For more than 100 years, the Civilian Marksmanship Program has been helping to train and educate Americans on marksmanship and true gun safety... as well as offering civilians the opportunity to purchase government surplus firearms.
The CMP has long offered M1 Garand rifles for sale, and in 2018 added M1911/M1911AI pistols for purchase as well. Now the CMP is poised to bring military surplus shotguns to customers.
🚨BREAKING🚨@HASCRepublicans release annual NDAA draft text that would—for the first time ever—authorize the sale of certain military surplus shotguns through the Civilian Marksmanship Program. pic.twitter.com/56EPlFiqm1
— Gun Owners of America (@GunOwners) December 8, 2025
As GOA notes, this is the draft text of the National Defense Authorization Act released by the House Armed Services Committee, so the language is subject to change and modification as it goes through the legislative process. If it remains intact, though, the CMP would receive a one-time transfer of surplus pump-action shotguns no longer needed by the military
The NDAA doesn't provide an estimate of how many shotguns we're talking about, nor does it discuss specific makes and models. The military primarily uses the Mossberg 590A1, but some branches also use the Mossberg 500 and Remington 870. It's also possible that some older shotguns, like the Ithaca Model 37, Remington Model 10/31, Winchester Model 1912/1200, which were all used in conflicts dating back to the Vietnam War, might also be available through the CMP if the current language in the NDAA makes it to Donald Trump's desk.
The Civilian Marksmanship Program's primary purpose is, as the name suggests, marksmanship. For many folks, though, the CMP offers a way to own a piece of history at a relatively affordable price. When I lived in northern Virginia, my next-door neighbor purchased an M1 Garand from the CMP and couldn't wait to show it off to me. His dad carried an M1 Garand during his stint in the Coast Guard, and he was thrilled to add a Garand to his own collection.
Though Congress has oversight over the CMP, the program does not receive any Defense Department funds (or money from other agencies, for that matter). Instead, the CMP is a federally chartered, non-profit corporation that raises money primarily through the sale of surplus guns and ammunition. Buyers must be affiliated with a CMP affiliated club, be an active duty service member (including the National guard), or belong to veterans’ organizations charted by Congress or a 501(c)3 law enforcement organization.
Those purchases, in turn, help fund the CMP's marksmanship programs. In 2022, the CMP hosted more than 3,000 competitors at shooting events including the CMP National Matches, while more than 20,000 shooters visited the CMP Talladega Marksmanship Park (home to the Talladega 600 and D-Day Matches, among other competitions). From what I can tell, the CMP doesn't currently host any shotgun competitions, but I wonder if that might change if and when it starts to sell military surplus shotguns.
Adding those arms to the CMP's offerings would provide a valuable financial boost to the non-profit, while providing interested civilians with the opportunity to own their own small piece of history. I can't imagine that this will be controversial enough that it's removed from the NDAA, but given the anti-gun machinations of so many Democrats in the House and Senate its still worth contacting your congresscritter and urge them to keep this provision in place as the budget bill moves forward.
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