There's No Need to Buy Any Semi-Automatic Shotgun If It's Not On This List

Gun laws are changing across the United States has states attempt to determine the ideal balance between gun rights and community protection. As of April 17, 2025, there have been 81 mass shootings — defined as an incident where four or more people are shot or killed — and there are still eight more months in the year. In an effort to crack down on gun violence and encourage more responsible gun ownership, the state of Colorado has implemented legislation that will require individuals looking to purchase semi-automatic rifles, shotguns, and gas-operated semi-automatic handguns to undergo safety training starting in 2026. Without undergoing safety training, individuals can still purchase a firearm, but it must adhere to having a permanently-fixed magazine with a 15-round limit. There are several critics of the legislation. However, this falls in line with Colorado’s general approach to gun regulations, which includes age purchase restrictions and ghost gun bans. (Does your state get an A+ or an F when it comes to gun laws?)

Despite these restrictions, semi-automatic weapons remain popular across the country. One survey from a few years ago even estimates that 37% of all weapons held in the U.S. were shotguns, with 20-25% being semi-automatic. Here, 24/7 Wall St. explored the most popular and best-selling semi-automatic shotguns in the United States. To do so, we used data from Gun Genius, which publishes a monthly report based on gun sales from GunBroker.com. These numbers are from 2024. While there are some monthly reports from 2025, we wanted a more comprehensive look at the entirety of 2024’s sales rather than a smaller look at trends so far this year. Guns are listed in ascending order, with the most popular shotgun first. We also provided a small overview of what semi-automatic shotguns are typically used for.

This previously published article was updated in April 2025 to adjust base price numbers and provide more insight into gun legislation that may impact semi-automatic gun sales.

What are Semi-Automatic Shotguns Used For?

Unrecognizable hunter man loading shotgun with ammunition to hunt.

Semi-automatic shotguns are usually used by hunters for the purpose of hunting waterfowl or birds. However, these guns are also popular for sport shooters and competitive shooters. Their popularity stands in their rapid firing rates and higher accuracy compared to some other shotguns.

Why It Matters

Perhaps the most versatile firearm on the market, shotguns are capable of taking a wide variety of game, from waterfowl and upland birds, to small mammals and deer. Shotguns are also commonly kept as home defense weapons, and are the only firearms suited to recreational trap and skeet shooting. Semi-automatic shotguns are especially popular in the U.S., and while there are many brands and configurations to choose from, certain models have emerged as clear favorites. Understanding which models are most popular also gives you insight into which gun sales are driving the shotgun and rifle market, estimated at USD $6.21 billion in 2025 and expected to reach USD $7.69 billion by 2030.

Check out the best-selling semi-automatic shotguns: