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Remington 870 "Wingmaster" was introduced by Remington in 1950, and since then become one of the most popular USA-made pump action all-purpose shotguns. Beginning it's life as a versatile hunting shotgun, available in many different configurations and gauges, in early 1970s Remington 870 was adopted by US Military - in 1966 US Marine Corps purchased some thousands of the Remington 870 Mk.1 shoguns (along with Mossberg 590 and Winchester 1200). Military shotguns have extended magazines for 7 or 8 rounds, bayonet mounts, heat shields around the barrels and non-glare, protective and rust-resistant finishes. Remington 870 also is very popular police/security shotgun, available with extended magazines (up to 8 rounds), fixed or folding buttstocks or with pistol grips. Usually, police Remington shotguns have 14 in. or 18 in. barrels with cylinder or improved cylinder chokes, capable of firing buckshot, slugs and special purpose munitions (tear gas grenades, non-lethal rubber bullets etc.). M870 may be equipped with rifle-style or ghost-ring (peep) sights, with tactical flashlights and lasers etc.
The latest addition to the M870 line is the 870 Modular Combat Shotgun (MCS). The 870 MCS kit consists of the receiver and magazine tube (3 rounds base capacity), plus several detachable components, such as barrels (10", 14" and 18"), buttstocks (single pistol grip, polymer shoulder stock with pistol grip, polymer shoulder stock with semi-pistol grip), magazine extensions (for total capacity for up to 5 or 7 rounds), and some other accessories. Receiver is fitted with Picatinny rail on top, which can accept various sighting devices, as well as serve as a mount when 870 MCS is used as a modular weapon, attached to the M4 carbine or M16 rifle (system, generally known as a "Master key" rifle/shotgun combo). In various configurations 870 MCS weights from 2.5 kg (5.6lbs) in the "M4/M16 accessory shotgun" version with 10" barrel and no buttstock, and up to 3.6 kg (7.9 lbs) in the patrol shotgun version with tactical buttstock and 18" barrel.
Technically, Remington 870 is a manually operated, pump-action shotgun with dual action bars and tilting breech lock, which locks directly into the barrel extension. Barrel may be swapped (changed) within minutes to fit the situation. Tubular magazine is located under the barrel, and, depending on the version and gauge, may hold from 3 to 8 cartridges. Sights also are different, depending on the purpose and version of the gun, and could include front bead only, rifle-type sights with open notch or ghost ring rear sight, or mounts for various red-dot and other optical sights.
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Operation: Pump-action
Cartridge: 12 Gauge
Weight: Varies with model
Length: Varies with model
Barrel: Varies with model
Magazine Capacity: Up to 11 rounds in underbarrel tube magazine
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