Best Shotguns For Hunting, Defense & Sport: Tested By A Firearms Expert
Updated: 14 minutes ago
The best shotgun depends on how you plan to use it. Here I compare the different types and explain the pros and cons of each.
FYI, prices and ratings are accurate as of time of writing.
Best Shotguns Reviewed in This Guide:
Best Tactical Semi-Auto Shotgun → jump to Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol
Best Bullpup Shotgun → jump to Tokarev TBP 12
Best Side-by-Side Shotgun → jump to Heritage Manufacturing Badlander
Best M4-Style Semi-Auto Shotgun → jump to MAC-1014 Marine
Best Turkey Shotgun → jump to Retay Gordion Turkey
Best AR-Style Semi-Auto Shotgun → jump to Tokarev TAR-12P
Best Over/Under Shotgun → jump to Browning Citori 725 Feather
Best All-Purpose Pump-Action Shotgun → jump to Mossberg 500 Retrograde Field
Best Tactical Pump-Action Shotgun → jump to Winchester SXP Trench
Best Hunting Pump-Action Shotgun → jump to Benelli Nova 3
As shotgun configurations may differ between manufacturers and retailers, the models I link may not always match every specification of the ones I review.
1. Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol - Best Tactical Semi-Auto Shotgun
HIGHLIGHT:
Sleek and stylish like a tuxedo on a shotgun, very dependable like a good set of jeans.
BERETTA STYLING:
This may be the best-looking shotgun ever made. I said it was like a tuxedo, and I meant it, but it also reminds me of the SR-71 Blackbird super plane. Not only is this thing good-looking, but it also works like a Beretta is expected to.
SEMI-AUTO ACTION:
Unlike the old-world semi-auto shotguns from way back, just short of the dinosaurs, this one works like a well-made watch. It weighs about the same as a pump shotgun and is easy to carry around, even easier with a sling, but that would be for tactical work.
HUNTING LIMITATIONS:
I am not sure this is a shotgun choice for trap or hunting birds. If this were the only shotgun I had, I wouldn't be handicapped in the field; if I could get more of a birdgun as well, that's what I would do, in my world anyway.
TACTICAL SETUP:
The A300 Ultima Patrol comes with rifle sights, so it is made for tactical applications and is amazing at that kind of work. It's easy to use and has many advantages from the engineers who work there; as expected, most new shotgun ideas come from Beretta, yeah, I said it. What I like is that it's standard: the extended charging handle on the bolt is easy to find and can be used with the side of my hand, and aggressively if needed.
RIFLE SIGHTS:
The sights are standard rifle sights. Well, standard rifle sights that are put on a shotgun anyway. They did add a small Picatinny rail in front of the rear sight that mounts a red dot, like it is waiting for one that should be on the way. The front sight is my favorite for shotguns: a fiber-optic red tube that lights up like a red dot when it collects light, making it easy to get a sight picture in a hurry.
BOLT CONTROL:
Beretta designed and installed the best bolt-release idea I have seen; push it in, and it lets the bolt run home. It's right where your fingers wrap around underneath, and it is sweet. The lever also lifts it out, and you can unload the round; how amazing is that?
SHELL CARRIER:
On the side of the receiver, it has a Velcro strip where you can attach an ammo carrier if you want. From my time shooting and flat-out abusing shotguns, my worry would be pushing that shell carrier right off the side of this gun. I didn't use this in the field or toss it in the back of the RZR like I usually do, so I can't say whether it'll hold up; the range also wasn't set up to test their equipment that way, so I couldn't.
Get it from Palmetto now: $949.00 & FREE Returns
2. Tokarev TBP 12 - Best Bullpup Shotgun
HIGHLIGHT:
Very sleek design and good handling, AR-style controls.
REPUTATION:
The Tokarev name has a close, warm, fuzzy feeling in my heart. I think this may be one of the world's most overlooked manufacturers. These folks have been building guns for about a million years and take the no-frills, flawless function to heart.
