Most Underrated Rifles & Shotguns (To Impress Your Friends)

Are you looking for a firearm that you don't see every day -- maybe a nice conversation piece to impress your friends and fellow gun owners?

Today, we are going to look at some of the most underrated rifles and shotguns that you can still buy.

For one reason or another, all of these guns showed great promise and innovative designs but failed to get traction in the U.S. commercial market. That doesn't mean you should overlook them, though.

Let's look at the most underrated rifles and shotguns!

Underrated Rifle & Shotgun Comparison Chart

How We Chose the Most Underrated Rifles & Shotguns

For this article, we gathered a bunch of underrated rifles and shotguns we've personally shot, reviewed, or owned here at Pew Pew Tactical. The entire Pew Pew Tactical team, as well as freelance writers, contributed to this review to offer different opinions based on ergonomics, size, and experience.

We prioritized rifles and shotguns that are reliable and accurate, but don't get as much recognition as we think they should. Some are old and discontinued, some come from smaller manufacturers, and some just never quite caught on with American buyers.

Most Underrated Rifles & Shotguns

1. Steyr AUG - Best AR-15 Alternative

Steyr AUG A3 M1

$1650at Bereli

Prices accurate at time of writing

$1650at Bereli

Guns.com (See Price)

Specs

• Caliber: 5.56 NATO
• Action: Semi-automatic, piston
• Barrel Length: 16.375"
• Overall Length: 28.15"
• Weight: 7.7 lbs
• Capacity: 30+1

In the 1960s, some very creative engineers designed what was undoubtedly a space-age rifle: the Steyr AUG.

This bullpup (chamber behind the trigger) blaster used a ton of polymer and came with an integral optic. It looked like it belonged in "Flash Gordon," not your local gun store.

The AUG was popular in some European, South American, and Asian countries, but the poor little rifle never got much love in the U.S. A small group of American Steyr AUG cultists exists, but that number is far too small for such a cool gun.

The AUG A3 M1 a semi-automatic rifle chambered for 5.56 NATO that has managed to keep up with the times.

Modern AUGs let you choose from integral optics or the ability to add your own via a Picatinny rail. They also include rails for lights, lasers, and other accessories. They even make a version that is compatible with standard AR-15 magazines.

One of the AUG’s best features is the quick detach barrel.

Anyone can remove the barrel and replace it with zero tools. Users can slap on 20-inch heavy barrels with bipods, SBR length barrels, and even 9mm conversion kits with ease.

Besides being modular, it's accurate, reliable, and incredibly compact.

With everyone wanting rifles for home defense these days, the short and NFA-free AUG is still a viable option when outfitted with a red dot and a light.

2. Remington 788 - Best Remington 700 Alternative

Remington Model 788

$699at Guns.com

Prices accurate at time of writing

$699at Guns.com

Specs

• Caliber: .222 Rem, .223 Rem, .22-250 Rem, .243 Win, 6mm Rem, 7mm-08 Rem, .30-30 Win, .308 Win, .44 Rem Mag
• Action: Bolt action
• Barrel Length: Varies by model
• Overall Length: Varies by model
• Weight: Varies by model
• Capacity: Varies by model

Remington built the Model 788 in 1967 as an affordable alternative to the company's flagship rifle, the Remington 700. Remington must have put an over-enthusiastic new guy on the task because the rifle they turned out was outstanding.

The Remington 788 had a unique bolt with lugs at the rear instead of the front. There are nine lugs separated into rows of three that lock into the receiver behind the magazine well. Due to this, the bolt only requires 60 degrees of rotation to unlock.

What's the benefit of a 60-degree bolt lift? Well, it is quicker to operate and provides more clearance for low-mounted optics, which is nice.

Better yet, the bolt travel is also reduced due to this design, so cycling is super fast for a bolt gun.

A strong receiver helps ensure the rifle is very accurate — theoretically more accurate than the Remington 700.

Aside from the more traditional chamberings like .308 Win, .223 Rem, and 7mm-08 Rem, the gun also came in weird offerings like .44 Mag and 6mm Rem.

Remington discontinued the Model 788 in 1983, so you're limited to used guns. They're out there, though. You might just have to wait for the right cartridge and condition you're looking for.

