Military shotgun loads

[glockbk]

Does anyone know what kinds of loads the US and European military would use in shotguns?
I know that the US leans on pump-action Remington and Mossbergs. Do they use anything by Franchi or Benelli? Those are excellent brands.
What Buck loads do they normally use?
Do they use slug loads?
Also, in "The Last Boy Scout," Bruce Willis and Damon Wayans escaped the bad guys by throwing explosive shells into the leader's fireplace. Are there such things as explosive shotgun shells? I've never heard of anyone using them.

[Siempre Loco]

US SHOTGUNS
Benelli M4 Super 90
KAC Masterkey
Mossberg 500 & 590
Remington 870
Winchester 1200(limited/out)

As far as I know these are the ones used by the armed forces. Slugs and buckshot both have an application. The Super 90 is the newest addition while the pump shotguns are still popular also.

UK SHOTGUNS
Browning Auto-5
Remington 870

[bennwj]

Does anyone know what kinds of loads the US and European military would use in shotguns?
I know that the US leans on pump-action Remington and Mossbergs. Do they use anything by Franchi or Benelli? Those are excellent brands.
What Buck loads do they normally use?
Do they use slug loads?
Also, in "The Last Boy Scout," Bruce Willis and Damon Wayans escaped the bad guys by throwing explosive shells into the leader's fireplace. Are there such things as explosive shotgun shells? I've never heard of anyone using them.

We used Mossberg 500's and Remington 870's.

The 870's had 14"bbl with pistol grips and were used for breaching with special breaching rounds.

The Mossberg's had black synthetic stocks and 18"bbl with a plain bead front sight.

I've never seen a slug on a military range. We used Federal 00 Buck, 2 3/4".

I've never (unfortunately :crying:) seen haji get shot with a shot gun.

[Onmilo]

Here is a Mossberg 500 MILSGUN.
I have doctored mine up some since I have had it by adding a short Hogue stock and forend set, a single point sling, a Vang Comp one shot magazine extension cap and a Kick-Eze slip on recoil pad because I am in my forties now and full power buckshot hurts.
http://www.fototime.com/541BF61472A2D33/standard.jpg
This is one of a set of privately purchased Maverick 88 shotguns that I modified for use as breaching shotguns by an Army Reserve Military Police Unit that went over, over there in 2004/2005.
http://www.fototime.com/DAAF67A53885D75/standard.jpg
It was recommended by units already in place to bring their own, buy them if they must, as the breaching guns were in very short supply and very needed.
These guns featured 18 1/2" barrels with heat shrouds, Pachmayer pistol grip and forend,(the absolute BEST if you must have a pistol gripped shotgun),
Side Saddle shell carriers and Bungee slings.
They tell me the Side Saddle shell carriers did not fair so well and most were removed or broken.
I was also informed the guns were further modified by Army Small Arms Repairmen working in the sandbox and the guns now have very short barrels.
None of the guns came home and are still being used by some military unit over there.
Because they are not on paper the guns get passed around and sold to soldiers who need them.
For fairly inexpensive shotguns they have supposedly held up very well to the rigors of the combat environment.

[isp2605]

My unit had 870s until 1999 when I ordered 4 more shotguns. Imagine my surprise when my armorer opened the crate and found that the USAF had shipped us 4 Winchester Model 12 (not 1200) that all looked like new.
Only load we issued for base patrol was 00 Buck. We had slugs in inventory but didn't issue them. During the 1970s we had some fletchette rds in inventory for a short time.

[MrMurphy]

We still use 870s, last year got some 870s that look like the new MCS model with about half the toys included.

No idea about the load, presumably buck because i've never seen them leave the armory except for one 5-man qual course.

The Benelli is called the M1014 and at least the USMC is supposed to have them, not sure about the Army.

A friend who carried a Mossberg 590 in Somalia with the USMC said he loaded all slugs with the first buck because the guys he was with had the firepower end covered, they needed penetration, and the slugs would go through doors, walls, technicals and bad guys like nothing else.