Gunner’s view on the 12 Gauge Shotgun! Part 1

Do you use the Shotgun?  In the Military we use the shotgun for different reason, breaching, assaulting, signing and more.  You are taught to take care of it, the functions and weapons safety.  But do you forget it once you leave the military?  Well let us do a refresher course for you and start off with the characteristics of it.

Characteristics –

• Manually operated, pump action
  • Cycling slide rearward cocks and loads shotgun
• Side ejection / bottom loading
• Length of barrel -18 inches
• Length of shotgun -approximately 39 inches
• Magazine capacity -5 rounds
• Ammunition
• 12 gauge
• 2-3/4 inches shot shells (#00 buck)
• 9 pellets
• .33 caliber
• Safety – top rear of receiver
• Weight – 6 to 8 pounds
• Maximum effective range – 25 yards (#00 buck)

Nomenclature –

Action Group

• Safety
• Trigger
• Receiver
  Mounts all other components
• Loading Port
• Ejecting Port
• Trigger Guard
• Action Bar Release
  • Allows action bar to be moved to the rear
  • Located aft of the trigger guard on the left side

Barrel Group

• Barrel – 18” long
• Front Sight – Fixed bead
• Magazine Cap – Holds barrel in receiver
• Fore End/Action Slide – Mechanism for operation of bolt to load/unload/fire the shotgun
• Magazine Tube – Below the barrel

 

 

 

 

 Loading Procedures

• Ensure it is fully seated prior to releasing the round
• Use your thumb to push it into the magazine tube
• Just forward of the trigger guard
• Place the round in the magazine loading port
• Round should rest on the middle part of your weak hand
• Ensure the brass end is on your little finger and crimped end is on your index finger
• Grab one round from your ammo pouch with your weak hand
• Patrol loading technique
  • Chamber empty
  • Safety engaged
  • Action locked forward
  • Magazine loaded to capacity through loading port

• Patrol loading technique
  • Chamber empty
  • Safety engaged
  • Action locked forward
  • Magazine loaded to capacity through loading port

    Combat load

• During this course, it will be referred to as the combat loading technique
• Second loading technique is employed
  • Firearm has to be fired immediately
  • Combat reload

Combat loading technique

 

• Action open
  Safety engaged
  First round loaded
  Through the open ejection port
  With the weak hand
  Close the action
  Cover the target

Con’t with part 2 for more about the functions of the Combat Shotgun!  Until next time