3. CZ 600 - Best Value

CZ 600 Rifles

$521at Kygunco

Prices accurate at time of writing

$521at Kygunco

GrabAGun (See Price)

Palmetto State Armory (See Price)

Specs

• Caliber: .223 Rem, .224 Valkyrie, .243 Win, .270 Win, .30-06 Sprg, 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, .300 BLK, 7.62x39, .308 Win, .300 Win Mag
• Action: Bolt action
• Barrel Length: Varies by model
• Overall Length: Varies by model
• Weight: Varies by model
• Capacity: Varies by model

CZ has made some great bolt-action guns over the years, with their newest model being the CZ 600.

Their current lineup of centerfire rifles consists of five models: the do-it-all Alpha, the Euro-stylish Lux, the highly accurate Range, the lightweight Trail, and the new (but conventional) American.

These rifles come in a wide variety of calibers depending on which model you opt for, and all models come standard with threaded barrels.

Each CZ 600 comes with a sub-MOA guarantee, with the Range series boasting an impressive guarantee of 3/4-MOA five-shot group at 100 meters.

Sleek, sexy, elegant, and definitely underrated, the CZ 600 is sure to garner some curious looks at the range while also performing admirably.

4. Benelli M3 - Best Tactical Shotgun

Benelli M3

$1480at Guns.com

Prices accurate at time of writing

$1480at Guns.com

Sportsman's Warehouse (See Price)

Specs

• Caliber: 12 ga (3")
• Action: Semi-automatic/pump action
• Barrel Length: 19.75"
• Overall Length: 41"
• Weight: 7.2 lbs
• Capacity: 5+1

Benelli makes incredible shotguns, and that includes the often-overlooked Benelli M3.

This is the same Italian company responsible for making semi-auto shotguns for military use.

The M1 is an absolute legend, the M2 is one of the best semi-auto shotguns on the planet, and the M4 proved itself for more than 20 years in the Global War On Terror.

But what about the M3? We don't hear much about this shotgun.

That's a real shame because Benelli figured out how to make a hybrid semi-auto/pump-action design.

Having pump and semi-auto capability allows the Benelli M3 to cycle any 12-gauge shotgun shell you can fit in its three-inch chamber.

On semi-auto, the M3 can deliver standard buckshot and birdshot loads without issue. Swap to pump-action, and you can use breaching loads, less-lethal loads, or other light loads that semi-auto actions struggle to cycle reliably.

It's a sweet design that heavily appeals to the shotgunner in me. It's not perfect -- the pump locking to the rear is a hassle when using it in the pump action configuration -- but I can deal with it. I just wish the M3 got the love it deserved. 

Plus, it was used in the film "Heat," and that's just plain cool.

What do you think of the Benelli M3? Give it a rating below!

5. SRM Arms 1216 - Best Unconventional Shotgun

SRM Arms M1216

$1606at GrabAGun

Prices accurate at time of writing

$1606at GrabAGun

Palmetto State Armory (See Price)

Guns.com (See Price)

Specs

• Caliber: 12ga (3")
• Action: Semi-automatic, roller-delayed blowback
• Barrel Length: 18.5"
• Overall Length: 33.75"
• Weight: 7.75 lbs
• Capacity: 16+1

The SRM Arms M1216 works to address a few issues with shotguns, namely capacity. The name indicates the gun's capacity of 16 rounds in a detachable rotating tubular magazine.

Detachable box magazines on shotguns can be tricky because leaving shells in a box magazine too long can cause them to deform. That isn't an issue with this tube design.

The SRM 1216 has been rocking and rolling since 2011, predating the IWI TS12.

Aside from the detachable magazine, the gun is semi-automatic, readily accepts accessories, and uses a quasi-bullpup action to keep the length short and sweet -- if at the expense of trigger feel.

You can configure the weapon for right- or left-handed use, or order the gun in the configuration you want from the factory.

Mine has been nothing but reliable and capable. The SRM 1216 even uses a roller-delayed system like an MP5, which reduces the amount of cleaning you have to do.

It's a bizarre set of features that come together to make one of the most capable combat shotguns on the planet. This gun deserves much more attention than it gets for its modern take on the combat shotgun.

Honorable Mentions

The rest of our picks are hard to come by, so don't expect to add one to your cart and have it at your FFL this week. Keep a watchful eye out for them. If you see one, don't let it get away!

CZ Vz 58

I'll always appreciate the Czechoslovakian resistance to the Warsaw Pact. Whenever the Soviets came out with a new gun, the Czechs went their own way. The CZ Vz 58 is a perfect example of this.

The Vz 58 is AK-like in appearance, but very different in design. Instead of a long-stroke gas piston operating system, it utilizes a short-stroke piston. It comes in different magazines and furniture configurations but remains in AK’s native 7.62x39 caliber.

