Dove hunting is one of the most popular wingshooting sports in the U.S. Each season 1 million hunters spend 3 million days afield to shoot between 15 and 20 million mourning doves, according to U.S. Fish and Wildlife. And 40 of the lower 48 states have established dove hunting seasons. In Texas, where 250,000 people dove hunt, the opener might as well be a state-wide holiday. That’s because dove hunting is fun, relatively accessible, and doves make excellent table fare.

Finding access to dove hunting can range from easy to difficult depending on where you live. In states like Texas, the birds are abundant on many properties. If you don’t have your own property to hunt them on, there are public-land hunt to be had in the southern part of the state. You can also pay a day rate for as little as a $100 to go dove hunting in Texas. In other parts of the country birds and access can be sparse, but if you scout hard or have a few acres to plant a dove plot in the spring, there’s a good chance you can locate enough birds for a favorable shoot.

Finding doves and having access to them are the two main hurdles to clear, but there are a few more things to consider, like where to setup, which shotgun gauge to shoot, and managing hunting pressure. To have a prosperous dove season you need to take all of these variables into account and balance them equally. In our ultimate guide to dove hunting, we’ll cover the following. Read straight through, or click on a section to jump in.

1. How to Find Doves
2. How to Plant Your Own Dove Field
3. How to Set Up on a Dove Hunt
4. Dove Hunting Decoys
5. Dove Shooting Tips
6. Dove Hunting Shotguns, Chokes, and Loads
7. Managing Dove Hunting Pressure
8. Hunting the Late Season

1. How to Find Doves

Locating doves in late August is paramount. Plenty of hunters will simply show up to a sunflower patch on the dove opener and expect to shoot 15 birds. Get an edge on the competition by scouting several locations in the days leading up to Sept. 1. This is critical especially if you hunt public land, but it’s also worth finding private, fresh-cut agricultural fields. When you find birds on private land, knock on doors and ask for permission to hunt. Look for recently burned wheat fields and fields that have been disced.

Water sources, gravel roads (more on this later), and power lines are also good places to find birds. Doves must drink, they use grit to properly digest their food, and perch on the lines. If all three elements exist in one location, you’re likely to find good numbers of doves.

Once you locate the birds, don’t just call it good. Spend time studying their flight lines, that way you can get under the birds before the flight begins on opening day (you may have to arrive several hours before legal shooting time on public land to claim your spot). — J.G., M.P.

Natural Food Sources Are a Good Place to Locate Doves

Given the chance, doves will concentrate on natural foods such as foxtail, ragweed, wild sunflowers, and any native grass that carries a head of small seeds.

Monocultures—areas that are dominated by a single plant species—can provide doves with abundant food, but areas dominated by a single food source generally offer a boom-or-bust proposition for birds. When seeds are mature and available the birds will have plenty to eat, but when the crop is cleaned-up the birds will largely vacate the area. Wildlife biologists know this and generally plant dove fields with a variety of mixed seeding plants including browntop millet, barley, grain sorghum, and sunflowers. A good dove hunting tip is to pay special attention to areas where there are a variety of seeding plants in proximity to one another when you’re scouting. These areas will attract birds throughout the season.

Most hunters recognize agricultural crop fields will attract birds. However, if you understand which native plants are most attractive to doves, you’ll be able to identify a potential hotspot that might be overlooked by others. Doves feed on a variety of native and non-native plants in the fall, and very few hunters can recognize all of them. Pay particular attention to stands of barnyard grass, ragweed, Johnson grass, lespedeza, poke weed (identifiable by its purple berries and stems), sedges, and wild peas. All these plants are very attractive to the birds—and largely ignored by other hunters. —B.F., M.P.

Water and Grit Are Key Factors to Dove Hunting

Water is critical for dove digestion, and the birds will not nest or roost far from a suitable water source. In dove terms, a “suitable” source of water is one that has little vegetation around the shore to obstruct the birds. It’s not uncommon to see doves watering multiple times a day, especially during periods of warm, dry weather. Doves tend to seek out water more often during the morning and evening hours, so hunting near an open water source late in the day is oftentimes a great way to shoot a limit. Ponds and rivers will attract doves if their banks aren’t too steep and there’s little vegetation, but seeps in pastures, small creeks, and even puddles are all favorite watering points for birds. Set up well away from the water’s edge and use natural terrain to conceal your location. Oftentimes doves access water from the same direction when they come for a drink, and once you identify the flight pattern you can set up accordingly.

Mourning doves have crops, which are essentially enlarged muscular pouches that extend from the bird’s esophagus. Crops store food while the birds are feeding (one reported dove crop held over 17,200 bluegrass seeds) and, in the case of doves and pigeons, create “crop milk” which is a rich source of nutrients for nestlings. To help digest the seeds in their crop, doves swallow small stones known as grit. Grit is often collected along the sides of gravel roads, so these areas attract birds and can offer a hot shoot. Just make sure if you set up in a fencerow near the road that it is legal to do so. Some states allow you to hunt the ditch on either side of the road, others strictly forbid it. —B.F.

2. How to Plant Your Own Dove Field

Sunflower and wheat are the two most common fields I see hunters shooting doves over, but you can also plant sorghum, millet, milo for dove hunting success. But for now, let’s focus on sunflowers and wheat.

The good news is that you don’t have to plant a very large field for good hunting. A quarter acre or less is often enough to draw doves.

The bad news is that planting can be tricky in the spring. This varies every spring due to weather (rain, snow, and cold), but if you’re planting a sunflower field ideally you don’t want to get sunflower seeds in the ground any later than the second week of May. Sunflowers have about a 100-day gestation period, so to get a good, full-grown head on the flowers (which means more seeds for the doves to feast on), you need to get them in by then. I try and plant in April (I live in Illinois), if possible, but in the Midwest you can get a freeze or even snow that time of year, so it’s important to keep an eye on the forecast. Folks in southern states can typically plant earlier without worrying about frost.

My recommendation is that when you have the chance to plant, do it. Don’t wait for a dry weekend. Take a day off work and get after it because the weather is volatile in spring. Our last few springs here have been especially wet, and I’ve learned the hard way you must plant at Mother Nature’s convenience or there won’t be a healthy crop come August.

Planting a wheat a field is much easier than sunflowers, because you can plant as soon as the ground is workable. Wheat seed is more like grass seed—it’s hardy and will grow whenever there is precipitation followed by a warmup and it won’t die off even if it gets buried under a foot of spring snow. If you want to spend less money (and time), broadcasting red spring wheat seed is the way to go.

Sunflowers take more time and money. To plant sunflowers, you will need to apply a chemical burn down on the field before the seeds germinate. This helps keep the field clear of weeds, which will stunt the growth of your sunflowers or choke them out altogether. Doves also like feeding in a clean field, not a weed patch, so you must use a burn down to have good hunts in September. You also might have to kill off your sunflowers in August to dry them out so the seeds will drop from the heads. That’s another added expense.

With spring wheat, all you need to do is get the field worked, spread the seed and some fertilizer, and cover it with dirt sometime in March or April. Then in August, you burn the field so all the seeds drop to the ground—doves love it. —J.G.

3. How to Setup for a Dove Hunt

Find the Right Hide

Doves have incredibly good eyesight so they can find tiny seeds while flying at speeds up to 55 miles per hour. Doves are good at spotting movement and avoiding predation, but research has also shown that doves may be able to see color, and the birds may avoid any hues that look out-of-place in their environment. This means that hunters need to take extra steps to conceal their location and most importantly, remain still.

Using natural vegetation is the best way to conceal yourself, so tucking in behind a screen of ragweed or goldenrod will make for a more successful hunt (provided you aren’t allergic to either plant species). You can also find a shady spot along a treeline with the sun at your back or use camo netting affixed to stakes and place it in front of your shooting position. Doves aren’t as wary as a late-season mallard, but they will avoid your field if you don’t conceal yourself. —B.F.

4. Dove Hunting Decoys

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Dove decoys will help distract the birds. Stationary decoys and spinning-wing dove decoys will put the doves at ease and bring them in close for a shot. Clipping stationary decoys to standing sunflowers, fence wires, and tree branches will help make your setup look more realistic. I’ve hunted many fields that had 15- to 20-foot wooden posts dug in the ground and a wire attached to either end to offer doves a comfortable landing spot before they feed. If you have a private dove field, I suggest taking the time to erect a wire in the middle of your field. It doesn’t have to be elaborate. Any kind of long wooden or metal posts with sturdy enough wire or rope will suffice.

Motion decoys work well the first few shoots of the season but eventually, doves will become wise to them. As the season rolls along, watch how doves react to the spinners. I always start off the hunt by using a spinner or two, but if doves shy away from them, I either turn them off or pull the decoys completely. —J.G.

5. Tips for Shooting Doves

Mourning doves are among the fastest and most acrobatic birds we hunt. They are agile enough to make even the most seasoned wingshooter curse their way through opening day. These birds dive, twist, change speed, change direction, and rise and drop so quickly and effortlessly that it sometimes seems impossible to intercept passing targets with any regularity. However, if you learn and practice the fundamentals of wingshooting, you’ll shoot more doves with fewer shells.

Keep your muzzle moving. The muzzle of your shotgun must be in motion before, during, and after the shot. One shotgun instructor that I trained with described it as stroking a paintbrush across the target rather than shooting the bird. This is the most fundamental principle for killing more doves, because if you stop the gun, you’ll shoot behind the bird every time.

Establish a solid cheek weld. Do this by bringing the gun to your shoulder and cheek as opposed to lowering your head to the gun. Practice mounting and swinging your (unloaded) gun prior to the season opener.

Your upper body and gun should remain fixed. Lateral muzzle movement is accomplished by rotating your hips left or right, and muzzle elevation should be controlled by flexing or extension of the back. When standing, keep your weight noticeably forward but not so much that lateral movement is impeded. If you typically shoot while seated, then take the time to practice standing up from a seated position and moving the gun. The neighbors may wonder what you’re up to, but you won’t get skunked on opening day.

Don’t worry about the bead on your shotgun. Your eyes need to be fixed on your target, and your gun should be moving with your body as you track the bird (this is why proper posture is so important). When you aren’t actively on target, practice “soft eyes” by relaxing your focus to scan a wide portion of open sky. You’ll pick up birds more quickly and will have more time to get on target as they approach.

Perfect your trigger pull. A bad trigger pull is often the result of choking the trigger with your shooting finger, flinching, or pulling the trigger at an angle—can move the muzzle enough to cause a miss. To remedy this, place a snap cap (they cost about $20 and quickly pay off) in the chamber of your gun and trace along the top seam of a wall, pulling the trigger as you do so. Pay close attention to the degree the bead deviates from the seam when you pull the trigger; ideally, the muzzle will keep moving on the exact same line as the trigger breaks.

Practice! You’ve heard it before, but here’s how to make your shotgun practice dove-hunt-­specific: For the price of a few trips to a high-end sporting clays range, you can purchase an electronic target thrower and position it on your range or property so that all the targets are angled shots or crossers, the primary presentation for most shots on doves. Having an electronic target thrower will help you keep up with practice year-round—and they’re also a lot of fun. —B.F.

6. Dove Hunting Shotguns, Chokes, and Loads

Shotgun Gauges for Dove Hunting

The gauge of shotgun you pick for dove hunting isn’t as important as making sure you shoot the gun you are most comfortable and accurate with. Opening day of dove season is no time to try out a new smoothbore you haven’t shot a single round of skeet with. Doves are some of the toughest birds to hit, so you want to use a shotgun you are confident with.