METAL CONSTRUCTION:
The biggest selling point of this shotgun is its weight; it's a heavy gun meant to be used as-built. When heavy-hitting ammo hits my shoulder, I'm glad it's heavy, and they use a high-quality rubber recoil pad, a thick one at that.
AMMO COMPATIBILITY:
Tokarev has no limit on shooting slugs, so that makes me like it a bit more. For whatever reason, I have a hard time getting into distance shooting with a bullpup, so I know it will run them like a trooper. Still, I can't speak to 50-yard accuracy. The heavy shot is needed to operate the action. It hits like a ton and shortens a range day, but it will eat up anything I put into it except the mini shells; again, the action type doesn't like the short shells.
OPTICS & ACCESSORIES:
The Picatinny rail runs the entire length of the top, making sight placement easy and comfortable for the shooter and providing a huge flat plane to mount whatever type of optic anyone wants to experience. The foregrip is built into the stock and has mounting slots on the front for, say, a light and a remote switch on the other side.
MAGAZINES & FINISHES:
The magazines can be loaded with five rounds and purchased in packs of up to 20, so you won't run out of firepower with this choice. The action is smooth, and the machining is exactly what I expected from Tokarev. The one I was using had the standard black finish. Still, a quick look at their webpage shows the results of a Cerakote finish and a reformed graffiti artist. The American flag finish really catches my eye; I don't know why I need one finished that way, but I really do.
ERGONOMICS:
If I had one hang-up with this gun, it would be the grip. It's not that I don't like it; it just felt a little weird in my hand, and that may just be how it felt that day. I definitely wouldn't let the grip issue keep me from buying one. Like almost all the bullpup shotguns I've used, it's the weight of packing this all day; it needs a sling to help carry the load. Luckily, slings are everywhere and affordable.
Get it from Palmetto now: $349.99 & FREE Returns
3. Heritage Manufacturing Badlander - Best Side-by-Side Shotgun
HIGHLIGHT:
The metal finish and dual triggers pulled me directly to this coach gun; the price kept me.
COACH GUN:
When I thought I was done, with a notebook full of stuff and a slightly sore shoulder, I was headed out of the range and going home. Then I saw this double barrel and had to stop and take a look. To my surprise, Heritage Manufacturing made it. The same folks build my little .22 LR revolvers, and for the price of the revolver, I got a bit more excited.
METAL FINISH:
First, let's look at how awesome this double-barrel side-by-side gun looks, even before we get to how it works; to me, this thing looks like a movie star. The barrels, action, barrel locks, and trigger guard are all visible metal, not shiny, but brushed, and it is, to say the forbidden words, damn sexy. The stock is flat black and only adds to the awesome appeal.
BREAK ACTION:
When I opened the breech, I expected the same rough function as cheap revolvers, and I am happy to report it was smooth. The barrels look like a perfect prop to take a picture through, and they are shiny and smooth. The locking mechanism and ejectors are flawless. This, of course, was a brand-new gun, so it hadn't had 1000 shells put through it yet, but it will very soon. When I loaded this gun with the snap caps, they slipped right in because we were in the lobby. Then the extractors flung them out and over my shoulder; that was so cool the salesperson had to ask me to stop playing around with the gun in the lobby.
SIZE & FIT:
The stock fit into my shoulder just fine, and my eye easily found the front bead sitting proud of the center rib. This shotgun, with its short 18.5-inch barrels, is very light, especially compared to other older side-by-sides. Let's get serious and honest here for a second: I am a very 5XL guy; this gun was a little small for me, but for a, let's say, slimmer frame, this would work very well.
WALNUT STOCK:
Let me step back to one thing I should have spent more time on: the stock. The stock and foregrip are dark, flat black, and made from Turkish walnut. Finally, a new gun with old-world wood, and it feels like it. The way the wood feels in my hands, I have no idea why, but for some reason, it seems like a better gun. That is, of course, ridiculous, but it feels that way to me.
