The 20 Shotguns I Have Shot Thousands of Times and Would Not Trade for Anything Newer

Photo credit: The Sporting Shoppe/GunBroker

I like new guns as much as the next guy. Smooth actions, fresh bluing, that new-wood smell if you’re lucky. But if you’ve actually burned through cases of shells over the years—doves, ducks, clays, coyotes, truck-seat rides, and a whole lot of “one more round”—you learn pretty quick which shotguns are keepers and which ones were just a phase.

These are the 20 shotguns I’ve shot into the thousands and wouldn’t trade off just to get something newer. Not because they’re perfect. Some are heavy, some kick, some are plain as a fence post. They’re on this list because they keep doing what a shotgun is supposed to do: point right, run dirty, and break birds or drop critters when the weather and the shooter aren’t cooperating.

1. Remington 870 Wingmaster

If you’ve never run an older Wingmaster hard, you might not get it. The action has a slick, worn-in feel that doesn’t come from polishing compound—it comes from years of cycling. Mine has lived behind truck seats and in damp cases, and it still shucks shells like it’s offended you even questioned it.

I’m not saying every 870 ever made is magic. Fit and finish changed over the decades. But a good Wingmaster is a forever pump, and the parts situation is as easy as it gets. When a shotgun points like an extension of your hands, you stop shopping.

2. Mossberg 500

This is the shotgun I hand to someone who doesn’t baby gear. The tang safety is a big deal if you’re switching shoulders or wearing gloves, and the gun just keeps going even when it’s been neglected a little.

It isn’t fancy, and it doesn’t need to be. Barrels and accessories are everywhere, it’s easy to clean, and it’s one of those tools that feels honest. If you want one shotgun to do a lot of jobs without drama, it’s hard to argue against a 500.

3. Ithaca 37 (Featherlight)

Bottom eject is one of those things you either don’t care about or you swear by. In thick cover, the Ithaca carries slim, points quick, and keeps hulls from bouncing off your buddy or into your shirt collar.

The downside is you’re not loading it like a modern quad-load race gun. Good. That’s not what it’s for. Mine has been a grouse and rabbit gun so long I don’t even think about it; it just comes up and the bead is already there.

4. Browning Auto-5 (Sweet Sixteen)

The humpback isn’t just a look. That sighting plane helps me stay honest on the bird instead of checking the barrel. And the 16-gauge version is one of the best “carries light, hits right” combinations ever made.

Yes, it’s older. Yes, you need to understand how it likes to be set up for different loads. But once you do, it runs and runs. There’s a reason folks who own one talk about it like it’s a family member.

5. Beretta A300 Outlander

This is a modern gun on an old-gun list for a reason: it behaves like a work gun. It’s soft shooting, doesn’t beat you up on long dove days, and it’s not temperamental about being a little dirty.

I’ve watched guys buy fancier autos, then quietly keep an A300 around because it’s the one that always seems to be ready. It’s not flashy. It’s reliable and balanced, and that’s what shows up on the scoreboard.

6. Beretta 390

The 390 is one of those semis that just got everything right. The gas system is forgiving, the recoil is friendly, and it has that “steady but not dead” feel swinging through crossing birds.

They aren’t the hot new thing at the gun counter anymore, which is fine by me. If you find one that’s been cared for, it’s a serious shotgun that’ll make you wonder why you ever thought you needed the latest release.

7. Beretta 391 Urika

If the 390 is the reliable farm truck, the 391 is the farm truck with the good tires and a better seat. Mine has been on clays courses enough times I’ve worn the checkering smooth in spots.

It’s a shotgun that rewards good mount and punishes sloppy ones, which is exactly what I want in a semi-auto. If you shoot a lot, you appreciate a gun that doesn’t hide your mistakes but also doesn’t cause new ones.

8. Benelli Super Black Eagle (SBE)

The early SBE earned its place in nasty weather. When it’s cold enough to make your beard crunch and everything is wet, I like simple. Inertia guns don’t care about mud and cattail fuzz the way some gas guns can.

It does recoil more than a soft gas gun, and if you’re recoil-sensitive you’ll notice. But for waterfowl and late-season abuse, this is the kind of shotgun you trust when you don’t get a second chance.

9. Benelli M2

If I had to pick one semi-auto that does a little bit of everything without being weird about it, the M2 is right there. It’s light enough to carry, quick enough to point, and it runs like it means it.

It’s also the shotgun that teaches you the value of fit. Get the stock right and it becomes almost unfair on close, fast birds. Leave it wrong and you’ll blame the gun. Ask me how I know.

