7 Best Semi-Automatic Shotguns
Want to pick the best semi-auto shotgun for yourself? Learn how they work, various recoil systems, and pros/cons of the most popular ones out there.
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Have you ever wanted to empty a half dozen rounds of 12-gauge in just a couple of seconds?
If you've been involved with firearms for any length of time, you've probably shot break-action or pump-action shotguns, but what about semi-automatic shotguns?
For many of us, shotguns are some of the first firearms we were introduced to.
Indeed, they make excellent guns for everything from training beginners to providing the ultimate home defense protection to hunting and sporting.
We’re going to dig into just why you would want a semi-automatic shotgun, the pitfalls, and how to choose the best one for your needs.
The Quick List
- Best Tactical Shotgun: Benelli M4Jump to details ↓
- Fastest Semi-Auto Shotgun: Beretta 1301 TacticalJump to details ↓
- Best Ergonomics: Mossberg 940 Pro TacticalJump to details ↓
- Best for 3-Gun: Stoeger M3K FreedomJump to details ↓
- Best for Clays: Beretta A400 XCEL Sporting KOJump to details ↓
- Best for Hunting: Browning A5 HunterJump to details ↓
- Best Value: Beretta A300 Ultima PatrolJump to details ↓
Table of Contents
How We Chose the Best Semi-Automatic Shotguns
The PPT editorial team and our writers contributed to this article. We have a combined shooting experience of 30+ years, including instruction, competition, and multiple shooting disciplines.
The guns on this list were selected based on a mix of hands-on testing, reliability, features, price, ergonomics, and overall value.
We had to make some tough calls to keep the list short enough to read. If you don’t see your favorite shotgun on here, it doesn’t mean we hate it; it just means we couldn’t include it this time.
Best Tactical Semi-Auto Shotguns
1. Benelli M4 - Best Tactical Shotgun
Pros
- Smooth action
- Relatively soft recoil
- Large aftermarket
- Battle-proven
Cons
- Expensive
- Aftermarket items are also pricey
Specs
- Gauge: 12 ga
- Action: Semi-auto, gas-operated
- Barrel length: 18.5"
- Capacity: 5+1
- Weight: 7.8 lbs
- Length of pull: 14.38"
The Rolls-Royce of shotguns, the Benelli M4, is also the armored Humvee, fire truck, and Ferrari of shotguns.
It can do anything, anytime, anywhere, and has seen success in home defense, competition, and hunting scenarios.
It should come as no surprise that the M4 is the U.S. Marines M1014 Joint Service shotgun. It has been on combat missions on six continents, and it's a favorite in countless video games.
While Benelli is known for inertia-based guns, the Benelli M4 uses an auto-regulating gas operating (ARGO) system. The ARGO system is cleaner and more reliable over long periods of shooting.
The Benelli M4 is a proper combat shotgun with ghost ring adjustable sights and an optics mount.
The worst thing about this shotgun is the MSRP of $2,000.
Want to learn more? See our full hands-on review here, or check out our video review below.
Got one already and want to fully upgrade your M4? Check out our Best Benelli M4 Upgrades article.
2. Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol - Best Value
Pros
- Lightweight
- Easy to mount accessories
- Reliable
Cons
- Rear QD sling mount isn't the most secure
Specs
- Gauge: 12 ga
- Action: Semi-auto, gas-operated
- Barrel length: 19.1"
- Capacity: 7+1
- Weight: 7.1 lbs
- Length of pull: 13"
So, you want a reliable tactical shotgun from a big-name company but don't want to shell out $1,400-$2,000? We get that.
Apparently, Beretta got that memo, too, and brought us the gas-operated A300 Ultima Patrol.
The A300 Ultima Patrol takes many design cues from its older brother, the 1301.
It is a light shotgun at only 7.1 pounds and features enlarged controls, QD sling points, M-LOK slots on the forend, a Picatinny rail on top, and some excellent ghost ring sights.
To help keep the cost down, the A300 lacks a few internal features of the 1301. It uses a standard bolt head instead of a rotating one, the barrel is not cold hammer-forged, and it does not feature the 1301's Blink gas system.
Even without some of the niceties of 1301, the A300 Ultima Patrol is a fast, reliable shotgun that represents outstanding value at its price point.
You can see for yourself in our full review or watch the video below!
3. Beretta 1301 Tactical - Fastest Semi-Auto Shotgun
Pros
- Lightweight
- Reliable
- Ultra-fast cycle time
Cons
- Big price jump over the A300 Ultima Patrol
Specs
- Gauge: 12 ga
- Action: Semi-auto, gas-operated
- Barrel length: 18.5"
- Capacity: 7+1
- Weight: 6.7 lbs
- Length of pull: 13"
In a word...sleek. The Beretta 1301 Tactical 12-gauge semi-automatic shotgun is capable of firing full-power and reduced-power loads.
