Best 1st shotgun recommendation

[u/Western_Wish4280]

Hi folks, its time to finally get my hands on my first shotgun.

I have been doing some research and with my knowledge on shotguns being soo little, i must admit i cant really decide on anything ive seen so far.

I mainly want one for "owning one" and maybe waterfowl hunting. Ive pretty much steered clear from shotgun after firing a 12ga slug on one of my coworker's shotty and was left traumatized xD.

Fairly new to shooting, been about 4 months with a PAL. Already got a ruger10/22, tikkat3x in 308win, and the type 56 sks. Must add a shotgun.

TLDR: looking for advice regarding a shotgun purchase. Brand,chambering and action type recommendations for a new shooter.

Thanks all!

[u/TimeNefariousness802]

I think it depends on what you plan on doing with it.

Don’t make my mistake and purchase a short barrel one if you want to go skeet shooting!

[u/Western_Wish4280 → u/TimeNefariousness802]

Nope not going to go skeet shooting. The only range close by doesn't allow skeets and the one that does is 2 hours one way away xD. But mainly some range days and hunting waterfowl at season

[u/pie2899 → u/Western_Wish4280]

If you plan to really get into waterfowl I’d suggest at least a 26” barrel. If you’re just doing range days and maybe 1 or 2 hunts get whatever you find attractive.
For 26” and up shotguns sub $1000 I’d recommend the mossberg 500 or the Benelli Super Nova or the Winchester SXP. I’d stay away from most sub $1000 semi autos, few friends haven’t had goodluck, but this is my personal opinion.

If you can afford up to $2000
Winchester SX4 (I own this I love it eats anything)
Beretta 1301
Weatherby Element 2
Benelli Super Vinci

I’d also say get a 3” or 3.5” but don’t get stuck with a 2.75”. The pump is a classic sound but the semi is more convenient. Go with 12g for cost and ease of finding ammo.

Go in pick them up see how it feels. Find a budget.

[u/Q-Ball7 → u/Western_Wish4280]

Buy a good semi-auto.

Benelli/Beretta is really your only option here. (Remington doesn't make the Versamax any more and the Mossberg 930/940 isn't quite good enough to recommend.)

If you can't afford a semi-auto now, strongly consider saving for one. The A300s are cheapest and are very fine guns, and get better up through the M2 and 1301 through to the A400.

Don't buy a pump gun unless you genuinely can't afford a semi-auto; they're a lot less pleasant to use and make some other compromises to be that cheap. Of those, the Supernova or Nova is what you should buy, as they make the fewest compromises. If even 500 dollars is pushing it, the 500 or Maverick 88 are fairly priced (and are even cheaper than the Nova is) but part of that price is that they have no cost-effective upgrade path and still aren't really that pleasant to use. Buy once, cry once.

Don't buy a 590 or 870- they cost more and are inferior to the Nova/Supernova. The loading ports on both are small, the elevator on the 870s won't stay pressed in when loading, 590s don't come threaded for chokes (and the 870s only come with one), neither absorbs recoil very well, and neither have a fiber optic front bead. Those designs are stuck in the 1960s- they have name recognition but that's about it. (The SXP has more of these features but the Nova is still better than it.)

Don't buy a off-brand (i.e. Turk-made) gun, or something both used and out of production, for your first gun. They can certainly be great, excellent even- but if and when something goes wrong on it, you'll need some know-how to fix it and the gun will be broken while you research parts and wait for them to ship. Once you get a good shotgun in your hands and have learned how they work, then you'll have a better idea of what you like, what you don't, and how things go wrong; buy whatever you like then.

[u/Iokua_CDN → u/TimeNefariousness802]

That's just extra challenge!!! How short did you go for youra?

[u/YetAnotherWTFMoment → u/TimeNefariousness802]

That NEVER happened to me...

[u/Cptn_Canada]

First sg? Mav 88 hands down.

[u/NiagaraBTC]

Maverick 88 Field/Security combo.

You'll have no ragrets.

[u/boognight220 → u/NiagaraBTC]

This

[u/Franksredsilverado]

Pump. mossberg 500. Can get a combo set with different barrels.

Semi auto. I enjoy my stoeger m3500 waterfowl. Wanted a mossberg 940 pro waterfowl but was out of budget.

[u/SceneAccomplished549 → u/Franksredsilverado]

Mossberg 500 is my pick as well. Fantastic all around good shotgun.

[u/Franksredsilverado → u/SceneAccomplished549]

I prefer my 535 with the camo but love the 500 with the wood. Now if only the WOOX Gladiator stock and foregrip was affordable.

[u/SceneAccomplished549 → u/Franksredsilverado]

Don't even get me started on WOOX.... i wanted to get a kit for my lever and it was pricey but damn it would look good 

[u/Whispersfine]

Mav 88 two barrels combo.

