Why does the U.S. military reject shotguns as primary weapons?
January 18th, 2010 by eranio
They have great stopping power. Slugs have more power than a 5.56mm round and the average engagement for U.S. personel today is 75 yards or less. Slugs have an effective range up to 125 yards and sometimes more. Even buckshot would have effective firepower for putting down lead down range. The Usas 12 Full Auto Shotgun has a 50 round drum that can fire birdshot,buckshot,slugs, and even 40mm rounds with effective range up to 200 yards! Why wouldn’t the U.S. use shotguns for combat instead of door breaching?
Posted in used shotguns
January 18th, 2010 at 4:16 am
The US Military does use shotguns as a primary weapon.
I carried both a Mossberg 590 and a Benelli 1014
January 18th, 2010 at 4:16 am
they did all the time in Iraq , door breaching is not a science. People just use what they got to blow the door and sometimes they use a shotgun.
January 18th, 2010 at 4:16 am
I’d rather reach out and touch someone at 300 yards compared to 30 yards.
January 18th, 2010 at 4:16 am
They do
January 18th, 2010 at 4:16 am
The Taliban do luck shots from several yards away. It’s all spray and pray, but enough rounds in the right area they will hit something. Shotguns can’t shoot across valleys. The Iraqis did a lot of that too.
January 18th, 2010 at 4:16 am
While average range of engagement may be 75 yards, if at all possible, the more distance from the target the better. Shotguns are close in weapons. They are also heavy and slower to load and operate. The M16A1 is light,fast firing, fast to reload, and is accurate at 500 yards. I have been in combat with an M16 and can attest to the stopping power. I would much rather put several rounds in a mans chest from 400 yards than let him fire at me while I wait for him to get within 75 yards.
January 18th, 2010 at 4:16 am
‘Cause I’d rather have something slung across my back that can engage targets at all ranges.
I’d like you to explain how you’d fit a 40mm round into a 12 gauge shotgun. Did they invent some sort of magic-shrinkey ray device while I was asleep?