One of the best semi-auto shotguns hearth rounds reliably and cycle rapidly. Even in lighter platforms, they absorb recoil and swing to birds and clays naturally. It’s no marvel that so many waterfowlers, upland hen hunters, and clays shooters go for the fashionable semi-auto shotgun.
At Outside Life we’ve run by means of a ton of semi autos throughout our annual shotgun assessments. Some have wowed us with their efficiency. Others … not a lot. So that will help you determine which is the best match for you, I’ve picked my 10 favourite semi-auto shotguns in the marketplace proper now. Our workforce has shot all of those weapons extensively on the vary and within the area. Right here I’ll distill our in-depth notes and observations into some easy takeaways. Additionally, the checklist beneath was made with value as an essential consideration. There are actually dearer fashions on the market with extra bells and whistles, however the entire weapons I’ve chosen right here convey a ton of efficiency for the worth.
Greatest All-Round: Benelli SBE 3
- Motion: Inertia
- Chamber: 3-inch
- Total Size: 49.5 inches
- Barrel Size: 28 inches
- Weight: 6.9 kilos
- Worth: $1,800
The Tremendous Black Eagle 3 has been my go-to duck looking shotgun for a number of years now. It patterns properly, capabilities reliably, and, most significantly, it mounts and swings naturally. This can be a slender semi-auto which many shooters (myself included) appear to favor. Put an SBE 3 in nearly any wingshooters’ arms they usually’ll begin dropping birds or busting clays with it.
At slightly below 7 kilos, it’s a lot mild sufficient to hold within the uplands. The SBE 3s I’ve shot over time have had no subject biking goal hundreds, so it could make a nice possibility for informal clays capturing as properly. Throw an aftermarket turkey choke in it (and safe a pink dot to the drilled and tapped receiver for good measure) and also you’ve bought a succesful gobbler gun.
There are solely two downsides to the SBE 3 platform that I’ve seen. First, they have an inclination to sample fairly excessive for a lot of shooters. So it would be best to sample your gun and use the included shims to shift level of influence if wanted. Second, the recoil is fairly stout with heavier payloads. In case you’re recoil delicate, then I’d recommend a fuel gun (see beneath).
And whereas there are variations of this gun with extra options (and better value tags) I believe the fundamental 3-inch mannequin brings probably the most worth for the all-around hunter and wingshooter.
Greatest for Duck Looking: Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus
- Motion: Gasoline
- Chamber: 3.5 inches
- Total Size: 49.5 inches
- Barrel Size: 28 inches
- Weight: 7.8 kilos
- Worth: $1,940
A couple of years in the past a pair different editors and I did a large evaluation of the greatest shotguns for duck looking at a membership in Texas. When all of the weapons had been shot and the feathers settled, the Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus stood out above the remaining. This gun was extraordinarily mild recoiling and cozy to shoot.
Due to its fuel system, it’s a bit heavier and beefier than the SBE 3, however that’s not essentially a foul factor in most duck looking conditions. Plus, the Beretta B-Hyperlink system is understood for working reliably by means of the nasty situations and frigid climate that often make for one of the best duck looking.
Beretta AX800 Suprema Overview: Is This the New Prime Duck Gun?
For years, the A400 Xtreme Plus was Beretta’s flagship duck gun, however late in 2025 the gunmaker launched the AX800 Suprema, which has much more options and a value to match. I hunted with the AX800 for the second half of my 2025 season and completely cherished it (you may see my full evaluation within the video above). However it takes greater than a half season to win the title. So for now I’m holding the A400 on the high of my favourite duck gun checklist for its confirmed reliability and extra inexpensive value. However the AX800 is a promising contender.
Greatest for Upland Looking: Benelli Montefeltro
- Motion: Inertia
- Chamber: 3 inch
- Total Size: 47.5 inches
- Barrel Size: 26 inches
- Weight: 6.5 kilos
- Worth: $1,500
Benelli up to date its Montefeltro line in 2023 with an improved bolt system (no extra “Benelli Click on”) and slimmer ergonomics. Our workforce cherished the best way the gun dealt with and swung by means of targets throughout our 2023 shotgun check. In reality, the Montefeltro earned the very best worth rating for top-end shotguns.
It’s a great semi auto for upland hen looking. At simply over 6.5 kilos it’s a lot mild for carrying by means of the fields all day. Regardless of its minimal weight and its inertia pushed system, the shotgun mitigates recoil pretty properly. We attributed this to the inventory’s good geometry and its soft recoil pad. So if you wish to shoot heavy 3-inch hundreds at late-season roosters, the Montefeltro received’t punish you too badly. Throughout our testing it threw a 70/30 sample, which is about good for flushing-away birds. I’ve carried a Montefeltro on many profitable pheasant hunts over time and if I’m being completely trustworthy, I like carrying it greater than an over/beneath shotgun (typically you simply want that third shell).
