Facebook: http://facebook.com/XboxAhoy Twitter: http://twitter.com/xboxahoy This time, we're covering the Remington 870 MCS. Black Ops 2 marks the Remington's debut in Call of Duty - a pump-action weapon similar in role to the Stakeout in Black Ops. The Remington 870 MCS - or Modular Combat Shotgun - is an American weapon, with the original 870 design dating to 1951. It is Remington's flagship shotgun, and holds the record for the best-selling shotgun in history. The MCS configuration is a more recent introduction, with the first such systems delivered in 2004. Intended for military use, the MCS has the basic 870 action at its core - but comes with number of configuration options to help fit any role. With the option of 3 barrel lengths, a pistol grip, fixed or adjustable stock, amongst a whole host of other options - the MCS is a versatile platform, capable of firing a wide variety of 12 gauge cartridges. In-game, the Remington is a high damage shotgun - easily capable of one-shot kills at a close range. This damage quickly falls off, however - after just a few metres you'll find opponents need multiple shots to kill, and beyond that your pellets will fail to find their mark altogether. Shotguns trade long range utility for one-shot power, so you should seek to engage enemies at a close a range as possible. This one-shot potential is particularly important considering the Remington's very slow rate of fire - the pump-action requires a new round to be manually rechambered for every shot fired, limiting your output to just 80 rounds per minute. Hipfire spread is moderate - and with greater divergence than in previous titles, resulting in somewhat inconsistent performance from the hip. Aiming down your sights now confers a significant narrowing of pellet spread: so for consistent kills towards the edge of your effective range, it is definitely best to aim. Thanks to the slow rate of fire, recoil isn't a factor: your aim will recentre long before the next round is ready to fire. Aim time is the same as the assault rifles, at 250 milliseconds: and movement speed is the same too, at 95 percent of the maximum base speed. Magazine capacity is the lowest within the shotgun category, at 8 rounds - although the slow rate of fire will help prolong this. Extended Clip will take this to 11 rounds instead - although this attachment is less useful for the Remington, as reloads are conducted shell-by-shell. It takes 0.92 seconds for the first shell to insert, and 0.52 seconds for every subsequent one - this means a complete reload is a lengthy procedure, but quick partial top-ups can be done within a few seconds. It is a good habit to keep the tube topped up, then - should you run into a larger group of unaware opponents, it is best to have as many rounds at your disposal as possible. Good map knowledge is essential when using the shotguns - your goal should be to hit your enemy from an unexpected angle: strike from behind and force foes with long-range weapons into uncomfortable closer quarters. Stick to interior locations, and avoid sprinting through tighter spaces: instead keep your gun ready to preserve your time-to-kill advantage. When forced to traverse open areas, it's best to take it quickly: sprint via the shortest route to a covered location, to minimise the time you spend exposed. With crafty routes you can evade your enemy's sights, and leverage the shotgun's fearsome power. The Remington 870 MCS is a potent shotgun with a significant one-shot kill range. Only the KSG can reach further, but the Remington has the advantage of firing multiple pellets, reducing the need for precision aiming. This shot spread is useful in close-quarter situations, allowing snap shots from the hip to instantly kill, and denying the enemy a chance to fire back. Of course, you can't always guarantee close quarter gunfights - and outside of a short range you will be very vulnerable. Random shot spread means hipfire can sometimes be inconsistent, too - and the slow rate of fire means that you quickly lose your time-to-kill advantage when your first shot fails to kill. Still, not even the SMGs can compete with a well-placed hail of buckshot at a close range. So, if one-shot lethality and fast-paced gameplay is your thing, get close with the Remington... ...and pump some action into your performance.