Doves are difficult bulls to hit, but not tough birds to drop. In fact, some hunters will say a 12-gauge is too much gun for doves, but a 2¾-inch 1- or 1 1/8-ounce load of lead No. 7s, 8s, or 9s is fine. Sub-gauge guns like 20-gauges and 28-gauges are also great choices for doves. But whichever gauge you choose, be sure to pair it with the proper payload and shot size. —Joe Genzel

Best Load for Dove Hunting

A 2¾-inch lead shotshell with shot sizes from No. 7s to 9s will get the job done on doves, regardless of gauge (a .410 shell is going to be 2 1/2 or 3 inches). For steel loads, you can move up to a No. 6 shot size if you want (a few manufacturers make 2¾- and 3-inch loads in this variant for teal season). Personally, I wouldn’t spend the extra cash on a bismuth load for doves. Same goes for tungsten. TSS is overkill on a dove. Where non-toxic shot is required No. 6 steel will do just fine. —Joe Genzel

Best Choke for Dove Hunting

I typically shoot an auto-loader with a skeet, improved cylinder, or improved modified choke depending on where I am hunting. If you shoot a double-barrel shotgun, that will give you the option of using two choke constrictions, which will allow you to pair your choke to the shot presentation. Small fields lend to offer closer shots; big fields, longer ones, so take that into consideration before the hunt and swap chokes accordingly.

However, every shotgun patterns differently, and no two shooters swing a shotgun the same. You must decide what works best for your style of shooting. The only way to do that is by patterning your gun on paper and shooting clay targets. Shooting skeet and five-stand are the best ways to replicate the shots you will take on doves. It’s worth spending time at the range with the gun, load, and choke you intend to hunt with. —J.G.

7. Manage Dove Hunting Pressure

Doves are not particularly sensitive to hunting pressure, but you can ruin a hunting area by taking limits from it day after day. By the end of the first week of dove season, most popular public fields will be shot-out and the remaining doves in the area will have decided to look for food elsewhere. But, don’t quit on public fields later in the season because most hunters will have moved on, and the birds might return. Or fresh doves may migrate in and utilize the fields.

 If you only have one field to hunt, then do so sparingly—allow a full day of rest before hunting again for optimal success (two or three days is even better). If you have multiple fields to hunt, then rotate between them so you don’t burn your best one. Sure, you might have bagged a limit on successive days in your honey hole, but it’s better to let the area settle before another shoot. Don’t exclusively hunt feeding areas either. Divide your time between feeding locations, grit sites, and water sources.

You can also extend dove season by limiting the amount of time you hunt. If you shoot 10 birds in an hour, get out of the field, and let the dove’s feed. That way they feel more comfortable and are apt to return. It’s the same philosophy some duck hunters use for late-season mallard hunts by shooting birds that are coming in to roost early—from 1 to 3 p.m.—and then pulling stakes to let the bulk of the birds return without hearing a gun shot. —B.F., J.G.

8. Dove Hunting the Late Season

At some point during the season, a cold front will come through and most dove hunters will move on to other game birds.

But don’t overlook dove hunting the late season. Somewhere to the north of you, hundreds of hunters are probably experiencing the same thing. That means the birds they’ve lost are likely headed your way.

Finding yourself in the middle of a good dove migration can mean seeing hundreds, if not thousands, of birds. I’ve had hunts with morning limits pretty much filled before the first rays of sunlight covered the cornfield we were hunting.

One mid-September afternoon, four of us surrounded a small water hole on the Kansas prairie and watched as a massive cold front with heavy rain came in from the northwest. For two hours there was never a time when there weren’t southbound doves in sight. Limits of 15 came so fast. The last five minutes of legal shooting light, guns already cased, I counted more than 100 doves that passed within shotgun range.

But migrating doves aren’t prone to hanging around long, so don’t waste time. If your mid- or late-season scouting turns up a flock covering a field of freshly cut corn on Sunday night, you’d better call in sick on Monday morning. —M.P.

Dove Hunting Q&A: Your Dove Questions, Answered

Why is dove hunting so good in Argentina?

Doves thrive in Argentina because the country is full of perfect habitat for them. The brush country of Argentina provides ideal nesting cover. The expansive grain fields provide plenty of feed. The mild winters make it easy for doves to survive.

How many doves are there in the U.S.?

There were approximately 194 million doves in the U.S. as of 1 September 2020, according to the USFWS.

What is the best food plot for dove?

Sunflowers and wheat are the two most common fields that dove hunters plant, but you can also plant sorghum, millet, and milo for dove hunting success. A lot of hunters favor sunflower plots because they are easy to grow.

The post Dove Hunting Ultimate Guide: Tips and Tactics for Bagging More Birds appeared first on Outdoor Life.

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Best Budget		Ruger American Vortex Crossfire II Combo	SEE IT	LEARN MORE	Summary A basic but functional hunting rifle setup with a ton of value for the price.
Best Overall		Browning X-Bolt Speed Suppressor Ready	SEE IT	LEARN MORE	Summary An awesome-looking rifle with extreme versatility.
Editors' Pick		Nosler M21	SEE IT	LEARN MORE	Summary Built with high-quality materials, this gun functions perfectly in tough environments.

The .308 Winchester turns 70 years old in 2022, and despite being rather long in the tooth, this round still ranks among the most popular hunting and shooting cartridges in the world, especially for hunting rifles. There’s no doubt that newer cartridges like the 6.5 Creedmoor and PRC and Winchester’s new 6.8 Western have some ballistic efficiencies over the .308, but that hasn’t eroded the .308’s mass appeal. If you’re looking for a short-action cartridge that offers ample punch for most big game animals, moderate recoil, and plenty of factory hunting loads from which to choose, then the .308 is still a solid bet. Here’s a list of the best .308 hunting rifles that I’ve used in the field or on the range.

• Best Overall: Browning X-Bolt Speed Suppressor Ready
• Best Budget: Ruger American Vortex Crossfire II Combo
• Best Lever Action: Henry Long Ranger
• Best Crossover: Springfield Waypoint 2020
• Best Youth: Mossberg Patriot Youth Super Bantam
• Best Semiauto: Wilson Combat Tactical Hunter
• Best for Elk: Kimber Hunter Pro Desolve Blak
• Best Truck Rifle: Mossberg MVP Scout Rifle
• Editors’ Pick: Nosler M21
• Best Value: Winchester XPR

Things to Consider When Buying a .308 Hunting Rifle

Action
With its overwhelming popularity and 70-year history, there are plenty of options for those who want to hunt with a .308 rifle. There are so many options, in fact, that picking the best .308 can be a challenge. But determining what type of action you want is a great place to start. Most .308 hunting rifles come in bolt-actions, and there are many great options. If you’re familiar with semiautos, then the AR-10 platform is perfect. But if you prefer something lighter and more classically styled, Browning’s BAR rifle combines the classic look of a hunting rifle with the convenience of a semiauto. Lever guns like Browning’s BLR and Henry’s Long Ranger utilize box magazines and, therefore, will work with the .308 cartridge. But there are also single shots like Ruger’s vaunted No. 1.

Accuracy
Almost all modern rifles, regardless of price, have suitable triggers and offer reasonable accuracy. Some, like the Ruger American, blend superb accuracy and exceptional value. 

Weight
Weight savings in the form of carbon fiber stocks and carbon fiber-wrapped barrels come at a price, so if you plan to carry your .308 on high-altitude, leg and lung-burning hunts, those weight savings might offer you a better chance of success in the field. A pound or two of weight adds up over time, especially in the thin air altitudes where elk, goats, and sheep thrive.

Threaded Barrel
If you’ve invested the time and money to purchase a suppressor then you’ll want a threaded barrel (preferably one that matches your thread pattern—adapters are widely available but easy to lose or forget) that is short enough so that the overall length of the rifle is still manageable. The Springfield Waypoint 2020 .308 rifle I used for a pronghorn antelope hunt in the fall of 2021 came with a 20-inch carbon fiber pipe, but with a suppressor in place overall length increases by as much as nine inches. Over the years I’ve come to appreciate shorter barrels because I exclusively hunt with suppressors when that’s an option, but short barrels also make a rifle much easier to maneuver in dense forest or in a blind or treestand. Thankfully, .308 rifles perform well with short barrels.

Ammunition
Ammo selection is critically important to wring the best in-field performance from your .308 rifle. There are light .308 loads available with bullets under 150 grains, but these are typically designed for varmint hunting or reduced recoil loads. As with other .30-caliber rounds, you can stuff 200-grain bullets in a .308 case, but velocities are so low that I’ve never seen 200-grain .308 ammo as a viable option. If you want a hard-hitting .30-caliber, 200-grain bullet, there are lots of great cartridge options including the .300 Winchester Magnum, .300 WSM, .300 Weatherby Magnum, 30 Nosler, and .300 PRC, all of which gladly handle heavy .308-inch bullets.

Best Overall: Browning X-Bolt Speed Suppressor Ready

Browning

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Why It Made the Cut
With its Smoked Bronze Cerakote finish and new OVIX camo stock, the X-bolt Speed Suppressor Ready is an awesome-looking rifle with extreme versatility. 

Key Features

• Three-lug X-Bolt
• Adjustable gold-plated Feather trigger
• Removable rotary magazine
• Short (18 to 22-inch) barrel with 5/8×24 threads
• Weight: 6.2 pounds

Pros

• Sweet looks
• Lightweight 
• Reasonable price considering the quality and accuracy

Cons

• Stubby barrel steals a bit of muzzle velocity
• Requires X-Bolt specific mags and scope bases

Product Description
With a suppressor, the overall length of this gun is manageable but without one, this gun has an overall length of just 38-inches, which makes it perfect for a blind or tree stand. And while there are plenty of great options in the X-Bolt family, I believe this one is the handiest of the lot.  

In my experience, X-Bolt rifles are real tack-drivers, and I’ve never had one that didn’t shoot well. Browning doesn’t plaster promises of sub-MOA accuracy all over their website, but it’s reasonable to expect these guns to shoot under an inch with ammo that the rifle likes. And a shooter who knows what they’re doing won’t hurt either. With a can, a good scope, and a dialed-in load, this gun is perfect for most any game in any terrain.

Best Budget: Ruger American Rifle Vortex Crossfire II Combo

Ruger

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Why It Made the Cut
This basic but functional hunting rifle setup has a crisp adjustable trigger, and it’s light enough for most hunting situations. Plus, you simply can’t beat Ruger’s accuracy to cost ratio. 

Key Features

• Includes Vortex Crossfire II 3-9×40 scope with Dead Hold BDC
• Ruger Marksman Adjustable trigger
• Three-log bolt with 60-degree bolt lift
• Power Bedding integral bedding block
• Weight: 7 pounds
• Detachable rotary magazine

Pros

• Accuracy matches more expensive rivals
• Tons of value for the price

Cons

• Austere look
• Heavier than other options

Product Description
The basic rifle/scope combo is, well, basic. The Crossfire might not make it on the best rifle scopes list, but it’s more than capable for most hunting situations. And if you want to add some color to your hunting rig check out the Go Wild camo version.

I’ve tested several Ruger American rifles in various calibers and—no surprise to anyone who’s familiar with these guns—every one shot well. On a bear hunt in Alberta, I managed to harvest two bruins with this rifle, neither of which made it out of view before expiring. With an American rifle chambered in .308 you can hunt most of the world’s game. So do you really need a more expensive rifle?  

Best Lever Action: Henry Long Ranger

Henry

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Why It Made the Cut
With its two-piece oil-finish American walnut stock and rich bluing, the Long Ranger is a modern take on the classic lever-action hunting rifle.

