M37

The M37 Shotgun is a shotgun used by Naked Snake during the Virtuous Mission and Operation Snake Eater.

Overview
The M37 is an American-made shotgun. First appearing in 1937, the Ithaca M37 is sometimes called the "Featherlight" due to its light weight. MGS3's M37 has a sawed-off barrel and stock, further reducing the weight to 2.9 kg (6.4 lbs), which is exceptionally light for a shotgun. It carries four 12-gauge shells in a tube magazine and operates using a pump action, meaning there is a delay in between shots. Many guards carry the M37, and Snake can even use one himself. The M37 is extremely powerful, capable of blowing enemies away and doing serious damage. Most guards will be killed in one blast, but the shot's effectiveness decreases over range. The Pain's hornet shield can be penetrated by three shotgun blasts, leaving him vulnerable. The M37 also has a slow reload rate and this can be a deadly giveaway in combat since it only carries 4 rounds. A strategy to prevent such reload is to quickly un-equip it and re-equip it again which then is present with a full magazine.

The M37 is also used by the Ocelot Unit though is in somewhat limited numbers. The shotgun is very effective against The Pain, especially when he uses his hornets to shield himself away from bullets though two or three blasts is enough to drive the hornets away. It is also a countermeasure against attack team troops carrying bullet-proof shields since most guns can't penetrate the shield without using almost a full magazine.

Location
Snake obtains the M37 in Rassvet during the Virtuous Mission, though loses it once he is thrown into a river in Dolinovodno by The Boss. During Operation Snake Eater, Snake obtains the shotgun in Chyornaya Peschera Cave, immediately before the battle against The Pain.