Most duck hunters head to the patterning board after buying a new shotgun to see how their gun shoots and identify where the shotshell pellets are striking paper. You might think the results are indicative of where that payload will hit greenheads and honkers come fall. But pattering your autoloader at the range is only the beginning. It tells you what a gun will do if you point it at a target and pull the trigger, sure. But that’s not how we shoot waterfowl. Unless turkey season is around the corner, I don’t actually pattern my guns on paper targets anymore. I head to the skeet range with an assortment of choke tubes and duck loads. Then I start shooting, and I don’t stop until I find the best combination of choke and ammo for that gun. That gives me a better sense of how the gun is going to perform on birds.

Since you might not have the money (or time) to get your hands on several choke tubes and types of ammo, I talked to some of the most hardcore waterfowlers I know—none of whom have sponsor or brand affiliations—to find out their go-to gun, choke, and load combo. You might be surprised to learn that those high-end bismuth and tungsten shotshells didn’t make everyone’s list. In my experience, you don’t need a custom shotshell if your gun is properly choked for the ammo you’re shooting. But as legendary king eider guide Russ Owen always says, what works for me may not work for you.

So here are some different options to consider before your next waterfowl hunt.

1. Shelby Kirby

Destin, Florida

In the summer, Kirby and her husband Chris run a fishing charter, but once fall hits they are off to Canada (when there’s no pandemic, that is.) From there, they make their way south, following the migration through the Dakotas, Kansas, and Oklahoma. They’ll chase snow geese, too, once the conservation order hits in February.

Four years ago, Kirby switched to a Franchi Affinity Compact and hasn’t looked back. She screws in a Carlson’s Cremator full choke, and shoots the trusted blue box, better known as Federal Speed Shok, which you can often buy for less than $15 a box. Speed Shok, along with Kent’s Faststeel (both all steel loads that have been upgraded in the last few years) are some of the most widely trusted among hardcore duck hunters. I shoot both often and always see empty hulls from each brand in every duck blind I hunt.

Kirby shoots 3-inch BBs for honkers and sandhill cranes. Snows, specklebellies, and ducks all get a dose of 3-inch 2s. She has tried pricier loads, but hasn’t seen any marked difference in performance.

“To be honest I can’t understand the hype in buying bismuth or tungsten shells,” Kirby says. “If the birds are where they’re supposed to be when you call the shot, Federal does just fine.”

2. Joe Weimer

Salisbury, Missouri

If there’s one guy I know who gets the most out of cheap hunting gear, it’s Joe Weimer. Weimer is so frugal that he carries his Winchester SX3 and SX4 in an old hard case one of his buddies was about to throw out. He hunts most every day of duck, goose, and snow goose season, typically until he shoots a limit or the sun sets.

For ducks and honkers, Weimer shoots his old SX3, which looks like it spends the offseason at the bottom of a lake. It still functions flawlessly, not counting one day in Saskatchewan when he forgot to screw the fore-end cap on tight. The gun’s guts spilled out onto the Canadian prairie when the first flock hit the decoys. He pairs it with Winchester Xpert 3-inch 3s for ducks and Browning’s BXD 3-inch 2s for honkers. The SX4 feeds a touch better than the SX3, so he shoots that on spring snows when the extended magazines come out and the gun is forced to cycle more than three shells in one volley. He uses Winchester Xpert Snow Goose shells for white geese—they are incredibly economical (and effective). A Rob Roberts T3 choke is always affixed to the end of both guns.

“I’ve never thought, Man I’d have killed my birds if I had some more effective shells. These just didn’t do the trick on that decoying mallard at 21 yards,” Weimer says. “I’m not saying other shotshell brands don’t work. But I’m at a threshold where I don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything, so I’m not going to spend more. I hunt every day and I need something that works but that is economical. I’m not a guide or market hunter so numbers aren’t what matter to me. I try to shoot everything in the decoys, and these loads do the trick.”

3. Jeremy Thornton

Bartonville, Illinois

Most fall mornings I curse Jeremy Thornton for steering me through the gauntlet that is Illinois public-land walk-in duck hunting. It’s some of the toughest waterfowling you can do: lots of long walks for few birds. Plus, the shots you have to make on ducks are often downright difficult. Birds here get pressured badly, and like many states in the Mississippi Flyway, Illinois is seeing fewer migration days, which means more educated ducks and geese.

Read Next: 5 Tips for Shooting a Shotgun Better and Faster

Thornton learned long ago that you need to be able to shoot birds at distance here, and found that a factory modified choke in his Benelli Super Black Eagle 2 or M2 20 gauge works best. He shoots Hevi-Steel 3-inch 2s for ducks, and BBs for the big, greasy, local honkers. During snow goose season, Thornton just finds the cheapest 12-gauge steel load he can, because snows are notorious wimps who almost faint at the mere sight of a shotshell.

“I used to shoot Hevi-Metal [which is about $10 more a box], but Hevi-Steel performs just about the same…maybe we get a few more cripples,” Thornton says. “I never really got into the aftermarket chokes. I have a few Hevi-Shot chokes, but I like the pattern I get from the factory model. It covers up my bad swings.”

4. Drew Palmer

Arkansas City, Kansas

Palmer guides with some absolute killers in the Flint Hills of Kansas. They specialize in putting huge bunches of lesser Canada geese in your lap. The birds get so close that he sometimes pulls out an old Beretta with a mounted red-dot to snipe banded geese, hybrids, and Quill Lakes honkers (geese with white patches on their bodies) in tight. Most hardcore goose hunters will shoot a 12-gauge, but lessers are a smaller bird and a 20 is plenty for killing them inside the decoy spread.

His favorite setup at the moment is a Beretta A400 20 gauge, Apex Ammunition Steel/TSS blended 3-inch 4s, and an improved-modified Carlson’s choke. That rig will kill greenheads just the same, some of which are about the size of a lesser (and probably more hardy) in the late season.

“I swear by that load,” Palmer says. “It will kill anything I point my gun at. I shoot some other shells too, but Apex is hands down the best.”

5. Russ Owen

Denmark, South Carolina

For a long time Russ Owen guided for king eiders on the Bering Sea. It’s the toughest place on earth to kill a duck, and if your gun is going to fail ,it will most certainly happen here. For years, Owen relied on a Beretta Xtrema 2 and paired it with the first choke tube Patternmaster came to market. That tube, which only leaves the muzzle of his gun to be cleaned, debuted in 1993 and was revolutionary. It shortened shot strings to 2 to 3 feet so more payload connected at impact. He’s shot a variety of shells through the gun, including Speed Shok, Faststeel, and the little-known Wolf brand.

But now he predominantly is shooting the copper-plated bismuth 3-inch 5s from Boss. Shooting hardy kings at distance on the open sea takes serious knockdown power, and he needs a shell that can perform when there are so many different variables at play.

“Getting to the point where you are reliant on one gun, shell, and choke is really more about how well you know your gun,” Owen said. “I have an intimate knowledge of how my gun performs out to 60 yards, much in the way a bow or rifle hunter knows their weapon.”

6. Joe Genzel

Peoria, Illinois

As an outdoor writer, I’ve had the opportunity to shoot a wide variety of shotgun, choke, and shotshell combinations. But like many hunters, I’m a pretty average shot with flashes of good shooting sprinkled in there. I have the advantage of handling lots of shotguns, which gives me the unique opportunity to discover the best fit for me. And while I’ve shot different guns from time to time, I always go back to what I consider the best 3-inch autoloader ever built: Beretta’s A390 Silver Mallard. They stopped producing these guns in the late 1990s, which is unfortunate, because they’re truly workhorse autoloaders. If one breaks down, it’s only after tens of thousands of rounds have been put through it.

I shot a lefty Benelli Super Black Eagle 2 (I’m a natural righty but left-eye dominant) for a while because I was sick of reaching across the trigger guard to click off the safety on the A390. But once I had the Beretta converted to a left-hand safety, I shot it better on ducks than any other gun I’ve shouldered. Coupled with a Rob Roberts T2 (the gun doesn’t like the T1 or T3 for some reason), I’ve made some damn fine shots on ducks (and missed plenty, too). Hevi-Metal patterns best out of it. Any time I’ve made a long distance shot on a greenhead, it’s been with 3-inch 2s, 3s, or 4s. I know for a fact that choke, load, and gun combination makes me a much better shot that I really am, because all my best shooting days in the marsh unfolded with that setup in my hands.

The post The Favorite Shotgun, Choke, and Ammo Combinations of 5 Diehard Duck Hunters (and One Outdoor Writer) appeared first on Outdoor Life.

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More and more slug-gun states in the Midwest and East have legalized the use of straight-wall rifles during deer season in recent years. Straight-wall cartridges, like the .350 Legend and .45/70, give whitetail hunters superior accuracy at shorter ranges, making them safer to shoot than necked cartridges in densely populated areas. But rifled and sabot (pronounced “say-bo”) slugs are far from outdated. Countless hunters in the middle of this country take smoothbore and rifled-barrel shotguns afield each fall, hoping to punch a tag with these short-range projectiles.

Both rifled slugs and sabots are ideal for the distances hunters aim to kill whitetails—typically inside 150 yards—in shotgun-only states. Their lethality has been well documented after decades of successful use in the deer woods. But there remains a long-standing argument among slug-gun hunters: Which projectile is best suited for killing whitetails? Over the years, the editors of Outdoor Life have shot a variety of rifled slugs and sabots from the bench and in the field and know well the capabilities of each load. If you’re trying to decide which round is ideal for your hunting style, here are the realities of shooting rifled versus sabot slugs.

The Difference Between Rifled Slugs and Sabots

Hunters using shotguns for deer—either by preference or mandate—can select between a smoothbore that uses rifled (also known as Foster-style) slugs or a rifled bore for sabot loads. A rifled slug has small helical grooves cut into the base of the projectile, but the slug does not have a specified twist rate like a centerfire round does.

There is some conjecture as to whether the vanes in a rifled slug cause the projectile to spin at all. So, I talked to long-time gun writer Dave Henderson, who has decades of slug shooting experience and a wealth of knowledge after a 55-year career of interviewing some of the foremost ballisticians in the country. He also authored a book, Shotgunning for Deer: Guns, Loads, and Techniques for the Modern Hunter, which details the innovations in slug technology.

“Rifled slugs have no twist rate,” Henderson says. “The slugs transit the barrel static and exit that way. There are photos from a manufacturer in my book that clearly show the rifling on the slug is worn smooth in the barrel and the slug never rotates. The slug’s accuracy comes from the extreme nose-heavy design, giving it the ‘rock-in-a-sock’ or [badminton] shuttlecock flight characteristic.” 

The cuts are also there to allow the slug to pass through a choke tube safely. If the grooves were not in place, there would be more friction between the barrel and load, which would cause a considerable drop in performance or possibly result in a failure. The advantage with rifled slugs, of course, is that you don’t have to buy a special rifled barrel. You can use one shotgun to hunt deer, birds, and other small game.

“Rifled slugs may be fired in smoothbores or rifled barrels, with no advantage in either,” Henderson says. “The rifled slug sort of skids across the rifling in the barrel and exits the way it would a smoothbore.”

Sabot-style rifled barrels typically have twist rates that can fall between 1:18 to 1:36. For instance, the popular Ithaca Deer Slayer III and Savage 220 have a barrel twist of 1:24 (that’s one full rotation of the slug every 24 inches). But the Savage 212 has a 1:35 twist. Interestingly, former OL shooting editor Jim Carmichael found no statistical difference in accuracy between using a 1:28 and 1:32 rifled barrel in a 2008 slug gun test (more on this later).

“It’s the sabot slug that benefits from—in fact virtually requires —a rifled bore,” Henderson says. “The rifling grips the polymer sleeve(s) on the slug, imparting a stabilizing spin on the projectile while still in the barrel. In most cases the sleeve is discarded after exiting the bore.” —J.G.

Rifled Choke Tubes

Sabots can also be shot through a smoothbore with a rifled choke. Buying a rifled choke tube is a cost-effective way to use sabots in a smoothbore without incurring the expense of a completely new barrel. Sabots are streamlined bullets encased in plastic much like bird shot is loaded into a wad. When the round is fired, the slug remains in the plastic casing and spins down the barrel until the projectile leaves the muzzle. At that point, the sleeve and slug separate, and the projectile continues to spin as it travels downrange. Sabots are often polymer-tipped and sub-caliber, which translates to .50 in 12-gauge guns. By comparison, standard smoothbore slugs are between .72- and .75-caliber. —P.M.

Sabot vs. Slug Trajectory

Most 12-gauge rifled slugs weigh either 1 or 1⅛ ounces. Sabots weigh under an ounce, or 437.5 grains, and can range from 250 to 376 grains. Both hit hard enough to anchor any whitetail at a reasonable distance. But you will see more sustained velocity from sabot slugs. Sabots continue to travel at higher speeds for longer due to the aerodynamics of the projectile.

To confirm this, all you need to do is look at the trajectory of two 3-inch loads—Federal TruBall rifled slug and Federal Trophy Copper sabot—with a zero of 100 yards. The physical makeup of the projectiles is quite different, which drastically affects their performance downrange. TruBall has a weight of 438 grains and a muzzle velocity of 1,700 fps. Trophy Copper is lighter (300 grains) and leaves the muzzle 300 fps faster, at 2,000 fps. In the table below, you will see that TruBall’s trajectory dissipates more rapidly than Trophy Copper when both loads are shot out to 200 yards under the same conditions. —J.G.

Rifled Slug vs. Sabot: Which Load Offers Better Accuracy?

A few years ago, during a lengthy range session, I shot 2¾-inch 1-ounce Federal TruBall rifled slugs from an open sight Benelli M2 and Winchester 2¾-inch 375-grain Dual Bond sabot slugs from a scoped Browning A-Bolt. At shorter ranges (out to 75 yards), there wasn’t much of a noticeable difference between rifled and sabot slug accuracy. But when I started shooting out to 100 yards and beyond, the sabot excelled.

During my day on the range, I was not shooting rifled slugs through a scoped smoothbore, which could have contributed to the inaccuracies. But I have done so many other times and found that the rifled slug simply won’t perform at distance like a sabot can. For instance, that 12-gauge 1-ounce Federal TruBall slug weighed 437.5 grains, compared to the 375-grain Winchester Dual Bond sabot. The TruBall slug also had a muzzle velocity of 1,300 fps compared to the Winchester’s 1,800 fps. Slower, heavier projectiles are going to drop faster and have a less effective range than a slightly lighter, but much faster one. —P.M.

Jim Carmichael’s Slug Gun Test

Miller’s findings were confirmed by the ballistic data I gleaned from Carmichael’s test published in the October 2008 issue of OL. With the help of Randy Fritz, who builds the incredibly accurate Tar-Hunt slug guns, Carmichael tested 27 rifled and sabot slugs, shooting over 1,000 rounds from a 50-pound, remote-operated slug gun engineered by Fritz. Carmichael’s testing protocol called for five three-shot groups of each load out to 100 yards, though he did fire a few five-shot groups to confirm load consistency and the accuracy of the equipment.

