Editing M26 Modular Accessory Shotgun System

{{Infobox weapon
|name=M26-MASS (Modular Accessory Shotgun System)
| image= PEO_M26_MASS_on_M4_Carbine.jpg
| image_size = 300
|caption=The M26-MASS configured under the [[M4 carbine]].
|origin= United States
|type= Underbarrel [[Shotgun]]
<!-- Type selection -->
|is_ranged=yes
<!-- Service history -->
|service={{ubli|2003–2011 (limited service)|2011–present (full service)<ref>[https://weaponsystems.net/system/716-M26+MASS "M26 MASS"]. Weaponsystems.net.</ref>}}
|used_by=United States
|wars=[[Iraq War]]
<!-- Production history -->
|designer=Ira M. Kay
|design_date= 1997–2002
|manufacturer=C-More Competition
|unit_cost=
|production_date=2003–present
|number=9,000+
|variants=XM26
<!-- General specifications -->
|spec_label=
|weight={{ubli|{{cvt|3|lb|kg|2}} underbarrel|{{cvt|5|lb|kg|2}} with collapsible stock|{{cvt|3.5|lb|kg|2}} with stock removed}}
|length={{ubli|{{cvt|16.5|in|mm}} underbarrel|{{cvt|26.5|in|mm}} stock extended / {{cvt|24|in|mm}} stock collapsed|{{cvt|18|in|mm}} stock removed}}
|part_length={{cvt|7.75|in|mm}}
|width=
|height=
<!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->
|cartridge=
|caliber=[[Gauge (bore diameter)|12 gauge]]
|action=Manually cycled straight-pull [[bolt action]]
|rate=
|velocity=
|range=
|max_range=
|feed=3 or 5-round detachable [[Magazine (firearms)|box magazine]]
|sights={{ubli|Underbarrel configuration:<br>Zeroed for host rifle M16/M4 sights|
Stand alone configuration:<br> Flip up non-adjustable iron sights or [[Picatinny rail|MIL-STD-1913 rail]] attached optic}}
}}

The '''M26-MASS''' ('''Modular Accessory Shotgun System''') is a [[shotgun]] configured as an underbarrel ancillary weapon attachment mounted onto the [[handguard]] of a [[service rifle]], usually the [[M16 rifle|M16]]/[[M4 carbine|M4]] family of [[Military of the United States|United States military]], essentially making the host weapon a [[combination gun]].  It can also be operated as a stand-alone shotgun by attachment to a [[pistol grip]]/collapsible [[buttstock]] module. Rollout commenced in 2013, replacing the [[Mossberg 500]] shotguns in service.<ref name="nationaldefensemagazine.org">
{{cite magazine
 |url=http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2012/12/31/2013january-army-marine-corps-succeed-in-rapidly-fielding-specialized-individual-weapons-updated
 |title=Army, Marine Corps Succeed in Rapidly Fielding Specialized Individual Weapons (UPDATED)
 |last=Parsons
 |first=Dan
 |date=2013-01-01
 |magazine=National Defense
 |access-date=2018-03-11
 }}</ref>

== Development ==
[[File:XM26 0126 highRes.jpg|thumb|left|Soldier with M26-MASS mounted onto an M4 in underbarrel configuration. Note that this M26-MASS is missing the front sight folded over the barrel.]]
[[File:XM-26 Shotgun.JPG|thumb|left|Left side of M26-MASS showing bolt handle.]]

The M26-MASS is a lightweight underbarrel shotgun configured to be secured to a main rifle, developed by [[C-More Systems]] and manufactured by Vertu Corporation<ref>[http://www.tactical-life.com/online/special-weapons/us-armys-m26-mass-12-gauge/ US Army’s M26 Mass 12 Gauge]. Tactical-Life.com. Retrieved on 2013-01-22.</ref> and originally marketed toward [[United States Special Operations Command|special operations forces]]. It attracted the interest of soldiers being [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|deployed to Afghanistan]] who wanted a lightweight system that could eliminate the need to carry additional weapons.

The M26-MASS had been in development at the [[United States Army|U.S. Army]]'s Soldier Battle Lab since the late 1990s. The idea was to provide soldiers with lightweight accessory weapons which could be mounted underbarrel of the standard issue [[M16 rifle]] or [[M4 carbine]]. These would provide soldiers with additional capabilities, such as: door breaching using special [[Slug (projectile)|slug]]s, very short-range increased [[lethality]] using 00 [[Shotgun shell|buckshot]], and [[Non-lethal weapon|less-lethal]] capabilities using [[Riot control agent|teargas]] shells, rubber slugs, rubber pellets, or other non-lethal rounds.