[u/isanthrope_may]

Get a Maverick 88 security/field combo. Cheap enough for someone that wants to own one to ‘own one’ and use it enough to want to upgrade. It does everything a more expensive gun will do, mostly. Field barrel for wing shooting, buckshot, turkey, small game, and trap/skeet, security barrel if you ever wanted to run slugs again/use for 2-legged varmints. And I would be 100% ok with being handed one in a SHTF/Zombie situation if I wasn’t home.

FWIW, waterfowl can be a difficult and expensive place to start hunting. Look at doves, squirrels, and turkey. Small game will let you know if you are into hunting, and you don’t need to invest a lot or freeze your ass off hiding in a marsh. I love deer hunting, but I really love turkey hunting and squirrelling.

Happy shooting!

[u/Western_Wish4280 → u/isanthrope_may]

Absolutely forgot to mention the "2 legged varmint" scenario as well xD thanks for reminding xD

[u/TheRealTwooni]

If you’re recoil sensitive. Buy a semi-auto. If you’re buying a semi-auto. Buy a Beretta 1301.

[u/CurrentStructure7960]

Buy once cry once. Get a Beretta A400 or Benelli Super Black Eagle. I’ve own break action over/unders and side by sides, pumps and levers. I always grab my Benelli M2 when I want a great day at the range or in the bush.
DO NOT BUY TURKISH MADE SHIT. Shotguns have too many moving parts for their level of quality control.

[u/julienjj]

High power slugs in a light shotgun will always slam your shoulder hard. Clay loads in a nice Beretta with kick-off you can shoot all day.

[u/fuckbitingflies]

Maverick 88 if you just want to own a shotgun.

Mossberg 500 in 12g or 20g if you want to be able to change chokes to suit different pursuits.

[u/DashCameraman → u/fuckbitingflies]

You can change chokes on a mossberg maverick 88 28"

[u/6674826959]

Bro we SPASing out in 2026

[u/Alpha-Taurus]

Buy my Stoeger M3500 lol.

[u/Goliad1990]

I mainly want one for "owning one" and maybe waterfowl hunting.

Then get a Mossberg Maverick 88, preferably the combo with the short barrel and waterfowl barrel. Disregard all other advice and be happy.

[u/SierraRomeoJuliet]

Maverick 88

[u/Iokua_CDN]

I feel like I remember your comment from a few weeks ago (unless you are someone else who had thr same experience with shotguns as the guy I talked with)

My advice isn't a band but a type of gun.  Grab yourself a Gas operated Semi auto! This will reduce the recoil just because of the gas operation. Also consider throwing on a limbsaver, basically a slip on recoil pad that takes the recoil down even more!  After that, try out some low recoil birdshot and maybe even some low recoil slugs. Low recoil slugs are generally cheaper than the big powerful  magnum ones.

As far as brands, you take a risk with the Turkish made. I've heard it said to get one of the 3 B's.  

Berreta, Browning  and Benelli will have your best reliability.  I hear the new Semi auto mossbergs are decent.   Some brands like Winchestor and Cz and Weatherby sell rebranded Turkish made shotguns. Not as good as the 3 B's, but likely better than a random Turkish company as at least these have a higher QC process. A family member of mine goes regularly hunting with a Weatherby  semi auto that's made in Turkey, and it's been great and a lot cheaper than a Berreta, Browning or Benelli. But others  have had much worse experiences.

All in all?  For a budget focus, but wanting the 3 B's,  try a Beretta  a300.

There are old used ones Intersurplus for 500 bucks that might be alright (these are an older version, usually brought in from Europe)  but the new ones are usually 1100-1200 but are very highly rated and recommended.

[u/jmz-jmz]

Beretta 1301 if you’re going semi auto, if pump mossberg 590A1. Probably not the best choices for hunting but either should be reliable and last a lifetime.

[u/LeviathanOfLiberty → u/jmz-jmz]

1301 with chokes I’d say is a decent hunting shotgun.

[u/jmz-jmz → u/LeviathanOfLiberty]

Good to know, mines just been to the range a bunch

[u/PutridIndividual6260]

Mine is a Churchill 206. This is an over under double barrel model. I found it reasonably priced and bought it to get into skeet, but also plan to take it out grouse hunting in a week or so….

[u/IndividualCertain358]

beretta a400 xtream plus. it dose it all decent.

[u/BreakfastUnited9949]

I got a mossberg maverick 88 with both the 18.5” and 28” barrels. Great option for only $400. There should be some good sales coming up too.