10. Winchester Model 12

A good Model 12 feels like it’s on ball bearings. The first time you run one that’s been shot a lot but not abused, you understand why old-timers talked about them the way they did.

It’s not the easiest thing to take completely apart, and I’m not pretending parts are as common as an 870. Still, as a field pump that points naturally and cycles like lightning, it’s hard not to respect.

11. Winchester Model 97

This one is pure history, but it’s also still a functional tool. Mine has lived an honest life—scuffs, worn blue, and a slide that sounds like it means business.

No, it’s not what I grab for modern waterfowl regulations or steel shot work. But for certain jobs—farm pests, walking fence lines, and the occasional nostalgia day—it’s a shotgun that reminds you why pumps earned their reputation.

12. Browning BPS

The BPS is underrated because it’s “boring.” Heavy steel receiver, bottom eject, smooth pump stroke. It’s a lefty-friendly design without being a special left-hand model, and that matters when you’ve got different shooters in camp.

It is heavier than a lot of pumps, and you’ll feel that on a long walk. On the other hand, that weight steadies the swing and tames recoil. I’ll carry a little extra if it means I shoot better.

13. Browning Citori

I’ve seen Citoris with more rounds through them than some folks have fired in their entire life, and they’re still locking up tight. A good over/under is a lifetime gun if you actually maintain it, and Browning has a long track record of being serviceable.

It’s not a feather. And if you don’t shoot a lot, you might not appreciate what you’re paying for. But if you do shoot a lot, the Citori makes sense every time you close it and it feels like a bank vault.

14. Ruger Red Label

The Red Label has its own feel. It’s a little bulky through the receiver compared to some sleek European over/unders, and it doesn’t try to be dainty. That’s fine. It’s a field gun that can take real use.

I’ve carried one hard through brush and rain and never felt like I had to treat it like a showpiece. They aren’t made like they used to be in the marketplace, and the ones that fit you tend to stay in the safe for good.

15. CZ Bobwhite G2

This is one of those shotguns that proves “simple” still sells if it’s done right. Straightforward side-by-side, double triggers, carries easy, and it’s quick in tight places where birds blow up out of nowhere.

No, it’s not a high-dollar English gun. That’s kind of the point. It lets you hunt the way you want without worrying about every scratch, and it still delivers that classic side-by-side handling.

16. Stevens 311

I’ve got a soft spot for the old Stevens doubles. They’re not graceful. They’re not light. The triggers can be a little “farm grade.” And yet, they keep going.

Mine has been a knock-around small game gun and a “leave it at the cabin” shotgun for years. If you’re the type that values function over fancy, the 311 is a reminder that you don’t need perfection to be effective.

17. Remington 1100

The 1100 is responsible for a lot of broken clays and a lot of birds in the bag. When they’re running right, they are soft shooting and smooth, and they make high-volume days feel easier on your shoulders.

They do like to be kept reasonably clean and they have wear parts you need to stay ahead of. That’s not a deal breaker; it’s just ownership. For me, the 1100 is still one of the nicest-shooting semis ever built.

18. Remington 11-87

The 11-87 doesn’t get the same love as the 1100, but I’ve had one that flat worked. It handled a wider range of loads for me without fuss, and it did it in ugly weather where the gun got wet and stayed wet.

Is it the lightest? No. Is it the trendiest? Not even close. But if you want a semi-auto that can be a real hunting partner and not a safe queen, a good 11-87 has earned its keep.

19. Stoeger Coach Gun

This one isn’t about refinement. It’s about being handy. A short side-by-side that you can throw in a truck (secured, of course), carry around the farm, and use for close work is just useful.

You’re not buying it to shoot competition scores or impress anybody at the range. You’re buying it because it’s simple, it’s fast, and it’s hard to mess up. There’s a place for that, even if the internet rolls its eyes.

20. H&R/NEF Pardner (Single Shot)

If you grew up around hunters who watched their pennies, you’ve seen this kind of single shot do real work. One shell at a time makes you slow down, pick your shot, and stop spraying when you get excited.

It’s not glamorous and it’s not quick. But it’s light, safe to teach with when handled properly, and it has put plenty of meat in the freezer. There is nothing fancy about it, and that is kind of the point.

I’m not against new shotguns. I’m against selling a proven one just because something shiny showed up in the glass case. If a shotgun fits you, runs when it’s dirty, and you’ve built real confidence behind it, you’re holding something better than “new.” You’re holding familiar, and familiar kills birds.