The table below details the best 20- and 12-gauge groups from the four manufacturers—Federal, Remington, Winchester, and Lightfield— included in the test. Most of the loads Carmichael shot were sabots, but he did shoot two Winchester rifled slugs as well. You can see from the data that the sabot groups were much tighter than their rifled counterparts. —J.G.

Should You Use a 2¾-Inch or a 3-Inch Slug?

Most of my experience with slugs—rifled and sabot—has been with 2¾- and 3-inch 12-gauge offerings. It’s my contention that a 2¾-inch is adequate for killing deer, and that a 3-inch load simply generates more recoil with a slight amount of increased velocity. I chronographed Winchester’s Elite 3-inch Dual Bond sabot and found the muzzle velocity increase in a Browning A-Bolt to be only 50 fps faster than the 2¾-inch offering of the same weight. Granted, velocities can fluctuate for a variety of reasons, including the physical makeup of the bullet, elevation, and weather conditions, but I’ve never found that extra quarter-inch to make a marked difference.  —P.M.

 The 20-Gauge Sabot Slug  

When I worked in Illinois, a shotgun-only deer state, I noticed many whitetail hunters selected 20-gauge sabot slug guns. So, I was curious about 20-gauge range capabilities and asked Hornady’s Seth Swerczek about it.

“I think 20-gauge sabot loads are popular because of their reduced recoil,” Swerczek says. “Both of our 12- and 20-gauge sabot slug loads offer honest 200-yard performance, so you’re really not giving up any effective range by opting for the 20-gauge.”

A 200-yard shot with Hornady’s 2¾-inch 20-gauge SST sabot might be pushing the boundaries of that load’s effectiveness, especially if the shot placement isn’t precise. But the 250-grain slug can kill a deer at 150 yards. According to Hornady’s ballistics chart, the SST has a velocity of 1,331 fps and 983 ft/lb. of energy at that distance. Dial your shot back to 100 yards and the same load produces 1,200 ft/lb. of energy.

What helped sell me on the 20, aside from reduced felt recoil, was an opportunity to hunt hogs with a scoped, rifled-barrel Winchester M1300 pump several years ago. The longest shot I made was close to 100 yards, and the longest shot I saw anybody else connect on—with the same setup—was just over 120 yards. At 100 yards, those 20-gauge sabot slugs seemingly hit with the force of a .250-grain .45/70 (it’s actually about a 250 ft/lb. difference in favor of the Hornady MonoFlex over an SST slug in a side-by-side comparison). Regardless, the terminal results on 200-pound hogs, considerably tougher to bring down than a whitetail, were spectacular. —P.M.

Read next: The 15 Best Shotguns for Deer Hunting

Pick a Slug or Sabot Based on How You Hunt

Which option you choose—rifled or sabot slug—will be subjective based on your hunting needs. From 75 yards and in (with the occasional poke out to 100 yards) a rifled slug holds its own compared to a sabot. But if you have any chance of a 100-yard-plus shot, a sabot is clearly a better choice in terms of accuracy and trajectory.

I did ask Swerczek which sells better, Hornady’s SST sabot loads or the company’s traditional American Whitetail rifled slugs. He confirmed sabots are much more popular. That’s not surprising since most hunters are interested in getting the maximum distance they can from their firearm. But also, a sabot capable of shooting 50 to 75 yards farther can be the difference between killing your target buck and helplessly watching as it walks out of sight on the last day of gun season. —J.G. and P.M.

The post Rifled vs. Sabot Slugs: Are You Shooting the Right Whitetail Load this Deer Season? appeared first on Outdoor Life.

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Duck hunting is an expensive pursuit. Just finding a place to hunt can be costly if you don’t have access to good hunting on public land. You also need all kinds of gear—a truck, boat, trailer, decoys, etc.—to effectively hunt waterfowl. It’s a big investment. And the last place you want to skimp on is your shotgun. Because without a reliable firearm, there’s not much sense in heading to the blind. That’s why the Winchester SX4 is such a great choice. It’s an ultra-reliable, gas-driven semi-auto for less than $900.

There are better duck guns than the SX4, but in terms of value, Winchester’s auto-loader is unmatched. It’s a 3½-inch shotgun with one of the best operating systems (Active Valve) you will find, and hundreds of dollars cheaper than a Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus, Benelli Super Black Eagle 3, or Browning Maxus II. And you get the same reliability from the SX4 that you would from those three guns. That’s why the Super X4 won the great buy award in our recent review on the best duck hunting shotguns.

So, if you’re interested in a durable duck gun that won’t drain your bank account, but will function when you need it to, here’s is a more in-depth look at waterfowl’s best value in an auto-loader: the Winchester Super X4.

Winchester Super X4 Specifications and Features

These are the standard options included in the Winchester Super X4:

• Gauge: 12 (tested), 20
• Action: Semi-auto
• Capacity: 4+1
• Chamber: 3½-inch (tested), 3-inch
• Barrel type: Chrome-plated
• Barrel Length: 24-, 26-, 28-inch (tested)
• Choke: Invector Plus (F, M, IC)
• Front sight: Red fiber-optic
• Finish: Black synthetic, Woodland, TrueTimber Prairie, Mossy Oak Shadow Grass Habitat, Bottomland, Realtree Timber, Max-5, Wicked Wing (Cerakote barrel/receiver with camo stock/fore-end)
• Length: 49½ inches
• LOP: 14¼ inches
• Trigger pull: 5.9 pounds
• Overall weight: 7.1 pounds
• MSRP: $899

The Super X Series Has Always Had a Reliable Gas System

Stephen Maturen

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Winchester is on its fourth generation of the original Super X, which was introduced in the 1970s. The SX1 was chambered for 2¾-inch shotshells, like many of the auto-loaders and double guns of that era. It was also a tank (8½ pounds) due to its all-steel construction. That made it durable, but expensive to produce. Winchester stopped making it in 1981 because the SX1 struggled to compete with Remington’s 1100, which had a lower price tag.

Today’s SX4 looks much different than the SX1. It’s almost 1½ pounds lighter than the SX1 and sleeker than its predecessor. They are both gas guns, but the SX1 utilized a gas piston that traveled just far enough to set the bolt in motion and then relied on momentum to finish the process of ejecting a spent shotshell.

The SX2 more closely resembles the SX4. You could buy a 3½-inch version of that gun and it was available in a synthetic model, just like the SX4. The SX2 operated slightly different though. It used a gas tippet system borrowed from the Browning Gold.

In 2006, Winchester debuted the SX3 with the Active Valve gas system. It performed so well they kept it in the SX4. The one difference you will find in the Winchester Super X4 is a brass ring at the base of the piston, not a black rubber O-ring.

Active Valve runs as clean as any gas operating system there is. I’ve used an SX4 for my main duck gun the last two seasons and shot it on spring snow geese with a seven-round magazine extension affixed. The gun has never failed to cycle. It has slowed down when dirty, which lets me know it’s time for a cleaning.

You also won’t have any issues shooting different size loads through the SX4. A group of Outdoor Life and Field & Stream editors (myself included) tested this gun in Sept. 2021, at Pintail Hunting Club in Texas. We shot light 1-ounce target loads and heavy 1 1/8-ounce duck ammo on bluewing teal with the SX4. It cycled them all without issue. I also shot several turkey loads through my personal SX4 to break it in after purchase. It had no problem gobbling them up.

Winchester Built a Soft-Shooting Shotgun

Beretta’s A400 shotguns are well known for their recoil mitigation system, called Kick-Off. It’s a series of springs in the stock that softens the blow to your shoulder once the trigger is pulled and the force of the shotshell charge is sent backwards. The SX4 only relies on Active Valve and an Inflex recoil pad (a piece of rubber that is 2 inches thick). But the recoil you experience with the Winchester is only slightly heavier than the Beretta, which is to say it’s incredibly manageable.

None of our testers in Texas could tell much of a difference between the A400 Xtreme Plus and the SX4 when it came to recoil. The Inflex pad was built to direct recoil away from the shooter’s face. But it also cushions the “sting” your shoulder feels when shooting magnum 3- or 3½-inch duck loads by spreading the force over a larger area. The SX3 did not do that as well, because its Pachmayr Decelerator recoil pad was not as advanced. It’s impressive when you consider the SX4 is a full pound lighter than the A400. Generally, the lighter the gun, the worse the recoil. But that’s not the case with the Winchester.

A Look Inside the Winchester Super X4’s Chamber

One of the concerns I had about the SX4 before buying it was the quality of the bolt. Gas guns typically cost more to manufacture than their inertia-driven counterparts because there are more moving parts to them. I was skeptical Winchester could pull off a gun that cycled shotshells reliably at such a low price point. I’ve shot the SX3 plenty and was impressed with its functionality, but Winchester lowered the price on the SX4 by $200, and my thought was: “that cost cutting had to come from somewhere.” (Just a side note: I was impressed the SX4 cycled as well as the SX3, and it has better ergonomics and overall fit and feel).

The SX4 bolt has the same simple two-piece design as the SX3. It has functioned flawlessly in all the SX4s I have shot. You pull it back to open the bolt and press the bolt-release button to shut it. There is no button under the carrier to press before manually opening the bolt, like you would with a Beretta or Benelli. There’s also no rotating bolt head, which ensures better lockup when the shotshell is pushed into battery.

The firing pin has been reliable as well. Sometimes pins on cheaper guns will wear out fast, and won’t strike the shotshell primer deep enough to set off the charge. I’ve never had that issue with any SX4 (some of those have been the guns of friends who hunt 100 days a year and put thousands of rounds through their SX4s).

Winchester Improved the Feel of the SX4

You already know the SX3 and SX4 are similar guns. Both have the Active Valve gas system and the same stock design, which comes with two ¼-inch spacers to adjust length of pull. But the SX4 has an upgraded trigger guard that is larger than the older version, so you can shoot it more easily with gloves on. The safety is also larger and square instead of a circle. It’s much easier to find when ducks are in the decoys. If you’re a left-handed shooter, it’s simple to switch the safety to the other side.

There’s also an oversized bolt handle on the Winchester Super X4 so you can load and unload it with cold fingers or gloved hands. The bolt-release button is larger on the SX4 as well. Both are protected by a nickel-Teflon coating (as is the carrier) to inhibit corrosion, which saltwater and brackish water duck hunters will appreciate.

The fore-end of the SX4 was redesigned so that shooters have a better grip on the gun in the unpleasant weather. There is a cut out on each side of the fore-end your thumb and fingers will naturally find. There’s also a checkered texture so you have something to hold onto. The SX3 did not offer that on its waterfowl models. It was a smooth, blocky fore-end that became slick in the rain or snow. A few buddies that owned them put shooting tape on the fore-end to ensure the gun would not slip from their hands.

Winchester Super X4 Versatility

The SX4 is light (7.1 pounds), making it a fine choice for walk-in duck hunters. The 20-gauge version of the gun is only 6 pounds, 12 ounces, and is an even better option for waterfowlers who pheasant hunt or are run-and-gun turkey hunters. Winchester makes the SX4 in a compact model with a 13-inch length of pull as well. And there are turkey- and deer-specific models too.

Winchester, and sister company Browning, have cornered the market on shotgun trims. The SX4 is offered in 20 different synthetic, camouflage, and a combination of camouflage and Cerakote finishes called Wicked Wing. Browning supplies many of the same options in its A5 and Maxus II.

Where the SX4 Came Up Short

You have to be nit-picky to find something wrong with the SX4. The exterior is not on par with more expensive auto-loaders, but again, you’re not paying as high a price for this gun.

The bolt reliably cycles, but it does take some force to pull back. It sticks a little when closed—especially in the cold—and requires some muscle to open. The loading port also gets lethargic. There’s never a feeding issue when you are shooting, but when loading and unloading the gun, it can take a few extra seconds to place the shotshell in the magazine or remove it.

How Does the Winchester Super X4 Shoot?

Since we tested so many guns (17) in Texas, we picked one distance (35 yards) to pattern each gun from. The industry standard is 40 yards, but we wanted to showcase the patterns at a more realistic yardage for duck hunters. Plus, your average hunter should keep shooting distances inside 35 yards. Once you get out to 40 it takes more skill, and the likelihood of crippling birds goes up.

We patterned each gun with Federal Speed Shok 3-inch, No. 2s with a muzzle velocity of 1,550 fps and a charge weight of 1 1/8 ounces.

The Winchester Super X4 was one of the best patterning shotguns in our test—not surprising since it uses the proven Invector Plus choke system, which many Browning guns have utilized for decades. Its best pattern totaled 124 of 140 pellets (89 percent) inside the 30-inch circle, which was only matched by the Franchi Affinity 3.

As you can probably tell by the custom Cerakote finish on this test gun (which is my personal SX4) there have been some aftermarket modifications made that you won’t find on a factory SX4. I did have the forcing cones lengthened inside the .742-inch bore to increase pattern density. But I’ve also patterned and shot a handful of other SX4s on ducks, snow geese, and clay birds. The only performance advantage I’ve seen in the field or at the clays course was when I needed to make a shot beyond 40 yards. My custom gun paired with a Rob Roberts T3 choke does shoot better at distance. Inside 40, which is where we should all be shooting ducks and geese, I’ve never noticed any difference.

The SX4 shot 60 percent above and 40 percent below point-of-aim, an ideal gun for duck hunters who cover up the bird and fire. The pellets did shade slightly to the left side of the target, but there were no holes in the patternboard large enough for a duck to fly through.

Final Thoughts on the Winchester Super X4

During our Texas shotgun test it was clear from the first morning’s hunt that the SX4 was a favorite to win best buy. No other mid-level shotgun challenged it for long. Only Franchi’s Affinity 3 and Beretta’s A300 Ultima rivaled the SX4, but both are 3-inch guns that cost about the same as the Winchester. There were better shotguns in our test, but you will pay a premium for them. If you want a price point gun that doesn’t cut any corners, it’s tough to pass on the SX4.

The post Shotgun Review: Winchester’s Super X4 Is the Best Affordable Semi-Auto appeared first on Outdoor Life.

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Best Side-by-Side		CZ Bobwhite G2 Project Upland	SEE IT	LEARN MORE	Summary A classic frame with upgraded furniture.
Best Semi-Auto		Browning Maxus II Hunter	SEE IT	LEARN MORE	Summary A reliable autoloader for those who want more than two shots.
Best 20-Gauge Over/Under		Weatherby Orion I	SEE IT	LEARN MORE	Summary A reliable o/u at a fraction of the cost of competitors.

Upland bird hunters are blessed with lengthy seasons, liberal bag-limits, and endless opportunities to chase a wide variety of species across every state. No matter the pursuit, one piece of equipment remains a necessity for upland hunters—a reliable shotgun.

Whether you fancy your favorite upland scattergun as a work of art or a tool of the trade, its intended purpose remains the same. For this review, I included a rundown of the best shotguns for bird hunting to cover a variety of budgets and styles.

