Evolution

The Evolution of the Combat Shotgun


Pictured are the Mossberg 500A Mariner (Top) and the Winchester M1897 (Bottom)

The Winchester 1897 was designed by John M. Browning and was a recreation of a previous invention, the Model 93. The Shotgun featured an external hammer and a 30-inch barrel and the new 'Pump Action' design. Though the gun was overly complex internally, it was extremely simple to use, making it one of the Sporting Arms of its time and many years to come. The shotgun first saw military use in the dence jungle of the Philippines, where it was seen as the perfect close quarter combat smallarm, capable of leveling an enemy within 25 meters instantly, or better yet, sometimes multiple enemies with one shot. The gun the went through a radical cosmetic redesign during World War I, where the barrel was chopped down to 20 inches, a headsheild and bayonet lug where added, for the simple fact that every weapon had to have a bayonet fixture for the age old bayonet charge. It then became the Trench Gun or the 'Trench Broom'. The US Army issued this weapon as a Trench Clearing smallarm, for the Bolt action rifle was too slow to load and get a follow up shot in close quarters. With the lack of a aproper disconnector, the 1897 had the 'SlamFire' ability by design. This meant that if one where to hold the trigger down, the gun can be fired as fast as one can pump the action. This weapon was loved by the US army and the Doughboys who carried it. The gun was tough, reliable and could take the beating of a lifetime and still function, the only problem was that during World War I, paper hulls on the shotgun shells where still being used. Brass ones had been made, but they where never shipped to Europe during the war, so in damp weather the paper hulls would weaken, crimp and warp, causing feeding problems for the shotgun. Reguardless, the Winchester 1897 is the most popular pump action shotgun in the world, and becuase of its emence popularity, the gun saw service in the Military and law enforcement up until and even a while after the Vietnam War.

The Winchester M1897 was replaced by three weapons in most armories, the Ithica 37, the Mossberg 500 and the Remington 870. All of them are slide action shotguns as well, each alot simpler, lighter and ultimately more manuverable then the M1897.

The Mossberg 500 was released in 1962 as a sporting shotgun that was much simpler in design and became popular amongst the fowl and bird hunters. There are dozens of models and variations of the Mossberg 500, ranging in different guages, even a .50 cal muzzleloader. They are all slide action shotguns and they all feature an Aluminum receiver for weight purposes. Many people cringe at the hearing of an aluminum receiver, simple becuase it is not strong enough, and it does not blue like steel. The Mossberg 590 is the Mil-spec version of the Mossberg 500, and it features a steel receiver and was abopted by the US Military for a period of time, and it is still found in many Military armories. The Mossberg 500 can be outfitted with many different lenght barrels including rifled ones, heatshelds and foreward mounted taclights.

The Mossberg 500 Mariner is the Mossberg 500 with the MarineCote finish. This makes the gun itself impervious to rust, even when exposed to salt water.