The original idea was based on the [[Knight's Armament Company Masterkey]] system, which dates back to the 1980s and originally comprised a shortened, tube-fed [[Remington 870]] shotgun mounted under an M16 rifle or M4 carbine. The M26-MASS improved upon the original Masterkey concept with a detachable magazine option and more comfortable handling, thanks to a bolt-operated system which is manually cycled for reloading and is characterized by a bolt which must be moved backward to remove a spent case and forward to chamber a new cartridge. The relatively large bolt handle is located closer to the rear rather than the slide on the Masterkey pump shotgun, and thus is easier to cycle in combat. The handle can be easily attached on either side of the bolt. The detachable magazine offers quicker reloading and change of ammunition types.

The M26-MASS was chosen by the U.S. Military over the Masterkey as a breaching tool.<ref>[http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2010/02/16/the-c-more-m26-may-be-available-to-civilians/ The C-MORE M26-MASS may be available to civilians]. The Firearm Blog (2010-02-16). Retrieved on 2013-01-22.</ref> Small numbers of M26-MASS shotguns were issued to U.S. troops in Afghanistan. The current contract calls for the delivery of 9,000 shotguns.<ref name="nationaldefensemagazine.org"/> In February 2012, the first unit was fully equipped with M26-MASS.<ref>[https://www.army.mil/article/74101/101st_Airborne_s__Strike__brigade_first_Army_unit_issued_M26_shotgun/ 101st Airborne's 'Strike' brigade first Army unit issued M26-MASS shotgun | Article | The United States Army]. Army.mil (2012-02-17). Retrieved on 2013-01-22.</ref> At the same time the U.S. Army is in the process of replacing the [[Mossberg 500|M500s]] with the M26s.

=== War in Afghanistan ===
In May 2008, the Army announced it would procure 35,000 units.<ref>[http://www.defense-update.com/newscast/0508/news/news3005_m26.htm U.S. Army set to buy 35,000 M-26 Rifle/Shotguns] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207022019/http://www.defense-update.com/newscast/0508/news/news3005_m26.htm |date=7 February 2009 }}. defense-update.com. Retrieved on 2013-01-22.</ref> The first M26-MASS shotguns were procured and fielded to military police and engineer units in 2010. However, some units in both Iraq and Afghanistan were issued the M26-MASS in small quantities as early as 2003.<ref>{{cite web|title=Improved carbines headed your way|url=http://www.armytimes.com/news/2011/04/army-improved-carbines-heading-your-way-043011w/|publisher=Gannett Government Media Corporation|access-date=30 April 2011|author=Lance M. Bacon|date=30 April 2011}}</ref> Full initial fielding began in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/2010armament/TuesdayLandmarkBTamilio.pdf|title=Project Manager Soldier Weapons Briefing for NDIA|last=Fuller|first=BG Peter N.|author2=COL Douglas A. Tamilio|date=18 May 2010|work=[[PEO Soldier]]|publisher=United States Army|access-date=28 October 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111114024552/http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/2010armament/TuesdayLandmarkBTamilio.pdf|archive-date=14 November 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==Specifications==
[[File:PEO M26 MASS Stand-alone.jpg|thumb|M26-MASS Stand-alone configuration. Note that the "rear sight" is just the ring used to mount it around a rifle's barrel (as visible in the other pictures.)]]
*Caliber: [[Gauge (bore diameter)|12 gauge]]
*Operation: Manual Straight pull [[Bolt action|bolt-action]].
*Capacity: 3 or 5 round detachable [[Magazine (firearms)|box magazine]].
*Ammunition: 2.75 (70mm) and 3 in (76mm) lethal, non-lethal and [[breaching round]]s.
*Barrel length: 7.75 in (197 mm) with integral breaching stand-off adapter.
*Under-barrel configuration:
**Overall length: 16.5 in (419 mm)
**Weight: 2 lb 11 oz (1.22 kg)
*Stand-alone configuration:
**Overall length: 24 in (610 mm) (stock collapsed)
**Weight: 4 lb 3 oz (1.90 kg)

==See also==
*[[Combat shotgun]]
*[[KAC Masterkey]]
*[[List of individual weapons of the U.S. Armed Forces]] ([[List of individual weapons of the U.S. Armed Forces#Shotguns|Shotguns]])
*[[M203 grenade launcher]]
*[[M320 Grenade Launcher Module]]
*[[MAUL (shotgun)]]
*[[Saiga-12]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons and category|XM26 LSS|M26 Modular Accessory Shotgun System}}
*[http://www.cmorecomp.com C-More Competition website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110523225318/https://peosoldier.army.mil/factsheets/SW_IW_M26.pdf M26-MASS 12 Gauge Modular Accessory Shotgun System (MASS)] Fact sheet
*[http://www.securityarms.com/20010315/galleryfiles/2700/2764.htm Security Arms]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20041013005545/http://www.world.guns.ru/shotgun/sh28-e.htm Modern Firearms]
*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/m26.htm Global Security]
*[https://patents.google.com/patent/US7000345 patent]

{{ModernUSInfWeaponsNav}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}

[[Category:Bolt-action shotguns]]
[[Category:Underbarrel weapons]]
[[Category:Shotguns of the United States]]