The Military Model 77E had a noticeably shorter stocks than similar United States military shotguns built by Ithaca Gun Company, Remington Arms, and Winchester Repeating Arms Company.
These short stocks were intended to accommodate South Vietnamese soldiers, and the Military Model 77E was the first United States combat shotgun equipped with a rubber recoil pad.
Military Model 77E shotguns were Parkerized with sling swivels and wooden stocks.
A few Stevens Model 69R shotguns also saw service during the Vietnam War.
Breakage at the point of attachment of the buttstock to the receiver was the most common complaint.