Firearms expert Mike Schriever says the guns reportedly carried by Cole Allen during the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump show a strange mix of planning, legal compliance in California, and what Schriever described as limited practical firearms knowledge.
In a video for the Mrgunsngear Channel, Schriever broke down the firearms that the Department of Justice reportedly identified in photos released after the attack, including a Mossberg Maverick 88 shotgun and a Rock Island Armory 1911 chambered in .38 Super. He also discussed some of the guns seen in the hands of Secret Service and other law enforcement officers at the scene, including Glock 19 pistols, Sig Sauer M18 pistols, H&K MP7s, and rifles carried by counterassault teams.
Schriever said his goal was to add context for people who may not know much about firearms and were trying to understand what was being reported after the attack.
“What I’m going to do here is talk about what guns he used, pros and cons of them shortly, if you will, and just try to add a little bit of context for folks who are new to firearms,” Schriever said.
The Shotgun That Drew The Most Attention
Schriever said the firearm that received the most attention was the Mossberg Maverick 88 shotgun, which he showed in the video while explaining that the one reportedly used by Allen appeared similar, except for the stock.
He said the stock may have been added later, though Mossberg has sold the shotgun in different configurations over the years. The Maverick 88, Schriever explained, is known as an affordable and common pump-action shotgun, and it would have been available for sale in California.
That California detail mattered, he said, because Allen was reportedly from California and purchased the firearms there. Schriever noted that California has a roster and its own rules for what can be sold, which affects the kinds of guns a buyer can legally obtain.
“This gun is one of the options that would have been available,” Schriever said.
According to Schriever, the folding-style stock described in witness accounts may explain why one witness said the suspect appeared to be “putting the gun together.” Schriever said it was possible the witness saw the stock being unfolded rather than the shotgun being assembled from parts.
He said removing the barrel would not make that particular shotgun much easier to hide because of the fixed magazine tube, while folding the stock would make it more compact.
Why Schriever Called The Choice “Suboptimal”
Schriever said the acting attorney general stated that one round was fired from the shotgun. He also said the suspect reportedly wrote that he chose buckshot rather than slugs because of concerns about overpenetration.
Schriever described Allen as an intelligent person based on his background and the way he spoke in prior media appearances, but he said intelligence did not necessarily mean deep firearms knowledge.
He said the shotgun could certainly be dangerous, but he did not view it as an ideal choice for the apparent goal of attacking a heavily protected president inside a large venue.
“The choice of this particular firearm as the main gun to assassinate or potentially assassinate a president of the United States with is suboptimal, in my opinion,” Schriever said.
Schriever’s point was not that the firearm was harmless. Rather, he argued that the size of the venue, the nature of the ammunition, and the limits of the gun made it a less effective choice than some people might assume from the fear generated by the attack.
That is a useful reminder in public discussions after a high-profile crime. The weapon matters, but so do distance, training, security, movement, panic, and the response from armed protection.
The Rock Island 1911 In .38 Super
Schriever also discussed the handgun reportedly connected to Allen, describing it as a Rock Island Armory 1911 chambered in .38 Super.
He said the handgun would have been California-compliant and that he checked the California roster going back to 2017, finding that the reported model fit what could have been legally purchased there at the time.
The caliber stood out to Schriever because .38 Super is not the first chambering many people think of when they think of a 1911 pistol. He said it was popular in certain competition circles in the 1990s and early 2000s, which helped explain why a number of .38 Super guns appear on California’s roster.
“All of that makes sense,” Schriever said of the reported purchase.
Still, he said he did not consider the handgun an ideal choice for the kind of attack Allen allegedly tried to carry out. He described it as relatively heavy and relatively limited in capacity compared with many modern pistols.
Schriever said .38 Super is a capable handgun round, but he emphasized that handgun effectiveness depends heavily on accuracy and other practical factors, not simply caliber.
From the reporting Schriever had seen, he said it appeared the handgun may never have been used during the attack, with the shotgun being the only firearm seen in action at the scene.
What Secret Service Agents Were Seen Carrying
Schriever also shifted attention to the firearms carried by Secret Service and other law enforcement officers who responded.