CHOKES & FIELD USE:
I forgot to mention this shotgun comes with interchangeable screw-in chokes. For anyone looking to get a coach gun to strap to the handlebars or the roll cage of a side-by-side, this would be a good choice; just remember the wood can't play in the rain and mud as well as synthetic furniture.
Get it from Palmetto now: $703.99 & FREE Returns
4. MAC-1014 Marine - Best M4-Style Semi-Auto Shotgun
HIGHLIGHT:
Gas-operated semi-auto, so it can shoot lighter loads = more training.
NICKEL PLATING:
Here is one that I gravitated to, mostly because I thought it was a semi-auto M4-style shotgun, but this time in stainless. It turns out it isn't made of stainless steel; it is nickel-plated for marine use. The biggest issue I have with plating versus stainless is that the internals aren't stainless, and it is sold for marine environments.
GAS OPERATION:
Here is my favorite part of this gun: it is gas-operated, so I did not need to use the heavy shot, and if anyone picks up one of these (and they are affordable, too), they can get many more hours of training. Not only does the gas-operated semi-auto allow lighter shells for reduced recoil, but the lighter shells are also much less expensive.
AMMO VERSATILITY:
The gas-operated system makes the shooting experience more pleasant. It also lets you use different shot sizes and ammo types. The gun will come with a set of chokes similar to the Benelli, so if someone wanted to or needed to, they could hunt birds or shoot clays. I know Stoeger shotguns work this way, and lots of birds have been taken with them, so this one wouldn't be much different.
GAS SYSTEM:
The one thing I see with this shotgun that may be a problem is shooting the life out of it, because it will shoot more affordable shells. Like a lot of AR15 guns, with affordable ammo and target shooting for pleasure, the round count gets high in a hurry, because why would anyone not want to do that? With a semi-auto, gas-operated shotgun, the main thing to watch for as rounds and weather add up is gas seal wear and tear. If the gun starts short-stroking the action, or not opening the bolt all the way, the gas system may need attention. This isn't a big problem as long as it is within the warranty period.
WARRANTY & PARTS:
As for the warranty period, it's one year, followed by MAC's Lifetime Service Plan for qualifying defects in materials or workmanship. The seals or other bolt parts should be available, but it may take a while to get the parts to the shop. So, if this needs some professional help, make sure you are not in a hurry for opening day.
Get it from Palmetto now: $498.99 & FREE Returns
5. Retay Gordion Turkey - Best Turkey Shotgun
HIGHLIGHT:
Built as a turkey gun from the first minute it comes to life.
HUNTING USE:
If you are a turkey hunter, this is the gun for you. If you're a duck or goose hunter, this will also become your new best friend. The way this shotgun is engineered is amazing and clearly built for hunting. Retay is setting a new standard in hunting shotguns by going back a few decades and not building a platform that does a little bit of everything.
BARREL DESIGN:
Retay has a deep bore claim, which means this barrel is drilled from one end to the other. Many other manufacturers hammer a barrel over a mandrel; these guys don't, so the barrel is straight. They drill the bore first, then shape the barrel to be exactly concentric with it. Another world-class thing Retay does is use a longer forcing cone, which lines up the shot and helps prevent it from bunching together and deforming the pellets.
SHOT PATTERN:
In simple terms, all of this adds up to higher accuracy. And I can hear it now: shotguns don't need to be accurate; the shot spreads, and on and on. When hunting turkeys, that shot must stay tight; that is a big, tough bird, not like knocking down a one-pound dove. When you take more care to form the shot, let it ride out of the cup or wad and leave the barrel more in control; that dinner bird's days are numbered.
VERSATILITY & WEIGHT
Can I use this for shooting clays? In a word: yep. Can I use it to hunt rabbits? Again, yep. Is this light enough that packing it around all day will not make my arms tired? Nope. Because of how this gun is made, it will be heavier than others, so be ready for that. Not so heavy that you will need a wagon to haul it all day hunting pheasants, but it will weigh more; the barrel is a hunting-length barrel, and that alone makes it heavier.