Learn Subsequent: Greatest Shotguns for Chicken Looking
Greatest Mid-Priced: Retay Ace
- Motion: Inertia
- Chamber: 3.5 inches
- Total Size: 49.75 inches
- Barrel Size: 28 inches
- Weight: 7.22 kilos
- Worth: $999
Over the previous couple of years I’ve change into a fan of the inexpensive Turkish-made semi-auto shotguns from Retay. They run reliably, shoot spectacular patterns, and supply a ton of worth. In case you fancy Benelli shotguns, however don’t need to pay Benelli costs, the Retay Ace is a good possibility to think about. We examined the usual model (there’s additionally a model with a humpback-style receiver) in our 2025 shotgun check and granted it a unanimous Nice Purchase award.
Our Taking pictures editor John B. Snow wrote, “We discovered it to be extremely intuitive to make use of. All of us are skilled Benelli shooters, besides, we predict this gun deserves excessive marks for its simplicity. As a do-it-all hen gun few others match it for worth. You may take this gun just about wherever birds are hunted and never be handicapped.”
Greatest Low cost: CZ 712 G3
- Motion: Gasoline
- Chamber: 3 inches
- Total Size: 49.75 inches
- Barrel Size: 28 inches
- Weight: 7.3 kilos
- Worth: $593
There aren’t many semi-auto shotguns on the $600 value level that we might suggest. It’s often good to speculate somewhat more cash on the entrance finish for a mid-priced shotgun within the $1,000 vary.
Even for those who think about your shotgun to be a device and nothing extra, you’re possible going to have that device for a few years, and maybe a lifetime. If the gun doesn’t run reliably, that’s a few years of distress.
So it was with a skeptical eye that we regarded upon the CZ 712 G3 throughout our check in 2023. This can be a Turkish-made fuel gun with a design that requires the shooter to swap pistons when switching from mild goal hundreds to heavier sport hundreds. Trigger for skepticism abounded.
However we started to heat to the shotgun as we began breaking clays with it. The motion is snappy and stiff (although not in a foul approach). It actually wasn’t the smoothest dealing with shotgun in our check nevertheless it wasn’t a complete clunker both. After our preliminary testing I additionally took the shotgun teal looking and it felt proper at house within the marsh.
Most significantly, the gun ran. We had only some minor biking points with mild goal hundreds when the CZ bought soiled. However that drawback was simply solved with a fast wipe down and a few lube. I did discover that the CZ’s fuel system will get soiled relatively rapidly. In case you selected it as your go-to do-it-all shotgun you’ll need to strip and clear it repeatedly.
The one actual draw back is that we discovered it patterned to the appropriate. On the patterning board it impacted about 8 inches off heart at 13 yards with a wide range of totally different goal hundreds, however that would have been a problem with solely our pattern.
Greatest Tactical: Beretta 1301 Tactical C
- Motion: Gasoline
- Chamber: 3 inches
- Total Size: 37 inches
- Barrel Size: 18.5 inches
- Weight: 7.28 kilos
- Worth: $1,999
The Tactical C has the identical bones because the earlier Mod 2, however our check model swaps the Chisel Machine folding inventory for the mounted inventory. Additionally, there’s a model that has capability knocked again to five+1 (nevertheless the one we examined had a 7+1 capability).
The gun comes with sturdy and efficient ghost-ring sights, has M-Lok slots on the fore-end to mount equipment, and an adjustable comb to tune cheek piece peak. With its 18.5-inch barrel, the shotgun is maneuverable. For the heck of it, I ran it on flying clays the place it held its personal, however the gun’s candy spot is on a flat vary smacking metal and punching paper.
It’s a confidence-boosting gun that’s enjoyable to shoot and is a good possibility for house protection, competitors, and common coaching.
Reasonably priced Tactical: Mossberg 940 Professional Tactical Holosun Combo
- Motion: Gasoline
- Chamber: 3 inches
- Total Size: 37 inches
- Barrel Size: 18.5 inches
- Weight: 7.25 kilos
- Worth: $1,371 (consists of pink dot)
This tactical shotgun comes able to exit of the field. Merely sight within the included Holosun pink dot, connect equipment (like a sling and lightweight) and also you’ve bought an especially succesful and dependable shotgun for self protection. Moreover the pink dot, the SPX model of this shotgun comes filled with options, together with a cool-looking warmth protect, a number of M-Lok slots, QD ports, a Vang Comp 6-shell provider, and adjustable size of pull. Even for those who don’t get the mannequin with the Holosun included, the gun nonetheless has an optic cutout within the receiver for simple mounting (we ran a Trijicon dot on ours).
Tactical Shotgun Showdown: Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol vs Mossberg 940 Professional Tactical
In our testing, the comparable Beretta A300 Patrol ran extra rapidly and easily than the Mossberg, however the Mossberg shotgun supplied extra options for the worth.