The Vz 58 tends to be more accurate than most AKs and just as reliable. Plus, the safety is much more ergonomic than the AK, and a last-round-bolt-hold-open device is a welcome touch.

The Vz 58 proves that the AK can be done better, lighter, and more ergonomically. Sadly, it never gained the popularity it deserved.

Luckily, a small group of enthusiasts keeps the market alive, and various Vz 58s exist -- including some neat SBR variants.

Stevens Model 77E

When we talk about budget shotguns these days, the Mossberg Maverick 88 seems to rule the roost. The Stevens Model 77E has flown under the radar.

The 77E earned some fame as the most common shotgun used in the Vietnam War. As evidenced by its military use, this Stevens scattergun isn't just a budget option, it’s an extremely robust shotgun.

The receivers are all steel and quite strong. It has beautiful wood furniture and provides a tight lockup and incredibly smooth action.

Slop was never an issue, and all models I've handled ran as smooth as butter (although those shotguns were certainly well-worn). An oversized ejection port ensures that spent shells eject reliably.

It was a well-built, brilliant shotgun. There is no way a shotgun this well-made would be considered budget-grade in 2022.

The good news is that used 77E shotguns still sell for relatively low prices, when they pop up for sale. They might be beaten up a bit, but they should work well. And remember, this shotgun is a bonafide war veteran — show it some love!

Asgard Defense M127 Kriger

You may have never even heard of Asgard Defense, much less the M127 Kriger -- and that's the point.

This is a semi-automatic, tube-fed shotgun designed to emphasize modularity. From the outset, Asgard Defense wanted to make it more like an AR-15 than a conventional shotgun.

It has an AR-style buffer tube with a captured recoil system that works with standard buffers. This translates to less recoil, which is certainly a good thing.

Asgard Defense has this novel idea of making the charging handle more ergonomic by placing it on the left side of the gun.

Why so few semi-auto shotguns do this is beyond me. Across the top is a massive monolithic optic rail, and the handguard offers a quad rail.

The M127 Kriger combines the ergonomics of a standard shotgun with those of an AR-15 to create a capable, low-recoiling shotgun that features plenty of original ideas.

It's a purely tactical shotgun and carries a high price, but it's criminal how ignored this shotgun is.

How to Pick the Most Underrated Rifles & Shotguns

How would you like to own one of these bizarre guns? They're just as fun to show off as they are to shoot!

First, decide how you're going to use it. If you have practical intentions like home defense, hunting, or competition, think about how easily you'll be able to buy ammo, parts, and accessories.

Some of these guns are unjustly shunned, while others can be hassle to fix if something breaks.

If you're just in it to have fun, go ahead and get weird! Having something unusual at the range is a great way to spark conversations, make friends, and of course assert your dominance as a firearm aficionado.

Meet the Experts

Pew Pew Tactical author Travis Pike authored this article. Travis spent a lifetime shooting as a kid and later joined the United States Marine Corps, where he spent five years as an infantryman. In the middle of his Marine Corps career, he began writing and never stopped. Travis is an NRA-certified instructor and Concealed Carry Instructor for the state of Florida. He has thousands of articles to his name with a variety of publications, including Pew Pew Tactical.

Editing this article is Scott Murdock. Scott is a Marine Corps veteran who competed and qualified as a rifle and pistol expert while in service. In addition to shooting, Scott has written for a variety of publications, testing, researching, and evaluating guns and gear. He brings that knowledge and skillset to this article, editing and fact-checking for accuracy.

Editor-in-Chief Jacki Billings runs our experienced team of reviewers. She is a National Rifle Association Basic Pistol Instructor as well as a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, ACES: Society for Editing, and the Professional Outdoor Media Association. Jacki has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and has worked as a media professional for close to 20 years, specializing in gun media for almost 10 years. With 2,000+ articles to her name, she uses her professional journalism and editing experience to set testing protocols and editorial standards for Pew Pew Tactical.

Final Thoughts

I guess being underrated is better than being overrated.

It's sad to see so many rifles and shotguns with innovative ideas get ignored in favor of more “traditional” designs. To hell with tradition, I say.

Buy something unique and share it with the world!

What are your favorite underrated rifles and shotguns? Let us know in the comments! When you're done, check out our article on the Most Underrated Handguns for more guns that need love.

Latest Updates

April 2025: Added a comparison chart and updated supporting content.