If you're back with us, fresh off of yesterday's SHOT show coverage, welcome back. If you're just checking in with us for the first time, be sure to go back and check out our roundups of the best rifles, optics and bowhunting gear to come out of the show so far this year. Today, however, read on to see the best shotguns of SHOT 2026, compiled by longtime contributor and diehard hunter, Brad Fitzpatrick.
Tristar Upland Hunter Thumbhole Stock
What It Is: A 20-gauge over/under that’s versatile and affordable
Why We Love It: One gun that’s ideal for ducks, doves, pheasants and turkeys
MSRP: $879
Tristar’s Upland Hunter Thumbhole Stock is one of my favorite guns from SHOT 2026 simply because it’s the shotgun equivalent of a multitool. The 26-inch barrels keep overall length to a minimum and the option to select which barrel fires first allows you to adjust pattern constriction instantly while turkey hunting. The Mossy Oak Green Leaf polymer stock and bronze metal finish help conceal this shotgun from the eyes of wary waterfowl and gobblers, and at just six pounds it’s light enough to carry on all-day upland hunts. The five included Benelli/Beretta Mobil style choke tubes allow you to fine-tune your shotgun setup for any conditions, and the 20-gauge Upland Hunter produces manageable recoil for shooters. Tristar’s Turkish-made boxlock shotguns are well-built and durable, so you can expect that this versatile over/under will last for years. It’s also priced below $900, which makes this versatile shotgun a great value. Tristararms.com
Beretta AX800 Suprema
What It Is: The next generation of Beretta autoloading waterfowl shotguns
Why We Love It: The AX800 looks radically different, but it’s a purpose-built shotgun that is designed for enhanced performance in every category
MSRP: $2,499 to $2,599
The AX800 Suprema represents an evolutionary step forward in Beretta autoloader design. It utilizes the advanced B-LINK Pro gas system that’s 36-percent faster and 46-percent cleaner than any previous Beretta gas-operated autoloading system and includes the same, Steelium barrel technology used in the DT-11 over/under that won 14 out of 15 podium spots at the 2024 Olympics. The advanced Kick-Off Pro recoil reduction system cuts recoil by as much as 70 percent, and that means faster follow-ups and a more enjoyable shooting experience. The polymer receiver is impervious to the elements and comes with an integrated optic mount. Other modern touches include a fully-adjustable stock, interchangeable pistol grips and a flat-face trigger. The ergonomics are excellent, allowing for reliable operation even while wearing winter gloves. This isn’t your grandad’s Beretta autoloader, but it’s an outstanding shotgun from a company that’s been on top of the gun-making game for 500 years. Beretta.com
Benelli Montefeltro Silver
What It Is: An elegant and reliable inertia-operated semiauto
Why We Love It: Incremental upgrades help the Monte Silver remain one of the best upland semiautos of all time
MSRP: $2,299
The Montefeltro Silver is anything but new. In fact, it’s one of Benelli’s most enduring semiauto shotgun models, but this year Benelli is offering a few noteworthy upgrades to its classic autoloader. For starters, both the 12- and 20-gauge guns come with new brushed nickel-alloy engraved receivers. Piggybacking on the updates to the standard Montefeltro model from last year, the Silver now has a modernized receiver and trim forearm that improves handling. Also included on this model are a deeply blued barrel and red bar front sight, a gold trigger, and a gloss nickel bolt and bolt handle. Both the 12- and 20-gauge version come with five screw-in CRIO choke tubes so you’ll be ready for any upland hunting scenario. Of course, this gun benefits from the inertia-operated system that Benelli perfected, so you can expect years of hard use from this great-looking shotgun. Benelliusa.com
Browning 825 Field Small Gauge
What It Is: The ultimate sub-gauge over/under for upland hunters
Why We Love It: Dependable 825 performance in a lighter, lower-recoil package
MSRP: $3,389.99 to $3,469.99
When Browning launched the 825 Field a few years ago, it seemed only a matter of time until the sub-gauge version arrived, and that’s happening at SHOT 2026. Like the larger 12-gauge variant, the 825 Field Small Gauge models feature a trim boxlock action and mechanical triggers for excellent reliability. Small Gauge models are available in 20- and 28-gauge and .410, all of which come with silver-nitride receivers with game scene engraving and grade II/III gloss oil finish American walnut stocks. All these guns feature blued barrels with a white front dot and three screw-in choke tubes, and all three Small Gauges (28, 28, and .410-bore) are available with a choice of 28- or 26-inch barrels. Unloaded weight varies from about 6.5 pounds to just under 7 pounds depending upon gauge and barrel length, and that means these guns are light enough to carry all day but offer enough mass that you can comfortably shoot a couple hundred clay targets a day with any of them. Browning.com
