Best Hunting Shotguns For Every Hunter

As an avid waterfowl hunter, I’ve tried several shotguns throughout the years, but I always seem to come back to one… the ole’ trusty 870 (typically the older models before Remington had all its problems). However, many others on the market are an excellent choice for various hunting styles. Below, you’ll find a breakdown of the top shotguns for each species.

Let’s get started with the best overall!

Best Hunting Shotgun Overall – Remington 870

Though the Remington 870 had some bad press in recent decades, the quality has improved since, and if you can find a used one from the 1990s or early for a decent price, it’s worth every penny!

Many Remington 870s that my buddies or I have used while hunting have been ultra-reliable, tough, and solid guns overall. We’ve used them as paddles when the boat motor wouldn’t start and to bust ice (they were unloaded at the time).

I appreciate that it’s always been affordable for the working man. No, it’s not the fanciest firearm on the market, but as a hunter, I’m not looking for a fancy schmancy gun. I want something I can trust will get the job done and not spend the next 10 years financing it.

The biggest drawback is the breakdown in trust over the past couple of decades; however, Remington is on the rebound, under new ownership, and appears to be producing high-quality firearms once again.

Due to its wide variety of sub-models, the 870 is great for all types of hunting. Countless hunters have used an 870 to harvest waterfowl, upland birds, turkeys, and deer, so no matter what you plan to hunt, the Remington 870 has you covered.

The Mossberg 500 is another extremely versatile shotgun that won’t bust your budget. Whether you want to hunt turkeys, upland, waterfowl, or deer, there’s a Mossberg 500 equipped to do the job.

I’ve had a positive experience with the 500s I’ve used. While the pump action isn’t as smooth as that of more expensive pump shotguns, the gun is durable and reliable. It’s inexpensive and tough enough that you won’t mind getting it muddy in the duck blind and tossing it in the back of the truck on the ride home to clean your birds and the gun.

Millions of Mossberg 500s have been sold because of their versatility and unbeatable price point, but they also stay in the field because hunters simply enjoy shooting them and know they can count on them to perform when they need them most.

Hunters on a tight budget should first look at the Mossberg 500; you won’t be disappointed because you won’t find a better all-around hunting shotgun in this price range.

Best Shotgun for Waterfowl Hunting – Benelli Super Black Eagle III

The Benelli Super Black Eagle III is the best waterfowl hunting shotgun; you can argue and be wrong if you’d like. However, this semi-auto shoulders well and has an updated bolt design to reduce the dreaded “Benelli Click.” There’s no arguing that Benelli is one of the top shotgun manufacturers in the world, and this shotgun is what waterfowlers dream of on a nightly basis.

Yes, inertia guns have more felt-recoil than gas-operated guns, but Benelli considered this and developed a better recoil reduction system than previous models.

The biggest drawback is the price (over $3,000), but you’ll have to pay for the best if you want the best features. The other downside is that these shotguns tend to pattern high, which is great for guys who typically shoot too low but not for waterfowlers who already miss high.

Overall, the Benelli Super Black Eagle III is the shotgun thousands of waterfowls across the globe wish they were carrying into the field.

Best Shotgun for Upland Hunting – Browning Citori Hunter Grade II

The Browning Citori Hunter Grade II was expertly designed for upland hunting. You can choose from multiple gauge options (12, 20, 28, and .410 bore); it’s lightweight (7.5 lbs), durable, and handles like a dream, so you can quickly drop any flushing bird.

While still costly, it’s much less expensive than the other Citori models and was specifically designed for hunting, so you don’t feel so bad bringing it to the field.

The 26” barrel is long enough to get accurate long-range shots but short enough to swing around in thickets without getting snagged on every tree limb. I couldn’t leave out the fact that this gun is stunning. I’m a sucker for a walnut stock, so it’s no surprise that this one catches my eye.

The biggest downside is still the price. I’m a bit tough on my hunting gear, so I’m unwilling to pay over $2,400 to take it to the field and expose it to the elements.

However, for upland hunters who are more particular about taking care of their gear, the Browning Citori Hunter Grade II is the perfect over/under for upland bird hunting.

Best Shotguns for Turkey Hunting – Beretta A300 Ultima Turkey

For the ultimate turkey shotgun, look no further than the Beretta A300 Ultima Turkey. This semi-automatic shotgun has features that turkey hunters find incredibly beneficial, such as the Picatinny optic rail, oversized bolt release, safety button, and Beretta’s Kick-Off recoil reduction system.

The Kick-Off system is much appreciated because turkey loads are H.O.T. HOT, I can spend all day shooting ducks without a sore shoulder. Still, after firing a few turkey loads, I know my shoulder will feel it in the morning, so I welcome any recoil reduction on a turkey hunting shotgun.

The enlarged and oversized features are super helpful when you wear gloves because they make the gun much easier to operate without having to remove a glove. Lastly, I like the addition of the Picatinny rail because it makes it so simple to mount the optic you want, but you can still use the stock mid-bead and high visibility front sight.

The Beretta A300 Ultima Turkey will stop every gobbler in his tracks without destroying your shoulder in the process.

Best Shotguns for Deer Hunting – Winchester SX4 Cantilever Buck

The Winchester SX4 Cantilever Buck is a dedicated slug gun with a rifled barrel, adjustable sights, and a cantilever optic mounting base. This means you can deer hunt with this shotgun straight out of the box or easily install another optic to accurately send a Sabot slug downrange.

The 22” barrel was optimized for accuracy using 2 ¾” or 3” shells, and the self-adjusting active valve system reduces felt-recoil when you decide to step up to the 3” shells.

My favorite feature is the drop-out trigger, which makes cleaning easy. You only have to remove two pins to free it, giving you more access to the trigger assembly and internals of the gun, where all the grass and debris likes to hide.

Whether you’re looking to try your hand at slug hunting or forced to by your local government, the Winchester SX4 Cantilever Buck is an excellent deer hunting shotgun.