• Best Overall: Browning Citori Gran Lightning
• Best 20-gauge Over/Under: Weatherby Orion I
• Best Budget Side-by-Side: Tristar Bristol SxS
• Best Side-by-Side: CZ Bobwhite G2 Project Upland
• Best Pump: Remington 870 FieldMaster
• Best Beginner: Benelli Nova
• Best Semi-Auto: Browning Maxus II Hunter
• Best Sub-Gauge Semi-Auto: Benelli SBE 3 28-gauge
• Best Bang for Your Buck: Winchester SX4 Field
• Best Youth: Mossberg International SA-20 Youth

Methodology

Asking someone to pick their favorite gun is similar to asking someone their favorite breed of bird dog; at the end of the day, it is all subjective. Having spent the past 20 years chasing upland birds across the country I know what does and does not work for me. But this list also continually evolves. For this review, I drew on my own personal experiences as well as other experienced hunters I know and respect. While this list might not be absolute, there were hundreds of days spent afield that helped me arrive at these picks. I did my best to include shotguns for every action and price point so that everyone, no matter your budget or style, could find a gun that best fits them.

Best Overall: Browning Citori Gran Lightning 

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Key Features

• Break-action O/U
• Gauge: 12, 20, 28, .410
• Finish: Blued
• Weight: 8 pounds (12-gauge)

Why It Made the Cut 

Browning’s Gran Lightning Citori is as visually striking as it is deadly in the field, earning best pick for its performance and upland aesthetics.

Pros

• Well balanced
• Easily interchangeable chokes
• Comfortable rounded pistol grip and forearm

Cons

• Steep price tag
• The 12-gauge is a heavy field gun

Product Description

Browning’s lineup of Citori shotguns has reigned supreme for over and under enthusiasts for decades. I recently had the opportunity to take the Gran Lightning Citori on a traditional, southern bobwhite quail hunt where it quickly gained my utmost respect as one of the finest shotguns that I have had the pleasure to shoulder. The Gran Lightning that I hunted with was a little 28-gauge and boy did it wreak havoc on buzzing coveys of quail. For the majority of upland hunting, especially when hunting over pointers, it is tough to beat the 28-gauge’s knock-down power combined with its almost non-existent recoil.

The Gran Lightning features a stunning oil finished grade V/VI walnut lightning style stock with a high-polish blued barrel and engraved receiver. It is one of those shotguns that is almost too pretty to take to the hills, but that is exactly where it belongs. It also sports a rounded pistol grip and forearm for a consistent and classic feel when shouldered.

Best 20-Gauge Over/Under: Weatherby Orion I

Weatherby

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Key Features

• Break-action O/U
• Gauge: 20
• Weight: 6.2 pounds
• Barrel length: 26 and 28 inches

Why It Made the Cut

Weatherby’s Orion I 20-gauge over and under provides upland enthusiasts a reliable stacked barrel option at a fraction of the cost of many others on the market.

Pros

• 3-inch chamber
• lightweight
• Incredibly comfortable to shoot

Cons

• Only comes in 28-inch barrel length for 20-gauge

Product Description 

Weatherby is most well known for their cutting-edge centerfire rifles, but their line of shotguns shouldn’t be overlooked. The Orion I 20-gauge isn’t flashy, but don’t let that fool you. This shotgun has been put through the ringer by many who swear by its fit and reliability. The slimmed receiver combined with the oversized forearm is both comfortable to carry and easy to shoot. If you are in the market for a workhorse 20 over and under that won’t break the bank, the Orion I should be at the top of your list.

Best Budget Side-by-Side: Tristar Bristol SxS

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Key Features

• Break-action side-by-side
• Gauge: 12, 16, 20, 28, .410
• Single selective trigger
• Weight: 5.24 pounds (28-gauge)

Why It Made the Cut 

The classic look and feel of the Bristol SxS combined with its extremely affordable price tag makes it a no-brainer for first time side-by-side shooters.

Pros

• Several gauges to choose from
• Ability to interchange chokes
• Classic look and feel at a fraction of the cost

Cons

• Some might prefer a traditional double trigger

Product Description 

Side-by-side shotgun aficionados are a special breed, taking their love and fascination of these shotguns to extreme levels, my own father included. Knowing the price tags for many vintage side-by-sides, I never indulged in their mystique. It wasn’t until recently that I discovered there are many affordable options for new side-by-sides that are visually appealing work horses in the field, and most importantly, extremely affordable. Enter front and center stage Tristar’s Bristol.

When I first got my hands on a 28-gauge Bristol side-by-side, I was impressed. The wood-to-metal fit was satisfactory (the Turkish walnut English stock is nothing fancy but certainly clean), and the case-colored receiver added a classic, rustic touch. Another benefit of a new side-by-side is the ability to interchange chokes when needed. The Bristol side-by-side comes standard with five Beretta style chokes (skeet, improved cylinder, modified, improved modified, and full). With a price tag below $1,200, this is a perfect shotgun to break into the wide world of side-by-side shotguns.

Best Side-by-Side: CZ Bobwhite G2 Project Upland

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Key Features

• Break-action side-by-side
• Gauge: 12, 20, and 28
• Chamber: 3-inch
• Weight: 6.2 pounds (28-gauge)

Why It Made the Cut

CZ’s Bobwhite G2 Project Upland side-by-side shotgun incorporates the classic Bobwhite frame and reliability with upgraded furniture and details.

Pros

• Double trigger
• Case-colored receiver
• Comfortable straight English stock

Cons

•  $1,700 is pricey for a Turkish-made SxS

Product Description

CZ, in collaboration with Project Upland, designed the Bobwhite G2 Project Upland shotgun. This modern side-by-side is built on one of the best shotguns for bird hunting–CZ’s classic Bobwhite frame–with some upgraded lavish details that add both character and appeal.

The Bobwhite G2 Project Upland side-by-side features a beautiful straight-English stock made from select grade Turkish walnut, encased with a decoratively engraved case colored receiver. Side-by-side purists can also breathe easy with the traditional double trigger and case colored manual tang safety preserved in this modern play on a CZ’s classic side-by-side. A wise man once wrote, “Life is too short to shoot an ugly gun.” I couldn’t agree more. And luckily, this gun’s performance matches its looks.

Best Pump: Remington 870 FieldMaster

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Key Features

• Action: Pump
• Gauge: 12 or 20
• Weight: 7.5 pounds (12-gauge)
• Better metal finish than discontinued Express model

Why It Made the Cut

Many Remington 870 models are legendary for unwavering reliability. Whether you are a first-time buyer or a seasoned veteran, everyone should have a Remington 870 in their gun collection.

Pros

• Unmatched reliability
• Easy to breakdown and clean
• Rust resistant finish

Cons

•  No shims or spacers for stock adjustment

Product Description 

With over 11 million shotguns sold since its introduction in 1950, the Remington 870 is the best-selling shotgun of all-time. The 870 FieldMaster internally mirrors the Wingmaster model but externally features a rugged corrosion resistant finish on the barrel and receiver to combat the abuse hunters put their shotguns through. Also, as of this year, the FieldMaster officially replaced the 870 Express. If a pump-action scattergun is your preferred shotgun of choice, it is tough to overlook the versatility and dependability of the Remington 870. It’s not flashy, but no one will argue that it will get the job done.

Best Beginner: Benelli Nova

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Key Features

• Action: Pump
• Gauge: 12 or 20
• Weight: 8 pounds (12-gauge)
• Barrel length: 24, 26, and 28 inches

Why It Made the Cut 

With a sub $500 price tag, this is the most budget-conscious shotgun on the list, and most importantly, it provides reliable cycling and consistent performance. These two variables make it the perfect shotgun for those wanting to dabble in upland hunting without a substantial financial commitment.

Pros

• Budget friendly
• Extremely reliable
• Multiple barrel length and color options

Cons

• Recoil is stout

Product Description 

Any shotgun displaying the Benelli name merits consideration. The Benelli Nova pump-action shotgun provides bird hunters a very affordable option for a well-made, reliable firearm that can tackle just about anything you can throw at it. The synthetic stock is especially nice when hunting the rugged mountains that chukars call home where dings and scratches are proudly worn like battle scars. The ability to have four shells in the magazine (where legal) is also a huge advantage when a staggered covey of birds gets up and three or four opportunities arise without having to reload. You won’t turn any heads with this finish, but if you’re testing the upland waters to gauge your interest, the Nova is a great, versatile shotgun that you won’t regret buying even if you decide that wingshooting isn’t your style.

Best Semi-Auto: Browning Maxus II Hunter

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Key Features

• Action: Semi-Auto (Gas)
• Gauge: 12
• Barrel length: 26 and 28 inches
• Weight: 7 pounds

Why It Made the Cut

The Browning Maxus II Hunter is a reliable semi-auto shotgun made for upland bird hunters who want more than two shots.

Pros

• Reliable Power Drive Gas System
• Adjustable LOP, cast, and drop with adjustable shims
• Fiber-optic front sight

Cons

• Only available in 12-gauge

Product Description

Browning hit a homerun when they launched the original Browning Maxus over a decade ago. The Power Drive Gas System proved its worth in the original Maxus and continues to be the driving force in the Maxus II. This gun also incorporates several cosmetic changes as well as a stock redesign, which makes shouldering it comfortable and easy. And the Inflex recoil pad eliminates a lot of the recoil, which you’ll want with a 12-gauge, and makes for quick follow up shots. And while some purists might shudder at this option, the Invector-Plus choke system makes this a versatile shotgun for other pursuits.  

Best Sub-Gauge Semi-Auto: Benelli SBE 3 28-gauge

Sportsmans

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Key Features

• Action: Semi-Auto (Inertia)
• Gauge: 28
• Weight: 5.6 pounds
• Barrel length: 26 or 28 inches

Why It Made the Cut

The Benelli SBE3 28-gauge shotgun is the finest sub-gauge semi-auto I have ever shot. It is also chambered to shoot 3-inch shells, which allow payloads similar to a 20-gauge but with the small frame and minimal recoil of a 28-gauge.

Pros

• Minimal recoil
• 3-inch chamber
• Lightweight

Cons

• Availability (for now)

Product Description 

Few trends have gained as much recent notoriety as that of sub-gauge shotguns. Manufacturers have taken notice, and Benelli was one of the first to answer the call with the launch of their Super Black Eagle 3 28-gauge shotgun. Needless to say, they set the bar high. This gun is made for hunting flighty coveys of quail and chukar when multiple shots and staggered coveys are a given. While the recoil of a 28-gauge is minimal, the Comfort Tech stock makes it even less noticeable, especially for follow up shots. 

With a well patterned lead load, you can easily reach out to 50 yards on most upland species and knock them out of the air with a good 28-gauge payload. And with the 28-gauge, depending on the load and choke combination, you can have similar performance to a 20-gauge without the recoil and added weight. Once you shoot a 28-gauge you may just fall in love. You have been warned.

Best Bang for Your Buck: Winchester SX4 Field 

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Key Features

• Action: Semi-Auto (Gas)
• Gauge: 12, 20
• Barrel length: 26- and 28-inch
• Weight: 6 pounds, 12 ounces (12-gauge, 28-inch)

Why It Made the Cut

The SX4 Field is a no frills, classic upland take on the proven SX4 platform. And with a price tag just below a grand, this shotgun is easily the best bang for your buck.

Pros

• Ambidextrous safety
• Comfortable pistol grip
• Reliable with a wide variety of shells

Cons

• Bolt can be sticky, tough to open
• Load gate is also stiff, makes loading a chore in the cold

Product Description

The classic matte-black receiver, combined with the satin oil finished walnut stock gives the SX4 a classic upland look, but this gun also performs reliably and isn’t picky when it comes to payloads. Winchester incorporated an oversized safety and bolt release which makes handling with gloves a breeze. Recoil from the SX4 12-gauge is minimal, thanks to the Inflex Technology Recoil Pad. The smaller pistol grip is comfortable and provides plenty of grip for hunters with smaller hands but should still feel just right with those who have larger hands. If $1,000 is your top budget, you can start and end your search with the SX4 Field.

Best Youth: Mossberg International SA-20 Youth

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Key Features

• Action: Semi-Auto (Gas)
• Gauge: 20
• Chamber: 3-inch
• Weight: 6.25 pounds

Why It Made the Cut

The lightweight SA-20 Youth shotgun from Mossberg is the perfect first shotgun for your favorite little hunting buddy. All they have to worry about is barrel control and flipping the safety off.

Pros

• Compact
• Comfortable for youth
• Low recoil

Cons

• Fixed LOP means they’ll eventually outgrow it

Product Description

Passing on hunting traditions to younger generations is crucial to the survival of this sport. And one of the best entries into this sport is bird hunting. Youth specific shotguns, such as the SA-20 Youth, offer a lightweight, low recoiling, and comfortable option for young hunters interested in bird hunting. Its reasonable price tag makes it money well spent to get your little ones hooked on hunting. It does have a fixed LOP, so your young hunter won’t be able to grow with this gun, but for their early years, this compact wingshooter is more than enough to get them started and hopefully coming back.

FAQ’s

Things to Consider Before Buying a Shotgun for Bird Hunting

Budget

Purchasing a new shotgun is an endeavor worthy of your time and research. The first thing you should decide is how much you are willing to spend. When it comes to hunting gear and firearms, I generally try to abide by the “buy once, cry once” mentality as you almost always get what you pay for. Setting a budget from the beginning will set parameters on what shotguns to research and help you get the most out of your hard-earned cash.

Style

The second variable to consider when picking the right upland bird hunting shotgun is what species you plan on primarily chasing and what action style will be most conducive to that endeavor. For example, if pheasants or grouse are your primary target, an over and under or side-by-side is perfect for shooting a single or a flushing pair. However, if wild coveys of chukars, quail, or Hungarian partridge are a staple, you may want to lean toward a pump or semi-auto that offers the ability to send a third round down range. There are some purists who might argue that anything with the ability to shoot more than two shots is a blasphemy to the sport, but no one needs that kind of negativity in their life. Plus, what better excuse to buy a new shotgun.

Gauge

The third and final variable that must be considered when buying a new upland shotgun is the gauge. Personally, I have used a 20-gauge shotgun for most of my life and for that reason have a bias towards it. I am also a big proponent, depending on where and what I am hunting, of the 28-gauge. More on that later. Everyone’s trusty 12-gauge will get the job done—and with authority—but usually winds up being overkill on most upland species (outside of pheasants). Additionally, there has been a resurgence in recent years of the 16-gauge. It is a sweet little gauge, but ammo options and availability are sometimes limited.

Final Thoughts

Performance and reliability wise, these are some of the best shotguns for bird hunting. When it comes to individual performance, what works best for me might not work best for you. Still, any of the options on this list are more than capable for bird hunting. Find a shotgun that falls within your budget, become proficient with it, and hit the fields. The killing of a bird is inconsequential compared to everything else that surrounds the hunt, but when you work hard for that opportunity, be sure you are shouldering a shotgun you have complete confidence in.

The post The Best Shotguns for Bird Hunting of 2023 appeared first on Outdoor Life.

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		Winchester SX4 Cantilever Buck	SEE IT
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		Ithaca Deerslayer	SEE IT

The golden age of slug guns is likely over. As more states legalize straight-wall cartridges for deer hunting, more hunters are moving away from shotguns for deer hunting and toward rifles. However, the best slug guns will still punch clover leafs at 100 yards, and deliver deadly performance at that range.

