and reliable design. The weapon is commonly used for combat and breaching. It is the most common choice for deploying less-lethal munitions. The 590A1 represents the brutal simplicity of military shotguns.

3 | Benelli M1014

Regarded as one of, if not the best military shotgun in the world, the Benelli M1014 is a joint-service shotgun that was introduced and adopted in 1999 after proving itself to the US Marine Corps. It provides a semi-automatic option for 12-gauge firepower. The semi-auto, gas-operated design makes follow-up shots rapid and easy to control.

• Gauge: 12 Gauge
• Action Type: Semi-auto
• Barrel Length Variants: 18.5″
• Capacity: 5+1

The gas operation reduces felt recoil and makes the weapon extremely easy to control. The Benelli M1014 got a trial by fire in Fallujah with the Marines after invading that city.

The Benelli M1014 proved itself repeatedly as the finest fighting shotgun ever created. It serves in the armory of military shotguns in the United States and with numerous foreign military forces, including the SAS.

4 | M26 MASS

The M26 Modular Accessory Shotgun System, or the MASS, is a box-fed, straight-pull shotgun designed to streamline breaching. This shotgun was designed to be mounted beneath the barrel of an M4 to provide an on-hand breaching solution for our deployed warfighters. The M26 MASS could also be used as a stand-alone shotgun with a separate stock system.

• Gauge: 12 Gauge
• Action Type: Manual Straight pull bolt-action
• Barrel Length Variants: 7.75”
• Capacity: Up to 5 (Box Magazine)

Unlike other military shotguns, the M26 MASS doesn’t excel in combat. I mean, it’s still a shotgun, but the design is all about breaching. The rifle it’s mounted to is the fighting weapon, and the under-barrel M26 MASS is supposed to break down the doors.

It was designed in the 1990s but only procured by military police and engineer units in 2010. However, small quantities of the M26 MASS were issued to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan as early as 2003.

The M26 MASS is more of a tool than a weapon, but in a pinch, buckshot is buckshot. It’s also a rather odd configuration with its box-fed, straight-pull action. One thing’s for sure though, using it with a rifle is just one of the coolest-looking things ever, and of course, it’s more efficient than putting your rifle away and pulling out a shotgun.

5 | Saiga 12

The Saiga 12 is a Russian-made shotgun based on the famed AK platform. Now I hear you, and this is a list of American military shotguns, not Russian ones. Well, yeah, the American military uses this shotgun — kind of. The Coast Guard’s Deployable Operations Group is a small, elite group of Coasties who carry the Saiga 12, and of course, several Special Forces here and there also carry this shotgun.

• Gauge: 12 Gauge (20 Gauge also exists)
• Action Type: Semi/Full-Automatic
• Barrel Length Variants: 18”, 14”, 10”
• Capacity: Up to 10 (Box Magazine); Up to 30 (Drum Magazine)

The Saiga 12 is a 12-gauge, semi-automatic shotgun that uses a long-stroke gas piston. It’s a box-fed gun with a wide variety of magazines available for it. I imagine a shotgun is quite handy for maritime interdiction, and the Saiga 12 offers a rapid-firing, quick-reloading option. When bad guys are shooting at your boat, the spread a shotgun offers makes hitting that rapidly moving target quite fast.

When the gun runs dry, you can rock another mag in place and keep it up. The Saiga 12 is an unusual choice for the American military, but it’s in the armory, so it makes the list of military shotguns.

Military Shotguns – Now and Then

The military shotgun has never been a front-line, general-issue weapon and never will be. However, when our nation needs a shotgun, it really needs a shotgun. From the trenches to the Iraqi urban sprawls, buckshot has answered the call when a bad guy deserves some devastating lead.

What’s your favorite military shotgun? Let us know in the comments below!