When it comes to making shotguns that are dependable and ergonomically designed, few manufacturers can compete with Beretta.
This innovative feature sets this series apart from other autoloading shotguns and makes this gun perfect for tactical situations, including home defense and crowd control.
It has an 18.5-inch barrel that’s perfect for tactical-style shooting. It also features Beretta's innovative B-LINK gas system, which is supposed to cycle around 36% faster than comparable semi-auto shotguns.
As far as shotguns go, this one is fast.
With that said, if you’re in the market for a shotgun that’s dependable and perfect for home defense, the 1301 Tactical is a strong contender.
Check out our full video review below, or head to our Beretta 1301 Tactical article to learn more!
4. Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical - Best Ergonomics
Pros
- Reliable
- Good ergonomics
- Softer recoil
Cons
- Doesn't include a top Picatinny rail
Specs
- Gauge: 12 ga
- Action: Semi-auto, gas-operated
- Barrel length: 18.5"
- Capacity: 7+1
- Weight: 7.5 lbs
- Length of pull: 12.5" - 14.25"
Effectively a more refined 930, the Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical is an evolution stemming from feedback from pro shooters like Jerry Miculek as well as shooters like us who buy and modify guns.
All the improvements make sense, and the gun’s performance is outstanding. It features a capacity of 7+1 with improvements over the 930 platform.
The buttstock pad feels much improved, providing a good grip on the shoulder as well as a cushion for recoil. Mossberg added an extended elevator and removed the notch that always seems to catch our digits when loading.
In the same area, Mossberg enlarged the loading port by beveling the edges. The improved gas system softens recoil and is supposed to run cleaner than previous versions. And we love that the barrel clamp now has an M-LOK slot for accessories.
Oh, and did we mention it's also compatible with the Shield RMSc footprint? All in all, the 940 Pro Tactical is a great option for those looking for a modern semi-auto.
Check out the video review below or catch up on the deets in the written review.
5. Stoeger M3K Freedom - Best for 3-Gun
Pros
- Extended magazine tube
- Enlarged controls
- Affordable
- Reliable
Cons
- Slightly more recoil heavy
Specs
- Gauge: 12 ga
- Action: Semi-auto, inertia-driven
- Barrel length: 24"
- Capacity: 10+1
- Weight: 7.3 lbs
- Length of pull: 14.38"
In the past 5 or so years, Stoeger has firmly planted themselves in the mix when it comes to excellent but affordable semi-auto shotguns.
This is largely due to the backing and guidance of their parent company, Benelli (who is under the Beretta umbrella).
The M3K series of shotguns has quickly become a favorite of 3-gun shooters due to some great design features, its attractive price, and near-Benelli M2 levels of performance.
Things like oversized controls, a fiber optic front sight, a shim kit, extended chokes, a 10-round extended magazine tube, and a generously sized loading port can be yours for under $650.
You aren't sacrificing much in the way of shootability either, as these guns are both reliable and also have very smooth inertia-driven actions. Seriously, work the bolt-on one at a local store if they have one; they feel good.
These guns are becoming pretty ubiquitous and commonplace at shooting matches across the nation, and we don't expect that to change anytime soon.
Best Semi-Auto Shotguns for Sporting and Hunting
6. Beretta A400 XCEL Sporting - Best for Clays
Pros
- Recoil absorbent Kick-Off system
- Reliable
- Extremely fast follow-up shots
- Smooth action
Cons
- Expensive
Specs
- Gauge: 12 ga
- Action: Semi-auto, gas-operated
- Barrel length: 28"
- Capacity: 3+1
- Weight: 7.7 lbs
- Length of pull: 14.5"
If you want to get into sporting clays and are looking to get the best out of the gate, look no further than the Beretta A400 XCEL Sporting.
Like the Beretta 1301, the A400 uses the B-LINK gas system, which the company says offers 36% faster follow-up shots on the A400 platform.
Their patented Kick-Off recoil pad is supposed to reduce felt recoil by up to 50%, and the adjustable drop and cast ensure that you can make sure the shotgun is fit perfectly to you.
An enlarged loading port, extended bolt handle and release, and Beretta's proprietary Steelium barrel with extended choke tubes round out the excellent feature set.
These guns are frequently seen in the win column at clay events due to their speed, ergonomics, reliability, and shootability. This is about the best you can get out of the box before getting to semi-custom shotguns.
7. Browning A5 - Best for Hunting
Pros
- Reliable
- Classic styling
- Fast-handling
Cons
- Doesn't swing as well as heavier shotguns
- Expensive
Specs
- Gauge: 12 ga, 20 ga
- Action: Semi-auto, inertia-driven
- Barrel length: 26" - 28"
- Capacity: 4+1
- Weight: 5.6 lbs - 6.8 lbs
- Length of pull: 14.25"
Starting its legendary life as the creation of John Browning, the Browning Auto-5 was the first semi-auto shotgun to make it to the mass market.