Many major shotgun manufacturers are still marking dedicated slug guns with stocks, triggers, sights and barrels designed to squeeze the most out of modern ammo. Plus, many of the best shotguns for deer hunting that are no long in production can still be found on the used market.

Many of those classic slug guns still have a place among the ranks of the all-time greats. So without further ado, we’ve compiled a list of the best classic slug guns and the most advanced sluggers on the market. What follows is our ranking of the 15 best slug guns of all time.

TarHunt RSG

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RSG stands for Rifled Slug Gun, and you’d be hard-pressed to find one with more thought in its engineering. Randy Fritz, the TarHunt founder, made the RSG his pet project in the late 80s and early 90s, after the first rifled slug barrels hit the market. He wanted to create a rifle to shoot shotgun slugs that would far surpass anything else on the slug-gun market. Fritz accomplished this goal by combining benchrest bolt-action rifle technology with a rifled shotgun barrel. Today’s RSG has a glass-bedded action on a McMillan fiberglass stock. A heavy-walled Shaw barrel is threaded into the action and ported at the muzzle. The barrel twist and interior dimensions have also been carefully selected for optimum performance. There’s even a crisp 3 1/2-pound trigger. This is as “rifle like” a shotgun as you’ll ever find – and it’s an absolute tack driver.

Best Fit: The TarHunt is a long-range slayer for the accuracy snob. It is one of the all-time best shotguns for deer. At 7 3/4 to 8 1/4 pounds, it’s not the lightest nor the heaviest. It’s best for stand hunting over open terrain. Unfortunately, all that performance doesn’t come at a low price. Base price for the gun runs from $2,835 to $3,500, depending on if you choose 12, 16 or 20 gauge.

READ NEXT: Will Straight-Wall Deer Rifles Kill the Slug Gun?

Winchester SX4 Cantilever Buck

Winchester

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The Winchester SX4 is known as one of the best affordable semi-auto shotguns on the market. The SX4 Cantilever Buck version of the line lives up to that reputation. As the name points out, this is a dedicated deer hunting gun with a rifled barrel, adjustable rifle-style sights with TRUGLO front fiber optic, and a Weaver-style cantilever optic mounting base, if you decide to mount a scope (which you should). Beyond those features, this shotgun is a typical SX4, which is to say that it has a reliable self-regulating gas system, comfortable ergonomics, and simple, intuitive controls. Both the 12-gauge and 20-gauge versions come with a 22-inch barrel. MSRP is $1,080.

Best Fit: This is the best deer hunting shotgun for someone looking for an affordable, reliable, and accurate semi-auto. This shotgun fits the “mid-priced” description, but for those few extra bucks you get more features and the promise of long-term reliability.

Remington 870 Express

Remington

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What “best of” shotgun list doesn’t include the Remington 870? The 870′s affordable price, modular design and readily-available parts make it the every man’s shotgun. That goes for slug shooters too. Probably one of the best deals in firearms history was the 870 Express Combo package, which includes a ventilated rib smooth barrel and a rifled slug barrel. Today, Remington offers nearly every slug gun configuration imaginable, from rifled barrels with open sights and standard stocks, to cantilever scope mounts and thumbhole stocks. It cames in 12- and 20-gauge with a standard 3-inch chamber or the Super Mag 3 1/2-inch model. Sadly, Remington, now called RemArms, no longer makes this version of the 870. The company’s new 870 Fieldmaster will replace Express, but there are plenty of used Express slug guns that can be found on the used market.

Best Fit: The 870 is the gun for anyone, but it’s a perfect fit for hunters on a budget (you can still get a combo for less than $600) and brush busters who either stalk their deer or drive woodlots with a group of hunters. And if you’re just getting into hunting with slugs, all you need to do is pick up a rifled barrel for that 870 that’s already in the back of your gun case.

READ NEXT: Best Pump Shotguns for Less Than $500

Ithaca Deerslayer

Ithaca

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The Deerslayer earned its moniker throughout the years as being a reliable, bottom-ejecting pump shotgun dedicated to deer hunting – all that, despite being plagued by the uncertainty of constantly changing ownership of the Ithaca brand. Today, Ithaca resides in Upper Sandusky, Ohio, in the heart of a big-buck “slug state.” And it’s churning out an elaborate machine for its current Deerslayer version. The trigger is tuned to a 4- to 6-pound pull. The action is machined of one piece of steel. The 24-inch heavy-contour barrel is made without adding heat for soldering. And there’s a beautiful drop-tine deer engraved on the action. The standard Deerslayer II checks in at a reasonable 7 to 8 pounds. The Deerslayer III in 12 gauge weighs about 9 1/2 pounds. But thanks to the fluted, heavy barrel, Ithaca claims it is capable of 4-inch groups at 200 yards. That’s highly atypical of any pump-action slug gun.

Best Fit: If you’re a pump fan, especially if you’re an old-school Ithaca fan, the Deerslayer II offers you some slug gun nostalgia and modern American craftsmanship. It should suffice no matter how you hunt. The Deerslayer III, however, is the long-range slug hunter’s dream. Its advertised effective range compares to any slug gun on the market.

Savage Model 212 and 220

Savage

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Savage did as Savage always does when it created the original Model 210. It created a reliable, accurate rifle at an affordable price. That early bolt-action slug gun has since evolved into the 12 gauge Model 212 and 20 gauge Model 220. Each is based on the proven Savage 110 action, with a 22-inch rifled barrel and a two-round detachable box magazine. The barrel is locked into the action with a unique locking nut found on all Savage bolt-action rifles. This nut ensures a perfect barrel-to-action fit. Best of all, it comes standard with the Savage AccuTrigger, which is worlds ahead of any trigger you’ll find on a pump or auto.

Best Fit: The 212 and 220 shotguns are perfect for the accuracy junky not wanting to drop the change needed for a custom or top-end rig. You should be able to find any of the configurations for less than $600, although my local gun shop sells the 220 in the mid-$400 range. Many hunters are buying into the capabilities of the 20 gauge slug for deer. If you buy a bolt action, you’ll surely appreciate the 20 gauge’s lesser recoil.

H&R Ultra Slug Hunter

Want simple? Here it is. H&R touts its Ultra Slug Hunter series as “No nonsense. Just pure deer-dropping performance.” This gun is as steel-and-wood as it gets. It has a simple break-action design with an exposed hammer, yet the Ultra Slug Hunter has a dedicated following among deer hunters for its superb accuracy – accuracy you won’t find for its low price anywhere else. Accuracy is a result of the heavy-duty barrel and comfortable stock dimensions. Most of the guns in the Ultra Slug Hunter lineup are fairly heavy, in the 8- to 9-pound range. That’s not a bad thing. Single-shot shotguns are notorious for their recoil, and this gun is no exception. If you do want something easier to carry, consider the Ultra Light Slug Hunter. It checks in at 5.25 pounds.

Best Fit: The exposed-hammer design is as simple as they come. Even cleaning it is a breeze. That makes it a good gun for a beginner that can withstand some recoil. However, it’s not a great carry gun, since cocking the hammer adds time to the shot and you likely have only one shot. It’s best for hunting in a stand or blind with a solid rest.

READ NEXT: Rifled vs. Sabot Slugs: Are You Shooting the Right Whitetail Load this Deer Season?

Browning A-Bolt Shotgun Hunter

Browning

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The Browning A-Bolt was first made available in a shotgun model in 1995, and it lasted only a few years. Those early guns, available with either a rifled barrel or smooth barrel configuration, became highly sought after by a niche group of Midwestern sluggers. Luckily, Browning recently reintroduced the A-Bolt Shotgun Hunter. It’s available with a walnut, camo synthetic or black synthetic stock in 12 gauge only. It has a 3-inch chamber and 22-inch barrel fitted with rifle sights. This is a workhorse gun and like any A-Bolt, it looks as good as it performs. But at about 7 pounds, you’ll definitely feel some recoil.

Best Fit: If you’re a Browning fan, this could fill your collection. For the rest of us, it’s a great option for a dedicated slug gun. It has all the same features and attention to detail as any A-Bolt centerfire rifle, with reliable bolt-action performance and accuracy.

Winchester SXP Black Shadow Deer

Winchester

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The Winchester SXP Black Shadow Deer has a fully-rifled, 22-inch barrel and TRUGLO fiber optic iron sights. It comes drilled and tapped for optic mounts, so you can add a rifle scope or red dot sight. The SXP is known for its fast and smooth action that ejects and feeds quickly. It’s also easy to maintain. Field stripping just requires untwisting the magazine tube cap and pushing out the trigger assembly pin. The bolt carrier stays clipped to the rear of the action, until you depress the rear firing pin—so you won’t drop it accidentally. Once you pop it out you can clean the bolt, firing pin, and bolt-carrier group. Speaking of easy takedown, the plug is easily removed without tools. Another feature slug hunters will appreciate is the effective recoil pad, which removes some of the sting from 3-inch, 12-gauge slugs.

Best Fit: The Winchester SXP is only 6.12 pounds, which makes it great for carrying in the field all day, less so for managing recoil. It’s also a simple, reliable slug gun that holds five slugs and is easy to maintain. For deer hunters who spend all day still hunting through the woods and want an affordable pump shotgun, this is a great option.

Remington 11-87

Remington

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The old 11-87 Premier was the gun I drooled over while thumbing through Remington catalogues as a kid. It could do everything the legendary 1100 could do, but with the capability of shooting 3-inch shells. It was also the gun of choice of many of my early deer hunting partners. Its gas action cushions the blow of hard-recoiling slugs, although some knocked the system for its pickiness with light loads and the need to occasionally replace the O-rings. The former is not a problem when shooting slugs. Although no longer offered in as many configurations as it was in its heyday, the 11-87 gas autoloader from Remington is still available in two versions with a rifled slug barrel and cantilever scope mount.

Best Fit: With a standard field stock, it’s a great fit for anyone looking for one gun to do it all. However, both rifled barrel models currently in production feature high combs – not a good choice for birds or clays but great if you want a dedicated slug gun at a middle price point.

Mossberg 500 Slugster

Mossberg

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The Slugster is the slug gun version of the popular Model 500 pump from Mossberg. Like all Mossberg firearms, it’s an affordable no-frills gun that you won’t feel bad about hunting with in rain, sleet and mud. Mossberg makes a variety of Slugster models and configurations in 12 and 20 gauge, with rifle sights or cantilever scope mounts, synthetic or wood stocks. If you’re a glutton for the heavy recoil of 3 1/2-inch shells, you could also reach for the Mossberg 835. The 835 is not a continuation of the 500; it was built from scratch for magnum loads. But it’s just as durable, reliable and affordable as the 500.

Best Fit: If you’re a budget hunter you won’t find a better deal than the Slugster. There’s not an MSRP in the Slugster lineup that tops $499. And if you’re a tactical junky, you can convert your favorite deer gun to a personal defense all star in the off season thanks to the myriad aftermarket components available.

Thompson/Center Encore

Thompson Center

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Single-shot firearms don’t get any more glamorous than the Thompson Center Encore. Its interchangeable barrel system allows you to swap from centerfire to rimfire to muzzleloader to shotgun with relative ease. When you make the swap, the scope stays attached to the barrel, ensuring a certain level of maintained accuracy from one setup to another as the seasons change. Both the standard Encore and the jazzed-up Pro Hunter models are available with rifled slug barrels. A 20-gauge model is available in the standard Encore, which comes with a 24-inch barrel and rifle sights. The top-of-the-line 28-inch Pro Hunter slug barrel is in 12 gauge only.

Best Fit: If you already own an Encore and hunt in a “slug state,” adding a rifled slug barrel is a no-brainer. You’ll save money over buying another dedicated slug gun. Plus, the shape and dimensions of the Encore mimic many target-style rifles, which are highly comfortable to shoulder and shoot. It’s definitely a tree stand or ground blind gun.

Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 Rifled Slug

Benelli

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The Rifled Slug model of the SBE 3 comes with open sights but is drilled and tapped for scope mounts. Its inertia-driven action that has made the SBE 3 so popular with waterfowl hunters is highly reliable, even if doesn’t cushion the felt recoil like a gas autoloader. Benelli also offers an optional high comb for more rifle-like performance. The MSRP of $1,999 is a little steep, but that’s the price to pay for premier performance. Hunters who like Benelli but are looking to save could consider the M2 Field Rifled Slug, which checks out at a few hundred less but utilizes the same inertia action. The M2 is also available in a 20-gauge version.

Best For: The Super Black Eagle is pigeon-holed as a waterfowler’s shotgun, but this gun is also a great option for those extreme slug gun hunters who drag their guns through just about anything and expect it to keep chuckin’ hulls.

Winchester 1300 Speed Pump

Winchester

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The Model 1300 was first introduced in 1978 to succeed the Model 1200. Slug hunters first got their crack at owning a 1300 with a rifled barrel in the late 80s and early 90s, when several combo packages and deer-specific variations were introduced. Unfortunately, the 1300 disappeared in 2006 when U.S. Repeating Arms Co. shut down its Connecticut plant. It is still one of the fastest, slickest pump shotguns ever made. If you needed a fast follow-up shot but wanted pump-action reliability, the 1300 was your gun. I still see them pop up on the skeet range every now and then where they trail autos and doubles only slightly in the speed with which they’ll dust doubles.

Best Fit: If your style of hunting garners shots at moving deer, the 1300 is a good choice. You can still sniff out a deal on a used combo package if you’re lucky. Buy it and hold onto it.

Browning BPS Rifled Deer Hunter

Browning

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Hey lefties, looking for a pump gun that won’t sling hulls into your face? The BPS might be your gun. Shells feed and eject from the bottom. Otherwise, it’s a workhorse pump gun that has been in Browning’s catalog since the 70s. It comes in 20 and 12 gauge with a 22-inch rifled barrel. The only slug gun option currently available is a classic walnut stock with blued barrel design that weighs about 7 1/2 pounds.

Best Fit: If you’re a fan of walnut and blued steel, your options are limited for slug guns. The BPS fits that bill with a proven design. It’s also a good choice for a left-handed shooter.

Read Next: Best Shotguns: 10 Greatest Shotguns Made in America

Marlin 512 Slugmaster

Marlin

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This bolt-action slug gun was a peer to the early Browning A-Bolts and Savage Model 210s in the mid- to late 90s, although it is now no longer available. Like many Marlin firearms, the Slugmaster was made for performance and durability, without all the pricey frills. A simple birch stock with pressed checkering and blued barrel are as pretty as it gets. But if you can find a clean used one with just a few season’s worth of hunting beauty marks on it, you’ll have yourself a fine slug gun.

Best Fit: Used Slugmasters can be had for a reasonable price when you find one. It would make a good, affordable first bolt-action slug gun, and a fine open-country slug gun for shooting from a blind or stand.

5 Ways to Make Your Slug Gun More Accurate

A modern saboted shotgun load is perfectly capable of delivering lethal performance at distances well beyond 100 yards. But can your deer hunting shotgun put that projectile where it needs to go? Dave Klotz of Da Mar Gunsmiths, a small shop located in Weedsport, N.Y., says you can with some modifications to your shotgun. Here’s what Klotz did to accurize a Remington 870 at a cost of $487.