Key Features

• Anodized aluminum receiver
• Four round magazine capacity
• Drilled and tapped receiver
• Six-lug bolt locks into barrel extension
• Weight: 7 pounds

Pros

• Beautiful finishes
• Accessible hammer design
• Detachable magazine

Cons

• Runs on the heavier side
• Not as accurate as some bolt guns in this price range

Product Description
The .308 lends itself well to a variety of action types, including lever guns like the Long Ranger. And the rack-and-pinion system is smooth and fast, so you can deliver quick follow ups with this rifle. I’m glad that Henry used a transfer bar hammer instead of sullying the look of this gun with a manual safety, and the side-mounted push button magazine release is intuitively positioned.

When I tested this rifle I mounted it with a low-mount scope, and the Henry’s short, steeply-angled hammer stayed well out of the way. Accuracy wasn’t half-MOA, but this rifle certainly is accurate for a lever-action, and it even challenges some bolt-actions. Plus, there’s nothing like the feel of a lever gun.

Best Crossover: Springfield Waypoint 2020

Springfield Armory

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Why It Made the Cut
The Springfield Waypoint is accurate enough for long-range target shooting yet light enough to carry in the field, which makes it the ultimate dual-purpose .308 rifle for hunting and competition.

Key Features

• Cylindrical receiver with integral machined recoil lug
• AG Composites carbon fiber stock
• Optional fluted steel or carbon fiber barrels
• TriggerTech Trigger
• Weight: 6 pounds, 9 ounces to 7 pounds, 11 ounces

Pros

• Capable of .75 MOA accuracy
• Feels like a custom rifle
• Adjustable trigger

Cons

• Expensive
• Limited stock and Cerakote color options

Product Description
No part of this rifle has been overlooked, and the Waypoint’s bolt slips through the wire EDM raceway with surgical precision. This gun costs a couple grand but feels like it should be priced higher.

Of course, four-figure guns better come with precision and luckily, this Springfield does. The .308 I tested shot just over an inch for three rounds at 200 yards, and I had no trouble dropping a Wyoming antelope at just over 400 while hunting with Kody Glause of Heart Spear Outfitters. I trusted the rifle to make any reasonable shot and hated to see it go. And I’m still kicking myself for not buying that gun. 

Best Youth: Mossberg Patriot Youth Super Bantam

Mossberg

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Why It Made the Cut
The Mossberg Patriot Youth Super Bantam is a durable and affordable gun that’s perfectly suited for small-statured or growing shooters.

Key Features

• Adjustable LOP
• Trigger is adjustable from 2 to 7 pounds
• Detachable box magazine 
• Fluted barrel
• Includes a 3-9×40 scope on Weaver bases
• Rifle/Scope Weight: 7.5 pounds

Pros

• Fits and grows with young hunters
• Reasonable accuracy for the price
• Budget friendly

Cons

• Functional but not fancy
• Bolt doesn’t lock

Product Description
This rifle comes equipped with a bore sighted 3-9×40 scope, so it provides a hunter with everything they need to start hunting at a bargain price. While this rifle is technically youth sized, the adjustable LOP(length of pull) means that hunters can grow with it.

There’s nothing particularly fancy about the Mossberg (save the Muddy Girl pink camo finish), but these are workaday guns that punch tags without pretensions. The LBA trigger is reliable and safe, and I’ve never seen a Mossberg Patriot rifle suffer from reliability issues. After carrying Patriot rifles while chasing Coues deer in Mexico, whitetails in Kansas, and ibex in Spain, I’m a fan of this purpose-built bolt gun.

Best Semiauto: Wilson Combat Tactical Hunter

Wilson Combat

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Why It Made the Cut
The Wilson Combat Tactical Hunter is a tack-driving AR-10 rifle that’s built with premium components. 

Key Features

• Wilson Combat flat top billet upper and lower receivers
• Rifle-length gas system with Lo-Profile gas block
• Wilson Combat match grade barrel 
• TTU trigger
• Armor-Tuff finish
• Weight: 7 pounds, 13 ounces

Pros

• Exceptional accuracy
• Dependable
• Premium features
• Optional upgrades

Cons

• Super expensive
• Heavy

Product Description

I’ve spent considerable time behind Tactical Hunter rifles chambered for .308 Winchester and Bill Wilson’s sorely underrated .300 Ham’r cartridge. I went on a hog hunt with Bill at his ranch in Texas and took a nice boar with one shot before shooting the Tactical Hunter out to 1,000 yards. 

Understandably, the Tactical Hunter is priced like a premium AR rifle, but there’s no better option if you’re looking for a semiauto .308 hunting rifle. And if you’re wondering why there’s no category for best .308 varmint/predator rifle, it’s because this gun wins that award, too.

Best for Elk: Kimber Hunter Pro Desolve Blak

Kimber

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Why It Made the Cut
The Hunter Pro Desolve Blak brings a new look to the Hunter line of rifles and at 5 pounds, 9 ounces, this gun is perfect for hunting the high country.

Key Features

• Kimber 84M controlled round feed action
• Three-position safety
• Reinforced polymer stock with pillar bedding
• 22-inch sporter contour match grade barrel
• Weight: 5 pounds, 9 ounces

Pros

• One of the most affordable rifles on this list
• Accurate
• Lightweight

Cons

• More recoil than other rifles on the list
• 7/16 x 28 muzzle threading requires an adapter to accommodate most muzzle devices

Product Description
I own one of these guns in .308, which I purchased after an evaluation. Why did I buy it? I wanted a lightweight .308 rifle that I could use for anything, especially for hunting big game in the high country. And the Kimber Hunter Pro Desolve Blak fits the bill. My Kimber is a bit finicky about loads, but it absolutely loves Black Hills’ 152-grain Dual Performance. With that load, it would shoot under an inch at 100 yards for five-shot groups, and that’s my go-to rifle/load combo for big game hunting. With the light weight, you do gain a bit of recoil from this rifle, but it’s not unmanageable. But with this gun’s accuracy, if you’re lucky enough to pack an elk out, you’ll forget all about recoil. 

Best Truck Rifle: Mossberg MVP Scout Rifle

Mossberg

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Why It Made the Cut
With a forward-mounted scope and ten-round magazine this versatile Mossberg is the perfect rifle to ride shotgun in your pickup.

Key Features

• Push-feed action 
• 11-inch extended top rail for standard or EER scopes
• Utilizes Magpul P-MAGs (one 10-round included)
• Polymer stock is pillar bedded and offers rails on right and left side
• LBA Adjustable trigger
• Weight: 7 pounds

Pros

• Relatively affordable price
• Versatile
• Picatinny rails for additional accessories

Cons

• Not as accurate as some other rifles on this list
• Dual lug design creates a bit of bolt slop

Product Description

The MVP is an affordable introduction to the world of Scout rifles. I’ve successfully hunted elk and mule deer with this rifle, but it’s also my go-to hog hunting weapon. And with subsonic loads it’s a super training and self-defense rifle. In fact, I probably shoot my MVP Scout rifle more than any other centerfire that I own. Is a Scout rifle ideal for hunting elk? Not under all circumstances, but my Mossberg placed a 165-grain Partition in the top of a bull’s heart from a couple hundred yards away and that, as they say, was that.

The side Picatinny rails make this rifle more versatile. For AR hunters who want a bolt gun that offers  them a place to mount all their swag, this is it. Because I shoot this rifle often I shoot it pretty well, and I believe Cooper was right when he said that the speed of a Scout rifle is unmatched by other bolt guns. 

Editors’ Pick: Nosler M21

Nosler

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Why It Made the Cut
The M21 is designed to function perfectly in tough environments, balance well, shoot accurately, and it’s built with high-quality materials. It’s a dependable all-around hunting rifle that will last a lifetime.

Key Features

• Weight: 6.8 pounds
• Barrel: Stainless steel, 22-inch, 1:10-inch twist
• Threaded muzzle

Pros

• High-quality components 
• Intuitive design
• Top-level accuracy for a production hunting rifle
• Bolt features tool-less takedown for field maintenance

Cons

• Expensive

Product Description
The Nosler Model 21 is a fantastic hunting rifle, and it won Editor’s Choice in our 2022 rifle test. It’s a medium-lightweight, well-balanced rifle meant to take on any hunt. Though it’s an expensive rifle, you get a high-quality, long-term piece of equipment for the price.

The M21 isn’t ultra light, but it’s light enough to take on a mountain hunt and substantial enough to be easy shooting. It features a bolt that’s fluted to minimize receiver contact and utilizes an M16-style extractor.

The Triggertech trigger is user-adjustable, and the rifle is suppressor-ready. I really appreciate the bolt’s tool-less takedown feature. And the action is designed with user-friendliness in mind. If you want a rifle that can handle anything, consider this one. —Staff Writer Tyler Freel

Best Value: Winchester XPR

Winchester

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Why It Made the Cut
The Winchester XPR is an affordable but rugged and accurate hunting rifle. I’ve hunted with the XPR quite a bit and have found it to be a great value.

Key Features

• Weight: 6.75 pounds
• Barrel: 22-inch, Perma-Cote steel, 1:12-inch twist
• Detachable magazine

Pros

• Affordable
• Accurate and dependable
• Good weight and balance
• Corrosion-resistant finish

Cons

• Fit and stock aren’t what they are on high-end rifles

Product Description

The Winchester XPR represents a great value for a hunting rifle and is one of the better “budget-priced” guns on the market. It features a no-frill synthetic stock, coated barrel and receiver, and a detachable single-stack magazine.

For the price, the XPR is typically a performer, and I’ve had the opportunity to hunt with several of them, including .308, .300 WSM, .338 Win Mag, and 6.5 Creedmoor. They’re almost all very accurate for their price and hold up to the elements well. The XPR is a simple, affordable rifle, but you don’t have to feel like you’re sacrificing performance. -Staff Writer, Tyler Freel

FAQs

Methodology

For this review, I compiled a list of the best .308 hunting rifles that I’ve personally used at the range or hunting. I considered factors such as, price, accuracy, weight, and the quality of materials and components of each rifle for determining which ones made this list.

Final Thoughts on the Best .308 Hunting Rifles

It’s no accident that the .308 has been so popular with hunters for seven decades. Today’s rifles and ammunition are better than ever, and that brings out the best in an already outstanding hunting cartridge. So finding the best .308 hunting rifles to fit your own needs shouldn’t be a problem. In the future the .308 will only face more competition, but this classic hunting cartridge isn’t going to disappear from American game fields anytime soon.

The post The Best .308 Hunting Rifles of 2023 appeared first on Outdoor Life.

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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.

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Stoger Uplander			SEE IT	LEARN MORE	Summary Functional and one of the most affordable entries into the world of double guns.
Tristar Bristol			SEE IT	LEARN MORE	Summary Well built and stylish, but don’t cost a fortune.
CZ Bobwhite G2 All-Terrain			SEE IT	LEARN MORE	Summary Can endure years of hard use.

There’s no tool in a hunter’s arsenal as timeless as the side-by-side shotgun. The most popular modern side-by-side design, the hammerless boxlock action, was first unveiled in 1875. And even in the face of more modern repeating shotgun designs, there are still grouse, rabbit, and duck hunters who still go afield with a double gun in their hands.

One of the primary reasons that side-by-sides fell out of favor here in the states is their price. They are more complicated and expensive to manufacture than many pumps and semi-autos. Indeed, if you’re looking for a top-end double, there are models available today that cost as much as a good used car, and a few that cost as much as a modest home.  

But double guns aren’t just for those with deep pockets. There are a number of solid working side-by-sides that don’t cost much more than a mid-level over/under shotgun or semi-auto. If your budget is limited, you aren’t excluded from enjoying the sensation of swinging on a flushing woodcock or rising covey of quail with a side-by-side. Here’s a look at four modern side-by-sides for less than $2,000.