[u/Duckriders4r]

Beretta A300

[u/theawesomedude646]

can't really go wrong with a maverick 88, they're cheap enough that you shouldn't feel bad about pawning it off if you decide you want something better but still rock-solid and from a reputable manufacturer. I think TFBTV on youtube did a 500 round torture test on one and the core shotgun itself passed with flying colours.

12 gauge 3" chambering is standard for good reason, you'll find the best variety and deals on ammo.

[u/Opening_Pizza]

Look into push pull technique. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=He1OXyLbaoA

Works pretty good. If you want to do waterfowl Beretta makes some semi autos with the "Kick-off" System that mitigates recoil. Semi autos are already lighter on recoil than pump actions.

[u/Opening_Pizza → u/Opening_Pizza]

https://reddit.com/link/p79sxxr/video/bveok41ylzmh1/player

Here's me trying my push pull with 8, 1 oz slugs. I'm still working on it, this was only my second range visit with the 1301 Tactical

[u/SocksOfDeath]

I bought a Beretta a300 Ultima Patrol as it seemed like the best bang for the buck.

[u/Oetter83]

Depends on budget

Mossberg 500 series probably though. You got lots of options, a very reliable firearm at a reasonable price. If you’re on a budget the Maverick 88 is Mossberg’s budget 500 and if you have some extra money go for a 590.

There’s plenty of aftermarket stuff for 500’s, easy to find replacement parts and you’ll find tons of information and discussion about them online. You really can’t go wrong just pick the variant that you like best and fits your budgets

[u/SceneAccomplished549 → u/Oetter83]

Do you have a link for any of the aftermarket stuff? I sorta want to kit out my 500

[u/Oetter83 → u/SceneAccomplished549]

What exactly are you looking to do to yours? GoTenda, G4C, Reliable, and others should have good selections of accessories on their website You can also use maplegun.ca to help find the best prices on stuff

[u/SceneAccomplished549 → u/Oetter83]

I wanna get a upgraded foregrip, a sling and a holder for shells.

[u/Bubbafett33]

If you buy a semiautomatic, get a beretta or benelli. Don’t cheap out on semi autos.

Cheap pumps can cycle well…cheap semi automatics can be a QC lottery.

[u/LeviathanOfLiberty]

Mossberg 500 with multiple barrels as an all-purpose, fairly indestructible pump-action.

Beretta 1301, Benelli M2, Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol if you want a defensive semi-auto (fairly forgiving on recoil). TNA VR-66 if you want this for cheap (personal experience with mine has been 3000+ shells no failures).

Mossberg 940s are pretty nice for a hunting/skeet/trap oriented semi-auto.

IMO there’s not too many applications where 3 1/2” shells are really applicable, even for most turkey and waterfowl applications (of course some situations might call for it). As long as it has a 3” chamber you’re good.

Semi-autos are generally better for recoil, with gas-operated ones typically generating lighter perceived recoil compared to inertia, but there’s really not a massive difference between the two. Over time pump-actions will get better, especially if you make sure you have a decent buttpad (cheaper pump-actions like Blue Line Chinese ones have dogshit ones that really bruise new shooters).

12 gauge rules :)

[u/guitargeneration]

Benelli Nova is amazing for the price. Hell it's amazing anyway

[u/berthela]

My first gun was a Browning BPS. I got it like 7 years ago. I still think it's probably the best pump action ever made. I have an Ithaca also. BPS is expensive and heavy, but it's smooth, accurate, and reliable, and the weight helps with the recoil. For a semi auto, I would probably get a Browning Maxus 2, but I don't own one so I can't personally speak to the quality.

[u/Jonesy_of_Nostromo]

For waterfowl the Remington 887.

That’s what I bought when I would go out on the boat in the Atlantic. Whole things polymer coated except the breach so it doesn’t rust.

Put an ultra closed choke on it and a 3-1/2” shell, can take a turr out before you even see it. Might not be much left of it, but it’s an experience for sure.

[u/layzorbeemz]

Pretty sure you should just be super based and get the new spas from tactical imports.

[u/swift_gilford]

I mainly want one for "owning one" and maybe waterfowl hunting.

If it's primarily going to be a safe queen; Maverick 88 field/security combo.

You can get a Magpul SGA buttstock for it to if the factory buttstock isn't to your liking.

[u/Ok-Raise-5115]

Go on gunpost and buy an old 870 wingmaster

[u/munterboi23]

would highly recommend the Canuck Enforcer. I have it and its a sweet pump action, haven't had any issues with it and I've put lot and lots of shells thru it

[u/LolingBastard]

590a1. All other answers are objectively less right

[u/dannysmackdown]

I got a 590A1 for my first shotgun, first gun period actually. I love it. Its heavy though, but that helps with kick. See my posts for a picture of it.

[u/ExchangeSuitable2034 → u/dannysmackdown]

Great gun but not for hunting small game, can’t change choke