Available from Morphys here:
https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/_N__VERTU_CORP_C_MORE_COMPETITION_M26_MASS_12_GAUG-LOT661207.aspx
The M26 Modular Accessory Shotgun System (MASS) was designed by C-More Products company as a new shotgun option for the US military. First prototyped in 1999, it was not actually adopted until 2012, but had been purchased in significant numbers since then. The idea is that the M26 can function as either a standalone weapon or attached under the barrel of an M4 Carbine, thus replacing a couple of different items in inventory. It weighs just 3.5 pounds in the under barrel configuration, significantly less than the Masterkey system, and is much more convenient for a breacher to carry than an M4 along with a separate Mossberg 500.
The M26 is a bolt-action 12ga shotgun that feeds from both 3- and 5-round magazines. It has folding integrated aperture sights and is envisioned for use in a wide variety of roles. Military ammunition supplies include #7.5 and #9 birdshot, classic #00 buckshot, rubber buckshot, rubber slugs, and breaching rounds (powdered metal in a wax binder). For use with breaching, the M26 includes a retractable breaching muzzle device.
Seems a rather clever design. Does anyone have a picture of this mounted on a M4?
“picture of this mounted on a M4”
See 1st XOR 2nd photo from top at https://modernfirearms.net/en/shotguns/u-s-a-shotguns/m26-mass-eng/
Also the preferred weapon of some of the human resistance fighters against Skynet.
Never saw this or the M320 when I was in; but, they would have been handy.
“(…)First prototyped in 1999(…)”
According to https://modernfirearms.net/en/shotguns/u-s-a-shotguns/m26-mass-eng/ Original solicitation for prototype was won by private US company C-More Competition, and by 1999 several XM26 underbarrel shotguns were issued to US troops in Afghanistan on an experimental basis. Is any feedback know today from these users?
“(…)M26 is a bolt-action(…)”
More precisely it is straight-pull bolt-action fire-arm. Bolt action was never popular with shotguns designed from scratch (as opposed to surplus rifle conversions), but straight pull seems even more rare. Was any other shotgun designed as straight-pull bolt-action?
“(…)feeds from both 3- and 5-round magazines.(…)”
Modern Fireams article which I linked earlier claims that it is
using detachable box magazines compatible with Russian Saiga-12
Is that true? If it so why U.S. military in 1990s wished to have magazine compatible with said Russian shotgun? Can M26 be carried with round in chamber (which would made it 3+1 or 5+1 in U.S. parlance) or is having round in chamber verboten unless immediately before firing?
“(…)integrated aperture sights and is envisioned for use in a wide variety of roles(…)”
Modern Firearms article which I linked earlier claim
Barrel is of “improved cylinder” type,
This would mean special measure was applied to lessen shot spread, which raise another question: what was maximal effective range required for such weapon?
A straight pull might have been less complicated than a pump action. I would think the latter would have been heavier. While useful, I am not sure I would want to lug around the combo. So any reduction in weight is good.
I have to assume the effective range is rather short. But this looks like a “don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes” type of weapon.
The bolt in the M26 looks quite a bit like one out of a Remington 1100 semi-auto shotgun.