1. Stoeger Uplander

Stoeger

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The Uplander is a working side-by-side with very few frills, but this gun is functional and one of the most affordable entries into the world of double guns. The Field model comes with double triggers, an A-grade satin walnut stock with pistol grip and beavertail fore-end, screw-in chokes (IC and M) and is available in 12-, 20-, and 28-gauge and .410, at just $449 MSRP. There’s also a youth version with a shortened stock that’s available in 20-gauge and .410. For those who prefer the look and feel of the classic duck hunting double, the Waterfowler model comes with 30-inch barrels. The Uplander Supreme, available in 12- or 20-gauge, is built with a single gold-plated trigger and upgraded AA-grade wood and carries an MSRP of $549. All of the Stoeger Uplander guns offer exceptional value, and they’re a great field gun for hunting upland birds, doves, waterfowl, and small game like rabbits.

2. Tristar Bristol

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Tristar’s Bristol family of side-by-side shotguns are well-built and stylish, but don’t cost a fortune. The Bristol SxS model comes with several features rarely found on doubles at this price point, including a laser-engraved receiver, chrome-lined chamber and bore, five flush-fit Beretta style chokes, ejectors, and a case-colored steel receiver. The English stock and splinter-style fore-end are made from select grade walnut and there’s a single-selective trigger and tang-mounted safety. New from Tristar is the SxS Silver model featuring a nickel finish receiver and 24 carat gold inlay. Both of these guns are available in 12-, 20-, 28-gauge, and .410, and neither gun will cost you more than $1,100. Bristol shotguns are also relatively light, weighing from 5.08 to 6.74 pounds (depending on the gauge), so they’re ideal for hunts where walking and climbing steep terrain (think mountain chukar and quail) are required. If you’re looking for an affordable double gun with superb balance, solid build quality, and a robust features list the Bristol guns are an excellent option.

3. FAIR Iside

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It’s rare to find an Italian side-by-side that carries a starting MSRP below $2,000, but the FAIR (Fabbrica Armi Isidoro Rizzini) ISIDE is an exception. These guns are built in Italy’s famed Valtrompia region, which is known as the “Valley of the Gun” and is the cradle of fine European shotgun manufacturing. Italian Firearms Group in Texas imports these guns from Italy, and ISIDE shotguns give up very little in terms of styling, features, and build quality to more expensive guns from rival companies in the region. The basic ISIDE carries an MSRP of around $1,600 and comes with a Turkish walnut European stock with matching splinter fore-end, a scalloped color-case receiver, extractors, double triggers, and three screw-in choke tubes. These guns are extremely elegant and have a trim round-body receiver that keeps weight at a minimum (5.5 to 6.4 pounds). Twelve-, 16-, 20-, and 28-gauge, plus .410 models are available with barrel lengths of 26.75, 28, or 30 inches.

4. CZ Bobwhite G2 All-Terrain

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Some hunters shy away from side-by-sides because they’re afraid that the finish won’t stand up in over years of hard use in heavy brush or the duck blind, but CZ’s Bobwhite G2 All-Terrain alleviates those concerns. This boxlock 20-gauge features a muted OD green Cerakote finish on the metalwork that protects the steel against the harshest elements, and that means you’ll never have to worry about bluing that fades or scratches. Despite the contrast of a Turkish walnut-stocked side-by-side with Cerakote finish, the Bobwhite G2 All-Terrain offers a classic look that should suit all but the most rigid double gun purists, and that Cerakote armor certainly helps these guns stand up the punishment you and Mother NAture will inflict upon it. Another cool feature on these guns is the inclusion of earth magnets on the extractors that prevent the shells from dumping out when the gun is opened, even if the Bobwhite is upside down. The straight stock, splinter fore-end, and double triggers are all classic side-by-side features found on this gun. It includes five screw-in choke tubes., and retails for $855.

FAQ

Final Thoughts

Side-by-sides are timeless, and in my opinion, the best looking shotguns. Due to the complexity of making them, they’ll never be as cheap as a pump shotgun, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend $5,000 to get a really good side-by-side. Check out the above four options from $500 to $2,000, choose the one that best fits you, and hit the field with a gun that you’ll enjoy for years to come.

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 4 of the Best Side-by-Side Shotguns You Can Actually Afford appeared first on Outdoor Life.

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

Tristar Cobra III Field Pump			SEE IT	LEARN MORE	Summary Well-made Turkish firearms at an excellent value.
Browning BPS			SEE IT	LEARN MORE	Summary An under-appreciated shotgun that’s good for left- and right- handed shooters.
Mossberg 500			SEE IT	LEARN MORE	Summary Mossberg’s flagship pump, available with walnut or black synthetic stocks.

I received a New England Firearms .410 single shot for my eighth birthday. It was my first shotgun and it opened up a universe of hunting opportunities. Most importantly, it allowed me to be more than a spectator when I accompanied my dad afield. I was a hunter of rabbits, squirrels, and the occasional quail. Like so many other hunters, my .410 was the gun that forged the path to all of my future sporting pursuits.

Five years later, though, I wanted something more potent. My friends carried 12s and 20s, and my little .410 left me feeling undergunned. I purchased a Winchester 1300 20-gauge pump and the .410 was relegated to the back of the gun safe. I didn’t plan on ever using it again.

But, as it turns out, the .410 has returned to active duty in my lineup of shotguns. Modern loads—specifically TSS—have revived the .410, transforming my NEF single shot into an effective turkey gun. I carry a .410 shotgun as often as any gauge. It’s in my hands when I’m following a pack of beagles at full cry on the heels of a cottontail, and it’s my go-to squirrel gun, especially when I’m locating bushytails with a call (odds are I’ll have to shoot at a moving target and a shotgun is more adept at that than a .22 LR).

As much as I like my single-shot .410, a repeater is a more practical option for most hunting situations, and there’s nothing more American than a classic slide-action scattergun. Today, the best .410 pump shotguns are light, generate low recoil, and are lethal in the hands of an experienced shooter. When I was a teenager, carrying a .410 was a sign of immaturity—the shotgun equivalent of wearing floaties in the swimming pool. Now when I see a hunter carrying a .410, I recognize an experienced hand who understands that the best shooters don’t need magnum 12-gauge loads so long as they pick their shots and possess the skill needed to make a .410 payload accurate on game. Here are the four best .410 gauge pump shotguns.

• Best Overall: Browning BPS
• Best for Turkey Hunting: Mossberg 500 Turkey
• Best Value: Tristar Cobra III Field Pump

Best .410 Pump Shotguns Reviews and Recommendations

Best Overall: Browning BPS

Browning

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Key Features

• Chamber: 3 inches
• Barrel Length: 26 inches
• Weight: 7 pounds
• Choke: 3 (M, IC, F) Invector-Plus
• MSRP:  $879

Pros

• Runs smoothly and swings like a full-sized shotgun.

Cons

• Finicky loading

My vote for the most under-appreciated shotgun in North America goes to the BPS. Sure, these guns cost a little more than the average pump, but the styling and craftsmanship is worth it, plus they last forever. Browning’s BPS Field .410 comes with a robust steel receiver and weighs a bit more than other .410s on this list at 7 pounds—not ideal for young upland hunters who have to walk long distances with the gun. However, these guns have virtually no recoil with .410 loads and follow-up shots are blisteringly quick. That extra weight the BPS carries also helps it swing quickly and smoothly. The BPS features a tang-mounted safety which is a nice feature but takes a little getting used to. And because the safety is ambidextrous and the BPS has a straight stock, it’s a good fit for right- and left-handed shooters. The BPS has a 3-inch chamber, the barrel is 26 inches, and it comes with Browning Invector-Plus chokes (IC, M, F). If your looking for a silky-smooth action, this is the best .410 pump shotgun you’ll find.

Best for Turkey Hunting: Mossberg 500 Turkey

Mossberg

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Key Features

• Chamber: 3 inches
• Barrel Length: 24 inches
• Weight: 6.25 pounds
• Choke: X-Full
• MSRP: $644

Pros

• Durable and reliable. Optics ready.

Cons

• Only one choke included

Mossberg knows pump guns, so it’s no surprise that the company’s catalog of .410 pumps is the longest of any shotgun maker. Mossberg’s flagship pump is the 500. It’s available with walnut or black synthetic stocks, but the most interesting option is the .410 Turkey. This model comes in Bottomland camo, with a tang safety of course, and an extended X-Full choke. The newest version of the gun is made with a small cut-out in the receiver so you can mount an RMSc-footprint red dot directly to the gun (no rail required). With one of the best red dots for turkey hunting mounted on this little shotgun, you’ll have the ultimate gobbler hunting rig.

It’s an ideal setup for new hunters who don’t want to be punished by recoil, and for veteran turkey hunters who want to call birds inside 40 yards. Last spring we patterned the Mossberg .410 at 40 yards and had no problem putting more than 140 TSS pellets inside a 10-inch circle.

Best Value: Tristar Cobra III Field Pump

Tristar

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Key Features

• Chamber: 3 inches
• Barrel Length: 28 inches
• Weight: 5 pounds
• Choke: CT-3 (IM, M, F)
• MSRP: $455

Pros

• Great value

Cons

• Longer barrel is not ideal for carrying in the woods.

Tristars are well-made Turkish firearms, and the Cobra III Field Pump Walnut .410 is an excellent value. The Cobra weighs in at just over five pounds with a 28-inch barrel and the gloss-finish walnut stock looks like it belongs on a gun that should cost a lot more. Three chokes come standard, and the reliable slide-action design will hold up to plenty of spent rounds. It only weighs five pounds, and can handle 3-inch loads. The barrel is chrome-lined and there is a rubber recoil pad on the buttstock, so you should hardly feel a thing every time you pull the trigger.

Read Next: 410 Shotgun: Everything You Need to Know

Used .410 Pump Shotguns Worth Considering

Remington 870 Wingmaster

After years of financial troubles, Remington firearms are now being produced under the name RemArms. Recently, RemArms replaced the 870 Express with the newer 870 Fieldmaster, but currently, the Fieldmaster does not have a .410 offering. So if you want an 870 in a .410, you’ll have to hit the used market, and I suggest going with the Wingmaster model. The Wingmaster is known for its smooth action, blued finish, and walnut stock. There are plenty of beautiful .410 Wingmasters out there, but you can expect to pay $800 or more for them.

Winchester Model 42

The Winchester Model 42 is a scaled down version of the classic Model 12. According to gun writer Joe Genzel, who wrote a feature on his own Model 42, it was the first pump specifically designed for the .410-bore, so it’s always going to be held in high regard amongst wing and target shooters. It was also modeled after one of the greatest pump shotguns in history—the M12—so folks know that the 42 is a workhorse that can be passed down from one generation to the next.

Model 42s can fetch high prices, depending on the grade of the gun. There are five grades: Standard Grade, Skeet Grade, Trap Grade, Deluxe Grade, and Pigeon Grade. Deluxe guns can be worth upwards of $12,000 and Pigeon Grade guns can go for twice that much. 

Remington 870 Express

If you’re looking for a cheaper used option, the 870 Express might be a better fit. The Express in .410 comes with a 25-inch barrel, fixed full choke, walnut stock, and a 3-inch chamber. It still makes a good beater shotgun for chasing rabbits or squirrels. You’ll be able to find used versions in the $300 to $400 range without issue.

Why a .410?

The .410 packs a lot of performance into a small platform. It will shoot everything from 2½-inch loads (perfect for dispatching small pests like rats, starlings, and snakes) up to 3-inch magnums with 13/16 ounces of high-density shot for ducks, turkeys, and pheasants. If you’re of the mindset that a pump gun should double as a home defense weapon then you’re in luck with the .410 too, for there are a host of defensive options made popular by guns like the Taurus Judge. Federal Ammunition’s Custom Shop will also whip you up a batch of your favorite .410 loads so you can tailor your shotshells to the game you’re chasing.

