American Shotguns

America has had a long and fond relationship with shotguns. A preferred loading for American soldiers in the Revolutionary War was the buck-and-ball shotgun load. George Washington encouraged soldiers to use buck-and-ball loads to increase their ability to hit a target.

Shotguns have been used in a wide variety of roles in America. They are favorites for hunting, particularly birds, deer, and feral pig. Shotguns are used in shooting sports that range from traditional skeet to more dynamic three-gun competitions. American shotgun companies range widely from supremely well built and well-designed double-barreled shotguns to basic pump-action shotguns. American shotguns have been produced as break actions, pump actions, lever actions, semi automatics, and even bolt-action shotguns.

Today, there are countless American shotgun manufacturers. They range from small shops producing simple smooth-bore shotguns to major manufacturers including Remington and Mossberg.

Quick Facts

• The U.S. Marines issue Mossberg 500s as one of their shotguns for less lethal and offensive combat operations
• Shotguns in the United States are limited to 18-inch barrels before they are subject to specific Federal regulations
• American cavalry units heavily favored the shotgun in the 19th century