The Shotguns That People Who Have Shot Enough to Know What They Actually Want Keep Buying Used

Photo credit: TGS Outdoors/Youtube

You can learn a lot about a shotgun in the first box of shells. But you don’t really know what you want until you’ve hunted in freezing rain, missed a few easy birds because the gun didn’t point right, cleaned mud out of an action by headlamp, and carried the thing all day with a coat on. That’s when the shopping gets less exciting and more honest.

What’s funny is where seasoned shooters land: not always the newest, not always the prettiest, and not always the most expensive. It’s the same handful of used shotguns that keep cycling through gun shops and classifieds because they work, parts exist, and they feel right in the hands. Here are 20 that folks who’ve “been there” tend to buy again.

1. Remington 870 Wingmaster

If you’ve handled a few pumps, you know the difference between “it works” and “it feels right.” A good Wingmaster has that slick, worn-in action that doesn’t need an apology. It’s not magic, it’s just years of decent machining and honest use.

Used Wingmasters show up with honest dings, maybe a little bluing wear, and a fore-end that’s been grabbed with cold hands for a long time. They still run. And when you need a spring, extractor, or magazine cap, you’re not hunting unicorn parts.

2. Mossberg 500 (standard field models)

There’s nothing fancy about it, and that is kind of the point. The Mossberg 500 is the gun a lot of folks start with, then sell chasing something “nicer,” then quietly buy again when they want a tool that doesn’t complain.

The tang safety plays well with gloves and left-handed shooters, and the gun doesn’t mind getting rained on. You’ll see them used with extra barrels floating around, which is a big deal if you want one receiver to cover birds, deer, and general chores.

3. Mossberg 590A1

This one is heavier and more “duty” than most people need, which is exactly why experienced shooters like it. The thick barrel and metal trigger guard/safety parts are confidence builders if the gun lives behind a truck seat or in a humid closet.

Used 590A1s don’t always look pretty, but they tend to be mechanically sound. If you’ve ever had a plastic safety button get chewed up or watched a cheaper pump loosen up over time, you get why this model has a following.

4. Benelli Super Black Eagle II

Waterfowl hunters who’ve frozen their fingers on a stubborn action tend to remember what runs and what doesn’t. The SBE II earned a reputation in nasty weather, and it points like a bird gun instead of a fence post.

It’s not the softest shooter and it’s not cheap, even used. Still, guys who know exactly what they like will buy a clean used SBE II without overthinking it, because it’s hard to argue with a shotgun that keeps cycling when everything is wet and gritty.

5. Benelli M2

The M2 is one of those “boring good” shotguns. It’s light enough to carry all day, cycles well with field loads, and doesn’t feel like it’s fighting you when a bird surprises you out of the brush.

Used M2s get bought by folks who already tried something heavier, something fussier, or something that only ran with the exact shell it liked. The M2 doesn’t solve every problem, but it tends to remove a few.

6. Beretta 1301

You’ll see these in the used rack and they don’t stay there long. The 1301 has a fast-cycling gas system, and it shoots softer than a lot of inertia guns in the same “do everything” role.

Experienced shooters like that it’s simple to live with. Not “simple” as in crude, but simple as in: it runs, it’s easy to keep clean enough, and you can find support and parts without begging the internet.

7. Beretta A300 Ultima

This is one of the best examples of a shotgun that doesn’t need to be precious. It’s a gas gun that behaves, and for the money used, it gives you a lot of shotgun without the “high-dollar semi-auto stress.”

I get why people buy one for a season, then flip it chasing a more expensive name. Then they go shoot the expensive one next to an A300 and realize the birds don’t care. Ask me how I know.

8. Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus

Not everybody needs an A400, but the folks who do tend to keep coming back. High volume shooting, harsh weather, and big water hunts have a way of sorting out what’s marketing and what’s real.

Used A400s aren’t “cheap,” but they can be a smarter buy than new if you find one that was maintained. The recoil system and reliability are what bring people back, especially if they’ve had other semi-autos get finicky once the season turns ugly.

9. Browning A5 (modern inertia version)

Some shooters just click with the humpback feel and the way the gun points. The modern A5 isn’t the same animal as the old long-recoil classic, but it still carries that quick handling and clean cycling.

Used A5s show up when someone realizes inertia recoil isn’t their favorite, or they want a softer gas gun. But the guys who like them tend to buy another one instead of arguing about it online.

10. Browning Maxus II

The Maxus line doesn’t always get the loudest hype, but it’s a serious hunting shotgun. It shoulders naturally, the controls are hunting-friendly, and it’s built for people who shoot in real conditions, not just on sunny range days.