Read Next: Rise of the Sub-Gauges: Why Small-Bore Shotguns Are Making a Comeback

Pump guns are the perfect platform to extoll the .410’s many virtues. We tend to think that pumps are considerably slower than semi-autos, but in truth that depends upon the capability of the shooter, the gun, and the load. A low-recoiling .410 pump in the hands of an experienced shooter cycles like lightning, and since you’re doing the brunt of the work to cycle the gun, odds are it will run without failure even if you’ve been a little lax on your cleaning detail. Pumps are also the most affordable repeaters, with a panache you can’t find in other guns.

The 12-gauge is still the standard-bearer and will be for the foreseeable future—you own one and so do all of your hunting buddies. But owning a .410 pump has its virtues, too. You just have to use it for the proper pursuits. Killing turkeys at close and moderate ranges with No. 9 TSS loads is a perfect use for a .410 pump shotgun. But they are also well equipped to take on small game and game birds at close ranges. We put the guns in this review through a day of field testing on a pheasant preserve and they worked wonderfully on the close-flushing birds. But would we recommend shooting them on hearty, wild pheasants that are notoriously tough to kill cleanly? Certainly not. Ultimately, it comes down to matching your gear to the pursuit, and the .410 does have its limits.

Modern Loads for the Best .410 Pump Shotguns

The real reawakening for the .410, though, is the growing popularity of high-density shot materials like TSS and bismuth. While duck hunting Mississippi’s legendary Beaver Dam Lake, I got a lesson in what today’s .410 TSS ammunition can accomplish. Jared Lewis of Apex Ammunition was carrying a .410, and as the ducks decoyed in through the cypress trees, Lewis put on a shooting clinic. Mallards where falling to the .410 at 30 and 40 yards, hitting the water stone-dead. Secretly, I had imagined the .410 would cripple more birds than it killed, but that wasn’t the case.

Premium .410 Game Loads

• Federal
• APEX
• BOSS
• Browning
• Hevi Shot
• Remington

Why Trust Outdoor Life?

Since 1898, OL has been a leading authority in testing and reviewing hunting gear, fishing tackle, guns and shooting equipment, and much more. We have more than a century-long history of evaluating products, and we’re now bringing that expertise to online reviews. Our editors are experienced outdoorsmen and women, and most importantly, we’re trained journalists. We prioritize field testing and objective data when reviewing products. We conduct interviews with gear manufacturers and engineers as well as outdoor experts so that our readers have an understanding of how and why a product works—or doesn’t.

Advertising does not influence our gear reviews and it never will. While we always focus our coverage on standout products—because we want our readers to be aware of the latest and greatest gear—we also cover the flaws and quirks of any given product.

Final Thoughts on the Best .410 Pump Shotguns

From turkeys to squirrels a .410 shotgun is capable hunting gun with the right load. The best .410 pump shotguns are light, reliable, and affordable. When I was a growing up, a .410 was for kids, but not anymore. When I see a hunter carrying a .410, I recognize an experienced hand who understands that the best shooters don’t need magnum 12-gauge loads so long as they pick their shots and possess the skill needed to make a .410 payload accurate on game. If you’re ready to take on the challenge of shooting and hunting with a .410, you can’t go wrong with the above options.

• Best Overall: Browning BPS
• Best for Turkey Hunting: Mossberg 500 Turkey
• Best Value: Tristar Cobra III Field Pump

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 Best .410 Pump Shotguns for Hunting and Target Shooting appeared first on Outdoor Life.

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

If you hunt multiple species with a shotgun, the 16-gauge is ideal. With the advancements in bismuth and tungsten shotshells and choke technology, the 16 can handle any kind of wild game you can legally shoot with a shotgun. Waterfowl, turkeys, grouse, pheasants, rabbits, squirrels, doves, and even deer are all a good fit for the 16-gauge shotgun. I don’t think you can say that about the 10-, 12-, 20-, or 28-gauge, and certainly not the .410-bore.

Sure, all of those previously mentioned gauges are capable of killing your intended quarry. But do you really want to lug a 10 or 12 up the side of a mountain to hunt quail? There are 12 gauges light enough for such pursuits, but I wouldn’t want to soak up the recoil of those guns on a daily basis.

Fellow gun writer Phil Bourjaily, along with the help of some engineers at Federal Ammunition, proved that the 16 throws the most efficient patterns out of all the gauges (including .410). And since several ammo manufacturers offer the 16 shotshell in a 1 1/8-ounce shot charge now, its payload is heavier than most 20-gauge shells and all 28-gauge offerings.

When a 16 is built on a scaled frame (Remington 870 16s were built on 12-gauge frames), the 16 is lighter (around 6 pounds or less) than a 12 and produces slightly less recoil while managing to kill almost as effectively. It’s been my experience that the 16, in a true-to-gauge frame, patterns extremely well with 1- or 1 1/8-ounce loads. There are 20-gauge shells that match those shot weights, but they tend to recoil more in a lighter gun and also don’t pattern as well. Here’s an overview of the best 16-gauge shotguns of modern times and a look into why the 16 isn’t as popular as it should be.

Best 16-Gauge Shotguns

Browning A5 Sweet Sixteen

Browning

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The current A5 Sweet Sixteen is a modern take on the original gun that won over so many sportsmen when it first debuted in the late 1930s. It’s a fine upland, waterfowl, and target shotgun. At its core is Browning’s Kinematic Drive System that uses recoil energy to operate the action, which makes the Browning an easy gun to keep clean as well. With either a 26- or 28-inch barrel these guns weigh in at around 5¾ pounds, making them easy to carry. Those weight savings are largely due to the use of black chrome aluminum alloy for the receiver. The bolt, bolt slide, carrier, and bolt release button all come with a nickel Teflon coating for added durability and three Invector-DS chokes are standard. There’s also a 100,000-round or five-year warranty with this gun.

Franchi Instinct SL

Brad Fitzpatrick

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If you’re looking for a quality 16-gauge over/under for upland hunting and clay shooting, the Instinct SL is your gun. The Franchi was built with a lightweight aluminum receiver that keeps weight to just 5.8 pounds, ideal for long walks in steep country. I carried this gun on an Idaho chukar hunt where most of the birds were hiding in rimrock a half-mile from where we began hunting. The country was steep, and getting to the birds required the type of hiking that demands a lightweight shotgun. These guns come with three extended choke tubes (F, M, IC), selective ejectors, a fiber-optic front sight, and a satin walnut stock.

Stevens 555E

Stevens

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The 555E has a lightweight aluminum receiver that’s scaled to gauge and comes with a steel insert to reinforce the breech. Its semi-gloss silver receiver with laser engraving compliments the 555E’s matte black carbon steel and well-figured walnut stock. It weighs just under 6½ pounds. The 555E is a classy-looking gun with a long list of standard features, like five screw-in choke tubes, chrome-lined barrels, single-selective trigger, tang-mounted safety, and selective auto ejectors. If you’re in the market for a classy, value-priced 16 for the field or the range the 555E is a solid bet.

CZ Sharptail

CZ

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Modeled after CZ-USA’s Ringneck, the Sharptail was built on a newly-designed action that features coil springs instead of leaf springs, though you still get the same color case-hardened finish on the receiver’s side plates. This 16 also sports fixed IC and M choke tubes, which you don’t often see anymore, but was a staple of the shotguns our parents and grandparents owned. The side-by-side is a bit hefty for a 16-gauge at 7.3 pounds. It has a Turkish walnut stock and beavertail-style fore-end. The pistol grip leads into a single-selective mechanical trigger, though the barrels are 28 inches, which is a little long for a grouse gun.

Used 16 Gauge Shotguns Worth Considering

While there aren’t a ton of new 16 gauges rolling off production lines, there are a few older models that are worth checking out.

• Winchester Model 12
• Browning BPS
• Ithaca Model 37
• Original Browning A5

16 Gauge Ammo

The following ammo makers offer a variety of 16-gauge loads for hunting and clays shooting. Tungsten and bismuth loads make the 16 deadlier than ever in the field.

• Federal
• Boss
• Winchester
• APEX
• Hevi-Shot

Where the 16-Gauge Shotgun Shines

A true 16-gauge is a wonder to shoot. In side-by-sides the narrower barrels and action make for a more manageable and svelte upland gun. Load selection isn’t as widely varied as it is with the more popular 12 and 20 guns, but companies like Browning, Boss, Winchester, Kent, and Federal all manufacture 2 3/4-inch 16-gauge loads. There is no 3-inch 16-gauge.

Where the modern 16 shines is with the use of high-density ammo like TSS and bismuth. TSS has a density of 18g/cc, which is considerably more than lead (11 g/cc). It’s allowed hunters to use even .410 and 28-gauge loads to wallop turkeys and cleanly kill ducks and roosters.

Read Next: 9 of the Most Underrated Semi-Auto Shotguns of All Time

This high-density shot does wonders for the 16. Consider a 1-ounce load of No. 5 bismuth from a 16 has around 200 pellets and you can see why this is a lethal load for just about any game, including turkeys and geese. What’s more, you’re getting less recoil than you would from a 12, though you will pay more for ammo.

The 16 isn’t overly superior to the any of the other gauges, but it is versatile enough that it should be a much more popular gun than it is. A 3-inch 16-gauge would probably lend more credence to the shotgun, at least with the general shooting public. That said, there are plenty of current offerings that hunters can take advantage of. Don’t let the 2¾-inch chamber scare you away. The 16 is a very capable gun even without a 3-inch option.

Skeet and the Remington 870 Killed the 16

The 16-gauge has never been the top-selling shotshell in America, though many of the most iconic shotguns in history—Remington 870, Winchester Model 12, Browning Auto-5, and many others—where offered in that gauge. Recently while researching some old shotshell sales records from the mid-1900s I found that 16-gauge production was less than a quarter of 12-gauge production, and that was in the 16’s heyday.

The lack of interest was due largely to a rule that shut the 16-gauge out of skeet competitions in 1926. Because it wasn’t viewed as a competition gun, fewer shells were commercially-produced for it and more hunters turned to 12 and 20 gauges. Since then, the 16-gauge has had small spurts in popularity, but it never caught on the way it should have.

Read Next: Rise of the Sub-Gauges: Why Small-Bore Shotguns Are Making a Comeback

Also, Remington built the 16-gauge version of its iconic 870 on a 12-gauge frame, presumably to save money. But it ended up just being a 16-gauge that weighed as much as a 12. If you’re going to shoot a 16 on a 12-gauge frame, why not just shoot a 12? Because the 870 has been such a popular shotgun, Big Green pretty much killed the idea of the 16 as a versatile shotgun by making it too damn heavy.

Final Thoughts on the 16-Gauge

Better shotshell options have made the 16-gauge relevant once again. Plus, there still a handful of gun makers producing quality 16-gauge shotguns. And with the ability to buy ammo online these days, you shouldn’t have to hunt around gun store shelves searching for loads. If you’re looking for one shotgun to hunt everything, you just might consider the underrated 16.

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 ern commission.

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Marlin 1895 SBL			SEE IT
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Uberti 1885 High Wall			SEE IT

For decades, if you were a Midwest or East Coast deer hunter living in a densely populated state, it was likely you never shot a whitetail with a rifle during deer season. Due to safety concerns, hunters in these regions of the country legally had to shoot slug shotguns from smoothbores or sabots from a rifled shotgun barrel (centerfire rifle cartridges can travel much farther than a slug or sabot). But that shotgun-only requirement has started to shift in the last five years with the advent of straight-walled rifles as historic slug-gun states like Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, and Michigan have begun to allow the platform to be used during deer season.

