Shotguns
A shotgun fires shells full of small pellets, called shot, that spread out as they fly, or a single heavy slug. The barrel is smooth inside. It is the best gun for birds, clay targets and close range, and a good choice for home defense.
The parts of a shotgun
Types of shotguns
| Type | What it is | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Pump action | Slide the forend back and forward between shots | Reliable with any shell; affordable; hunting and home defense |
| Semi-automatic | Reloads itself; one shot per trigger pull | Softer recoil, fast follow-up shots: ducks, doves, clays |
| Over/under | Two barrels stacked; break it open to load | Clay sports (trap, skeet, sporting clays), upland birds |
| Side-by-side | Two barrels next to each other | Classic bird hunting |
| Single shot | One shell, break action | Cheap first shotgun, kids, farm |
Gauges
| Gauge | Recoil | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| 12 gauge | Most | Everything: ducks, geese, turkey, deer slugs, home defense. The most ammo choices |
| 20 gauge | Less | Smaller shooters, quail, doves, pheasant, rabbits; plenty for home defense |
| 28 gauge | Light | Quail and skeet; ammo costs more |
| .410 bore | Lightest | Squirrels, snakes at close range; hard to hit flying birds with |
Shell length matters too: 2¾ inch is standard, 3 inch and 3½ inch are magnum. Never use a shell longer than the chamber, which is stamped on the barrel.
Chokes
The best three shotguns
Mossberg 590A1 (12 gauge)
About $730
Built to military standards, with a heavy-wall barrel, metal trigger guard and safety on top where both hands can reach it. Holds 8 plus 1. The hunting version is the Mossberg 500.
Remington 870 Express (12 gauge)
About $430
The best-selling shotgun in history, with the most accessories and spare barrels: a bird barrel and a slug barrel turn one gun into many.
Beretta A300 (Ultima Patrol or Outlander)
About $900 to $1,100
Soft-shooting gas action, reliable, and holds 7 plus 1 in the Patrol model. The Outlander is the hunting version with screw-in chokes.
Budget pick: Mossberg Maverick 88 (about $270 to $300). Premium: Benelli M4 (about $2,000), used by the U.S. Marines. Prices are typical November 2026 prices.
Cleaning and maintaining a shotgun
- Unload and check: empty the magazine tube, open the action, and check the chamber. Keep shells out of the room.
- Take the barrel off (most pumps and semi-autos come apart in seconds; see the manual).
- Clean the bore: a bore snake or rod with a brush and solvent, then dry patches. Shotguns build up plastic from the wads.
- Remove the choke tube, clean it and the threads, and put a little grease or anti-seize on the threads so it doesn't rust in place.
- Semi-autos: clean the gas piston and gas ports; carbon here causes jams.
- Oil lightly on the action bars, bolt and outside metal. Wipe off extra.
After waterfowl hunts, clean and oil right away: water and mud rust a shotgun overnight.
Shooting a shotgun
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1. Stance | Feet shoulder-width, weight a little forward, knees soft |
| 2. Mount | Bring the stock to your cheek first, then into your shoulder pocket. Same spot every time |
| 3. Eyes on the target | Look at the bird or clay, not the bead. Keep both eyes open |
| 4. Swing | Move the gun with the target and swing through it; keep moving as you pull the trigger |
| 5. Follow through | Keep swinging after the shot, like a golf swing |
| 6. Pattern your gun | Shoot at a big paper sheet at 25 to 40 yards to see where your gun and choke put the shot |
Start with light target loads in a gas semi-auto or 20 gauge if recoil is a worry. A good recoil pad helps a lot.
The right ammo for shotguns
| Shell | What is in it | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Birdshot #7½ to #9 | Hundreds of tiny pellets | Clay targets, doves, quail |
| Birdshot #4 to #6 | Bigger pellets | Pheasant, rabbits, squirrels, turkey (#4 to #6) |
| Steel or bismuth shot | Non-lead pellets | Required by federal law for ducks and geese |
| 00 buckshot | 8 or 9 pellets about .33 inch each | Home defense; deer where legal |
| Slug | One heavy lead projectile | Deer and hogs out to about 100 yards (rifled barrel helps) |
Match the gauge and shell length to your gun. See the ammo guide for buying and storage.