In the age of the AR-15 carbine, I remain a devoted fan of the combat shotgun. I know, I know—some of the younger officers will look at me like I’m a dinosaur, and maybe they’re right.
But my reasons are as follows. First, within its effective range, the shotgun offers far more wounding potential than any 5.56 cartridge. Think about it: Eight or nine .33 caliber pellets or a .72 caliber hunk of lead that’s weighed in ounces instead of grains vs. a .22 caliber bullet weighing between 40 and 77 grains—which will hit harder? Although it’s true that the 12-gauge shotgun is more difficult to shoot due to its noticeable recoil, consider simple physics: for every action there’s an equal and opposite reaction. If the gun punched backward when fired, it’ll also punch hard where it’s directed and that’s what you want when you’re trying to stop someone.
With current ammo technology and the ability to Vang Comp (a pattern tightening process) the barrel/chamber on a shotgun, a load of 00 buckshot can now be tightly patterned out so that it reaches 25 yards or so. With practice, a 12-gauge shotgun slug can be used out to 100 yards—though 50 yards is more likely given the amount of time the typical patrol officer practices with the shotgun.
In the age of “slaughter in progress” or the active shooter, the carbine is the weapon of choice for rapid response. In a pandemonium-filled event where people are running in all directions, the AR-15 would also be my weapon of choice. But why has the American law enforcement community taken an “either/or” attitude? Why not carry both the carbine and shotgun in the cruiser and select the best weapon for the given task? Options are always a good thing when crisis decisions are being made and having a choice between a close-range weapon that’s fairly definitive when it hits and a precision weapon of greater range makes sense.
Shotgun Accessories
Like all weapon platforms, the shotgun needs a few “add-ons” to reach its greatest potential. But first, the officer needs to choose either a pump or semi-auto model. The semi-auto is faster to shoot with limited training but, like all semi-automatic weapons, it can stop working when it’s needed most. That said, the current semi-auto shotguns are a big improvement over their predecessors.
Some of us old folks still appreciate the pump action shotgun for its simplicity and reliability. Pump the forward action and press the trigger—it doesn’t get much simpler than that. If the gun malfunctions, it’s usually because the shooter “short stroked” the pump action and this is easily fixed by pumping again. Older guns might need to be struck against a hard object to clear, but these guns are becoming increasingly rare. Whether you go with a semi-auto or a pump is up to you and your real world of work, but essential accessories are similar for both. I chose to “dress” a Remington 870 for this column because, in my mind, it’s the quintessential police shotgun.
The Internet makes trying to find the accessories to meet your needs much easier. For those of us who put gear together in the old days, the easiest thing to do was just contact Brownell’s—the world’s largest supplier of firearms accessories. They’re still my go-to supplier because they have everything you need—and if they don’t have it, it probably isn’t made. Brownell’s still sends out their phone-book-size catalogue every year, in spite of the Internet. If you’re a serving LEO, register and you’ll receive a nice discount on your order. The folks at Brownell’s like cops!
Stocks
I recently contacted my old friend Larry Weeks at Brownell’s, who helped me make some decisions. The first thing I wanted was a stock that would allow for length of pull (LOP) adjustment. I’ve tried several of the AR-style stocks and while I can see the benefits of having continuity between my AR and shotgun, this type of stock isn’t right for me. Weeks suggested the new Magpul SBR stock that has a more conventional profile and LOP-adjustable butt pad. Magpul makes terrific gear that’s reasonably priced so this was a great start.
Sights & Safeties
Although it’s true that bead sights are robust and won’t be affected by rough treatment, they’re also difficult to use because precise cheek placement is critical for the eye to act as the rear sight. I prefer looking through something and the classic ghost ring sight works well on a shotgun. I chose the Scattergun Technologies’ Trak-Lock sight due to its low profile, yet robust construction. It’s available with a tritium-dot front sight and a large, light-gathering rear ghost ring that provides extremely fast sight acquisition during day or low-light conditions. The rear ghost ring is available with or without tritium, depending on your requirements. The Trak-Lock rear sight features a handy, single-set screw for wind and elevation adjustments.
I also incorporated a Scattergun Technologies oversize safety button so that the safety can be located quickly—with or without gloves. In addition, I added a sidesaddle shell carrier in the event the gun is quickly deployed and spare ammo is left behind.
Magazines & Slings
Extended magazine tubes are popular, but I haven’t had good luck with them. As the spring ages, they just doesn’t feed as reliably as I would like. I added a one-shot extension from Wilson Combat that also incorporates a side-mounted sling loop. A sling is the holster of the long gun and, like holsters, slings are very personal. Each officer should give its selection careful consideration. I’m not convinced the same sling used on your AR-15 is good for the shotgun. But you may think differently. I chose a simple two-point, quick-adjustment sling from the Outdoor Connection. I like the way this sling works on the 870 and it’s lightweight.
Light Mounts
The final addition to the gun was a Surefire light-mount fore-end, which is another addition I consider essential. Unlike a handgun, the length and weight of a long gun requires two hands to use, making a handheld flashlight a non-starter. Having a weapon-mounted light allows the shooter to both shoot and work the light while keeping both hands on the gun. Of course, the shooter also needs to be careful about what they’re pointing the light (and muzzle!) at.
Buckshot Loads
I patterned the 870 with several “reduced recoil” 00 buckshot loads, specifically Hornady and Federal. I also sighted the gun in with Federal reduced recoil slugs at 50 yards. At 25 yards, both the Federal and Hornady load kept their pattern inside a 10-inch circle high in the chest of a humanoid target, while the federal slug was able to hold a three-inch group at 50 yards, both offering excellent capability for law enforcement applications.
Conclusion
Bottom line: The 12-gauge shotgun will never replace the carbine for precise shots at a distance. But at close range, where the majority of law enforcement confrontations occur, the 12-gauge shotgun will always hit with far more power than at 5.56.