Winchester took advantage of these regulations  in 2019 with the launch of the .350 Legend, an effective deer killer that produces mild recoil and muzzle jump. Of course, straight-wall cartridges have been around for well over a century, so you can also turn to such classic rounds as the .45/70. There are so many great options, in fact, that it can be tough to choose the ideal straight-wall rifle to fit your needs and budget. Here’s a rundown of some of the best straight-wall rifles available.

• Marlin 1895 SBL/Trapper
• Winchester XPR Stealth SR
• Ruger AR-556 MPR .350 Legend
• Franchi Momentum Elite .350 Legend
• Winchester 1892 Carbine
• Ruger American Ranch Rifle
• Uberti 1885 High Wall
• CMMG Resolute Mk4 .350 Legend
• Mossberg Patriot

Marlin 1895 SBL/Trapper

Marlin

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Marlin is back in the saddle and under the leadership of new owner Ruger. The company has released two lever-action 1895 rifles chambered in .45/70. The Marlin 1895 SBL which sports a 19.1-inch cold hammer-forged stainless-steel barrel with a threaded muzzle and a six-round tubular magazine (read our full review of the Marlin 1895 SBL here). The adjustable ghost ring rear sight and fiber optic front sight may be all you need, but there’s a full length Picatinny rail for mounting low-power scopes or a reflex sight. The short and handy SBL is compact enough for hunting dense forest or from a blind or tree stand.

If you want maximum maneuverability check out the Marlin Trapper variant with a 16.1-inch barrel. A polished stainless finish on the metalwork and attractive laminate stock makes these guns suitable for hunting in wet, nasty weather, and they’re also an excellent option for hogs, black bears, and even moose and elk. The 1895 is manufactured in Mayodan, North Carolina, and these are not only among the best straight-wall rifles made today, they may well be the best Marlin rifles ever made.

Winchester XPR Stealth SR

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When the budget bolt-action war was raging Winchester’s XPR emerged as one of the standouts. Built from quality components and offered with features such as an MOA trigger—a system that gives shooters a lighter, smoother feel with less creep, overtavel, and takeup— various metal finishes, and stock designs, the XPR is a fine addition to the vaunted Model 70. I’ve shot several of these rifles in .350 Legend and loved them all, but my hands-down favorite is the new Stealth Suppressor Ready version. The .350 Legend doesn’t require a long barrel to reach maximum velocity, so the XPR Stealth SR’s stubby 16½-inch barrel doesn’t compromise performance, but the shorter barrel also makes this 3-foot, ½-inch rifle easy to handle in tight cover.

I hunted with a suppressed Stealth SR in Maine last year (albeit for bears, not whitetail) and even with a suppressor, the weight and length weren’t burdensome. Accuracy was on point, and the recoil and muzzle blast were so mild that most anyone could be accurate with the platform. The Inflex recoil pad, Pic rail, nickel Teflon bolt, and Permacote metal finish are all nice touches that make this rifle an even more compelling value at just over $700. After testing and evaluating the XPR Stealth SR in the field I came away impressed with the rifle’s reliability, accuracy, and overall fit and finish.

Read Next: Best .350 Legend Rifles

Ruger AR-556 MPR .350 Legend

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Ruger’s 350 Legend AR is an ideal rifle for any eastern whitetail hunter. With a collapsed length of 33.38-inches, the Ruger is easy to maneuver in the woods and instant length of pull adjustments allow shortening the stock when you’re wearing heavy winter clothing. A hard coat anodized finish on the 7075-T6 forged receiver stands up well against abuse. The bolt carrier and staked gas key are chrome-plated to resist propellant gases, and the pistol-length gas system offers superb reliability from the .350 carbine. As with other ARs, follow-up shots are fast, but with Ruger’s two-stage Elite 452 AR trigger and cold hammer-forged 4140 chrome-moly steel 16.38-inch precision barrel with Ruger radial brake there’s a good chance you won’t need a second shot. The 15-inch M-LOK handguard offers plenty of space for accessories, and at 6.6-pounds this rifle is lighter than many bolt guns on the list.

Franchi Momentum Elite .350 Legend

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The Franchi Momentum Elite isn’t the most affordable bolt-action rifle on this list, but it does offer some upgrades that warrant the extra cost. The stock is a step up from those found on most sub-$1,000 rifles and comes with raised panels and texturing, a design Franchi calls Evolved Ergonom-X. The rifle’s TSA recoil pad is borrowed from the brand’s shotgun line and the dense rubber does a suitable job reducing felt recoil. This gun’s Gore Optifade Elevated II stock is paired with a Cobalt Cerakote finish which gives the gun a classy look while offering protection against the elements. Franchi’s adjustable Relia trigger breaks between 2 and 4 pounds, one of the best triggers of any rifle on this list. The 22-inch barrel is threaded, a Picatinny rail comes standard, and the detachable polymer magazine holds three rounds. Take a closer look at the Franchi and you’ll see why it costs a bit more than some rivals: the stock-to-metal fit is superb and the chrome, spiral-fluted bolt runs smoothly through the action. Even the two-position rocker-type safety is easy to operate silently. This gun is heavier than most at 7.9 pounds.

Winchester 1892 Carbine

Winchester Guns

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Though the John Browning-designed Winchester 1892 is well over a century old it’s still one of the best moderate-range deer hunting rifles of all time. The 1892 was designed to handle pistol caliber cartridges, and so today’s guns are chambered in .357 Magnum, .44/40, .44 Remington Magnum, and .45 Colt. Of these, I believe the .44 Magnum is the most versatile and useful, a rifle capable of effectively killing deer out to 100 yards or more in competent hands. It’s light (6 pounds) and maneuverable enough to ride in your pickup, on an ATV, or in a short saddle scabbard. The buckhorn sights are rudimentary but functional for most stand and blind hunting, and capacity is an impressive 10 rounds. At 37 ½ inches long, the 1892 is light enough to carry in a pack when you’re headed deep into a public land tract. The 1892 is designed for fast, quick shooting and handles more like a grouse gun than deer rifle. Plus, it’s just fun to shoot, and as a bonus it digests the same rounds as your favorite revolver. Winchester offers ornate versions of the 1892 like the new color case-hardened Deluxe Takedown model, which is stylish and practical, but the basic Carbine provides everything you need for eastern whitetail hunting in a functional and relatively affordable package. 

Ruger American Ranch Rifle

Ruger

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The American Rifle has been a best-seller since its release, appealing to hunters with its robust design, quality components, excellent accuracy, and reasonable price tag. There are numerous variants chambered in both .350 Legend and .450 Bushmaster, but the Ranch model with its 16.38-inch threaded barrel, Picatinny rail, and durable polymer stock offers the most appeal to whitetail hunters. It also has an adjustable (3 to 5 pounds) Marksman trigger. To access the trigger, remove the stock by unscrewing the two screws near the floor plate or magazine. There is a small screw in front of the trigger group you can tighten to increase trigger pull or loosen to decrease it.  The short, threaded barrel makes it easy to install a suppressor, and with a can in place the .350 Legend produces very mild recoil and minimal muzzle blast. The tang-mounted safety is easy to operate, and Ranch rifles accept AR-style magazines. Though it’s certainly austere, the Ranch does everything a deer hunter needs for under $700

Uberti 1885 High Wall

Uberti

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The 1885 was another John Moses Browning design and its falling block remains one of the most robust rifle actions of all time. Uberti builds 1885 rifles similar to Browning’s blueprint, and most of these guns are chambered in .45/70, so quality hunting ammunition is widely available. However, if you want a bit more punch there are Uberti 1885s available in .45/90 and .45/120 as well. With its classic lines, color case-hardened receiver, and octagon barrel the lever gun is a real beauty, but it isn’t light: expect this rifle to weigh in at around 10 pounds. That added mass does an acceptable job of reducing recoil, though, so the Uberti is quite mild for a .45/70. Optional Creedmoor-style flip-up sights are available, and they make a stylish and functional addition to this classic hunting rifle. I carried one while hunting whitetails in Texas and the gun performed admirably out to 150 yards, anchoring both bucks I shot in their tracks.

CMMG Resolute Mk4 .350 Legend

CMMG

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CMMG was the first company to introduce an AR rifle chambered in .350 Legend, and the company’s Resolute Mk4 carbine is a refined deer hunting AR that’s loaded with quality features. The Resolute kitted out with a long list of CMMG’s zeroed accessories, including the muzzle brake, trigger guard, ambidextrous charging handle, and more. Unlike most ARs that come in basic black you can also select from several Cerakote color options (grey, charcoal green, and bronze). CMMG has deleted a portion of the top rail of this rifle which adds more M-LOK attachment points at the 12 o’clock position (there are also slots at the 3, 6, and 9 o’clock) and reduces weight. The Resolute Mk4 weighs just over six pounds, and with an overall length of 32.5-inches, it handles exceptionally well. Five-, 10-, and 20-round magazines are available, and this rifle’s 16.1-inch 1:16 twist hammer forged barrel is topped with a zeroed 9mm muzzle brake that can be removed and replaced with a suppressor.

Read Next: The Best Hunting Rifles of 2022

Mossberg Patriot

Mossberg

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There are currently three Patriot rifles chambered in .350 Legend with MSRPs ranging from $454 to $637. The least expensive, unadorned synthetic version with its plain black injection-molded stock and matte blue finish, will get the job done in the deer woods. It comes with Weaver scope bases so mounting an optic is easy. There’s a Youth Super Bantam scoped combo version, which includes a bore sighted 3-9×40 scope and 1-inch stock spacer for adjusting length of pull. The gun is ready for the field right out of the box and costs less than $500 making it an ideal choice for a new hunter. If you’re a traditionalist you’ll like the walnut stocked version, but regardless of the variant you’ll get a serviceable, durable hunting rifle that’s of good value. The Patriot also comes with a detachable box magazine, fluted bolt and barrel, and a bladed, adjustable LBA trigger.

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I grew up in the heyday of slug gun hunting. Whitetail populations began to explode in the 1980s and 1990s, especially in suburban areas, like in my home state of Ohio. Since centerfire rifles were deemed to be dangerous for whitetail hunting in populated areas, shotgun slugs were the best option.

The sudden demand for slugs led to some improvements in their design. The Foster-style lead slug—never particularly accurate at distance—gave way to sabot slugs that could be fired through rifled shotgun barrels and kill deer out to 200 yards. Adjustable sights replaced single bead front sights, and scopes and red dots replaced adjustable sights for increased accuracy at longer ranges.

The widespread passage of laws to allow the use of straight-wall cartridges for deer hunting (Illinois is the most recent to make straight-walls legal for the 2023 season) has brought into question the future of rifled slugs and sabots. After Ohio began allowing straight-wall cartridges in 2014, interest in rifles chambered for .450 Bushmaster, .45/70, .444 Marlin, and other straight-wall cartridges grew rapidly. Likewise, lever-action and single-shot rifles chambered in .44 Magnum, .45 Colt, and other legal hunting calibers were also in high demand.

Rise of the .350 Legend

In 2019 Winchester responded to the straight-wall ammo demand by releasing the .350 Legend, a cartridge that pushed a 150-grain bullet at 2,325 fps, delivering 1,800 ft/lb. of energy at the muzzle. It dropped just 8 inches at 200 yards when zeroed at 100.

The .350 Legend is anemic compared to some bottlenecked centerfires developed around the same time, such as the 6.5 PRC and .300 PRC. But it produced enough energy to kill whitetails consistently out to 250 yards and did so without generating heavy recoil. The recoil energy produced by a 7-pound rifle chambered in .350 Legend (150 grains) is a manageable 10½ pounds, similar to that of a .30/30 of the same bullet weight. Most importantly, its 1.71-inch case met the requirement for straight-wall hunting in states like Michigan and Ohio. It was also affordable for hunters. When the .350 Legend debuted, it cost $1 per round. That price has almost doubled since, but you can still buy a box of 20 for less than $40.