He said many agents were seen with Glock 19 pistols, often paired with weapon-mounted lights and, in some cases, enclosed red dot optics. Schriever described the Glock 19 as a proven and widely used law enforcement pistol.
He said he had no criticism of that choice for protective work.
“It is a very good optic as well as, again, Glock 19, great choice by the Secret Service,” Schriever said.
Schriever also noted that some agents were seen with Sig Sauer M18 pistols, a variant of the P320 platform. He acknowledged that the P320 family has become controversial online, but said the M18 is used by the U.S. military and has also become popular in law enforcement.
Beyond handguns, Schriever pointed out that some federal personnel were seen with H&K MP7s, while Secret Service counterassault teams carried AR-style rifles equipped in different configurations.
His larger point was that the protective response included a range of modern firearms selected for different roles, from concealed or duty handguns to compact shoulder-fired weapons and rifles for specialized teams.
A Contrast Between The Suspect And The Security Response
The contrast in Schriever’s breakdown is clear: Allen reportedly arrived with a budget shotgun and a more unusual 1911 pistol, while the protective teams responded with modern duty pistols, compact weapons, and rifles used by trained personnel in coordinated security roles.
Schriever did not suggest that Allen’s guns were incapable of harm. The attack itself showed they were dangerous enough to create panic and force a major security response. But he did argue that the choices did not appear especially refined from a firearms standpoint.
“The gentleman based on what I’ve seen so far appears to be a very intelligent individual,” Schriever said. “That said, probably not super knowledgeable about firearms based on the choices here.”
That assessment may seem like a small technical point, but it matters in the way these incidents are discussed publicly. After an assassination attempt, people often speak about guns in broad emotional terms, while experts tend to separate the object itself from the skill, planning, and circumstances around it.
In this case, Schriever’s view was that the suspect had selected guns that were legally obtainable in California and dangerous in the obvious sense, but not especially suited to what he apparently intended to do.
California Rules And The Reported Purchases
Schriever repeatedly returned to California’s restrictions because they help explain the firearms that were reportedly involved.
He said California buyers do not have access to the same broad market as gun buyers in less restrictive states, because the state’s roster and rules shape what is available for purchase. That may help explain the Rock Island 1911 in .38 Super and the Mossberg Maverick 88, both of which fit within what Schriever described as California-compliant options.
The detail also connects to the broader political debate after the attack. Allen reportedly acquired the guns in a state known for strict gun laws, then carried them into Washington, D.C., where firearm possession is also heavily regulated.
Schriever’s video did not focus mainly on policy, but the facts he described naturally raise questions about what laws were already in place and what they did or did not prevent.
The Main Takeaway From The Breakdown
Schriever closed by saying he wanted to explain what was reportedly used and what Secret Service and law enforcement encountered at the scene.
He said Allen reportedly had a Mossberg Maverick 88 shotgun and a Rock Island 1911 in .38 Super, while agents on scene were seen with Glock 19s, Sig Sauer M18s, MP7s, and rifles used by counterassault teams.
“Could you have done worse? Yes,” Schriever said of the suspect’s reported choices. “Could you have picked things that were more appropriate for the role? Yes. Am I glad he didn’t do it? Yes. Am I glad he was unsuccessful? Of course.”
The attempted assassination was not just a firearms story, and it should not be reduced to one. It was a security failure narrowly avoided, a political violence case, and a reminder of how quickly a public event can turn dangerous.
But Schriever’s breakdown helps explain the tools involved without treating them as mysterious objects. According to his analysis, the suspect’s reported firearms were dangerous but not especially sophisticated choices, while the response from Secret Service and law enforcement showed the difference between a lone attacker and trained protective teams equipped for a crisis.
A former park ranger and wildlife conservationist, Lisa’s passion for survival started with her deep connection to nature. Raised on a small farm in northern Wisconsin, she learned how to grow her own food, raise livestock, and live off the land. Lisa is our dedicated Second Amendment news writer and also focuses on homesteading, natural remedies, and survival strategies. Lisa aims to help others live more sustainably and prepare for the unexpected.