Mossberg 940 Pro Waterfowl Optics Ready Realtree Legacy
What It Is: A gas-operated semiauto waterfowl gun with an optics cut and legendary camo pattern
Why We Love It: The Mossberg is an American-made gun that seamlessly blends classic looks with modern design features
MSRP: $1,246
The Mossberg 940 Pro Waterfowl arrived in 2021 and built upon the company’s legacy of offering reliable gas-operated semi-auto shotguns for hunters. The 940’s gas system is designed to go longer between cleanings than the 930 it replaces, and this is one of the softest-shooting 12-gauge duck guns available. It’s also the only one that features a receiver cut for RMSc pattern red dot sights. RMSc red dots are extremely popular and easy to find, and mounting the optic directly to the gun lowers the optic height for a more natural shooting position. The 940 also features a safety selector that is mounted on the rear of the receiver so it’s a great option for left-handed hunters. The 940 Pro Waterfowl is chambered for 2 ¾ and 3-inch 12-gauge loads and is now available in Realtree’s Legacy camo pattern. Mossberg.com
Pointer ST912
What They Are: Stylish over/under shotguns that are suitable for hunting or breaking clays
Why We Love Them: The affordable ST912s offer a versatile hunting/sport shooting hybrid design that makes them year-round shotguns.
MSRP: Starting at $979
Most hunting firearms see heavy use during the season but spend the rest of the year tucked in the dark confines of a gun safe. By contrast, Pointer’s ST912 is a year-round gun that’s suitable for hunting upland birds, turkeys, ducks and geese when they’re in season, as well as conducting surface-to-air attacks on 108mm clay targets when hunting season closes. These guns come with a trim boxlock action and a tang-mounted barrel selector and safety. Walnut and gray laminate stock versions are available, both of which offer an adjustable comb that allows you to customize the gun for a perfect fit. I also like the extended choke tubes which are easy to swap out in the field. ST912 shotguns boast impressive balance and look as good as many guns costing thousands more. If you’re buying a $1,000 gun shouldn’t you get to use it year-round? Pointer thinks so. Legacysports.com
Benelli Ethos Cordoba A.I. BEST
What It Is: A sleek sub-gauge semiauto shotgun brimming with high-tech features
Why We Love It: Rugged finish, great patterns, unimpeachable reliability
MSRP: $3,399
The Ethos Cordoba A.I. BEST shotgun features Advanced Impact (A.I.) barrels and A.I. CRIO chokes that produce denser pellet columns and higher velocities for better performance in the field. The revolutionary BEST finish is perhaps the toughest surface finish ever applied to a shotgun, so the metalwork on these guns can stand up to the most abusive elements imaginable. Available in both 20- and 28-gauge, these guns offer outstanding reliability with low maintenance so even if you’re shooting hundreds of rounds a week these guns will last for years. Plus, the Ethos inertia system is reliable and requires minimal maintenance. Whether you’re hunting doves in Argentina or ducks in the Louisiana swamps, these trim Benelli autoloaders will perform well, and the new oversized controls make the Ethos Cordoba easy to operate even while wearing gloves. They aren’t cheap, but this is the pinnacle of sub-gauge semi-auto technology and performance. Benelliusa.com
Franchi Affinity 3 and Affinity 3.5 Line
What They Are: A multitude of Affinity models with upgraded features
Why We Love Them: The new Affinity models add a few nice touches to an already outstanding shotgun line
MSRP: $999 to $1,579
Franchi’s Inertia Driven Affinity 3 and Affinity 3.5 shotguns have been around over a decade, and during that time the company has only had to make minor updates to keep these shotguns relevant and popular. In 2025 select Affinity shotgun models received a refreshening that included a larger trigger guard, improved stock ergonomics, two-piece shell latch and a new recoil pad. This year, Franchi is releasing 15 new, next-gen Affinity 3 and Affinity 3.5 shotguns with these new features, a list that includes the new Affinity 3 Walnut, Affinity 3 Left-hand, Affinity 3 Sporting Trap, Affinity 3 Compact and more. My favorite of the bunch is the new Affinity 3 Upland Elite Walnut shown here. Available in 12- and 20-gauge, it comes with a walnut stock and Gunmetal Gray Cerakote receiver and barrel, interchangeable extended choke tubes and a high visibility red bar front sight. Most importantly, it comes with a reliable inertia operating system that’s easy to maintain and robust, so you can spend more time shooting these guns than cleaning them. Franchiusa.com
Dickinson Sidelite Side-By-Side
What It Is: An affordable, lightweight double gun that’s suitable for a variety of upland hunts
Why We Love it: What’s not to love about a classically styled side-by-side that looks good, performs reliably, and cuts weight?
