Sgt Dennis Power
Stag Special

A weapon that has been in our arsenal for a long time, but often overlooked, is making a strong come-back on deployed operations. Many soldiers have trained with the Remington 870 shotgun in the past, rarely seeing it again. That has changed.
From breeching locked doors and compounds, to providing lethal and non-lethal protection in crowds, the shotgun is seeing a lot of use in Afghanistan. Most sections on patrol keep a shotgun in their vehicle, and it’s not unusual to see at least one air-sentry in a convoy carrying one.
The shotgun is not normally carried as a personal weapon, but used in specific situations to make use of it’s capabilities. The weapon is currently used with three types of shells; a slug, 00 buckshot consisting of 12 large pellets, and a non-lethal bean bag load.

Gnr Catherine Bell engages targets during the Personal Weapons Test (PWT) on the shotgun.
Photos Sgt Dennis Power

Bdr Jason Lussier waits for a target exposure on the shotgun range, one of many ranges run during a week of marksmanship training at CFD Dundurn.

The effects of shotgun slugs and 00 buckshot on a figure 11 target.

Bdr Jason Lussier checks his grouping on a figure 11 target at the shotgun range. A combination of slugs and buckshot in a tight group has shredded his target.

Twelve gauge slugs (green) and 00 buckshot (red) — 00 buckshot shells contain twelve pellets roughly the same diameter as a .38 calibre bullet.

Shooters from 1RCHA complete the Personal Weapons Test (PWT) using the shotgun.