The military could soon begin passing on surplus pump-action shotguns to the public via the Civilian Marksmanship Program. 

Both the House and Senate versions of the National Defense Authorization Act defense policy spending bill for 2026, under Section 1062, call for the Army, Navy, and Air Force to transfer such scatterguns to the CMP.

The one-time transfer would cover guns that are "surplus to the requirements" of the respective service – including being surplus to military history and museum use. Further, they can't be a shotgun that "is a modern ancillary addition to a service rifle" such as a "Masterkey"-style gun that fits under an M16/M4. Also, guns that legally meet the definition of a "short-barreled shotgun" are barred from transfer. 

The services would have to report to Congress, at least 60 days beforehand, the number of shotguns, including the make and model, that meet the surplus requirements and the number of which they intend to transfer to CMP. 

Furthermore, the NDAA will modify the sale authority under U.S. law to permit the sale of surplus pump-action shotguns. Currently, the federally chartered nonprofit, which is dedicated to promoting marksmanship nationwide, can only legally sell surplus rifles such as M1 Garands, M1903 Springfields, M1917 Enfields, M1 Carbines, and .22 trainers, as well as surplus M1911/1911A1 .45 pistols. 

The U.S. military has been using pump-action breechloading shotguns for over 130 years, including the Winchester 1893, 1897, and M1912 Riot and "Trench" guns; as well as the Remington Models 10, 12, 31, and 870; the Stevens 520 and 620; the Ithaca 37, and the Mossberg 500/590 – the latter of which are still under active contract. 

How many of the above are still on hand in armories, depots, and arsenals – and are considered surplus – is anybody's guess. Still, U.S. martial shotguns of any type are extremely collectible, leading them to be often faked, so the prospect of a vetted quantity of these veteran guns headed to market is exciting. 

The Republican-backed bill would still need to make it to President Trump's desk and earn his signature, which is likely. 

Now, if we can just get Congress to transfer all of those millions of old M16s that are in storage to the CMP, even if it is just the uppers, we'd really be cooking. 

Banner image: U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to 4th Squadron, 2d Cavalry Regiment conduct an M500 shotgun qualification course in Vilseck, Germany, July 18, 2019. (Photo: Sgt. Timothy Hamlin/U.S. Army, via the National Archives).