The Origin Of The Shotgun Hit

Shotgunning in Vietnam: The Real Story Behind Soldiers Smoking Weed Out of Shotgun Barrels

Published: April 2026 | Category: History & Military Oddities

When people hear the term “shotgunning” today, they usually think of forcing smoke from a joint or bong into someone’s mouth for a quick, intense hit. But the slang has a much older — and wilder — origin that dates back to the jungles of Vietnam in 1970.

Yes, it’s true. American soldiers really did smoke marijuana out of the barrel of an unloaded shotgun.

The Scene: Fire Support Base Aries, November 1970

In a small jungle clearing about 50 miles northeast of Saigon, in an area known as War Zone D, a documentary crew captured something unforgettable. A group of U.S. soldiers at Fire Support Base Aries were unwinding after patrols. One of them, a 20-year-old squad leader named Vito from Philadelphia, demonstrated their favorite way to get high: using a 12-gauge shotgun they affectionately nicknamed “Ralph.”

Here’s exactly how it worked:

• The soldiers first pumped the shotgun to eject every shell, ensuring the weapon was completely unloaded.
• They inserted the stem of a small smoking pipe (bowl loaded with marijuana) into the open chamber, stem-first.
• One soldier blew hard into the bowl, forcing a massive cloud of thick smoke down the long barrel.
• The others took turns inhaling directly from the muzzle end — getting an enormous hit in one go.
• Then they passed the shotgun around like a giant communal pipe.

It was efficient, required almost no extra gear, and delivered a seriously potent experience in the middle of a war zone.02

Where Did the Photos and Footage Come From?

The moment was documented by journalists and photographers, including footage and stills from AP photographer Jim Wells. The images and short film clips show young GIs laughing, relaxing, and taking massive hits from the barrel of the shotgun at their base camp. The shotgun in question was often a Stevens 77E model, commonly used by troops at the time.1

These visuals quickly circulated and helped cement the practice in popular memory — even inspiring references in later films and stories about the Vietnam War.

Context: Marijuana Use Was Widespread in Vietnam

By the late 1960s and early 1970s, marijuana use among U.S. troops had become extremely common as a way to cope with the stress, boredom, and trauma of the war. Surveys from the era estimated that over 50% of soldiers in Vietnam had tried or regularly used cannabis. The “shotgun” method was just one creative improvisation born from limited supplies and plenty of downtime at firebases.19

It wasn’t about tobacco cigarettes (though troops did smoke those too, sometimes lighting them on hot gun barrels after sustained fire). This was specifically for weed — and it gave the world the modern slang term “shotgunning” a hit.

Was It Dangerous?

The guns were always unloaded before use, and the practice happened away from combat. Still, it was a quirky, improvised ritual that reflected the unique mix of counterculture influences and the realities of life in Vietnam. No one was firing the shotgun while using it as a pipe — that would have been disastrous.

Today, the story serves as a fascinating footnote in both military history and cannabis culture.

Legacy of the “Ralph” Shotgun

The 1970 footage and photos remain some of the most striking visual records of soldier life during the later years of the Vietnam War. They show not just the method, but the camaraderie and brief moments of escape that soldiers created for themselves amid the chaos.

Next time someone offers to “shotgun” a hit, you’ll know the term has a much deeper — and smokier — history than most people realize.

What do you think? Did you know about this unusual Vietnam-era practice? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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Sources & Further Reading:

• Contemporary footage and photos from Fire Support Base Aries, 1970
• AP photographer Jim Wells
• Documentary clips showing the “Ralph” shotgun in action

Thanks for reading this slice of military and cultural history!