American Marines Carried Shotguns into WW1 and Germany Protested. Here's Why:

yt ^ | 07/15/2022 | History's Heroes Heard

[max americana]

On July 21, 1918, German soldiers captured a U.S. soldier from the 307th Infantry Regiment, 77th Division, near Baccarat, France. He was carrying a weapon they had never seen: a Winchester Model 97 pump-action shotgun.

On September 15, 1918, the German government officially protested the use of the shotgun.

[5inch38gunner]

I know several marines who carried the 12 ga in VN.

[Chainmail]

It was an excellent weapon for the close-in stuff we often ran into. Superb weapon for point men.

[minnesota_bound]

A proper way to kill everything.
Once this was a forest but artillery and machine gun bullets reduced it to wasteland.
https://cdn.theatlantic.com/media/img/photo/2016/11/world-war-i-in-photos-introduction/w_01/main_1500.jpg

[logi_cal869]

Maybe you avoid the service if that weight is "too heavy".

My Mossberg 590 'out of the box' is spec'd at 5.75 lbs unloaded.

Compared to it, the trench gun is 'heavy', and those of us who've been there know how heavy even that gets at arm's length after 10 minutes or, for that matter, after 10km.

Lighten up, Francis.

Btw, the correct weight for an original, early 'Model 97 Trench Gun' with the 6-row steel heat shield, 20 in barrel, bayonet lug, sling swivels & solid frame - minus bayonet - is 9 pounds 6 ounces.

[Chainmail]

BTW, combat weapons all weigh about the same - '03 Springfields, M-1 Garands, M-14s, M3 "Greaseguns", even full-up M-16s.

You'll find that men - nicely trained and equipped men - have no trouble at all handing even the "very heavy Model 97".

That, and that weight comes in handy if you're guarding prisoners and one of them acts up and you don't want to shoot him.

[bert]

My shotgun for defense is an Ithaca Featherlight 16 ga with a cut down 20 “ barrel. I think it weighs about 6 pounds or so.

Compared to the Ithaca, the Model 97 police gun feels quite heavy.

I also have a High Standard 12 ga duck gun that compared to the Ithaca feels quite heavy.

So, this weight thing is relative

[logi_cal869]

Exactly.

[Chainmail]

My own house defense gun is and Ithaca Model 87 12 gauge 3 inch Magum with the long magazine. It is lighter than a Winchester Model 97 - but it kicks the snot out me every time I take it out to shoot.

Being a pound or two heavier pays dividends sometimes.