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A combat shotgun is a shotgun issued by militaries for warfare. [1] The earliest shotguns specifically designed for combat were the trench guns or trench shotguns issued in World War I. While limited in range, the multiple projectiles typically used in a shotgun shell provide increased hit probability unmatched by other small arms. [2]
Sep 4, 2018 · Originally designed as hunting weapons, many armies turn to shotguns for a variety of roles, including close combat and obstacle breaching. Although shotguns are too specialized to replace...
- The Very Beginning
- The American Revolution
- Into The Civil War
- The Adoption of Repeating Shotguns
- World War I
- World War II
- Vietnam Shotguns – The Fortunate Son
- The Global War on Terror
- Beyond Pump Actions
- Final Thoughts
Firearms that fire a load of shot have been around since the earliest guns, but the most notable dedicated shotgun came in the form of the blunderbuss. The blunderbuss was a smoothbore muzzleloading firearm with a massive bore. With it, the user could shove a variety of different-sized shot into these weapons or just about whatever they wanted. Blu...
The blunderbuss was never superbly popular with Americans. Pilgrims being armed with the blunderbuss at Plymouth rock seems to be more fiction than fact. Coming into the American Revolution, the Americans were armed with more traditional muskets. These smoothbore long arms were not known for their accuracy. Colonial American soldiers recognized thi...
The American Civil War saw the rapid rise of small arms technology, including metallic cartridges. But at the beginning of the war, the famed buck and ball loads were still being heavily used. The South, in particular, utilized shotguns extensively, especially with their cavalry forces. Shotguns at the time were muzzleloading designs and often feat...
In the late 1800s, John Moses Browning decided shotguns needed an overhaul. Like most things he attempted, he succeeded. Browning wanted a slide action shotgun, but Winchester was a lever gun company and wanted a lever action. To appease them, he produced the Winchester 1887, a lever-action, repeating shotgun. It was the first successful repeating ...
General Pershing was made the Commander of the American Expeditionary Force as the United States entered World War I. The trench warfare fought here is where the combat shotgun became a star. Americans were the only military force to bring shotguns to war, and that force was commanded by a man who knew their value. The rifles at the time were typic...
By the time World War II came around, the shotgun was no longer an American secret. Multiple countries had adopted shotguns by the time the Nazis came knocking, including the U.K., Brazil, India, Denmark, France, and of course, the United States. Predictably the two most popular shotguns of World War II were the Winchester M1897 and M1912. The M191...
Vietnam was a long conflict, and in the beginning, it wasn’t uncommon to see Marines and Soldiers wielding the same guns their fathers and grandfathers used in World War I and II. Shotguns used in Vietnam included the M1897, Model 1912, Ithaca 37, Remington Model 10, Model 31, and the Stevens Model 77E. The Stevens Model 77Es is the forgotten comba...
Shotguns were always niche weapons, but as rifles got shorter, lighter, and easier to use, the shotgun’s role shrunk even more. In the Global War on Terror, shotguns were relatively rare but still saw service and combat across the GWOT. The most common shotgun in the GWOT was the Mossberg 500 series — specifically the Mossberg 500 MILS and the 590A...
In 1999 the Marine Corps led the journey to find the newest fighting shotgun for the military forces. This concluded with the adoption of the gas-operated, semi-automatic Benelli M4. The M4, under the military designation M1014, packed seven rounds of 12-gauge and allowed users to rapidly engage multiple targets. There is no dispute that the M1014 ...
Combat shotguns are niche weapons and always have been. They’ve never been the king or queen of combat weapons, but they remain devastating in close quarters and can peel doors off of hinges when necessary. It’s tough to beat the up-close firepower a shotgun offers, and while their niche might remain small, shotguns are still fascinating and useful...
Mar 10, 2024 · Combat shotguns are characterized by a diverse array of design variations that cater to specific combat needs and operational scenarios. These shotguns can be broadly categorized based on barrel length, mechanism, and capacity, which greatly influence their effectiveness in military use.
Feb 17, 2024 · Shotguns are considered effective weapons of war due to their devastating close-range firepower, but their humane nature is highly contentious. While shotguns can cause significant damage and suffering to combatants, their impact can vary depending on the ammunition used and the context of their deployment.
Jul 31, 2024 · Discover the power of combat shotguns, from the rapid Benelli M4 to the robust Mossberg 500, and their crucial military roles.
Whether they arrive by armoured vehicle or boat, British soldiers are trained to operate anywhere in the world and are supported by an armoury of powerful and versatile weaponry, from grenades to heavy machine guns - tools for the soldier's task of taking and holding ground.