Also, affordable bolt guns and single shots, like Winchester’s XPR, Ruger’s American Ranch, and the CVA Scout, were available in .350 Legend, and the cartridge could also be run in AR rifles. I’ve shot several .350 Legend rifles from different manufacturers and with different ammunition. All could shoot sub-2-inch groups at 100 yards. Some shot sub-1½ inches, and a few flirted with 1-inch groups.

Today, you can find straight-wall ammunition in a variety of offerings, and they can also be shot from several platforms, including lever-actions, handguns, semi-automatic rifles, and bolt-actions. Here is a list of the most common loads used by deer hunters:

• .44 Remington Magnum
• .357 Magnum
• .454 Casull
• .45-70 Govt.
• .460 Smith & Wesson Magnum 
• .500 Smith & Wesson
• .450 Bushmaster
• .444 Marlin
• .350 Legend
• 10mm Auto

Slugs vs. Straight-Walls

Straight walls aren’t going to win any PRS matches, but you don’t need them to. You just need to be able to hit a whitetail’s vitals at 200 yards with one. For instance, during Outdoor Life’s 2019 Gun Test, the Winchester XPR chambered in .350 Legend averaged 1.89-inch, five-shot groups at 100 yards. This is not stellar accuracy for most hunting rifles, but it’s as good or better performance than you’d get out of an average slug gun. The chart below shows how the .350 Legend and .45/70 stack up against rifled slugs and sabots in terms of accuracy and recoil energy (I used Bison’s ballistic calculator to determine recoil energy).

There are some interesting takeaways from the above chart. First, the .350 Legend is by far the lightest projectile on the list at 150 grains, and it has a higher muzzle velocity than any of the others. The two 12-gauge slugs both produce 700 ft.-lb. more energy at the muzzle than the .350 Legend and 240 to nearly 400 ft./lb. more than the .45/70.

However, the ballistic advantage changes at the 200-yard mark. The .350 now has more energy than the 1-ounce rifled slug from Federal and the .45/70 impacts with more energy than any other load on the list. The .350 also shoots flatter than the slugs. At 200 yards, the .350 drops only 7.6 inches when zeroed at 100 yards. The Hornady 12-gauge sabot slug drops just under a foot at 200 yards when zeroed at 100, about the same as the .45/70. Hornady’s 20-gauge Custom Lite slug drops over 18 inches, and the 1-ounce lead 12-gauge rifled slug drops more than 2 feet at 200 yards.

As you can see from the chart, the 12-gauge slugs and .45/70 produce substantially more recoil than the .350 Legend, though Hornady’s Custom Lite 20-gauge projectile produces only slightly more recoil than the .350 Legend.

Do Slug Guns Have a Future in Deer Hunting?

It’s clear some slugs have more recoil and are ballistically inferior to straight walls, especially at distance. So other than versatility, what does shooting a slug gun really offer? That’s a good question for ammo makers, which is why I asked Winchester and Hornady where they see the future of slugs headed.

“We certainly aren’t walking away from slugs,” says Nathan Robinson, marketing manager for Winchester. Robinson says that demand for slugs is softening, but that it isn’t going away. In fact, he says, Winchester is in the process of developing new, more advanced shotgun slugs for hunters this fall.

“From a technology perspective, everyone wins from going to straight wall,” Robinson said. “However, you can keep using your slug gun and we’ll keep making the ammo that shooters and hunters want.”

Hornady’s marketing and communications manager Seth Swerczek isn’t as optimistic about the future of slug guns. But Hornady plans to continue offering slugs as demand remains.

“My answer is speculative, but I would say the slug market is indeed going to get smaller,” Swerczek says “Although, I don’t think it will happen at a fast rate. Yes, the straight-wall cartridges likely increase the effective range slightly and provide generally better accuracy at all ranges, but there are still a lot of slug guns out there and not everyone is going to jump on the straight-wall wagon all at once.”

I also spoke with a gun manufacturer that sells slug guns and straight-wall rifles. Without divulging exact numbers, the gun maker confirmed that they are seeing an uptick in straight-wall sales and a slowing of slug-gun purchases. Also the manufacturer pointed out that development of new slug guns has thinned while straight-wall rifle offerings continue to progress and evolve.

Slug Guns Still Offer Versatility

Even though straight walls are gaining traction amongst deer hunters, there is still plenty of value in owning a good shotgun. If there is a semi-auto or pump in your gun closet, there is one major advantage over a rifle: You can carry the same gun for spring turkeys, squirrels, rabbits, ducks, and geese as you do for deer season. The only extras you will need for whitetails are a rifled barrel—if you shoot sabots—and an optic for better accuracy. As someone who hunts across the country, I can also tell you It’s nice to travel with just one gun. If you go bear hunting in Maine or come to Ohio and deer hunt and want to shoot a few grouse or ducks during your trip too, you can do it all with just a shotgun.

Read Next: The Best Budget Hunting Rifles, Put to the Test

The Most Popular Straight-Wall Rifles and Slug Guns

Since deer hunters can legally shoot whitetails with straight-wall cartridges in most states, and slug guns are still being used by hunters in former shotgun-only states, here is a list of the most popular rifles and slug guns for whitetail hunters. Just remember that every state has its own set of restrictions on straight-wall cartridge size and the guns you are allowed to hunt with. So, check the regulations before you go.

.350 Legend

Winchester XPR

Ruger American Ranch Rifle

Mossberg Patriot Synthetic

CVA Scout

.45/70

Marlin 1895 SBL

Winchester 1886 Short Rifle

Henry Side-Gate Lever Action

.450 Bushmaster

CVA Cascade

Ruger AR-556 MPR

Slug Guns

Mossberg 500 Combo Field/Deer

Stoeger M3000R

Winchester SX4 Cantilever Buck

Henry Single Shot

Browning Maxus II Rifled Deer

Savage 212/220  

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Some shotguns are specialized tools. There are short-barreled, camo-clad turkey guns, over/unders and side-by-sides built for the uplands, and shotguns with rifled barrels for hunting big game. Elite clay shooters purchase target shotguns with recoil dampers, adjustable combs, and interchangeable ribs. With enough cash on hand and ample gun safe space, you can own a specific shotgun for every application.

But most accomplished shooters will tell you to find one shotgun that you shoot well, and never let it go. These guns may not be ideal for a single pursuit, but they’re perfectly suited for shooters that split time between hunting multiple species afield and at the range.

Here’s a look at the best all-around workhorse shotguns. They can be used for self-defense in your home, in a duck blind, cottontail thicket, or the turkey woods. Buy one of these guns, learn to shoot it well, and you’ll have a single scattergun that serves you in all seasons.

First, What Makes a Good All-Around Shotgun?

The most basic necessity in a do-all shotgun is functionality. If your gun doesn’t shoot it’s not much use to you. That’s why pumps and break-action shotguns are such a smart buy. The pumps rely on you to cycle shells and the over/unders don’t need to spit out spent hulls until you break the gun open. Inertia-driven and gas-powered auto-loaders have a higher chance of failure, but as long as you keep these semi-autos clean, they will run just fine. A good all-around shotgun must also be durable, which is why every gun on this list comes in a synthetic option (with the exception of the Stevens 555). If you are only going to buy one gun for all your hunting pursuits, it must stand the test of time, and protecting the gun’s exterior is paramount.

The gun should also be light enough that you can carry it afield all day long for upland hunts or deer drives (where legal). Only the 12-gauge model of the Browning BPS fails to meet that criteria, but you can always buy it in a 20-gauge to trim some of the heft off the gun. Lastly, the gun must shoot well and thus fit the shooter properly. I have found that straight-stocked pistol grips offer the best accuracy for most shooters and that is reflected in this list of shotguns.

Browning BPS

The workhorse BPS (Browning Pump Shotgun has been in production for over five decades. Its robust receiver is forged from solid steel, which means it isn’t the lightest gun on this list but it is certainly one of the most durable. Bottom feeding and ejection prevent dirt and debris from entering the receiver and spent shells are tossed directly at your feet so they are easy to find and collect (and won’t bounce off your buddy’s forehead in a duck blind). With its bottom feeding/ejection design and tang safety, the BPS is also an ambidextrous shotgun; I shoot right-handed while my wife is a lefty and we both use a BPS equally well. Recent  upgrades to the BPS include stock inserts allowing length of pull adjustments and turkey hunters will also appreciate the tang safety because it requires less movement to manipulate than a trigger-guard safety. There are currently BPS models available in camo, black synthetic, or walnut stocks chambered in every gauge from .410 to 10-gauge. Check availability here.

CZ All-Terrain Series

The CZ All-Terrain line includes side-by-side, semi-automatic, and over-under shotgun options, all of which offer versatility and value. If I were forced to select a favorite it would be the inertia-operated 1012 semi-auto. Like other All-Terrain shotguns, the 1012 features a Turkish walnut stock and OD Green Cerakote finish on the metalwork. The Cerakote finish is durable and stylish but also cuts glare—a major benefit when hunting waterfowl and turkeys. Over/unders will find the Drake, Upland Ultralight, and Redhead Premier models suit their needs. I like the All-Terrain Bobwhite’s side-by-side design with the added practicality of a non-glare ceramic metal finish. All of these guns come with five interchangeable choke tubes, and all but the Bobwhite are equipped with extended chokes. Check availability here.

Winchester Super X4

The Super X4, or SX4, is the fourth generation of Winchester’s flagship semi-auto shotgun family. The SX4 relies on the self-adjusting Active Valve system which is a proven gas operation system that offers reliability on par with more expensive competitor. It also reduces felt recoil, making this a great gun for anyone who shoots magnum shotshells. Its available in full-size and compact versions and comes with length of pull spacers for a custom fit. The oversized controls are easy to manipulate, and the Quadra-Vent system bleeds excess gas from the gun and reduces fouling for easier maintenance and improved reliability. I’ve used the SX4 to shoot sporting clays and to hunt waterfowl, upland birds and small game, and I’ve never been disappointed with its performance. There are specialized versions available, but the basic black synthetic model, which is available in 12 gauge (3 and 3½-inch chambers) and 20-gauge, is a superb all-around shotgun. Check availability here.

Mossberg Silver Reserve

Mossberg’s recently revamped Silver Reserve over/under shotguns are rather austere, but what they lack in ornate dressings they more than make up for in versatility and value. These Turkish-made guns are available in 12-, 20-, 28-gauge and .410-bore, all of which comes with five choke tubes, walnut stocks, satin silver receivers, and extractors. A Bantam version with a shortened length of pull is available for smaller shooters. The most versatile member of the Silver Reserve family is the Eventide, which features a black synthetic stock and a matte blue metal finish. Available in 12-gauge with 28-inch barrels, the Eventide will work for skeet and other clay games and its no-glare finish and tough stock are perfect for hunting waterfowl. Over/unders have much shorter receivers than semi-autos and pump guns, so even with 28-inch barrels the Eventide has a similar overall length as pumps/semiautos with 24-inch barrels, which makes it a great choice for hunting grouse and small game in dense cover. Turkey hunters will appreciate that short overall length. Check availability here.

Stoeger P3000 Pump

The unadorned P3000 won’t impress anyone at the trap field or your hunting pals, but if you’re adept with a pump it’ll kill game and break clays alongside more expensive shotguns. Reliable and completely without ornamentation, the P3000 is quite possibly the best value in a versatile shotgun. The basic black version comes with one screw-in choke (modified), but it will work for hunting waterfowl, upland game, and clays. Buy an additional full or turkey choke and you can hunt gobblers. If you prefer the look and feel of a walnut stock that’s an option too, and there’s a version with a full Realtree Max-5 camo dip as well. The P3000 is not a gun that will appeal to high-end shotgun snobs, but for everyone else a solidly-constructed, versatile, workaday pump with a price tag starting below $300 is a no-brainer. Check availability here.

