Shotgun for Sale: Best Shotguns of 2026

Finding a good shotgun for sale in 2026 is easier than it used to be, because the best guns have gotten very good. At AR15Discounts we help shotgun buyers every week, from first-time home defenders to shooters replacing a gun they never trusted. Our shotgun selection runs from pumps to over/unders, yet those conversations usually land in the same place. When a customer asks which defensive shotgun we would buy with our own money, the answer starts with Beretta.

This guide ranks the semi-automatic and pump shotguns we have in stock right now and would recommend to a friend. Two Beretta models sit at the top, and Benelli follows. The rest of the list covers strong value picks, plus the pump that still makes sense when the budget comes first. Every spec below comes from the manufacturer.

Why a Shotgun for Sale Still Makes Sense in 2026

Few defensive firearms are as flexible as a shotgun. It runs buckshot with serious authority at close range, and it also handles birdshot, slugs, and less-lethal loads. Inside a house, most distances are measured in feet, so a good shotgun patterns tightly enough to stay controlled. With the right load, it also tends to carry less risk of over-penetration than many rifle rounds.

Modern semi-autos have made the platform much easier to live with. They cycle quickly with almost any quality load, and they soften recoil compared with a pump. Many shooters also find them simpler to run under stress, because the gun handles the cycling. That is why the top of this list is all semi-auto. Even so, the right shotgun for sale depends on who will run it and how often they train. For that reason we also included a pump for buyers who want the simplest possible gun.

The Best Shotgun for Sale in 2026: Beretta 1301 and A300

Beretta earns the top two spots. The 1301 and the A300 share the same core idea, a fast, soft-shooting gas semi-auto, at two different price points. In our experience, buyers who start with either one rarely come back looking for a different defensive shotgun.

Beretta 1301 Tactical Mod 2

The Beretta 1301 Tactical Mod 2 is the defensive shotgun we would put first on any list. It pairs a rotating bolt with the B-Link gas system, which Beretta says cycles 36 percent faster than competing designs. The 12 gauge has an 18.5 inch barrel with a 3 inch chamber and holds 7+1 rounds. Beretta lists its unloaded weight at 6.7 pounds.

Beretta’s Mod 2 update focused on the parts a shooter actually touches. The forend gained aggressive knurling and three M-LOK sections for a light or hand stop. The new semi-flat trigger breaks cleanly with a short reset, and a Pro-Lifter makes topping off the tube faster. Ghost ring sights also come standard. We carry it in black and grey, plus a pistol grip model in FDE for buyers who prefer that hold.

Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol

The Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol is the smartest value in defensive shotguns right now. It costs several hundred dollars less than the 1301, yet it gives up surprisingly little. Buyers still get a proven Beretta gas action, a 19.1 inch barrel that accepts choke tubes, and a 7+1 magazine. The compact stock has a 13 inch length of pull, so it moves well in a hallway and fits shorter shooters.

Beretta built the Patrol for fast handling, with an enlarged loading port, oversized controls, and a 7-slot Picatinny rail. The forend and barrel clamp add M-LOK slots and QD sling points. For most buyers who want Beretta quality at a more approachable price, this is the shotgun for sale we point to first. A 5+1 version is also in stock.

Benelli M4 and M2 Tactical

Benelli comes next, and for plenty of experienced shooters it would come first. The real difference between the two brands is how their actions run and how they feel on the shoulder. Both Benelli models below are proven defensive guns, and both are in stock today.

Benelli M4

The Benelli M4 is the shotgun the U.S. Marine Corps helped define. Its A.R.G.O. action uses two short-stroke pistons. They are fed from a port just ahead of the chamber, where the gas runs hotter and cleaner. Benelli developed the system for the Marines in 1998, and it later became the U.S. Joint Services combat shotgun.

The pistol grip model has an 18.5 inch barrel, 5+1 capacity, ghost ring sights, and a Picatinny rail. According to Benelli, it weighs 7.8 pounds on average. That makes it heavier and lower in capacity than the 1301, and it also costs more. In return, it carries a duty record in harsh conditions that very few shotguns can match. We also stock the M4 H2O, which adds a titanium Cerakote finish.