MSRP: Starting at $790
Dickinson made a name for itself by importing high-quality Turkish shotguns, and its latest offering is the side-by-side Sidelite. It’s available in 12-, 20- and 28-gauge and .410-bore versions (28-inch barrels for the 12s, 26-inch pipes for all others) and offers a single selective trigger. Most American shooters haven’t spent much time shooting two-trigger doubles and will find that they can adapt to the Dickinson’s single-trigger layout very easily. The Sidelite’s aluminum receiver is beautifully engraved, and the use of aluminum reduces weight compared to doubles with steel receivers. The 12- and 20-gauge models come with a choice of ejectors or extractors only, and the 28-gauge and .410-bore are both extractor-only guns. If you’ve ever wanted to carry a double in the field but don’t want to drop a lot of cash on a classic American side-by-side, then the Sidelite is the ideal option. Dickinsonarms.com
Fausti Caledon Sporting
What It Is: A high-grade Italian stackbarrel that’s suitable for the field or a clays course
Why We Love It: Rugged build quality and bellissima styling make the versatile Caledon Sporting one of our favorite shotguns this year
MSRP: $2,790 to $3,087
The Caledon Sporting is a competition-oriented version of the Fausti’s popular Caledon Field shotgun, but just because the name indicates that this gun was made to break clays doesn’t make it any less effective in the field. With its beautiful oil finish walnut stock and classic engraving the Caledon Sporting looks right at home in the dove field or grouse woods. It’s available in both 12- and 20-gauge with barrel length options of 28, 30, and 32 inches. This boxlock over/under is made in Fausti’s state-of-the-art Italian factory, and comes with the company’s patented Four Locks locking system that is among the strongest of any over/under shotgun. Seven choke tubes are included with each gun (five flush fit, two extended) and so is a custom-fit locking case befitting a fine Italian over/under. The stunning Caledon Sporting really arrived last year, so this is sort of the gun’s victory lap, but an over/under this good deserves to be celebrated. Faustiusa.com
Stoeger V7000
What It Is: An affordable over/under with more features than its predecessor
Why We Love It: Stoeger was due for a new stackbarrel, and the V7000 was worth the wait
MSRP: $949 to $999
The Condor has been in Stoeger’s lineup for decades, and while the Condor filled the niche as a low-priced, austere over/under it was time to add another double gun to the Stoeger catalog. The new V7000 brings some noteworthy upgrades to the Stoeger over/under line, most notably a refined boxlock action and a clean look. This new over/under comes with either a black or silver alloy finish receiver in either 12 or 20-gauge. The silver alloy version comes with extended choke tubes (IC, M, F) and ejectors, while the black version features three flush-fit chokes. Both versions come with satin walnut stocks, 28-inch barrels and a red bar front sight. The aluminum alloy receivers on these guns keep weight to a minimum, making the new V7000 a solid option for upland hunters who plan to cover miles. The V7000 is a solid over/under that looks good and it’s priced under $1,000, a good value for a shotgun with so many features. Stoegerindustries.com
Ruger Red Label III
What It Is: The third iteration of Ruger’s American-made over/under
Why We Love It: We’ve had to say goodbye to the Red Label twice and hope this new premium version has staying power.
MSRP: $3,299
I shot a first-gen Red label on my college’s trap and skeet team, hunted with that gun extensively and had the opportunity to test the short-lived second-gen Red Label of the mid-2010s before it disappeared. This year Ruger has released the third generation Red Label, a collab between Ruger and Connecticut Shotgun Manufacturing Company. Whereas earlier Red Labels were designed to balance price and features, the RLIII is a premium over/under that’s built to CSMC’s exceptionally high standards. It features a single inertia trigger, a precision machined receiver and a hand-fitted locking system. The Deeley forearm release latch has been replaced by an Anson-style push rod, and the Ruger swinging safety/barrel selector on the tang has been replaced by a more modern design. With its unadorned polished receiver, checkered walnut stock and blued barrels the new RLIII is certainly understated, but this is indeed a top-shelf American shotgun built for years of hard hunting and clay shooting. It’s available in 20-gauge with 28- or 30-inch barrels, and each RLIII comes with a custom case and five interchangeable chokes. Ruger.com
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