TriStar Hunter Mag II

Tristar has been making waves in the shotgun market by offering well-built guns that are also great values. The Hunter Mag II is an over/under built with the hunter in mind. It has a synthetic stock with your choice of Mossy Oak camo patterns (Blades, Break-Up, Duck Blind, or Bottomlands) and either camo or Cerakote finishes on the metal. Five choke tubes come standard, as do sling studs (a worthwhile addition on a field o/u) and extractors. The top tang safety immobilizes the firing mechanism for maximum security and doubles as a barrel selector. These guns are made in Turkey, but are designed after Berettas and offer excellent reliability. I’ve been impressed with the Hunter Mag IIs I’ve handled and shot. They’re great for upland, waterfowl, turkey, and small game and make excellent clay targets guns during the off-season. Check availability here.

Franchi Affinity

Affinity semi-auto shotguns utilize inertia-driven operating systems so they’re easy to maintain and ultra-reliable. Franchi made the Affinity 3 and 3.5 shotguns available in walnut or synthetic stocks. The synthetic versions come in either black or your choice of Realtree or Mossy Oak camo. There’s also a Catalyst version of the Affinity with a stock designed specifically for female shooters, the only gun on this list to offer that feature. Twelve- and 20-gauge Affinity 3 shotguns sport a 3-inch chamber, and the 12-gauge Affinity 3.5 has a 3.5-inch chamber. No matter which version you choose you’ll find these guns perform well on a full range of game and in every clay sport discipline. Check availability here.

Read Next: 9 of the Most Underrated Semi-Auto Shotguns of All Time

Weatherby Element Synthetic

Weatherby built its reputation on high-performance centerfire rifles, but the company has been selling shotguns almost as long as bolt guns. The inertia-operated Element semi-auto is an exceptionally versatile shotgun that also happens to be quite affordable. The Griptonite synthetic stock and matte bead-blasted finish won’t draw the attention of wild game. The barrel is chrome lined, and length of pull and cast adjustment shims allow for a custom fit. Most importantly, these guns run. I’ve had excellent success with the Element shotguns and they’ve been proven in Cordoba’s legendary dove fields, the most grueling punishment field shotguns can endure. You likely won’t fire your Weatherby 1,000 times a day like we didi in Argentina, but you can reasonably expect years of good service out of these guns with minimal care. They’re available in both 12 and 20 gauge: three chokes come standard with the 20, and the 12-gauge includes an extra extended modified/long range steel choke suitable for waterfowl and turkey hunting. Check availability here.

Mossberg FLEX 500

There’s no more versatile shotgun than the FLEX 500. At its core is Mossberg’s proven 500 pump action, and while most shotguns offer owners the versatility to swap out barrels, the FLEX system takes that modularity to the next level. The incorporated Toolless Locking System (TLS) design makes it simple to install stocks ranging from 12.5 to 14.25-inches, and you can also change comb height, recoil pad thickness, and fore-ends. In minutes, the FLEX 500 can be transformed into the ideal gun for hunting big game, upland birds, turkeys, or waterfowl, and owners can also change out components to create a purpose-build home defense weapon with options for adjustable tactical stocks. If you have a young hunter at home the FLEX design allows them to not only grow with the gun but to accessorize it for any game that they choose to pursue, and the reliable 500 action can stand up to years of hard use. Check availability here.

Read Next: Best Duck Hunting Shotguns

Stevens 555

The Stevens 555 is a utility over/under that costs considerably less than competing guns. A lightweight aluminum receiver keeps the 555’s mass at a minimum: the 12- and 16-gauge versions weigh in at 6.2 pounds while the 20, 28 and .410 models weigh just 5.5 pounds. Five choke tubes come standard, and the stock is made from Turkish walnut. Both the receiver and carbon steel barrels come with a semi-gloss finish and extractors, a tang safety and mechanical trigger come standard.  There’s also a compact version with a 13-inch length of pull available in 20- and 28-gauge and .410, too. Prefer something a bit more ornate? The 555E model comes with upgraded wood, a laser engraved scaled silver receiver, and ejectors for a few hundred dollars more. Regardless of the 555 you select, you’ll own a functional field and clay gun that’s an excellent value. Check availability here.

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Growing up in Ohio, most of my friends received a single-shot 20-gauge as their first shotgun. Single-shots were deemed safer for kids (they are certainly less complicated to operate than auto-loaders or pumps). Most came with shorter stocks, and were shorter in overall length, so they fit young hunters better. Single-shots were relatively inexpensive guns (and still are), so it was an easier point of entry for parents trying to raise a family on a modest income. The problem with many of those guns was they were built with rock-hard plastic recoil plates. Loaded with magnum slugs (one of the only options for hunting deer in Ohio at the time) the recoil from those guns punched your shoulder harder than any playground bully. It was an ideal scenario to develop bad habits, like flinching. In some cases the recoil could be so brutal that a new hunter might give up altogether.

As a survivor of the single-shot slug gun days, and with kids of my own now that I hope to teach to shoot, I know there are better options for today’s youth. Here’s a look at some of the best shotguns for young hunters. —Brad Fitzpatrick

CZ Redhead Premier Reduced Length

The CZ Redhead Reduced Length comes with 24-inch barrels, a 13-inch length of pull, and weighs just 6 pounds, which makes it well-proportioned for young hunters. There are a long list of premium features, including five screw-in choke tubes, auto ejectors, a silver satin chrome receiver, gloss black chrome-lined barrels, Turkish walnut stock, and single mechanical trigger that can be set to fire either barrel first. The Redhead has an MSRP under $1,000, which is a good value for an over/under. It’s tough to find a reliable O/U for any size shooter that’s this moderately priced. This gun is suitable for youth clay competitions and it’s also an excellent field gun, plus you can take it into the grouse woods while your son or daughter is at school. —BF

Franchi Affinity 3 Compact

Franchi’s Affinity 3 Compact is an inertia-driven semi-auto shotgun that is reliable and well-built. It offers a big advantage over other inertia guns: a return spring located in the forearm instead of the stock. This means as your child grows, you can swap out the compact stock for a full-sized one in a matter of minutes (instead of buying a brand new gun). Inertia guns are typically lighter than gas semi-autos (this one weighs 5.9 pounds), but they do have more felt recoil. To mitigate that, the Affinity’s TSA recoil pad does an effective job of softening the blow once your young hunter pulls the trigger. Chambered for 3-inch shotshells, the Compact comes in 20-gauge with a 24- or 26-inch barrel. It has a 12 3/8-inch length of pull, and there are also ¼-inch spacers included so you can tune the fit for the shooter. —BF

Browning Citori CXS Micro

This gun costs more than $2,000, so it’s not likely to be your kid’s first gun, but I wanted to list it as an option, because it’s a good choice if you have a young shooter that competes in skeet, trap, or sporting clays. Browning has a growth Insurance program that allows Citori owners to purchase a full-length stock for half price up to five years after of the purchase of the Micro. So, that allows your son or daughter to compete (and hunt) with the same gun their entire life. The Citori, which replaced the iconic Superposed, is an exceptional field gun. It’s proven reliable and can compete with over/unders priced much higher. They also hold their value, so you won’t be out the entire $2,000 should your child ever fall out of love with shooting. These guns come with several standard features, including three Midas Grade extended choke tubes (IC, M, and F), Browning’s Triple Trigger System, which allows you to swap out different trigger shoes and adjust the length of reach, a high-polish blued steel receiver, front and mid barrel beads, Vector Pro lengthened forcing cones for better patterns, and a grade II/III gloss walnut stock. The 12-gauge model weighs 7½ pounds, so take that into account before buying. The 20-gauge is a full pound lighter. Both models have the option for 24- or 26-inch barrels, and are chambered for 3-inch loads. Length of pull is also 13 inches on both the 12 and 20, and there is an Inflex recoil pad built into the stock. —BF

Winchester SX4 Compact

Winchester’s Super X line of shotguns meshes quality with affordability better than any other shotgun manufacturer that is building gas-operated shotguns. The SX4 Compact relies on the Active Valve gas system, shared by the Browning Silver shotguns. AV operates on a piston that vents excess gas away from the shooter and tames recoil. Easy to clean and reliable, the Compact has a 13-inch LOP, is chambered for 3-inch shotshells, and available in 12- or 20-gauge. The 20 only weighs 6.4 pounds, which would be a little concerning if this was an inertia gun because of the recoil it would generate. But since it’s a gas gun with an Inflex recoil pad at the end of the stock, that won’t be an issue. There are also 24-, 26-, and 28-inch barrel lengths available in both gauges. —BF

Mossberg SA-28 Youth Bantam

A 28 is my favorite gauge for young shooters. There are 28-gauge shotshell offerings with the same charge weight as 20-gauge options, so you can get the same pattern density from a 28 that you can from a 20, but the 28 is typically a lighter gun. That makes it easier for your kid to carry. Through extensive testing, former Field & Stream shooting editor Bob Brister found that the 28 produces a shorter shot string, which delivers more pellets to the target at the same time. That adds up to cleaner kills, and a better experience afield for your young hunter. The SA-28 is a 5.5-pound gas-operated auto-loader, equipped with a 24-inch barrel and has a 12.5-inch LOP. Its overall length of 40.75 inches makes it manageable for smaller shooters to handle. Recoil is extremely tame, especially shooting 7/8- or ¾-ounce loads. And at $624, the price is right. —BF

Remington 870 Express

You can’t have a best youth shotguns list without including the best-selling pump of all-time. So many kids grow up shooting 870 20 gauges because they are equally reliable and affordable. Just stay away from any Express model that was built between 2010 to 2019 if you decide to buy a used one. The manufacturing fell off as Remington entered bankruptcy and was sold off in blocks. A new company—RemArms—is building them now, and the guns are much better for it. Hogue makes a 12-inch youth stock for the 870, which you can swap with the standard stock. As your young shooter grows, you can put the old stock back on and shim it appropriately for the best fit possible. There is also a compact model of the Express that has an overall length of just 40.5 inches. But, it’s a harder gun to find on the used market, and even more difficult to buy new. There are a bevy of used and new 870 slug barrels on the market as well if it turns out your kid loves to deer hunt. The 870 is a 3-inch gun with twin-action bars that make it easy to pump. Short-stroking is a common issue with new shooters and pump shotguns, and it will likely be part of the learning process with this gun. But Remington put a lot of time and effort (more than 70 years) to make the 870 action run as smooth as possible. Plus, you can get a used Express for under $300, a fine price for such a durable and functional shotgun. —Joe Genzel

Read Next: 3 Reasons You Should Consider a Youth Shotgun for Turkey Hunting

CVA Scout .410

One thing a single-shot shotgun will instill in your child is to place their shots carefully, because they only have one shell in the chamber. This little .410 comes with a JEBS X-Full turkey choke and is drilled and tapped for a scope. I’ve seen Anse Brantley, F&S hunting editor Will Brantley’s 7-year-old son, kill squirrels with this gun past 30 yards. He’s also killed a turkey with it. Will put a scope on this gun and it’s a deadly combination for small game and gobblers. It has also given his son a lot of confidence because he has become such an accurate shot, which is key for any young shooter. It’s only on 6-pound gun, and the LOP is adjustable between 13 to 14 inches. The gun is also only 22 inches long (without the choke). I know Will is chomping at the bit for Anse to outgrow the Scout. It makes an awesome old man turkey gun after all. —JG

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