Infantry Weapons

Remington 870 12-Gauge Shotgun

The Remington 870 is an American pump-action shotgun introduced in 1950 and still in production. Orange County Sheriff's Department policy identifies a 12-gauge action-shotgun configuration that fires the 2581 Super-Sock bean bag round, making the 870 a documented less-lethal launcher platform as well as a general-purpose shotgun.

Remington 870 12-Gauge Shotgun, 12-gauge pump-action shotgun, Infantry Weapons

Image source: Remington 870 Shotgun.jpg

Profile

Origin: United States
Built by: Remington Firearms (RemArms)
Type: 12-gauge pump-action shotgun
Service note: 1950-present
Designed: 1950
Produced: 1950-present
Number built: +10 million
Variants: Wingmaster, Fieldmaster, Tactical

shotgun pump-action 12-gaugelaw enforcementless-lethal

Specifications

Action: Pump-action
Caliber/Gauge: 12-gauge
Introduction year: 1950
Production status: Currently in production
Total production: +10 million

Service And Conflict Use

Service History

In service: General-purpose shotgun platform used in hunting, law enforcement, competition, and home defense; Orange County Sheriff's Department also documented a less-lethal 870 configuration for bean-bag deployment.
Used by: Outdoorsmen, Law enforcement officers, Competitive shooters, Home defenders

Ammunition Fired

Orange County Sheriff's Department policy identifies this Remington 870 configuration as the launcher for the 2581 Super-Sock bean bag round.

Ammunition

Ammunition type

Firing evidence

12 Gauge Bean Bag Round

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.

Sources: OCSD Policy 711

Remington 870 12-Gauge Shotgun Images

Remington 870 12-Gauge Shotgun, 12-gauge pump-action shotgun, Infantry Weapons - view 1 — Source: Remington 870 Shotgun.jpg

Remington 870 12-Gauge Shotgun, 12-gauge pump-action shotgun, Infantry Weapons - view 2 — Source: MarineMag1.jpg

Remington 870 12-Gauge Shotgun, 12-gauge pump-action shotgun, Infantry Weapons - view 3 — Source: Rem-870-Police.jpg

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Sources

Model 870 HistoryPublisher: RemArms | Note: Supports the Model 870's introduction year, current production status, total production, action type, gauge options, and designer/inventor background. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 Model 870Publisher: RemArms | Note: Supports the Model 870 as RemArms' best-selling shotgun, introduced in 1950, and marketed to outdoorsmen, law enforcement officers, competitive shooters, and home defenders. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 OCSD Policy 711Publisher: Orange County Sheriff's Department | Note: Supports the Remington 870 less-lethal launcher configuration and the direct relationship claim that the 2581 12-gauge super sock bean bag is fired with this shotgun. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 Remington 870 Shotgun.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for a Remington 870 shotgun photograph shared on Wikimedia Commons. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 MarineMag1.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for a Remington 870 Marine Magnum photograph shared on Wikimedia Commons. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 Rem-870-Police.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for a Remington 870 Police Magnum photograph shared on Wikimedia Commons. | Accessed: 2026-06-23