Pin the Barrel

Shotguns are not rifles. Barrels are easily removed and tolerances aren’t tight where it slides into the receiver. “The barrel moves. It vibrates,” Klotz explains. “You don’t have to be a gunsmith to understand that a barrel that moves is not going to deliver consistent groups.” Klotz developed his pinning process about 35 years ago. He drills a hole through the side of the receiver and through the shank of the barrel, then inserts an Allen head screw to about five threads deep. The result is a barrel that doesn’t wiggle.

Improve the Bore

“Shotgun barrels usually don’t leave the factory in a condition that leads to really accurate shooting,” Klotz says. “We lap the bore, lengthen the forcing cone, and crown the barrel.”

The high polish in the bore after lapping helps minimize plastic buildup from sabots, which can degrade accuracy. Extending the forcing cone gives the slug a better transition into the rifling, Klotz says.

Fix the Trigger

It is nearly impossible to shoot well with the creepy 8-pound triggers typical of most production shotguns. “You can’t shoot accurately with a trigger like that,” Klotz says. Klotz’s shop used to be a Remington Service Center, and my 870 came back with a trigger that breaks crisply at 2 ¾ pounds.

Use a Better Scope Mount

Klotz doesn’t believe in barrels with cantiliver scope mounts. “On a shotgun, you need a mount that does not shoot loose and will not bend or break. There wasn’t one available, so we designed our own,” Klotz says.

The Da Mar mount uses six screws (three per side), and each screw is located on the sides of the receiver where the metal is thickest. It features a Weaver-style rail and rings.

Reduce Recoil

To take the sting out of my slug gun, Klotz did some bonus work and installed a Remington SuperCell recoil pad and put a steel plug in the stock to increase its weight. Slug guns are never a pleasure to shoot, but these alterations made a big difference and were no doubt part of the reason my groups improved.

Accuracy Results

While I wasn’t able to duplicate the 1.5-inch groups that the Da Mar guys got with Lightfield slugs, I was able to print the first 3-inch group I’ve ever shot with a shotgun, which is a far cry from what I had previously been able to do.

• Winchester Dual Bond: Before: 7.5 in. After: 3 in.
• Winchester Platinum Tip: Before: 8.25 in. After: 3.25 in.
• Winchester Partition Gold: Before: 9.5 in.After: 3.75 in.
• Remington Core-LoktBefore: 7.5 in. After: 4.25 in.
• Remington AccuTip: Before: 9.25 in. After: 5.5 in.
• Winchester XP3: Before: 8.75 in. After: 5.75 in.

––Tony Hansen

Outdoor Life is dedicated to covering safe and responsible gun ownership for hunting, recreation, and personal protection. We participate in affiliate advertising programs only with trusted online retailers in the firearms space. If you purchase a firearm using the links in this story, we may earn commission

The post The 15 Best Shotguns for Deer Hunting appeared first on Outdoor Life.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

		Remington 870	SEE IT
		Benelli Nova	SEE IT
		Mossberg 500	SEE IT

A pump shotgun is like your old reliable hunting truck. It might not be fancy. It might not have a lot of frills. But when you turn the key, it always gets the job done. They’re hunting tools for just about every season that you can count on to punch tags and fill the freezer.

That’s why many hunters have chosen a pump shotgun as their first shotgun, and it’s why many have chosen one as their only shotgun. A pump is simple, reliable, holds more shells than a break-action, and can be had at a reasonable price. What’s not to love?

On the subject of price, you could pay a lot of money for a pump gun with glossy walnut and gold inlay. But that’s sort of like putting chrome rims on your johnboat trailer. A pump should be used and abused. Yes, you get a lot for your money when you buy a pump shotgun. To give you a better idea of just how much you can get, we put together this list of the best pump shotguns for less than $500. Many of these guns can also be purchased used for hundreds less, but if you’re headed to the local gun shop, here’s what $500 will get you.

Best Pump Shotguns Under $500: Reviews and Recommendations

1. Remington 870 Express and Express Super Magnum

Remington

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The Remington 870 is the greatest shotgun of all time. Period. And while higher-grade versions of the 870, such as the Wingmaster, are available, it’s the Express that continues to make the 870 the first and last choice among legions of outdoorsmen.

Ultra-reliable, the 870 can be configured thousands of ways thanks to myriad aftermarket accessories and the gun’s simple breakdown design. You can buy one action, a couple barrels and an extra stock and change the gun from a clay buster to a turkey killer to a home-defense firearm. But at its price, why bother, when you can buy one for each task and still have cash left over for ammo.

One of the key features of the 870 that make it so durable and reliable is the double action bar design. When you pump the gun, parallel steel bars connected to the forend slide back into the action to operate the mechanisms that eject the spent shell and load the next one. Dual bars prevent racking and promote smooth operation. Look for these models used, now that times are changing at Remington and for Remington shotguns.

2. Benelli Nova Shotgun

Benelli

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There are shotgun fans, and there are Benelli fans. Their typified by their affinity for ultra-durable guns that can withstand anything a hard-core outdoorsman can dish out.

The company is best known for its inertia-operated autoloaders, but its Nova series of pump shotguns, with its sporty lines that once garnered adjectives such as “futuristic” or “progressive,” is one of the kings of the modern family of tactical-inspired field shotguns. But that look isn’t simply cosmetic. Benelli maximized the ergonomic performance of the gun with deep grooves in place of traditional checkering for a solid grip, a wide trigger guard for use with gloves, and a contoured forend that fits anyone’s hand. A one-piece stock and receiver help keep out the weather and make this a nearly indestructible gun. Various models range in price from $449 to $569.

Read Next: 13 Great Goose and Duck Shotguns

3. Mossberg 500 Shotgun

Mossberg

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If the Remington 870 is the Superman of the pump world, the Mossberg 500 is Batman: a superhero with a little more attitude. Prior to the recent trend of manufacturers offering tactical models straight from the factory, the 500 was the top choice of hunters who wanted a pump shotgun they could take to the field one day, then trick out with the latest aftermarket tactical swag when they got back home.

Thousands of accessories are available for the 500. There are even online forums dedicated to doing just that. And rest assured that if you buy one, you’re getting a proven gun. Mossberg has sold more than 10 million models of this classic pump.

The company offers several series at different prices, but the basic 500 All-Purpose pump action starts at $401.

4. Remington 887 Nitro Mag (Only Available Used)

Remington

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Imagine a shotgun with the proven reliability of the Remington 870 action, an armor coating that’s impervious to water and abrasion, and an ergonomically designed synthetic stock that gives you good hold even in bad weather. Would you buy that gun?

If so, check out the Remington 887 Nitro Mag. Designed not to replace the 870 (what gun could do that?), but to complement it, the Nitro Mag might be a waterfowl hunter’s dream gun. It has pump-gun reliability crossed with a modern look and Remington’s ArmorLokt coating, which the company says covers all external parts, so moisture, mud, and the abuse of decades afield won’t even scratch the surface. The standard model starts at $436.

Read Next: Best Shotguns for Duck Hunting

5. Winchester Super X Pump

Winchester

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Winchester brought us the Model 12 pump-action shotgun, one of the greatest firearms of all time, so the company knows a little bit about designing pumps. Its Super X Pump (SXP) series of shotguns shines above all others for something that often gets mentioned only when discussing autoloaders: the speed of its action.

Winchester created an inertia-inspired action that relies on the rearward momentum created by the shot to help the shooter cycle the action faster. The company says the gun can be fired three times in a half-second in trained hands.

The Black Shadow model is a top deal in the firearms world. It has a non-slip textured stock, a rotary bolt with four lugs for solid lock-up and a drop-out trigger assembly for easy cleaning access, all for $379.99 with a 3-inch chamber and $399.99 with a 3½-inch chamber. Other models are also available.

6. Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag

Mossberg

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The Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag scratches the “magnum” itch that befalls many serious waterfowl and turkey hunters.

It’s chambered for 3 ½-inch shells, so there’s no shotgunning task it can’t accomplish. A ported barrel helps to alleviate some of the shoulder-bruising boom-boom of big shells. Several specialty models even come with Mossberg’s adjustable LPA trigger system, which lets you dial in the weight of the trigger pull.

Read Next: Best Turkey Shtoguns

7. Weatherby PA-08 (Used)

Weatherby

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Weatherby’s product development procedure for the SA-08 pump shotgun went something like this: Shoot it until something breaks, fix the problem and repeat. The company continued this process until it ended up with a gun that fired more than 6,000 rounds. 

Why 6000 rounds? That’s what the company equates to 10 to 20 years of normal field use—without a failure. In fact, everything in the gun is designed for longevity: chrome-lined barrels, a dual-bar action (like the Remington 870), a black-anodized receiver machined from a solid billet of alloy material, and a drop-out trigger mechanism that won’t frustrate you when it’s time to clean.

This Turkish-made gun comes in a handful of finishes, including black and camo. My personal favorite is the PA-08 Upland with its walnut stock, but it’s difficult to find these days. If you do find one, you’ll be treated to some of the sexiest wood you’ll find on a gun in this price point, complete with 22 lines-per-inch checkering.The Upland model is $449, while the synthetic version is $399. ––Curtis Niedermier

8. TriStar Cobra III

Tristar

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Owner Gus Bader will often just snag a random gun off the production line at TriStar and put it through the ringer to make sure it shoots straight and functions properly. One thing I consistently hear from TriStar shooters is the incredible fit on these guns. I’ve shot a few of their over/unders and the auto-loading .410, and came away with the same opinion. The Cobra III doesn’t have the high-end feel of a Remington 870 Wingmaster, but the wood and steel Field model competes with the quality of an Express. It’s a damn reliable pump built by a company that caters to the average hunter (MSRP is $315). It’s available in 20- and 12-gauge, and there is a Turkey model in addition to the Field. —Joe Genzel

For Comparison: What Does an $8,000 Shotgun Get You?

Why spend $8,000 on a shotgun? Performance, of course. Comparing a $300 pump gun and a high-end over/under is like pitting a Prius against a NASCAR track burner.

The best shotguns are designed for handling and performance when it counts. There are many high-end shotguns I could have profiled, but I’ve chosen the Beretta DT11, which is available in skeet, sporting clay, and trap configurations. You’ll see DT11s in the hands of Olympic champions like, Kim Rhode and Vincent Hancock, and other top shooters. Every detail—from the meticulous fitting of parts to stock dimensions, internal barrel configuration, and action design—comes together to make a top-line shotgun. It’s the worth the sticker shock, if you need the top end performance. The bottom line is that an expensive gun provides incremental performance increases, but the key factor is the shooter.

• The high-tech Micro Core recoil pad dampens recoil and prevent muzzle rise.
• Beretta’s B-Fast adjustable comb allows precise tailoring of the stock’s drop and cast. A shotgun that fits the shooter properly is easier to shoot.
• The stock is choice European walnut, hand-checkered, and oil-finished. It has a broad butt to spread recoil over a larger area, and it is hand-fitted to the action.
• The ergonomically designed top lever eases the repetitive opening of the gun. This might seem like a small detail, but it makes a difference over the course of hundreds of rounds.
• A Greener-style crossbolt engages massive lugs on the sides of the upper barrel, providing one of the strongest barrel-to-action lockups found on the market.
• The large barrel selector and safety allows the shooter to quickly choose the barrel with the proper choke for the target presented.
• The trigger is adjustable to suit individual finger length and can also be set for right- or left-handed shooters.
• The detachable trigger (DT) group permits instant replacement of a broken trigger, and easy maintenance. As a safety measure, the gun needs to be open to change the trigger.
• Massive V hammer mainsprings provide ultra-fast lock time and superior, crisp trigger pulls.
• The wide receiver is designed for weight and balance. The construction also makes the action strong, so it will last for generations.
• Extra-large extractors for positive ejection of fired hulls.
• Hand-fitted barrels are hammer-forged and vacuum-distended for molecular stability, then meticulously fitted to the action.
• Separated barrels are lighter and faster to swing, and the ventilation allows for better cooling and less heat mirage.
• The adjustable rib lets the shooter precisely set pattern impact from nearly flat to very high, allowing each shooter to adjust the point of impact to their preference.
• The lightweight Steelium barrels are tapered from the chamber to the choke-tube skirt, providing recoil reduction and dense, even patterns with less choke constriction.
• Beretta’s Optima HP screw-in chokes provide a wide choice of pattern densities, and are engineered to relieve firing stress where the chokes thread into the barrel.

––John Taylor

Outdoor Life is dedicated to covering safe and responsible gun ownership for hunting, recreation, and personal protection. We participate in affiliate advertising programs only with trusted online retailers in the firearms space. If you purchase a firearm using the links in this story, we may earn commission

The post 8 of the Best Pump Shotguns for Less Than $500 (and One High-End Model) appeared first on Outdoor Life.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Trap is one of the most popular shooting sports in America, and it’s also a great way to introduce anyone to shotgun shooting. All you need is a shooting vest, gun, and box of shells to get started. It’s also one of the easiest shooting disciplines for enjoying immediate success, simply because of its format—you’re shooting at clays that are mostly going directly away from your shooting position. But if you want to become an accomplished trap shooter, you will eventually need a gun that’s built for the sport. That gun doesn’t have to be overly expensive, though it will cost you more than the average pump shotgun. Or, if you have the financial means, you can pay for a high-dollar over/under.

A good trap gun weighs a bit more than a field gun. That added weight helps reduce recoil and keep the barrel moving, which makes it easier to track clays and break them. A high rib and adjustable stock also makes a good trap gun, because you want your shotgun to shoot high. Most trap shooters instinctively hold below the clay bird, and that extra rib height and an adjustable cheek piece on the stock will give you a better sight picture. Whether you’re looking to join a trap league with your buddies or win the Grand American, there’s a shotgun to fit your budget.

1. Browning BT-99

This is the gold standard when it comes to single-barrel competition trap guns. The BT-99 is built with one purpose in mind: to smash clay targets at distances of 16 to 27 yards, and it’s exceedingly good at that task. It was originally built in 1968 by Miroku, discontinued in 1995, and then brought back by Browning in 2001. The base BT-99 comes with a satin walnut stock, 32- or 34-inch barrel with ivory front and mid-beads, and an Invector-Plus IM choke tube, plus a recoil pad for $1,559. If you want to step up in price, you can add options like Graco adjustable stocks with GraCoil Recoil Reduction systems and upgraded wood and metal finishes. If there’s a young competitive shooter in your family, the Midas model offers a reduced (13¾-inch) length of pull. BT-99 shotguns are heavy—over eight pounds—but that’s a good thing when you’re shooting hundreds of targets a day. The barrel is also ported to dampen recoil. Check availability here.

