laststandonzombieisland

The US military has long had a love affair with shotguns. Going as far back as the US Civil War (1861-1865), American service members have often had to hump a scattergun. For close quarters combat, especially in urban environments, trenches, tunnels, and jungles, you are hard pressed to find another more devastating firearm for up close and personal actions.

By 1998, the US Army was searching for a replacement for their armories full of Mossberg 500, Winchester 1200, and Remington 870 and Ithaca 37 pump action shotguns. While reliable, some dated back as far as the Vietnam conflict and had ‘been rode hard and put up wet.’

The Army was placed in charge of development of what would be known as the Joint-Service Combat Shotgun….today’s M1014.

The rest in my column at Firearms Talk.com