The Most Popular Shotguns in the US

The origin of the modern shotgun can be traced back to “fowling pieces” of 16th century Europe. Unlike their predecessors, many contemporary shotguns have the ability to fire multiple shots rapidly and can accommodate various types of projectiles, including a spray of shot in different sizes or a single slug. Regarded as one of the most adaptable firearms available, shotguns are favored for home defense, competitive shooting, and hunting a wide range of game, including squirrels, rabbits, birds, and deer.

While shotguns may not be as widely favored as rifles and pistols in the United States, there is still considerable consumer demand for them. Data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives indicates that licensed gun manufacturers produced around 3 million shotguns in the United States between 2016 and 2020. Another 28.7 million shotguns were imported to the U.S. from 1986 to 2019. And according to sales information from Gunbroker.com, an online firearm sales marketplace, some models remain more popular than others. 

Using a report from Gungenius, which uses data sourced from Gunbroker.com, the online firearm sales marketplace, 24/7 Wall St. compiled a list of the 10 most popular shotguns in America. These shotgun models are ranked based on their sales for the year 2022 sales reported by the online platform, although exact sales figures were not provided. 

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.

Three shotguns featured on the list – the Mossberg 500, Mossberg 590, and Remington 870 – also ranked among the 22 best selling firearms in all categories, including rifles, pistols, and shotguns, on Gunbroker.com in 2022. Though each of these guns was a top seller in 2022, both the Mossberg 500 and Remington 870 have been popular among civilian gun owners and law enforcement agencies, with each model having sold over 10 million units since their introduction over half a century ago. According to the ATF, the manufacturers of the Mossberg 500 and Remington 870 together accounted for nearly 80% of all domestic shotgun production from 2016 to 2020

Though some of the firearms on this list use semi-automatic and break action mechanisms, pump action remains the preferred choice in the United States. Half of the shotguns listed, including the top four, are pump action models. Generally more affordable than break action guns, as well as more reliable and easier to maintain than semi-automatics, pump action shotguns have several other advantages over some commonly used action types. 

Here are the most popular shotguns in America:

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)

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)

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

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

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

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

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