As the resident shotgun nut, you can’t imagine my excitement when the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act included a provision that finally allows the Civilian Marksmanship Program to transfer surplus pump-action shotguns to the civilian market. CMP shotguns will finally arrive in civilian hands. The CMP is a program started in 1903 to provide civilians a chance to learn and practice marksmanship skills.
Get Your Next Scattergun from the CMP
The goal of the CMP is to train Americans to shoot in case they are called to combat. They sell surplus rifles, namely WWI and WWII era firearms, due to the rise of automatic select-fire firearms in the modern military. Historically, those have been rifles, but M1911s became available a few years back, and we are finally getting shotguns. Purchasing from the CMP requires you to be a member of a CMP-affiliated club.
The NDAA and CMP Shotguns
The FY2026 NDAA will require the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force to identify and transfer pump-action shotguns that are surplus to the requirements of the United States military to the CMP. The CMP will then manage the sale of these guns to members in associated clubs.
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The keyword here is pump-action. We won’t see any old Benelli M4s in the mix. We also won’t see the straight-pull M26 MASS guns. There is also a prohibition on NFA-regulated firearms, which means short-barreled shotguns won’t be permitted for sale.
That’s a bit disappointing because I really want a Remington 870 MCS kit. Although full-sized variants of the MCS might appear, it seems doubtful. We will likely see a mixture of various 870s. There might be some old Wingmasters, some Police Magnums, and similar variants. We might even see rare and obscure models like the Marine Corps 870 Mk1 with its bayonet lug.
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This opens the door to most of the shotguns sitting around in armories. When I was in the service, we had a pile of M500s, otherwise known as Mossberg 590s. About half had 14-inch barrels, while the other half had the standard 18.5-inch option.
Mossberg also makes a 17-inch model for the military. From what Mossberg has told me, those barrels are 17 inches specifically to fit in the racks of submarines. These obscure and rare 590s likely won’t be an option due to the barrel length restrictions.
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Beyond the Norm
I’m betting we’ll see some of the old Winchester 1200 and 1300 models. These guns were still being used during the Iraq Invasion and are likely kicking around in various armories. These might be interesting, as numerous models were adopted with a heat shield and a combination bayonet lug.
I expect these trench gun models will be extremely rare and therefore expensive. It’s possible some Ithaca 37s might be sold, but it’s probably going to be fairly rare for those to be bouncing around in modern inventory.
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If you are hoping for Winchester Model 1897s, Model 12s, or Remington Model 10 trench guns, then I wouldn’t get your hopes up. Any remaining examples would probably be sent to a museum if they haven’t been destroyed or sold elsewhere already.
I doubt there are many in American military armories, even in the depths of that warehouse where they keep the Ark of the Covenant.
When?
That’s the big question. President Trump is expected to sign the order without controversy. The order will go into effect in 2026, but the various branches will likely take some time to find the guns and transfer them to the CMP.
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The CMP will then likely grade them, develop a means to sell them, and get the guns out there. I wouldn’t expect the wheels of government to move fast. At best, we might see CMP shotguns for sale in late 2026.
Don’t expect these old, beat-up guns to be cheap either. The U.S. markings and provenance will command a high price. You’ll be paying considerably more for these old guns than a standard new 590 or 870. Still, I’ll be waiting with bated breath for the chance to own a piece of American history.
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