Military issue rounds?

[Inebriated]

Hey guys, I've just been wondering lately... what are the standard loads for the military, and who makes them? I just realized today that I have absolutely no clue if they even have standard loads.

Thanks for any info.

 

[Shadow 7D]

Um...
LOTS of military rounds
the Military professional shooters I'm sure use a number of different types of bird shot in their profession.

the guys on the ground use what they are issued and have in supply.
as for who makes they, whoever wins the bid. OH and it depends on what military you are talking about.

 

[Onmilo]

Federal, Winchester, and Black Hills Ammunition all hold current contracts for Military ammunition.
During the height of the Gulf War some foreign contracts were also implemented to maintain supply levels and for political reasons.

 

[InkEd]

I was going to say Federal (ironically) makes alot of 5.56NATO ammo.

 

[rcmodel]

Seeing as how this is the Shotgun Forum.

I assume you meant to ask what shotgun load the military uses?

That would be 2 3/4" 00 Buckshot. Probably Winchester.
Probably like this:
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/29...12-gauge-2-3-4-buffered-00-buckshot-9-pellets

Unless the GI in question shoots on the Army AMU Trap or Skeet Team or something.

rc

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

W/W also makes 00 Buck Super x which is red just like the civilian stuff cept it's sold to our military.

 

[Steve H]

Here is what some of it looks like

 

[Onmilo]

I have some of that OD Green buckshot.
The stuff lets you know you are shooting full power buckshot!

 

[ExtremeSquared]

http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/produ...breaching-ammo/cName/12-gauge-specialtyexotic

99% of military shotgun use involves this.
Sorry to burst bubbles, but anywhere buckshot could be used, 5.56 is almost always used instead.

 

[Fred Fuller]

The usual 2 3/4" 12 gauge plastic hull GI buckshot is usually referred to as Cartridge, 12 Gauge #00 Buckshot M162. See http://www.marcorsyscom.usmc.mil/AM/Ammunition/ref/pdf/PRESBUD06/Items_Less_Than_$5M(1660).pdf for a relatively recent USMC budget justification for this item.

For a much more inclusive list of GI shotgun shell types by DODIC, see the list at http://www.bragg.army.mil/ito/Documents/pdf/JHCS Mar 2007.pdf . That from the folks just up the road from here who signed my paycheck for a couple of decades...

People who collect military shotguns tend to collect period correct ammunition for them also - take a look at http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/lofiversion/index.php/t125973.html for some interesting historical pictures and material on a variety of GI shotgun shells.

If you're going at this with the idea that what the military uses is what you want for whatever reason, keep in mind that "military contract" actually equals "lowest bidder that meets the specifications." If you think military stuff is the best there is, always remember that "lowest bidder" part. There is often LOTS better stuff available on the normal civilian market, to include shotgun shells.

 

[matty-vb]

most of the shotguns that we used were pistol grip Mossy 500's that were given to our turret gunners. loaded up with rubber rounds they were great for the local "rats" that tried to steal stuff from our MRAPs. occasionally we would take out full stocked ones if we were doing a raid on a house or compound. ammo for that was Federal and some Winchester slugs that I had my wife send to me.

 

[Strykervet]

The cheap stuff? Pretty sure it was Winchester 00 buck. Plain cardboard wad. Only thing we used 'em for, the pistol grip 500's, was breaching doors with breaching rounds, and this was before MRAP's, just Strykers.

Army, at least our unit, had NO use for the shotgun save breaching. I would have felt safer with one going through a door than a SAW though. At least they go BANG! instead of Cli-cuchunk!

 

[Inebriated]

Appreciate the responses fellas. No, I don't think it's cool to have what the military uses or anything, I've just wondered. Thanks!

 

[essayons21]

To what others said. Usually given to gunners with less lethals to use as part of EOF procedures. Also used for door breaching. The buck we had was of Winchester manufacture. Not sure who makes the breaching rounds.

We (light combat engineer unit) also had line launching setups for the M500s, to be used when clearing traditional minefields the old fashioned way.

 

[welldoya]

I believe they used these at some point. Don't know much about them but I'm guessing WWll.

 

[Franco2shoot]

Those pictures of the Shells show what we used to call High Brass... and I though all high brass was 3". So, I'm confused.

How can I tell if my Baretta S57E is chambered for 3 " shells? Also the top barrel has 3 small circles, and the bottom barrel has 4.. One is improved choke, the other is modified, but I don't know which is which.. I do know that a dime will barely fit in one and is quite loose in the other.

Thanks
KKKKFL

 

[Geneseo1911]

wlldoya-
That is cool. Never seen one of those before.

 

[welldoya]

Thanks. It is pretty cool.
I've never seen another one either, at least not in this kind of shape.
I have seen two very similar boxes on Gunbroker over the past couple of years but they were torn open and didn't have the waxy cloth covering like mine does. I guess that is to keep the box waterproof.

 

[Inebriated]

That is really cool! I like the spelling of gauge, as well. "Gage" isn't something I've ever really seen.