Greatest for Clays: Beretta A400 Xcel Sporting
- Motion: Gasoline
- Chamber: 3 inch
- Total Size: 51.2 inches
- Barrel Size: 30 inches
- Weight: 7.75 kilos
- Worth: $2,420
You may go wild on this planet of high-end clays weapons, however for a useful, feature-rich possibility, look no additional than the A400 Xcel Sporting. This fuel gun consists of Beretta’s glorious Kick-Off system for lowering felt recoil, a Steelium plus barrel for higher patterning, and elective weights for balancing the gun to your wants.
In our evaluation of the greatest sporting clays shotguns, Phil Bourjaily describes it as “a target-breaking machine. A soft-kicking, fast-cycling fuel gun with or with out its elective Kick-Off recoil reducer, the A400 runs endlessly between cleanings, handles the lightest to the most popular goal hundreds, and infrequently malfunctions.”
Greatest for Turkey Looking: Retay Gordion Turkey
- Motion: Inertia
- Chamber: 3 inch
- Total Size: 43.5 inches
- Barrel Size: 22 inches
- Weight: 6.5 kilos
- Worth: $900
You don’t want (and even really need) a elaborate shotgun for turkey looking. In reality, the right turkey gun will probably be easy, it can sample properly, and deal with properly within the woods. It must also have a straightforward mounting system for a pink dot. The Retay Gordion Turkey delivers all of this for beneath a grand.
I’ve hunted with a 20-gauge Gordion Turkey for 2 seasons now and it’s change into my go-to gobbler gun merely for the way properly it patterns. In reality, 20-gauge Gordion with a Jebs Headhunter choke (.565) places extra pellets in a 10-inch circle than many 12-gauge turkey weapons with turkey chokes. (See all of my patterning knowledge right here).
So what’s the key? In case you ask Retay, it’s all concerning the barrel. The corporate makes use of a drilling course of for producing barrels (versus chilly hammer forging).
Together with the stellar patterns, the shotgun additionally boasts a pistol grip, pic rail for optics mounting, and a surprisingly mild set off (somewhat over 3 kilos). Try my full evaluation of the Gordion turkey, right here.
Greatest 16 Gauge: Browning A5 Candy 16
- Motion: Inertia
- Chamber: 2.75 inches
- Total Size: 28 inches
- Barrel Size: 49.25 inches
- Weight: 6.8 kilos
- Worth: $2,100
This checklist merely wouldn’t be full with out Browning’s A5 shotgun, which I like greatest within the walnut inventory model. There aren’t many shotgun corporations nonetheless making a 16 gauge, which makes this mild, Candy 16 much more attention-grabbing. This shotgun handles splendidly and its snappy “Kinematic Drive” motion is a pleasure to shoot. The Invector DS chokes promise strong patterning efficiency.
Weighing lower than seven kilos, this is a perfect upland hen gun. And positive, you would purchase the A5 in a 20-gauge or 12-gauge, however the 16 is exclusive and lots versatile. And fortunately, there are a bunch of fine 16 gauge hundreds out there.
Understanding Gasoline vs Inertia Techniques
Virtually all autoloaders are at present constructed utilizing considered one of two totally different platforms: fuel or inertia. Gasoline-operated semi autos use a certain amount of fuel (any remaining fuel is bled off, usually by means of ports within the barrel) generated by the shotshell propellant to function a piston housed contained in the fore-end. The piston drives the bolt backward as a way to eject the spent hull. The provider then picks up a contemporary shotshell from the journal tube and lifts it into the chamber because the return spring sends the bolt ahead, putting the shotshell into battery.
Inertia-driven weapons use recoil to function the bolt. The explosion of the shell creates recoil, forcing the gun backward. Inertia weapons briefly lock up the bolt with a decent spring, after which ship it backward so the spent shell could be ejected. An inertia spring returns the bolt ahead and a brand new shell is collected.
With any shotgun working system there are trade-offs. Gasoline weapons usually generate much less felt recoil, however also can get dirtier as a result of they use scorching, carbon-rich fuel to operate, which may trigger carbon buildup on the piston and motion. You should be diligent about cleansing a fuel gun. They’re often heavier than inertia-driven weapons as a result of there are extra elements to fuel weapons. Inertia autos are usually slimmer and lighter so they’re nicer to hold, however generate extra felt recoil. They run cleaner than fuel weapons, however you should be certain grime and moisture don’t discover their approach into the motion, otherwise you may expertise malfunctions. ——Joe Genzel
Ultimate Ideas on Semi-Auto Shotguns
There are numerous nice semi-auto shotguns on the market and extra fashions hit the market yearly. However the ones that made our checklist have confirmed to be dependable over years of testing on the vary and within the area. And if you’re choosing a semi auto, reliability is de facto what it’s all about. As we check extra shotguns this yr, we’ll maintain including to the checklist.