INERTIA ACTION:
The semi-auto action is amazing and probably its best feature. The bolt rotates like an AR15 to lock up. But it's inertia-operated, so there is no gas seal ring to wear out. It uses Retay's Inertia Plus system. I love it because it's designed to keep the bolt head fully in battery.
HUNTING CONFIGURATIONS:
For an old guy, this is a Cadillac of guns. When I looked up their webpage, they offer this in just about every configuration: stocks the way it says in the bible, and pistol-grip stocks for the folks that like that setup. I think they offer every type of camo finish. However, I don't speak the camo-finish language to know which is better, so that's up to the buyer to decide. Or just get the coolest-looking one; that seems to fill up my gun safe. Either way, you will enjoy this shotgun for many years to come.
Get it from Palmetto now: $879.99 & FREE Returns
6. Tokarev TAR-12P - Best AR-Style Semi-Auto Shotgun
HIGHLIGHT:
Ready to go right out of the box, this machine is stacked.
FACTORY SETUP:
Holy cow, this thing is tough. For a manufacturer that should be better at building an AK platform, they have perfected building an AR-platform shotgun. Everything I would add or improve on this gun comes from the factory.
FIXED STOCK:
The downside is that the stock cannot telescope, so it's a better fit from the start. I am pretty dang sure there is no way to build it on this platform and have a telescoping stock on a 12-gauge. That is the only downside I found.
AMBIDEXTROUS CONTROLS:
This is a fully ambi setup from the start, and it works like a champ. The AR controls are exactly where I expect them; it is funny how much I reach for the controls in my familiar spot when I shoot semi-auto shotguns that aren't AR-style. Even with my old Remington 1100, which I have owned for almost an eternity, I still reach for the AR location, especially the slide release.
OPTIC MOUNTING:
The flat top of this shotgun comes with flip-up open sights and enough Picatinny rail to mount an optic and one of the thermals this bad boy is begging to have mounted. If, for some reason, someone puts an LPVO scope on the gun and shoots slugs, if this is the shotgun you would choose to hunt deer back east, there is more than enough room for whatever it desires.
ACCESSORY MOUNTS:
The foregrip has some setups for M-LOK, plus mounts for the flashlight and remote switch, so I'd say 2 o'clock and 10 o'clock just to paint a picture. I wouldn't worry too much about making this gun heavier by adding stuff; it's already freaking heavy, so no one would carry it far unless they are a truly strong human.
CHOKES & RECOIL:
Tokarev includes a full set of chokes and a wrench with this gun, and as a gas-operated unit, it will have lower recoil. This gun will take many hours of practice; soon, the new owner will operate it as smoothly as I operate my old pheasant gun, which has been carried all over Utah and pointed at almost everything that can be hunted.
Get it from Palmetto now: $243.99 & FREE Returns
7. Browning Citori 725 Feather - Best Over/Under Shotgun
HIGHLIGHT:
The most desired over/under shotgun on the trap field; let's take a look.
HERITAGE & QUALITY:
The Browning name is old; especially in Utah, he was, or should be considered, one of our founding fathers for the state. His legacy lives on forever, I think. Browning is an old American gun-maker name, and they're currently made in Japan. The quality of the guns they turn out is impeccable, and the price tag shows how proud they are of the product.
TRAP SHOOTING:
I see more Citori on the trap line than I do in the field. Still, when hunting I don't spend much time looking at everyone else's shotgun unless it's back at the truck; then what else are we gonna talk about? From shooting a Citori on the trap range a few times, I can see why everyone loves them, and I think some of that may be the bragging rights.
BRAND APPEAL:
Browning has done an excellent job marketing; nearly every truck in Utah has the Brown & Brown buck sticker in the rear window. They even have some in pink to attract the ladies. Most women hunters I know couldn't care less about the pink sticker and go with the camo, and to that I say: Yeah, why not if that's what ya like. You can also read my full Browning Citori 725 review for more details about field use, including handling, reliability, and the trigger.