Benelli M2 Tactical

The Benelli M2 Tactical uses the Benelli Inertia Driven action instead of gas. Because no gas enters the action, it stays clean, and at about 6.7 pounds it is lighter than the M4. It has an 18.5 inch barrel, 5+1 capacity, and ghost ring sights. The ComforTech stock also takes some of the sting out of heavy loads. Inertia guns generally feel a little sharper than a gas Beretta and want a firm shoulder to cycle. For that reason the M2 suits shooters who already know how to run a shotgun.

Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical

The Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical is the strongest competition in the middle of the market. Mossberg redesigned the 940 gas system to run cleaner, and the company rates it for up to 1,500 rounds between cleanings. The tactical model has an 18.5 inch barrel with Accu-Choke threads and holds 7+1 with 2.75 inch shells. Its receiver is also cut for a Shield RMSc-pattern micro dot.

Mossberg adds an enlarged loading port, oversized controls, and M-LOK slots on the barrel clamp. The stock adjusts from 12.5 to 14.25 inches of pull. Right now the 940 sells in the same range as the A300 Ultima Patrol, so the choice usually comes down to Beretta’s gas system versus Mossberg’s optic cut. For anyone planning to run a red dot, the 940 makes a lot of sense.

Choosing a Budget Shotgun for Sale

Below the 940, the choices get more complicated. The MAC 2 Agency Tradesman is a solid inertia-driven semi-auto with an 18.5 inch ported barrel and 5+1 capacity. It takes Benelli Mobil chokes, and Agency Arms adds an open-cut loading gate and an oversized charging handle. It is a good gun, but as of October 2026 it sells for more than the A300 Ultima Patrol. At that price we would steer most buyers to the Beretta.

The GForce Gatlander is the most affordable semi-auto shotgun for sale that we would mention. It pairs an 18.5 inch barrel with an inertia action and 5+1 capacity for under $500. It runs, but a defensive shotgun has only one job. Before you trust any budget semi-auto at home, test it thoroughly with the exact loads you plan to keep in it.

That is why many buyers at this price are better served by a pump. The Mossberg 500 Retrograde Persuader pairs an 18.5 inch cylinder bore barrel with a walnut stock and corncob forend. Since it is a 500, it holds 5+1 with 3 inch shells. It also keeps the dual extractors, twin action bars, and steel-to-steel lockup the 500 has relied on for decades. A pump asks more of the shooter. When the only goal is a gun that fires every single time, though, it is very hard to beat.

A Hunting Shotgun From the Same Makers

The same makers lead in the field. Duck and goose hunters shopping for a hunting shotgun should start with the Benelli Super Black Eagle 3. Its Inertia Driven action runs light field loads through 3.5 inch magnums without adjustment. Upland hunters and recoil-sensitive shooters should look at the Beretta A300 Ultima 20 gauge instead. It is a soft-shooting gas gun with a 28 inch barrel and the Beretta Kick-Off recoil system in the stock.

How to Choose the Right Shotgun for Sale

Picking a defensive shotgun is a balance of budget, purpose, and how long you expect the gun to serve. Start with the job, since a gun for the house wants an 18.5 to 19 inch barrel, a weapon light, and a sling. After that, decide how much to spend. A Beretta or Benelli costs more up front, but it is usually the last defensive shotgun a buyer needs.

Ordering a shotgun for sale online is straightforward. Choose the gun and select your local FFL dealer at checkout, and AR15Discounts ships it there. You then complete the background check and paperwork with that dealer and take the shotgun home. Before you order, check your state and local laws, since some states restrict magazine capacity, pistol grips, or other features on semi-automatic shotguns.

Once the gun is home, train with it, choose good ammunition, and mount a light. A great shotgun helps, but practice is what makes it work when it counts.

The Best Shotgun for Sale Is the One That Runs Every Time

After years of helping customers choose a defensive shotgun, we see the same pattern again and again. Buyers who stretch for a proven Beretta, or a Benelli if that action suits them, tend to keep it for a very long time. Buyers who chase the lowest price often come back to shop again. Usually they leave with one of the guns at the top of this list.

So start with the 1301 if the budget allows and the A300 Ultima Patrol if it does not. Look at the Benelli options if you prefer inertia or want the M4’s duty record. Then confirm what your state allows and choose the shotgun you will actually train with. A shotgun that runs every time is worth more than one that almost does.

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