2. Fabarm Axis RS 12 Trap

The Axis is one of the most underrated competition guns on the market. It comes with class-leading features, like free-floating 32-inch barrels (there’s also a model with 34-inch pipes), an adjustable rib, tapered bores, integral recoil reducer, and adjustable comb. The Triwood stock finish is classy and eye-catching and five extended choke tubes come standard. The overall weight of these guns is close to nine pounds, so recoil won’t be an issue, but your arms may be a bit tired by the end of the day. Construction quality is second-to-none and the fit and finish resembles that of a gun that would cost five figures. I spent a day breaking clays in Texas with the Axis RS 12 and shot it extremely well. That was due in part to the adaptability of the Axis platform, but also the superb balance of this gun. The base price is around $4,700, which is actually a bargain considering the quality of this gun’s construction. Left-handers have to pay an extra $160 for a lefty stock, but all these guns are back by a five-year warranty. If you’re in the market for a high-end over/under, save your pennies and buy the Axis.

3. Tristar TT-15 Trap

Much like Browning’s BT-99, the TT-15 belongs to a family of trap guns that all share the same action but have different features. And these Turkish-made guns have become go-to shotguns for budget-minded shooters. Some of the features that come standard on the TT-15 guns include ribs with three adjustment points, adjustable walnut stocks, ventilated barrels, and color-coded Benelli/Beretta-style extended choke tubes. The Deluxe model even comes with a drop-out trigger group, something normally reserved for much more expensive target shotguns. Prices for these guns start at just $1,250, which is an excellent value for a single-barrel trap gun with all the features you’ll find on the TT-15 Trap. There’s also an over/under double-barrel and single-barrel combo option with two barrel sets if you enjoy shooting skeet or sporting clays. Check availability here.

Read Next: Expert Shotgun Shooting Tips from Trap, Skeet, and Sporting Clays Pros

4. Stevens 555 Trap

If you want a simple, affordable single-barrel trap gun, this is it. The 555’s aluminum receiver is scaled to gauge (12 or 20) and features a steel insert that strengthens the breech. The Turkish walnut stock has an oil finish and comes with an adjustable comb that can be raised or lowered to fit the shooter’s face. With its 30-inch barrel, the 12-gauge version weighs in at 7.5 pounds. It’s a reasonable weight for a trap gun, but definitely on the lighter side Three choke tubes come standard as does a chrome-lined barrel for maximum longevity. This is the ideal starter gun for a new trap shooter, and there’s a compact model available for smaller shooters. New trap shooters want a gun that is basic and affordable, but functional, and the Stevens 555 delivers on all three accounts. Check availability here.

5. Caesar Guerini Invictus V Trap

The Invictus isn’t your average trap gun—it starts at nearly $16,000—but for serious competitors who want one of the best guns for clay shooting, this Italian-made beauty is certainly one of them. The Invictus system is modular and can be adjusted as the gun wears in, which means this gun can be tuned to perfection hundreds of thousands of rounds into its operating life. It also comes with Guerini’s superb DPS trigger system, which is the closest thing you’ll find to a precision rifle trigger in a scattergun without an aftermarket upgrade. The top rib is adjustable from 60/40 to 120 (where the bottom of the pattern is 20% above the bead), so there’s not a target within range the Invictus wont break. Three or five MAXIS competition chokes come standard, as does a hand-rubbed Monte Carlo Stock with DTS 4-way adjustability. Not only is the Invictus built like a tank (the unsingle weighs in at 9 pounds, 5 ounces), it’s also quite beautiful, with ornate Italian engraving on the coin finish receiver. If you’re worried about damaging that finish, don’t—the metal is protected with Guerini’s Invisalloy finish.

Outdoor Life is dedicated to covering safe and responsible gun ownership for hunting, recreation, and personal protection. We participate in affiliate advertising programs only with trusted online retailers in the firearms space. If you purchase a firearm using the links in this story, we may earn commission.

The post 5 of the Best Trap Shotguns to Fit Every Shooter’s Budget appeared first on Outdoor Life.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Best Overall		Beretta DT11 Black	SEE IT
Best Sporting Clays		Beretta 694 Sporting	SEE IT
Best Upland		Browning Citori Hunter Grade I	SEE IT

The over/under shotgun is iconic in upland bird hunting fields across America. If you close your eyes and imagine yourself following a well-trained bird dog through an autumn field, there’s a good chance the shotgun you’re carrying in this daydream is a fine-looking over/under. But you’ll also find O/Us on clays ranges everywhere from the local club to the Olympics. It’s a proven platform that’s used to produce high-end competition guns and gorgeous field guns alike. 

But you’re going to have to pay for that combination of beauty and performance. Even though a majority of modern O/Us are made by CNC machines, they are often more expensive than pumps or auto-loaders. The good news is there are a wide variety of O/Us at multiple price points. The best over/under shotguns are costly, but there are also inexpensive options that will get the job done all the same, just with a bit less style.

• Best Overall: Beretta DT11 Black
• Best Trap: Krieghoff K-80 Pro Sporter
• Best Skeet: Perazzi High Tech Skeet
• Best Sporting Clays: Beretta 694 Sporting
• Best Upland: Browning Citori Hunter Grade I
• Best Sub-gauge: Fausti Caledon
• Best Value: Tristar Trinity

How I Picked the Best Over/Under Shotguns

I’ve shot all but one (Beretta’s DT11) of the guns in this list through my career as a hunter and a gun writer. I’ve also had the opportunity to interview some of America’s best shooters—namely Vincent Hancock, Kim Rhode, Zach Kienbaum, and Desi Edmonds—and I applied much of their expertise when picking the high-dollar clay sports shotguns. On the hunting side, I’ve spent a significant amount of time shooting less expensive O/Us. I have found that once the price of a break-action shotgun falls below $3,000 the pool of firearms deepens but there are only a few worth buying. Go below $1,000 and the number of quality guns shrinks even more, though Turkish gunmakers are doing well to close that gap. 

In short, I have shot a lot of attainable O/Us, and found Browning and Fausti make the best. TriStar O/Us are a great value and one of the better introductory options on the market. All of the over/under shotguns on this list are still in production. There are a ton of excellent classic O/Us that are no longer being made, but that’s another list for another time. 

Best Over/Under Shotguns: Reviews and Recommendations 

Best Overall: Beretta DT11 Black

Beretta

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Key Features

• Gauge: 12
• Action: Cross-bolt break-action
• Capacity: Two
• Chamber: 3-inch
• Barrel Type: Steelium Pro
• Barrel Length: 30 or 32 inches
• Chokes: Five Optima chokes (C, SK, IC, IM, M)
• Sights: Single white bead
• LOP: 14.37 inches
• Weight: 8.1 pounds
• Cost: $11,000

Pros

• Beretta’s Steelium Pro barrels and Optima choke system deliver superior patterns

Cons

• Depending on your preference, the carbon-fiber rib may make the barrels too light, so you will have to make rib weight adjustments

American skeet shooter Vincent Hancock has won a record three gold medals with Beretta shotguns, the last of which came while shooting the DT11 Black. And since it’s the shotgun of choice for the best skeet shooter of all time; it gets the nod as the best over/under shotgun. A carbon-fiber rib allows shooters to add length to the barrels without adding weight. Hancock used to shoot 28-inch barrels, but bumped up to 30s in the DT11. A longer barrel set can help keep your swing on track, and if you like more weight in the front of your over/under then you can use the included rib weights to find the proper balance. Beretta’s Steelium Pro barrels, used in the Italian gunmakers’ high-end double guns, come standard as do five Optima chokes.

DT stands for “detachable trigger.” You can drop the trigger out by opening the action, aligning the lever with the safety, pushing the safety forward to expose a black dot, and moving the lever to the right. Detachable triggers have crisper trigger pulls—the DT11 breaks at 3½ pounds—and it’s easier to clean and adjust trigger weight. The cross-bolt action of the DT11 is 3 mm wider than its predecessor, the DT10, giving it a stronger lock up so it can hold up even after tens of thousands of shotshell ignitions. Beretta offers a variety of different stocks for the DT11 so that shooters can experience a more custom fit.

Best for Trap: Krieghoff K-80 Pro Sporter

Krieghoff

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Key Features

• Gauge: 12
• Action: Boxlock
• Capcity: Two
• Chamber: 3-inch
• Barrel Type: Chrome-lined steel; adjustable floating rib
• Barrel Length: 30 or 32 inches
• Chokes: Five extended titanium (SK, IC, LM, M, IM)
• Sights: White pearl front bead
• LOP: Custom
• Weight: 8¾ pounds
• Cost: $13,000

Pros

• Assortment of custom fits and finishes (stocks, triggers, etc.)

Cons

• Shooters who rely on speed to break targets will not find the K-80 as responsive as the Italian-made shotguns

Krieghoff shotguns are built in Germany, but are modeled after an American over/under, Remington’s Model 32 (the split barrels with no side rib are a dead giveaway). The first Krieghoff was the K-32, which was replaced by the K-80, a heavier gun with more weight in the barrels. Trap shooters can change their point of impact with the K-80 Pro Sporter by adjusting a wheel located on the rib (12-8mm taper) of the shotgun. The stock also has a heightened cheek piece so shooters can keep their heads elevated, giving them an improved field of view to see the target longer. Because it’s meant to be shot in all clay-target disciplines, the Pro Sporter is more versatile than a traditional trap gun, which is why I prefer it, especially on doubles. This gun moves to targets more naturally for me. Old-school trap shooters may opt for the K-80 Tap because it has more adjustability in the rib and comes out of the box shooting a 70/30 pattern, but I like the responsiveness of the Pro Sporter. 

The mechanical trigger does not require recoil to operate, so if your hand-loaded shotshell is a dud, the hammer will strike the second primer, giving you the opportunity to break the target. Krieghoff triggers are adjustable for finger length and ship with a trigger weight of 3¾ pounds. Additional K-80 options include titanium chokes, barrel sets in 20-gauge, 28-gauge, and .410-bore, barrel weights for balance adjustments, barrel porting, and hand-crafted stock customization for an improved fit. 

Best for Skeet: Perazzi High Tech Skeet

Perazzi

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Key Features

• Gauge: 12
• Action: Boxlock
• Capcity: Two
• Chamber: 3-inch
• Barrel Type: Rough bored steel
• Barrel Length: 26¾, 27 9/16, 28⅜, or 29½ 
• Chokes: Fixed Cylinder or interchangeable 
• Sights: Red fiber-optic bar
• LOP: 15 inches (custom)
• Weight: 8 pounds, 11 ounces
• Cost: $11,500

Pros

• Built similarly to fine English double guns, but cost tens of thousands of dollars less

Cons

• Because Perazzis shotguns are started on a CNC machine and finished by hand, there can be some variability in the fit, feel, and functionality

Perazzi is only a 50-year-old company, young by Italian shotgun standards (Beretta is in its fifth century of operation), and draws its gun design from the London shooting houses of Boss and Woodward. The MX2000 and MX8 are Perazzi’s most famous competition guns, having won more than 30 Olympic medals. The High Tech Skeet is modeled after the MX8, the main differences being that the action of the High Tech is 3 mm wider and it weighs just over an ounce more. Even though it’s a heavy gun, Perazzi keeps a majority of the weight between your hands to make the shotgun balanced. 

Shooters can opt for a fixed or detachable trigger (3½-pound pull weight) with the High Tech, which also offers the choice of fixed cylinder chokes or screw-in chokes. There are four different barrel lengths to choose from, plus Perazzi will customize the stock to fit your body and shooting style. The shotgun’s rib can be flat, tapered, or reverse tapered, and the side ribs can be ventilated or left out completely. 

Best for Sporting Clays: Beretta 694 Sporting

Beretta

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Key Features

• Gauge: 12
• Action: Boxlock
• Capcity: Two
• Chamber: 3-inch
• Barrel Type: Steelium Plus
• Barrel Length: 30 or 32 inches
• Chokes: Five Optima HP Chokes (CYL, SK, IC, M, IM)
• Sights: White front bead
• LOP: 14¾ inches
• Weight: 7 pounds, 13 ounces
• Cost: $5,299

Pros

• You’re essentially getting a premium-grade Beretta competition gun, just without some of the bells and whistles

Cons

• There is nothing ornate about the exterior of this shotgun, so if you’re partial to scroll work, this gun only includes minor laser engravings

This is Beretta’s “mid-level” sporting clays shotgun—the DT11, DT10, and SO5 are the premium models—but for the average shooter the difference between the 694 and those guns won’t be noticeable with the exception of some exterior finishes. Beretta’s team of pro shooters had a lot of input on the design of this shotgun, working to make an over/under that has the capability and functionality of a more expensive gun, but without the extra cost. The stock is similar to the DT11’s. It’s beefy, especially at the pistol grip, so you can get a firm hold on the shotgun and mount it with precision and speed. Channel cuts in the stock improve your field of view, so you can find the clay target earlier and get on it faster. A fellow gun writer estimated the 694’s target area to be 10 to 12 clays wider than the average shotgun. 

The front of the 694’s fore-end is aluminum to take weight out of the gun. And a steel dowel pin was inserted across the fore-end to increase durability. Weights can be clamped to the barrel or inserted under the fore-end for proper balance. Automatic ejectors were also redesigned to ensure spent hulls eject from the gun. The previous iteration of this over/under, the 692, had some minor problems with this, which were fixed in the 694. 

Read Next: Best Chokes for Sporting Clays

Best for Upland: Browning Citori Hunter Grade I

Browning

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Key Features

• Gauge: 12, 20, 28, .410
• Action: Boxlock
• Capcity: Two
• Chamber: 2¾ – or 3-inch
• Barrel Type: Chrome-lined steel
• Barrel Length: 26- or 28-inch
• Chokes: IC, M, F
• Sights: Silver bead
• LOP: 14¼ inches
• Weight: 6.9 pounds
• Cost: $2,180

Pros

• Affordable compared to the clay-target guns on this list
• Well-made over/under you can pass down to your kids

Cons

• Only comes with three chokes, which means you have to buy aftermarket tubes to take full advantage of its pattern capability

Introduced in 1973 as a less expensive replacement to the Belgian-made Superposed, the Citori—made at the Miroku plant in Japan—was not immediately appreciated. It was, after all, supplanting a truly iconic shotgun. But more than a million of the guns have been built over the last half-century, cementing the Citori’s place in shotgun history. It has enjoyed a more than 50-year run because Browning was able to combine quality with affordability. There are few over/unders that cost under $2,500 with the kind of clean fit and finish the Citori exhibits. You can buy over/unders for less, but I doubt they’ll last as long. 

Browning’s Citori Hunter Grade I is built on a boxlock action, and it’s one of the more basic models in a lineup of countless variants. There are no fancy side plate designs or scroll work included, but it does have all that you want to hunt pheasants and other upland birds. The Hunter weighs 6 to 8 pounds depending on the gauge, has a vent rib barrel, checkered fore-end, and pistol-grip stock. An inertia trigger requires that the first shotshell fire before the second load can be fired. My only wish is that Browning would offer a five choke set so that we don’t have to search for aftermarket options. Adding a stock cylinder and light modified choke tube would be ideal.