STOCK & LOCKUP:
My main love of Brownings is the walnut stocks and the general pride they take in their products; they build each gun like it's special, and it shows. The barrels pivot smoothly, the lockup is solid and does not need to be snapped into place; just a gentle push, and it's golden. I think of Browning guns like a Leupold scope; that golden ring is there for a reason.
TRAP HANDLING:
The barrels are straight and true, and long. This makes swing after clays smooth and enjoyable. The chokes always fit and release without issue, at least for me. Nothing in the world seems easier to shoot trap with than a 20-gauge over/under. I know some folks will hate me for not saying 12 gauge, but that's what I have found.
ACTION ENGRAVING:
The other thing about Browning shotguns is that they've stuck to their roots by engraving the actions. I am sure it's laser-engraved, and I am fine with that. Other folks want it to be old-school hand-engraved, and there is nothing wrong with that, but it's gonna cost ya. I enjoy looking at and admiring the craftsmanship and pride in manufacturing that this company presents. Now, if they could do something to make the chokes hanging out at the end of the barrels not look so dumb, we'd have perfect global harmony.
Get it from Palmetto now: $2,859.99 & FREE Returns
8. Mossberg 500 Retrograde Field - Best All-Purpose Pump-Action Shotgun
HIGHLIGHT:
Retro and amazing, just like my old shotgun, except it's brand new.
MOSSBERG EXPERIENCE:
Since I have been on a bit of a retro tangent for this article, there is another throwback on the field, and that one comes from Mossberg. My favorite shotgun, the 12 gauge in the closet for unwelcome folks at night, is a Mossberg, and I absolutely love it. I like the Sipahi a lot. I am one of their dealers, but nothing fits my world like that grey metal Mossberg.
FIELD WEIGHT:
The shotgun I love so much for bad guys is the Mossberg 590, and it has an extended 20-inch barrel. The barrel is thick and heavy enough to slam into a door without bending. The Model 500 isn't that creature; it's a hunting gun, so it's light enough to carry all day. The Model 500 I have for doves and small upland game is in 20 gauge, even lighter to carry even longer.
CORNCOB FOREGRIP:
This retro model has moved away from plastic stocks and gone back to wood stocks and a foregrip. The foregrip is also a throwback to the good old days and is made in the corncob fashion, with the grooves cut all the way around it. The great thing about the corn cob profile is that it's smaller, so someone with smaller hands will feel more comfortable working the pump. That is not to say big ol' meat hooks like mine feel out of place; it just works well for smaller hands.
STOCK MATERIAL:
I went all over Mossberg's webpage to find the type of wood this stock combo is made from, because I thought it was probably pressed wood and wanted to be sure. The Retrograde stock and foregrip are actually made from walnut. This type of wood really fits this old-school shotgun. I am sure the 20 gauge I love is also walnut, so be very careful not to drop it in water, or it might swell.
SAFETY & ACTION:
By placing the safety tab on the back of the receiver, this gun is automatically ambidextrous. The bolt uses a twin extractor set and action rods, so there's no twisting happening when you work that pump like a madman in the field. The receiver is drilled and tapped to mount modern optics, or you can go old school and just use the bead.
VERSATILITY & AFTERMARKET:
Here is the thing with the model 500: it will do anything, and I mean anything. If I need a short barrel, I can unscrew the end cap, remove the hunting length, and replace it with the 18.5. I can get a rifled barrel and hunt big game with slugs. I can also use it to shoot clays; it's a true Swiss Army knife. And the aftermarket has made just about everything that bolts onto a shotgun for this model. I would never hesitate to get one of these; if available and within reach, get one.
Get it from Palmetto now: $525.99 & FREE Returns
9. Winchester SXP Trench - Best Tactical Pump-Action Shotgun
HIGHLIGHT:
A throwback to a classic, this is a true trench gun.
