The 12-gauge Remington 870 is a pump-action shotgun configuration documented as a less-lethal launcher platform. RemArms traces the Model 870 family to 1950, while Orange County Sheriff's Department policy and a U.S. Marine Corps training caption document Remington 870/M870 shotguns firing or loading 12-gauge bean-bag rounds.
The 870 family spans sporting, tactical, marine, police, and less-lethal 12-gauge configurations, with public-agency and military sources documenting specific 12-gauge launcher roles.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| Model 870 Wingmaster | Sporting and field line | RemArms lists Wingmaster 12-gauge models with 2 3/4-inch and 3-inch chambering, 26- or 28-inch barrels, walnut furniture, and high-polish finish. Sources: Model 870 Wingmaster |
| Model 870 Fieldmaster | Current field line | RemArms lists Fieldmaster models in 12 gauge, 20 gauge, and .410, including 12-gauge 3-inch Magnum and selected 3 1/2-inch Super Magnum receiver configurations. Sources: Model 870 Fieldmaster |
| Model 870 Synthetic Tactical | Tactical 12-gauge configuration | RemArms describes the Synthetic Tactical as a 12-gauge utility gun with an 18 1/2-inch cylinder-choke barrel, bead sight, non-glare matte finish, and 4+1 capacity. Sources: Remington Tactical Shotguns |
| Model 870 SPS Marine Magnum | Corrosion-resistant 12-gauge configuration | RemArms lists the SPS Marine Magnum with electroless nickel plating, 3-inch Magnum chambering, an 18 1/2-inch barrel, and a six-round magazine tube. Sources: Model 870 SPS Marine Magnum |
| 870 Police Less Lethal | Law-enforcement less-lethal configuration | RemArms' law-enforcement catalog lists 870 Police Less Lethal rifle-sight and bead-sight models with 18 1/2-inch barrels, parkerized finish, and 4+1 capacity. Sources: Remington Law Enforcement / Defense |
Public-agency and military sources identify Remington 870/M870 12-gauge shotguns as launchers for bean-bag or ballistic bean-bag rounds.
| Ammunition | Ammunition type | Firing evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Less-lethal round | Orange County Sheriff's Department policy says the 2581 12-gauge Super-Sock bean bag is fired with the Remington 870 12-gauge action shotgun, and a Marine Corps training caption shows a ballistic bean bag round being loaded into a Remington M870. Sources: OCSD Policy 711, Marine Corps Non-Lethal Weapons Training Photo |
The broader 870 family includes sporting, tactical, marine, and police shotguns, but two public records give the 12-gauge configuration a specific less-lethal role. Orange County Sheriff's Department policy identifies Remington 870 12-gauge pump/action shotguns in its less-lethal inventory and ties the 2581 Super-Sock bean bag to the Remington 870 launcher. A Marine Corps caption separately documents a ballistic bean bag round being loaded into an M870 during non-lethal training.
OCSD lists orange-stock and green-stock Remington 870 12-gauge pump/action shotguns in its less-lethal equipment inventory.
Source: OCSD Policy 711.
The Marine Corps photo caption identifies a ballistic bean bag round being loaded into a Remington M870 12-gauge pump shotgun.
Source: Marine Corps Non-Lethal Weapons Training Photo.
RemArms records the Model 870 introduction year as 1950 and identifies the design team behind the pump-action shotgun.
Sources: Model 870 History
Specialist Remington Society history places the Model 870 Express introduction in 1987, expanding the family beyond earlier Wingmaster and special-purpose lines.
Sources: Remington Society Model 870 Guide
Remington Society history identifies 1992 as the Marine Magnum introduction year, while current RemArms material describes the SPS Marine Magnum as an electroless-nickel 12-gauge utility gun.
Sources: Remington Society Model 870 Guide, Model 870 SPS Marine Magnum
A Marine Corps public-domain caption documents a ballistic bean bag round being loaded into a Remington M870 12-gauge pump shotgun during non-lethal weapons training.
Sources: Marine Corps Non-Lethal Weapons Training Photo
Orange County Sheriff's Department Policy 711 lists Remington 870 12-gauge pump/action shotguns and says the 2581 12-gauge Super-Sock bean bag is fired with the Remington 870 12-gauge action shotgun.
Sources: OCSD Policy 711