Used Maxus guns get picked up by hunters who want a semi-auto that feels refined without being delicate. If you’re the kind of person who hunts a lot and cleans when you should (most of the time), it’s a solid long-term relationship.

11. Browning BPS

Bottom ejection is one of those things you don’t appreciate until you do. The BPS keeps hulls out of your buddy’s face, plays nice for left-handers, and feels like it was built when “steel and walnut” wasn’t a boutique idea.

It can be a little heavier than other pumps, and the action isn’t always as slick as an old Wingmaster right out of the gate. But as a used buy, the BPS is a steady, dependable option that doesn’t mind a lifetime of hunting.

12. Winchester Model 12

Pick up a well-used Model 12 and you’ll understand why old-timers won’t shut up about them. They tend to point beautifully, and the action has a certain “mechanical honesty” you don’t see much anymore.

No, it’s not the easiest platform if you want modern accessories, and yes, you should pay attention to chambering and condition. But as a used purchase for someone who values feel and craftsmanship, it still makes sense.

13. Winchester Model 1300

The Model 1300 has a reputation for being fast and slick, and a good one really is. It’s also one of those guns that got overlooked in the “new is always better” era, which makes the used market a little friendlier.

It’s not perfect, and you need to check condition like any older pump. But if you’ve shot enough to know you want something that cycles quick and carries easy, the 1300 is a smart used buy.

14. Ithaca 37

The Ithaca 37 is another bottom-ejecting classic that keeps finding its way back into experienced hands. It carries light, it’s trim, and it just feels like a bird gun, especially in the grouse woods.

These pop up used because they’re older and some folks don’t want to deal with fixed chokes or older features. The ones who buy them anyway are usually the folks who already know exactly what kind of hunting they do, and what kind of gun belongs there.

15. Ruger Red Label

Over/unders can be a rabbit hole, and you can spend a pile of money chasing the “right” one. The Red Label is one that keeps getting bought used by people who want a solid American-made O/U without taking out a loan.

They aren’t featherweights, and the feel isn’t for everyone. Still, for upland hunters who like a simple two-barrel solution and don’t want a delicate safe queen, the Red Label tends to stick around.

16. CZ Bobwhite G2

This is where you see experienced upland guys make a move that confuses the tactical crowd: they buy a simple side-by-side because it carries like a walking stick and handles like it’s supposed to.

The Bobwhite G2 isn’t trying to impress anybody. It’s trying to be useful. Used ones get snapped up by people who want a gun they can carry all day behind a dog, and not feel like they packed a boat anchor.

17. Stoeger M3000

Here’s the truth: some folks just want an inertia-driven semi-auto that runs well enough and doesn’t drain the bank account. The M3000 fills that spot, and it’s why you see them traded, then bought again by someone else who’s tired of babying gear.

Fit and finish won’t fool you into thinking it’s a premium Italian gun. But the used prices are usually reasonable, and if you’re the type who actually hunts more than you tinker, it can be a very workable tool.

18. Remington 1100

The 1100 is still one of the smoothest-shooting semi-autos ever made, and anyone with a sore shoulder from a light, hard-kicking gun figures that out eventually. On clays or doves, the 1100 just settles things down.

Used 1100s are everywhere, and yes, you need to pay attention to O-rings and basic maintenance. But parts are common and the guns are forgiving. A clean 1100 is a comfort buy for a shooter who’s done arguing with recoil.

19. Remington 11-87

The 11-87 doesn’t get the romance of the 1100, but it’s a practical shotgun that does real work. It tends to be a little more flexible across loads, and it has filled freezers for a long time.

Used 11-87s can be a bargain because they aren’t the “hot” thing anymore. If you find one that wasn’t neglected, it can be a very steady hunting partner, especially for someone who wants a softer shooter than most pumps.

20. Franchi Affinity 3

The Affinity hits a sweet spot: light, simple, and it points well for a lot of shooters. It’s one of those shotguns that doesn’t feel like a compromise in the field, even if it’s priced below some of the big-name flagship models.

Used Affinity guns get bought by hunters who already tried heavier gas guns or cheaper semi-autos that felt clunky. If a shotgun comes up fast, carries easy, and cycles when it’s dirty, that’s usually what “enough to know” looks like.

None of these are perfect for everybody, and that’s kind of the point. When you’ve shot long enough, you stop shopping for internet approval and start shopping for what fits your hands, your hunting, your weather, and your budget. Used racks and local listings are full of lessons. The trick is recognizing the shotguns that keep coming back for a reason.