FIXED CHOKE:
Talk about a true retro gun. The advancements that Winchester has made are all here, but the focused, purpose-built trench gun is back, and it's extremely cool. This trench gun isn't a bird-hunting gun; the fixed choke is wide open. Unless you hunt birds that fly right at the hunter, this may be handy to have around. So unlike others that can pull double duty if needed, the wide-open choke and no rifling limit its hunting applications.
CHROME-LINED BARREL:
This shotgun has a fully chrome-lined barrel, so it can eat and shoot just about anything you put in it. Slugs, buckshot, and birdshot. This gun won't care.
WOOD FURNITURE:
The stock is old-school wood, which I really like, and the foregrip is a throwback as well to what is commonly called the "corn cob" style. The foregrip is basically round, with vertical grooves carved or cut, whatever it is called, from one end to the other, and it feels really good to old-timers like me. The wood is even the old oak-or-maple color stain, not all blacked out or some other newer color scheme.
HEAT SHIELD:
The finish is non-reflective flat black, like they used to do back in once upon a time. Here's something I haven't seen on a modern tactical-style shotgun: the heat shield. I have installed plenty of these, and I am sure the aftermarket makes one for every gun, but Winchester puts one on from the factory, and that is just like the old trench guns. The only thing missing to make it an exact replica is the bayonet lug.
SAFETY & SLIDE RELEASE:
The Winchester uses the same safety button behind the trigger guard, so if you are a Winchester or even a Remington shooter, it's still in the right place. The slide release is the updated SXP style, and that is great, especially if you are wearing gloves; that tiny release lever, I guess, is the right word, is a complete pain to me when wearing gloves.
BEAD SIGHT:
The sights on this gun are also old school, using the front golden bead instead of upgrading to rifle sights. For me, I would use one of the new fiber-optic clip-on "beads," which is a true game changer, and I love them. That is no knock to the Trench Gun; it is just something to consider if you are a Winchester fan like me.
Get it from Palmetto now: $370.99 & FREE Returns
10. Benelli Nova 3 - Best Hunting Pump-Action Shotgun
HIGHLIGHT:
Built like a modern sculpture, the Benelli is beautiful and works like a tank.
PUMP SMOOTHNESS:
Has anyone reading this ever known someone who owns a Benelli? If you do know anyone who owns one, you will know it; folks who own them love to tell everyone about them often. And folks talk about these for a reason; this thing is worth bragging about all the time. Nothing I have ever shot, as a pump gun, is smoother.
FURNITURE & OPTICS:
Before I talk about how they work, I have to talk about how gorgeous they are. Even the foregrip is damn sexy, and it's just a polymer item. Still, it is sculpted and presents like old-world braggin'-rights shotgun art. The pistol grip matches the foregrip in its styling and engraving; I guess it's called engraving. The finishes are basically all of them, so I won't get into black vs. camo and what kind of camo; that is what catalogs are for. The receiver is tapped and has the Picatinny rail installed, or mine did anyway when I took it off the wall to play around with it for a while.
MAGAZINE CUTOFF:
The thing I really enjoy and wish there were more of them on the market is the magazine cutoff. The cutoff lets you eject the chambered shell without loading a new one into the lifting tray. This is great for safety, but if this is the gun anyone chooses for tactical use, it will eject a buckshot round, drop in a slug, and get to work.
HUNTING & TACTICAL SETUPS:
If you order one in a full hunting kit, it will have the full-length vent rib, and to be honest, this hurts a little bit: the new vent ribs on this style of gun are better than the old ones. If you order the full tactical setup, it comes with rifle sights.
SHORT PUMP STROKE:
Now let's have a chat about how they work, and why everyone loves them, and some owners may not even know why, but for some reason they are easier to operate; there is a reason. The Benelli has a shorter pump-action stroke to operate the full-size bolt. This makes the action smoother, easier to operate, and, of course, faster. It was a long time before I discovered the manual and read that this is how the action worked, and that is the magic; leave it to the Italian gun makers to build a masterpiece that is beautiful and works like a watch.
Get it from Palmetto now: $549.99 & FREE Returns
