The modern shotgun traces its roots back to “fowling pieces” of 16th century Europe. Unlike earlier designs, many modern shotguns are capable of firing multiple shots in quick succession and can handle a number of different projectile loads, typically either a spray of shot of varying sizes, or a single slug. Perhaps the most versatile type of firearm on the market, shotguns are popular for home defense, competitive shooting, and hunting wide range of game, including rabbits, squirrels, birds, and deer.
Though shotguns are not as popular as rifles and pistols in the United States, consumer demand for them is still high. According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, licensed gun makers manufactured approximately 3 million shotguns in the United States from 2016 to 2020. Another 28.7 million shotguns were imported to the U.S. from 1986 to 2019. And according to sales data from the online firearm sales marketplace, Gunbroker.com, some models are especially popular.
Using a report from Gungenius, which uses data from Gunbroker.com, an online firearm sales marketplace, 24/7 Wall St. identified the 10 most popular shotguns in America. Shotgun models are ranked by 2022 sales reported by the online platform, though exact sales numbers were not provided.
Three shotguns on this list – the Mossberg 500, Mossberg 590, and Remington 870 – also ranked among the 22 best selling firearms of any type, including rifles, pistols, and shotguns, on Gunbroker.com in 2022. Though each of these guns was a top seller in 2022, the Mossberg 500 and Remington 870 have been popular with both civilian gun owners and law enforcement agencies, each selling over 10 million units since their introduction over half a century ago. Together, the companies producing the Mossberg 500 and Remington 870 accounted for nearly 80% of all domestic shotgun manufacturing from 2016 to 2020, according to the ATF. (Here is a look at the most popular guns used by American police.)
Though some of the firearms on this list are semi-automatic and break action, pump is the most popular action type in the United States. Half of the shotguns on this list, including the four highest ranking, are pump action models. Generally less expensive than break action guns, and more reliable and easier to maintain than semi-automatics, pump action shotguns have several advantages over other common action types. (Here is a look at the 10 best-selling pump-action shotguns in America.)
Click here to see the shotguns Americans are buying the most.
Click here to read our detailed methodology.
10. Browning Citori
> Approx. base price: $2,200
> Popular usages: Hunting, target shooting, collecting
> Action: Over-under break action
> Chambered in: 12 ga
> Parent company: Herstal Group
> Parent company domestic shotgun production 2016-2020: N/A
> Parent company U.S. headquarters: Morgan, UT (Browning)
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9. Winchester Super X Pump
> Approx. base price: $360
> Popular usages: Hunting, home defense, target shooting
> Action: Pump
> Chambered in: 12 ga, 20 ga
> Parent company: Herstal Group
> Parent company domestic shotgun production 2016-2020: N/A
> Parent company U.S. headquarters: New Haven, CT (Winchester)
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8. Winchester Super X4
> Approx. base price: $910
> Popular usages: Hunting
> Action: Semi-automatic
> Chambered in: 12 ga, 20 ga
> Parent company: Herstal Group
> Parent company domestic shotgun production 2016-2020: N/A
> Parent company U.S. headquarters: New Haven, CT (Winchester)
7. Beretta A400
> Approx. base price: $1,699
> Popular usages: Hunting, target shooting
> Action: Semi-automatic
> Chambered in: 12 ga, 20 ga, 28 ga
> Parent company: Beretta Holding
> Parent company domestic shotgun production 2016-2020: 104,338 (3.5% of all U.S. made shotguns)
> Parent company U.S. headquarters: Accokeek, MD
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6. Beretta 1301
> Approx. base price: $1,359
> Popular usages: Target shooting, home defense
> Action: Semi-automatic
> Chambered in: 12 ga
> Parent company: Beretta Holding
> Parent company domestic shotgun production 2016-2020: 104,338 (3.5% of all U.S. made shotguns)
> Parent company U.S. headquarters: Accokeek, MD
5. Benelli M4
> Approx. base price: $2,099
> Popular usages: Home defense
> Action: Semi-automatic
> Chambered in: 12 ga
> Parent company: Beretta Holding
> Parent company domestic shotgun production 2016-2020: N/A
> Parent company U.S. headquarters: Accokeek, MD
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4. Mossberg Maverick 88
> Approx. base price: $262
> Popular usages: Hunting, home defense, target shooting
> Action: Pump
> Chambered in: 12 ga, 20 ga
> Parent company: O.F. Mossberg & Sons Inc.
> Parent company domestic shotgun production 2016-2020: 1,357,000 (45.3% of all U.S. made shotguns)
> Parent company U.S. headquarters: North Haven, CT
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3. Mossberg 500
> Approx. base price: $431
> Popular usages: Hunting, target shooting, home defense
> Action: Pump
> Chambered in: 12 ga, 20 ga, .410 bore
> Parent company: O.F. Mossberg & Sons Inc.
> Parent company domestic shotgun production 2016-2020: 1,357,000 (45.3% of all U.S. made shotguns)
> Parent company U.S. headquarters: North Haven, CT
2. Remington 870
> Approx. base price: $390
> Popular usages: Hunting, target shooting, military, law enforcement, home defense
> Action: Pump
> Chambered in: 12 ga, 20 ga, 28 ga, .410 bore
> Parent company: Freedom Group/Remington Outdoor Company
> Parent company domestic shotgun production 2016-2020: 1,000,453 (33.4% of all U.S. made shotguns)
> Parent company U.S. headquarters: LaGrange, GA
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1. Mossberg 590
> Approx. base price: $699
> Popular usages: Home defense, military, law enforcement
> Action: Pump
> Chambered in: 12 ga
> Parent company: O.F. Mossberg & Sons Inc.
> Parent company domestic shotgun production 2016-2020: 1,357,000 (45.3% of all U.S. made shotguns)
> Parent company U.S. headquarters: North Haven, CT
Methodology
To identify the best selling shotguns in America, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a report from Gungenius, which uses data from Gunbroker.com, an online firearm sales platform. The model or model families that make up the guns on this list are ranked by their 2022 unit sales on Gunbroker.com.
Data on 2016-2020 U.S. gun manufacturing totals for the companies on this list is from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Tobacco. Domestic manufacturing data was not available for every company on this list.
Approximate base price for each firearm is from the manufacturer’s website when possible, and in some cases, from online gun retailers. Many of the model families on this list have variations that are far more expensive than the price listed in this story, however.
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