Read Next: Best Upland Hunting Boots

Best Sub-gauge: Fausti Caledon

Fausti

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Key Features

• Gauge: 12, 20, 28, .410
• Action: Four Locks
• Capcity: Two
• Chamber: 2¾- and 3-inch
• Barrel Type: Chrome-lined steel
• Barrel Length: 26-, 28-, or 30-inch
• Chokes: C, IC, M, IM, F
• Sights: Metallic front bead
• LOP: 14½ inches
• Weight: 5.8 to 6.2 pounds
• Cost: $2,200

Pros

• Superior action strength
• Fausti makes some of the best shotgun barrels in the world

Cons

• Fausti shotguns can be hard to find in the U.S., but distribution is improving

Fausti has two shotgun categories—Core and Boutique. The Caledon falls into the Core category, which means it’s more basic and meant as an introductory option. You don’t get fancy side plates or engravings, but I’ve handled many other break-action shotguns in this price range and none come close to the Caledon in terms of quality. The 28-gauge version is my personal favorite. Transitions from the steel receiver to the barrels and walnut stock and fore-end are flawless. The action opens smoothly the first time—not often the case for most over/unders at this price. The four-lock system adds strength to the action so the gun won’t break down over a lifetime of shooting. It’s a low-profile shotgun with a vent rib that is hardly noticeable when you bring the shotgun to your shoulder. The pistol grip stock fits nicely in the hand, and the balance of the Caledon is without equal in this price range.

Best Value: Tristar Trinity

Tristar

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Key Features

• Action: Boxlock
• Capcity: 2
• Chamber: 2¾- or 3-inch
• Barrel type: Chrome-lined steel
• Barrel length: 26- or 28-inch
• Chokes: SK, IC, M, IM, F
• Sights: Red fiber-optic
• LOP: 14½ inches
• Weight: 6.3 to 6.9 pounds
• Cost: $719

Pros

• There aren’t many over/under options at this price point that shoot and function as well as the Trinity

Cons

• I have seen some inconsistencies with the point of impact of payloads during pattern work

Tristar’s Trinity is available in 12-, 16-, and 20-gauge (plus an LT model with an aluminum receiver to make the gun lighter). It retails for under $750, making it one of the best over/under shotguns for the money. I have patterned the gun, shot rounds of skeet with it, and carried it for pheasants, chukar, and other small game. I’ve found it to be quite accurate. The rounded silver receiver includes acid-etched floral engravings on three sides with a 24-carat gold inlay and an enamel finish.  The single trigger is mechanical, so it doesn’t need recoil to reset itself if your first shotshell does not fire. The bottom barrel averaged a 6.8-pound (three-shots) trigger pull, while the top barrel trigger was significantly lighter at 4.1 pounds in my testing. A tang-mounted safety allows the shooter to select from either barrel.

My 20-gauge had 26-inch chrome-lined barrels but the Trinity is also available with 28-inch tubes. The 12-gauge variant has the same offerings, but the 16 can only be had in 26-inch barrels. There is a vented top rib that measures 7mm, as well as a mid-vent rib. Chambered for 3-inch shotshells, the gun comes with a set of five flush-fitting chokes—SK, IC, M, IM, and F. Each choke can be identified by the number of etchings cut into on the top of the tube. The chokes are stored inside a plastic case. A key wrench is included for installation. The stock (14.5-inch LOP) is machine-checked around the pistol grip and on either side of a Schnabel fore-end. A rubber recoil pad (.62 inches in thickness) screws into the Turkish walnut stock. It did an adequate job of mitigating recoil.

History of the Over/Under Shotgun

Compared to side-by-sides and pump-actions, the over/under is still a young shotgun platform. There were some London shooting houses that built expensive custom over/unders in the early 20th century and German gunmaker Merkel produced spendy O/Us during that time period as well. But the platform did not become a success until John M. Browning’s Superposed debuted in 1931. The gun really didn’t gain popularity until after WWII when the German occupation of Belgium (and the FN factory where the Superposed was made) ended.

But the O/U quickly replaced the side-by-side, which had long been the gun of choice for sportsmen all over the world. It also took over the competitive clay shooting sports. Given a choice, today’s best shooters—from sporting clays world champions to Olympic skeet gold medalists—will pick an O/U shotgun over any other platform. The reason for that is shootability. The best over/under shotguns are balanced and well-designed—manufacturing an O/U takes incredible precision because there are so many machined parts that must fit together. Their stacked barrels ensure the shooter sees more of the target and less of the gun, which is not the case with a flat-ribbed side-by-side. 

Things to Consider When Buying an Over/Under Shotgun

If you are going to throw down for one of the higher priced shotguns on this list, then you should expect some amount of personal attention. These aren’t custom shotguns, but they’re not cheap either, so you shouldn’t be treated like you’re buying a used 870 off the rack. Make sure that the salesperson or your gun dealer is competent. Most of the high-dollar O/Us must be ordered from a private vendor (you can’t buy a new Krieghoff at Bass Pro), so that shouldn’t be an issue. Ask to be fit for the shotgun if possible. That way the gun can be adjusted to your body, which will help with accuracy. If a dealer won’t do that for you, or won’t recommend a gunsmith, consider going elsewhere.

If you’re buying on the lower end of the scale, inspect the fit and finish of the shotgun. The receiver should transition into the fore-end and stock seamlessly. Assemble the gun to make sure the barrels sit properly on the hinge pin and lockup when the action is closed. Bring the unloaded gun to your shoulder, close your eyes, and then open them to see if your eye aligns with the rib. If it doesn’t, you either need a stock adjustment or a different gun.

FAQs

Final Thoughts on the Best Over/Under Shotguns

What’s great about today’s best over/under shotguns is that you can spend $25,000 or $700 and still go home with a functional firearm (though it may not be quite as beautiful if you opt for the cheaper gun). That wasn’t always the case decades ago when U.S. gun manufacturers began buying Turkish doubles and having them shipped to America. There are still some lemons coming out of Istanbul (and other locales), but the over/under market is so saturated nowadays that it has forced foreign gun makers to build more reliable shotguns. If they don’t, shooters have a bevy of options at their disposal, making it easier to move on to the next over/under import.

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Folding shotguns comprise only a small segment of the firearm market. However, they do offer a real advantage for anyone who needs to keep a shotgun handy when space is limited. This platform is ideal for a truck gun or camping trip. Some bush plane pilots rely on folding shotguns, storing them in the cockpit as predator backup when ferrying hunters into the backcountry.

Granted, all action types—pumps, auto-loaders, and break-actions—can be disassembled into two pieces. But folding shotguns allow you to skip reassembly, which is no small consideration in an emergency. Here’s a look at some notable folding designs past and present.

The First Folding Shotgun

Long before the folding shotgun concept became the province of relatively inexpensive break-open “utility guns,” there was the Burgess pump-action designed by Andrew Burgess.

Made from 1894 to 1899 at the Burgess Gun Company in Buffalo, New York, the gun was originally intended for combat and law enforcement. The Burgess was a tactical shotgun before the term existed. Featuring a 20-inch barrel and six-shot capacity, this hinged, external-hammer 12-gauge could be holstered, making it a concealable option under  a jacket or vest . A pivoting pin and folding latch allowed the gun to be carried folded in its holster with a fully loaded magazine. The Burgess could then be drawn by its shooter and quickly locked into battery.

Instead of the common reciprocating handguard used to cycle pump shotguns—that patent hadn’t expired yet—the Burgess featured a sleeve around the wrist of the stock. Yanking back the sleeve—along with the grip and trigger guard—and then pushing it forward, unlocks the bolt, ejects the empty, and chambers the next round from the magazine.

In 1895 a standard-grade Burgess cost $30, plus $1.50 for the holster. By 1899, Winchester had bought out Burgess, most likely to reduce competition with their Model 97 pump. Today, the Burgess is a collectible. One in very good condition can fetch close to $8,000.

Chiappa Double Badger

Sportsman’s Warehouse

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As anyone who has owned a Savage Model 24, Valmet, or Baikal rifle-shotgun knows, combination guns are not new technology. Chiappa took the concept a step further with the Double Badger, which has double triggers. It’s available in .410/.22 LR, .410/.22 WMR, 20 gauge/.22 LR, and .410/.243. When folded in half, the Double Badger is just 21.2 inches, which means it’s pack friendly or can be stowed under a seat in your truck. For increased accuracy, this gun has fiber-optic ghost ring sights, plus a rail for optics. At 6.25 pounds, it’s heavy by folding gun standards. Chiappa does make a handier option called the Little Badger Deluxe, although that’s not a shotgun: It’s a rifle-only platform chambered in .22 LR or .22 WMR. That gun weighs only 3.6 pounds and measures 17 inches when folded.

Read next: Pocket Pistols for Personal Protection

Beretta Model 412

Beretta

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Imports of Beretta’s highly regarded Model 412 series began in 1946, and ended in 1988. The 412 was a single-barrel folder offered in 12-, 20-, 28-gauge, or .410. The barrel is a monobloc design, which means it was braised to a single component as opposed to a demibloc that offers more strength for double-barrel shotguns. The Model 412 weighs a scant 5 pounds and features a checkered fore-end and pistol grip stock. They are beautiful guns that cost less than $200—if you can find one. If not, consider the legendary 412, which continued in Effebi’s Beta series. It can be had in the same gauges as the 412, though it’s less elegant. It also breaks open differently, using a lever system located on the tang of the shotgun—similar to that of many over/under and side-by-side shotguns—instead of the trigger-style lever the Beretta employs. 

TriStar Folding Survival Shotgun

This Turkish-made single-shot folder in 12-gauge has a 3-inch chamber (TriStar also offered it in 20-gauge and .410-bore). It’s a no-frills synthetic-stock gun with a Parkerized finish, featuring a 20-inch fixed choke cylinder bore barrel. The curb weight is 4.5 pounds, so the recoil from buckshot or slugs will be substantial, though you could outfit the TriStar with a recoil pad. The stock is hollow for stashing small supplies like matches or a first-aid kit—if you have a screwdriver to remove the recoil pad. The shotgun breaks open via a lever forward of the trigger guard. It is no longer produced by TriStar, so you will have to search the used market for one. It shouldn’t cost you more than $100. When folded, it certainly fits the definition of a pack gun and could be used to hunt small game, particularly in the mountains where every pound you carry makes a difference.

Yildiz TK36 and TK12

One of Turkey’s oldest gunmakers offers two notable single-barrel folders: the Yildiz TK36 .410 and TK12 12-gauge. Both single-shots feature select Turkish walnut stocks and fore-ends, recoil pads, fixed modified chokes, pistol-grip stocks, and tang-mounted safeties. They both use the same lever system forward of the trigger guard as the TriStar. The TK36 weighs just 3.3 pounds and measures under 4 feet long (44 inches) with a 28-inch barrel. The TK12 is the same length, but weighs in at 4.8 pounds since it’s a 12-gauge. Both guns are still in production and cost less than $200.

Khan Arms Stylox 

Khan Arms, a Turkish manufacturer, offers the Stylox series of single-shot folders in 12- and 20-gauge, plus .410-bore. The Stylox is available in 10 variants with synthetic, camouflage, and wood finish options. For backcountry pursuits and defense, the Tac Fidelio is a perfect choice due to its synthetic exterior, raised blade front sight, and Picatinny rail for mounting an optic. If you don’t need the sights or rail, the Type-S is a similar gun that uses a traditional front bead. Both options have recoil pads to mitigate felt recoil. 

Harrington & Richardson Folding Shotgun

This time-honored American company made its contribution to the folding shotgun platform with a series of single shots from the early 1900s to the 1940s in 12-, 20-, 16-gauge, and .410-bore. The H&R folders typically have case-hardened frames, external hammers, top-break levers, 26-inch barrels, and walnut pistol grip stocks. As a very sensible feature, the forend was recessed to accept the trigger guard when the gun is folded, making it more compact. Weights range from 5¾ to 6½ pounds. H&R folders are still available on the used market, but they’re getting a little pricey for a brand associated with economy products. A recent search listed one for $450.

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Best Pump		CZ-USA 612 Field	SEE IT
Best Semi-Auto		Beretta A400 Xcel Sporting	SEE IT
Best Over/Under		Zoli Z-Sport	SEE IT

Sporting clays is the most challenging of the shotgun sports. It’s also become one of the most popular because, well, it’s fun. Also, every sporting clays course is unique, unlike American skeet and trap, which is the same at any range. Sporting clays gives you the opportunity to attempt a variety of difficult shots that require good form and shooting instincts as opposed to the muscle memory you need to excel at skeet or trap.

Although you will see many professionals shoot high-priced over/unders on sporting clays, the casual shooter doesn’t need to spend tens of thousands of dollars to find their own best shotgun for sporting clays. For instance, if you are a wingshooter, your duck or pheasant gun (properly choked) is likely ideal for sporting clays.

If you are thinking about getting into sporting clays, a hunter who wants to sharpen your shooting skills, or an advanced target shooter looking to upgrade, here are three shotguns designed specifically for sporting clays for beginners, intermediate, and experienced shooters.

Best Pump Shotguns for Sporting Clays Beginners

• CZ-USA 612 Field
• Remington FieldMaster
• Browning BPS Field

Best Semi-Auto Shotguns for Sporting Clays 

• Franchi Affinity 3 Sporting
• Beretta A400 Xcel Sporting

Best Over/Under Shotguns for Sporting Clays 

• Weatherby Orion
• Browning Citori CXS
• Zoli Z-Sport

How We Picked the Best Shotguns for Sporting Clays

If price were no option, the very best shotguns for sporting clays cost north of $10,000. But if you’re a beginner to intermediate shooter who’s looking to up your game, all of the guns on this list present a good value. Prices range from less than $400 to $7,500. Many of the guns on the list make for excellent crossover guns that will work well for sporting clays and hunting. All combined, the authors of this story have decades of shooting and hunting experience and we’ve shot all of the guns included here. 

Shotgun Platforms for Sporting Clays

Since you will need a gun that holds at least two shells to shoot sporting clays, single-shot guns are out. That leaves over/unders, side-by-sides, pumps, and auto-loaders as suitable sporting clays firearms.

Over/Unders for Sporting Clays

Over/unders are the most popular style of sporting clays shotgun among those who want to purchase a shotgun specifically dedicated to this pursuit. Over/unders come in a wide range of price points. A serviceable double starts around $1,000 and the high-end break-actions will cost north of $30,000.

Over/unders generally break clays better if you buy one that has been built for clay shooting. This is because over/under stocks are more likely to be cast dependent on what hand you shoot with. Right-handers will have more cast on the right side of the stock, and vice-versa for lefties. Most over/unders have longer barrels—from 28 inches up to 34 inches—which makes for a smoother, balanced swing on clays. Some doubles will also have ported barrels to tame recoil and make it easier to get on the second clay bird.

Semi-Auto Shotguns for Sporting Clays

Auto-loaders remain a sporting clays favorite. Even some professionals shoot them as opposed to the more popular over/unders. Beretta’s gas-operated models are shooter favorites because they fit a variety of different body types and pattern evenly. Many women and youth shooters enjoy shooting the early 300 series Berettas, which is proof they have a remarkable fit as they were not designed for women or teenagers, but both generally shoot them well.

Gas-operated semi-autos have the added benefit of dampening recoil, making them extremely comfortable to shoot. They are not overly expensive, and if well maintained, will provide reliable service. The downside of gas-operated autoloaders is that they get dirty, particularly with cheap ammo. This means a regimented gun cleaning is necessary to avoid a shell hanging up in the action when you’re trying to break the second clay.

Pump Shotguns for Sporting Clays

Pumps are reliable, but you also must work the action manually to load a second shell and then get the gun on a speeding clay. But in this shooting discipline, you often have the time to pump the gun and crush the second target. There will be some stations that are more demanding and require a quick second shot, but if you can break doubles on skeet with a pump gun, you can do the same on sporting clays.

Best Pump Shotguns for Sporting Clays Beginners

CZ-USA 612 Field

CZ-USA

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Key Features

• Gauge: 12
• Action: Pump
• Capacity: 4+1 
• Chamber: 3-inch 
• Barrel Length: 28-inch 
• Chokes: C, M, F
• Front Sight: White bead
• LOP: 14.5 inches
• Overall Weight: 6.2 pounds
• MSRP: $399

Pros

• Reliable and inexpensive

Cons

• Turkish-made shotgun

I’m a serious clays shooter, but if I were just starting out and wanted a mechanically reliable, yet relatively inexpensive shotgun, I would select a CZ-USA 612 Field. The 612 runs superbly on the sporting clays field. I’ve shot one, and it’s a fine-pointing clays gun. I wouldn’t hesitate to carry it while tromping through pheasant fields or sitting in a duck boat blind. These guns look nice, shoot well, and are mechanically bulletproof. The simplicity of a pump-action gun means there’s very little that can go wrong. It can get dirty and wet and still operate to its potential.

The 612 Field features a 28-inch barrel with ventilated rib, which along with the added action length of the pump gun receiver, brings the overall length to 49 inches, which is about as short of a sporting clays gun as you want to use if you’re an adult male shooter. Available in 12-gauge, it features three removable choke tubes and a 3-inch chamber. This is a no-frills gun that should last several generations if properly cared for. It’s a versatile gun as well. You can shoot clays and hunt any bird species with it. And it costs under $400. —Dana Farrell

Remington FieldMaster

Remington

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Key Features

• Gauge: 20, 12
• Action: Pump
• Capacity: 4+1 
• Chamber: 3½-inch, 3-inch 
• Barrel Length: 28-, 26-inch 
• Chokes: IC, M, F
• LOP: 14 inches
• Overall Weight: 7.4 pounds
• MSRP: $600

Pros

• Very durable and an upgrade from the Express.

Cons

• RemArms is still a new company, so it’s too early to say what the future holds for their firearms.

RemArms, the company that now owns Remington shotguns, rifles, and handguns, discontinued the 870 Express last year in favor of the 870 Fieldmaster. The Fieldmaster is an upgrade over the Express and has proved to be an incredibly reliable firearm too. I torture tested the Fieldmaster in 2022, and the only way I was able to get the 3-inch gun to fail was by caking the inside of the action with a dirt clod and then completely submerging the gun in my family’s fishing pond. But with a quick field strip and wipe down, I was back to shooting.

The Fieldmaster comes with three chokes (IC, M, and F), so you have more options when shooting clays—the Express only came with a modified choke. Since the torture test, I have shot the Fieldmaster on skeet with no choke with fantastic results. Most shotgun manufacturers will warn against shooting chokeless, because it could damage the threads but I have never had an issue doing this with any of my shotguns. The action bars have a smooth metal finish to make pumping the 870 plenty slick, critical when you are shooting doubles. There is also a soft recoil pad affixed to the buttstock to dampen recoil. The stock and fore-end are American walnut and the steel receiver and barrel (26- or 28-inch options) are finished with a rust-resistant coating. —Joe Genzel

Browning BPS Field

Browning

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Key Features

• Gauge: 12, 20, 28, .410
• Action: Pump
• Capacity: 4+1
• Chamber: 3-inch 
• Barrel Length: 28-, 26-inch 
• Chokes: IC, M, F
• LOP: 14¼ inches
• Overall Weight: 7.10 pounds
• MSRP: $800

Pros

• Hefty overall weight makes the BPS easier to swing through the target
• Good option for lefties

Cons

• On the more expensive side for a pump shotgun.

In the last decade many gun manufacturers have been making clays guns lighter, specifically auto-loaders. The Browning BPS Field, however, weighs nearly 8 pounds. Though this may sound counterintuitive, heavier, well-balanced guns are easier to keep swinging through the target than light ones. It’s harder to stop a gun that weighs 8 pounds versus one that weighs less than 7. The BPS Field is available in every gauge but 10 and 16 (there is a 10-gauge Field Composite variant) with blued 26- or 28-inch barrels. It has a tang-mounted safety, which is more convenient and accessible for lefties than a trigger group-mounted safety.

Reloaders (and your trap shooting partners) will love the bottom-eject feature of the BPS. Instead of sending a spent hull off the course, it falls at your feet. You don’t have to go around searching for hulls to reload. Browning paired the Invector-Plus choke system (IC, M, and F) with the BPS. That reliable set of tubes that has been a mainstay of the Citiori. There is a thick recoil pad at the end of the buttstock, and the fore-end has grooves on either side of it to place your hand to make pumping the shotgun smooth. —J.G.

Best Semi-Auto Shotguns for Sporting Clays 

Franchi Affinity 3 Sporting

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Key Features

• Gauge: 12, 20
• Action: Semi-auto, inertia
• Capacity: 4+1
• Chamber: 3-inch 
• Barrel Length: 28-, 30-inches
• Chokes: IC, M, F
• LOP: 14.5 inches
• Overall Weight: 7.1 pounds (12 gauge)
• MSRP: $1,129

Pros

• Reliable semi-auto at a fair price

Cons

• Does not include as many features as top-end guns

The Franchi Affinity 3 Sporting is probably the best shotgun for sporting clays you’ll find at this price point. The Affinity 3 series is well-regarded as reliable, affordable, and sweet shooting, and their sporting version is no exception. The gun operates on an inertia driven action that’s similar to those found in Benelli shotguns—Franchi’s sister company. The minimum recommended load for the 12 gauge version of this gun is 3 dram, 1 ⅛ ounce loads, so you’ll have to keep an eye on that when selecting target ammo. Otherwise, this gun has some nice adjustability options with shims for cast and drop so you can get the gun hitting where you want it. It also comes with a cushy TSA recoil pad. —Alex Robinson

Beretta A400 Xcel Sporting

Beretta

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Key Features

• Gauge: 12, 20
• Action: Semi-auto, gas
• Capacity: 2+1
• Chamber: 3-inch 
• Barrel Length: 28-, 30-inches, 32-inches
• Chokes: C, M, F
• LOP: 14.25 inches
• Overall Weight: 7 pounds, 7 ounces
• MSRP: $2,219

Pros

• Feature packed
• Light recoil

Cons

• Gas guns tend to get dirty faster

I’m a long-time Beretta loyalist. Their shotguns are reliable, and most shooters shoot them well. Some of the best sporting clays shooters in the world rely on them, like Scott Robertson or Joseph Fanizzi.

Beretta has a long lineage of auto-loaders, the most recent of which is the A400. The A400 replaced the ever-popular 391 platform, which in turn replaced the 390.

Ask any reputable sporting clays instructor and he or she will tell you an auto is a good way to go when starting to get serious about the clays game. They’re not too expensive, and customized parts are readily available, allowing you to balance and adjust the gun to your liking and shooting style.

The Beretta A400 comes in close to 20 model variations, but for the sake of this article we’ll stick with the A400 Xcel Sporting. This latest model replaces the “Xcel” which you’ll still see on many clays courses. You can’t miss it with its blue receiver.

The gas-operated A400 is available with either a 28-, 30-, or 32-inch barrel. The MSRP is $2,219 and the gun comes with all sorts of cool features like enlarged controls, Blink gas operating system, and Beretta’s Kick-Off recoil reduction system. Altogether, these features make for a soft-shooting, fast-cycling semi-auto. If you’re a hunter, the A400 Xtreme Plus is the best option for you. That gun won our review of the best duck hunting shotguns, and it’s plenty capable on a clays course. —D.F.

Best Over/Under Shotguns for Sporting Clays 

Weatherby Orion

Weatherby

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Key Features

• Gauge: 12, 20
• Action: Boxlock over/under
• Capacity: 2
• Chamber: 3-inch 
• Barrel Length: 28-, 26-inch 
• Chokes: IC, M, F
• LOP: 14 inches
• Overall Weight: 7 pounds
• MSRP: $1,049

Pros

• Should be able to find at least $100 less than MSRP

Cons

• Should purchase aftermarket chokes

Weatherby’s shotguns are often an afterthought because the company is most well-known for making bolt-action rifles. But the Orion has been a mainstay in the Wyoming gunmaker’s lineup since the early 1980s. The Orion was first built to Weatherby’s specifications by SKB in Japan, then Fausti, and now ATA, a Turkish manufacturer. It’s not an ornate over/under—the metal finishes are blued and there is no scroll work on the receiver—but the wood-to-steel transitions are seamless. A boxlock break-action, the Orion has automatic ejectors and a selectable safety. The checkered Prince of Wales stock is more rounded than a pistol grip or straight English-style stock. A stepped rib 26- or 28-inch barrel leads to a single brass bead at the muzzle. The sidewalls of the barrel are vented to take weight out of the gun (the 12-gauge is 7 pounds and the 20 weighs 6.2 pounds).

You get three chokes (IC, M, and F) with the Orion, though it would be nice to have a cylinder and light modified choke included. Because they have two barrels, over/unders present the unique opportunity to shoot two different patterns from the same gun without the annoyance of removing and inserting different chokes. This is useful on a sporting clays range because you’ll be dealing with different target presentations at a variety of ranges. However, you can’t take full advantage of the Orion’s patterning capabilities without a full range of choke tubes. But still, this is a gorgeous over/under for less than $1,000 and there are plenty of aftermarket chokes at your disposal. —J.G.

Browning Citori CXS

Browning

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Key Features

• Gauge: 12, 20
• Action: over/under
• Capacity: 2
• Chamber: 3-inch 
• Barrel Length: 28-, 30-, 32-inch
• Chokes: F, M, IC
• LOP: 14.75 inches
• Overall Weight: 7 pounds, 10 ounces (28-inch barrel)
• MSRP: $2,530

Pros

• Capable on the clays course and in the field

Cons

• Not a true competition gun

The Browning Citori line celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2023 to the delight of gold trigger fans everywhere. There are a ton of different Citori models, and the CXS version is what Browning describes as a crossover clays-hunting gun (hence the “X” in the name). Here’s the bad news first: The CXS is a little heavy for a dedicated upland bird hunting gun and it doesn’t have all the features of a true competition gun. But as with any crossover, you have to give up a little specialization in order to gain versatility.

A few years ago, I wanted a gun that I could practice with seriously on the sporting clays course and then hunt with in the fall. For this purpose, the CXS is perfect. Sometimes I don’t mind carrying a heavier shotgun when pheasant hunting, but I do mind missing roosters. The weight and balance of the CXS is perfect for my tastes; it’s balanced right in the middle and weighs under eight pounds (I’d stick with the 28-inch barrels if you intend to hunt with yours). The fact that I shoot it on clays during the summer helps me avoid making an awkward mount and bad shot on that first rooster of opening day.

The gun has some nice features, including: Invector-Plus Midas grade extended choke tubes, triple trigger system (which allows you to adjust length of pull by sliding the trigger forward or back), a mid bead, moderate palm swell, hammer ejectors, and Inflex recoil pad. The stock is a handsome Grade II American walnut (so not too fancy that you feel bad about abusing it in the field). 

There’s not much in terms of adjustability, but the gun fit me well out of the box and comes to my shoulder quickly. That’s helped me kill plenty of roosters, and crush clay targets, too. —A.R.

Zoli Z-Sport

Zoli

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Key Features

• Gauge: 12, 20, 28
• Action: over/under
• Capacity: 2
• Chamber: 3-inch 
• Barrel Length: 28-, 30-, 32-, 34-inch 
• Chokes: IM, LM, Mod, IC, C/SK, Skeet 2
• LOP: 14.5 inches
• Overall Weight: 8 pounds, 7 ounces (32-inch barrel)
• MSRP: $7,500

Pros

• Incorporates many features of a top-end clays gun at a lower price point

Cons

• None

You can spend what it costs to buy a new car on a pricey over/under shotgun. But for most of us, there’s honestly no reason to throw down more than $10,000 even if you are a dedicated shooter. That’s why I love the Zoli Z-Sport, which starts at $7,500. Available in 12-gauge with barrel lengths of 28, 30, 32, and 34 inches, this Italian-made shotgun is an ideal choice for shooters looking for an affordable high-end sporting clays shotgun.

The Z-Sport is available in a flat, mid-height and adjustable height rib models. All Zoli over/unders feature actions, trigger plates, and monoblocs built on forged steel, plus removable trigger groups. An optional BHB system allows you to fine tune the balance of the gun using incremental weights placed under the fore-end and in the grip. This is a gun that truly stands with the best of the best in terms of mechanical integrity and aesthetic appeal. —D.F.

How to Choose the Best Shotguns for Sporting Clays

Gun fit is the most critical component of picking the right sporting clays shotgun. You’re shooting at small targets that are typically moving faster than live birds during a hunt, so there’s less margin for error. That said, it’s difficult to be sure a gun off the rack properly fits. You should start by going to a trusted gun dealer with a knowledgeable shooter behind the counter. Also, many shooting ranges will have days set aside for manufacturers to allow any shooter to test their guns on skeet, trap, or sporting clays. Call your local range and find out if there are any such events scheduled and if the shotgun maker is sending someone to represent their company. That person should be able to fit their firearm to you and give you an idea of the ideal length of pull, cast, and drop for your shooting style and body type.

If you’re buying a shotgun off the rack, one trick I use is to mount the unloaded gun—pointed in a safe direction—with my eyes closed. Once I am comfortable with the position of the gun, I open my eyes. If my dominant eye is looking straight down the rib, that’s a good sign. You can also mount the gun and look into a mirror to see where your eye is aligned. If it’s not straight down the rib, then there is likely an issue with the cast of the stock. It’s also a good idea to bring along a gun that you shoot well and one that you don’t. This will help a competent sales person or gunsmith understand what gun fits you best.

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Final Thoughts on the Best Shotguns for Sporting Clays

The best sporting clays gun for you is the one that fits you and your budget well. You don’t need to spend a fortune in order to shoot high scores. You just need practice. Most of the sporting clays shooters I know shoot in order to sharpen their skills for hunting season (and because it’s fun). So, it makes sense that most field guns will perform just fine on the clays course. However, if you are pursuing sporting clays as your primary passion, it’s wise to go with a high-end gun that can be easily adjusted to fit you precisely. 

Best Pump Shotguns for Sporting Clays Beginners

• CZ-USA 612 Field
• Remington FieldMaster
• Browning BPS Field

Best Semi-Auto Shotguns for Sporting Clays 

• Franchi Affinity 3 Sporting
• Beretta A400 Xcel Sporting

Best Over/Under Shotguns for Sporting Clays 

• Weatherby Orion
• Browning Citori CXS
• Zoli Z-Sport

The post The Best Shotguns for Sporting Clays of 2023, Tested and Reviewed appeared first on Outdoor Life.

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