QUALIFICATION CRITERIA FOR SHOTGUNS
1. Qualification Criteria. All Navy personnel armed with the shotgun are required to qualify on the Shotgun Practical Weapons Course.
Due to safety concerns, there are no requirements to fire a qualification or sustainment course with the shotgun while at sea. However,
at every opportunity, trainers shall ensure that personnel are qualified at a shore-based range. For IA's and deployed afloat commands,
qualification/sustainment may be extended until 2 months after return to their unit when a range or simulator is not available.
2. Sustainment Criteria. All Navy personnel armed with a shotgun must requalify annually on the Shotgun practical Weapons Course.
All personnel armed with a shotgun must also undergo semiannual sustainment training between qualification shoots, not to exceed 8 months.
Weapons Conditions for the 12 Gauge Shotgun
Condition 1
Weapon on SAFE, round chambered, magazine tube filled, action closed
Condition 2
Does not apply to 12 Gauge Shotgun
Condition 3
Weapon on SAFE, chamber empty, magazine tube filled, action closed
Condition 4
Weapon on SAFE, chamber empty, magazine tube empty, action closed
3 Assemblv/Disassemblv.
4 Operation. The operation portion of the training covers function checks, unloading and loading the weapon, and firing the weapon,
5 Stoppages/Remedial Actions.
6 Remedial Action. While on the range the shooters shall perform their own remedial actions during the course of fire unless there is a possibility
of a bore obstruction or unless directed to do otherwise by the RSO. If the shooter does not finish the course of fire in the allotted time, the RSO
shall determine the number of saved rounds and alibi rounds.
7. Ammunition Standard issue 12-gauge 00 buckshot shall be used on the Shotgun Practical Weapons Course.
8. Shotgun Practical Weapons Course:
a. Purpose. The purpose of the Shotgun Practical Weapons Course (SPWC) is to experience and test the ability of the shooter to effectively
engage targets in less than ideal, static conditions. The RSO should choose an activity relative to the shooters physical condition to elevate the
heart rate of the shooter immediately before commencing the SPWC. Great care should be taken not to exhaust personnel to the point of being
unsafe during the course of fire. Running in place with no weapon for 2 minutes is suggested. Military Sealift Command (MSC) personnel are
exempt from the pre-fire physical activity requirement of this course of fire. The shooter to coach ratio is 1 to 1. This course of fire is intended
to be conducted for only one shooter at a time.
b. Description. The course shall consist of 18 rounds fired with the 12-gauge shotgun using 00 buckshot in 3 minutes.
Shooters advance from the ready line, which is behind the 25-yard line. The course is to be fired one time. Those personnel who do not
qualify on their first attempt shall be carefully evaluated to determine if remedial training will correct their deficiencies. If remediation is
determined by the SAM1 to be effective, an additional attempt to qualify is authorized; however, if multiple fundamental and presentation
issues exist, then all dry fire and simulator fire training shall be repeated prior to attempting qualification again. During the course of fire,
the Line Coach shall accompany the shooter ensuring to never move or place themselves in front of the muzzle of the weapon. The Line
Coach should be positioned slightly behind, and to the strong side of the shooter in order to watch loading procedures, ensure proper
operation of the safety, and ensure muzzle discipline. The shooter shall remove their finger from The trigger guard and place the weapon
on SAFE before loading and moving to the next firing station. Shooters shall not move from one position/station to the next with a
Condition 1 weapon. Line Coaches must ensure that the shooter moves between firing positions with a condition 3 or a clear weapon only.
c. Targets. This course of fire uses three targets. Targets are numbered from left to right (1-2-3) respectively.
d. Firing Stations
(1) Station One. Twenty-five yards, "tall barricade," standing.
(2) Station Two. Twenty yards, 'low barricade," kneeling.
(3) Station Three. Fifteen yards, 'no barricade," standing.
(4) Station Four. Ten yards, 'no barricade," standing underarm (hip) .
e. Course of Fire
(1) After physical activity, the shooter is issued a clear shotgun with 18 rounds of ammunition. Shooter shall stow ammunition as directed.
Upon signal from the RSO, the shooter and Line Coach advance to station 1.
(2) Station 1. Combat load 5 rounds (1 round through the ejection port directly into the chamber, 4 rounds loaded in magazine tube).
Once loaded and on the RSO1s command, commence the course of fire with a 3-minute time limit; from the standing aimed fire shoulder
position "tall barricade", engage three targets in 3, 2 , 1, 1, 2 order (left-handed shooters 1, 2, 3, 3, Patrol load 4 rounds (all rounds in
magazine tube, none chambered) before moving, and advance to the next position.
(3) Station 2. Fire 4 rounds at targets 1, 2, 3, 3 (left-handed shooters 3, 2, 1, I,), kneeling aimed fire position, from the strong side of the
"short barricade." Patrol load 4 rounds (none chambered) before moving, and advance to the next position.
(4) Station 3. Fire 4 rounds at targets 1, 2, 3, 1 (left-handed shooters 3, 2, 1, 3), standing shoulder position, 'no barricade." Patrol load
3 rounds (none chambered), and advance to final position. (5) Station 4. Fire 3 rounds at targets 1, 2, 3, (left-handed shooters 3, 2, 1)
standing underarm (hip) position, '\no barricade." Combat load and fire 2 rounds at targets 2, 3 (left-handed shooters 2, 1). Course
complete. The shooter clears the weapon, and calls clear. (6) The Line Coach directs shooter to "show clear". Once line has been made
safe and verified by the RSO, the shooter will assume a sling arms position (Condition 4 shotgun with action to the rear) as directed. The
RSO will then direct shooter and Line Coach to move forward to score and replace targets.
Minimum Qualifying Score: Ammunition 00 Buckshot Amount 18 rounds/9 pellets per round -162 total Scoring a minimum of 30 pellets on each
target for satisfactory qualification with a minimum qualifying score of 90.
The Shooter must complete the course of fire with-in the three minute time limit.