It's also a thing of beauty.
While the new Browning A5 has the same vintage look and style that made the old Auto-5 models popular, it is significantly lighter and uses a more modern recoil system called Kinematic Drive.
The Kinematic Drive system removes the need to manually choose between light or heavy loads as you had to with older models.
The result is a newer design with a smooth recoil impulse, fast handling, and excellent reliability.
Overall, the Browning A5 is an excellent reboot of a classic shotgun that is great for hunters and casual clay shooters alike.
What do you think of the Browning A5? Give it a rating below!
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How Does a Semi-Auto Shotgun Work?
The pump-action shotgun you’re probably more familiar with works by having the user manually slide the forend -- where you cock the gun.
This uses a spring-operated mechanism to simultaneously eject a spent cartridge and load a fresh one.
A semi-automatic shotgun, on the other hand, does the same thing automatically and can cycle through cartridges in one of two ways:
- Through a gas system…think something similar to the AR-15.
- Through inertia – aka, recoil-operated.
While both gas and recoil-powered systems use energy for the same function -- reloading the shotgun -- they go about it in different ways.
Gas-powered shotguns take high-pressure gas released after firing and use it to cycle ammo, while recoil-operated shotguns utilize kinetic energy instead.
Even though gas-operated reloading systems have been widely used for various automatic and semiautomatic weapons over the years, recoil operation was historically favored in shotguns.
Pros/Cons of Semi-Autos
Semi-Automatic Shotgun Pros
Semi-automatic shotguns are great for competitions and tactical situations, especially for beginners who might struggle to keep their target engaged while cycling rounds with a pump.
- While one-hand shooting is not recommended, it’s at least fairly possible with a semi-automatic shotgun. With that said, I wouldn’t advise doing it unless you were in an emergency situation.
- Generally speaking, the kick of a semi-automatic isn’t as strong, especially with those that use a gas system.
- Semi-automatic shotguns have a much faster rate of fire than their manual counterparts, given similar operator ability
To get an idea of how fast one can shoot with a semi-automatic shotgun, check out this video:
Semi-Automatic Shotgun Cons
- A more complex design makes them heavier and difficult to clean, especially for beginners.
- Semi-automatic shotguns have a higher likelihood of jamming than pump and break-action shotguns.
- Many can’t reliably cycle low-powered ammo, like some low-brass birdshot.
Pump-Action vs. Semi-Auto
It really all depends on what you’re looking for.
Do you want something that’s more affordable and less likely to fail, or do you want a shotgun that can cycle through shells faster and put more rounds on target?
In general, we recommend semi-autos for sport shooting, such as 3-Gun or trap shooting, and pump-actions for those looking for a more affordable shooting experience or those who want the guaranteed reliability that a pump-action brings.
With that being said, shotgun technology over the years has improved. This means that semi-automatic shotguns are becoming more reliable, making them great for self-defense situations.
For more on this debate, check out our article dedicated to the drama that is Pump vs Semi.
Are Semi-Automatic Shotguns Good for New Gun Owners?
The operation of a semi-auto shotgun is simpler than any manually operated shotgun.
All a shooter is required to do is initially charge the weapon via a charging handle. After that, the gun will run itself until it’s empty.
Once it’s empty, the majority of semi-auto shotgun bolts will lock to the rear, giving even the most novice of shooters a clear visual, auditory, and tactile sign that their gun is empty.
When a pump-action shotgun is empty, there is no immediate tactile or audible feedback to let you know.
The only way to know is to count your rounds, or when it goes click on an empty chamber.
All of this combines to make semi-autos an excellent choice for new gun owners.
Just make sure you read the manual to understand proper cleaning and lubrication, as well as your gun’s recommended ammo and malfunction-clearing procedures.
Final Thoughts
When you consider that semi-autos don’t usually kick as hard as pump-action shotguns, it’s not difficult to see why they’re a great choice for beginner shooters, and the extra rounds and boost to fire rate make them a great choice for veteran shooters as well.
The most important thing to remember when owning a semi-automatic shotgun is maintenance.
A well-maintained autoloader will be much less likely to fail, especially if it’s a gas-operated version.
So the real question is, what type of semi-automatic shotgun do you plan on getting? Let us know in the comments below! How about feeding the beast? We cover that in Best Shotgun Ammo.
Latest Updates
July 21, 2024: Removed the Mossberg 930 SPX Tactical, IWI TS12, Benelli M2. Added the Stoeger M3K Freedom, Beretta A400 XCEL Sporting KO. Added supplemental information for each firearm and added How We Chose section. Changed the organization of the article.
March, 2024: Removed the Stoeger M3500.