The Best Shotguns for Hunting on Any Budget

The Best Shotguns for Hunting on Any Budget

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A good shotgun is a long-term investment. I’ve personally been carrying one shotgun in my lineup, a Remington 1100 Special Field, since the early 1990s, and it’s still going strong with minimal maintenance.

So when you decide to close the deal, you’re cementing a relationship with a tool that you may have for the rest of your life and pass on to your children. No pressure!

Fortunately, shotguns also hold their value fairly well, so trading them out won’t usually break your wallet. But you want to make an informed decision when getting a new shotgun, so our hunting team put our years of collective shooting experience together for some recommendations to help guide your purchase. (And it’s worth mentioning that this article focuses on shotguns you can buy new today.)

A note on specs and product scores: with so many of these shotguns having different variations, all specs are for the most basic 12-gauge model, unless otherwise noted. For many of these guns, there are models suited for specific needs that will have different specs. However, the specs of a standard 12-gauge will give you a relative comparison. And some of these non-12’s are too good not to share.

Likewise, the application rankings in this guide are based on the standard model. Specific models would change our scores.

I’ll jump right into my favorite shotguns now. But if you want more guidance, hop down to the end of the article, where I discuss the intricacies of shotguns so that you can make an informed purchase.

Editor’s Note: GearJunkie updated this guide on August 29, 2025, by adding product scores, updated specs, expanded reviews, and a more in-depth buyers’ guide section. We also added the https://academysportsoutdoors.sjv.io/c/381569/1124702/14238?subId1=gj&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.academy.com%2Fp%2Fata-arms-neox-12-gauge-28-in-max-7-shotgun">ATA Arms Neo X Max-7 as “The Best Deal in Shotguns.”

   

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         The Semi-Auto to Rule Them All      

         
      

         

            
                        

                              https://affiliate.cabelas.com/c/381569/185932/2623?u=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.cabelas.com%252Fp%252Fbenelli-super-black-eagle-3-semi-auto-shotgun">
                  Benelli Super Black Eagle 3               
                              

               
            

   https://affiliate.cabelas.com/c/381569/185932/2623?u=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.cabelas.com%252Fp%252Fbenelli-super-black-eagle-3-semi-auto-shotgun" class="c-button c-button--large">Check Price at Cabela'shttps://www.avantlink.com/click.php?tt=cl&mi=12263&pw=7185&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportsmans.com%2Fshooting-gear-gun-supplies%2Fshotguns%2Fbenelli-super-black-eagle-3-12-gauge-3-12in-tungsten-cerakote-semi-automatic-shotgun-28in%2Fp%2F1529576" class="c-button c-button--large">Check Price at Sportsman's Warehouse

         

         

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      https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2025/08/Benelli-SBE3.jpeg" class="attachment-ldm-product-thumbnail size-ldm-product-thumbnail wp-post-image optimized-size-webp-medium first-image" alt="The Best Shotguns for Hunting on Any Budget" itemprop="image" srcset="https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2025/08/Benelli-SBE3-388x450.jpeg 388w, https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2025/08/Benelli-SBE3-258x300.jpeg 258w, https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2025/08/Benelli-SBE3-603x700.jpeg 603w, https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2025/08/Benelli-SBE3-768x892.jpeg 768w, https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2025/08/Benelli-SBE3-517x600.jpeg 517w, https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2025/08/Benelli-SBE3-413x480.jpeg 413w, https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2025/08/Benelli-SBE3-689x800.jpeg 689w, https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2025/08/Benelli-SBE3-172x200.jpeg 172w, https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2025/08/Benelli-SBE3-276x320.jpeg 276w, https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2025/08/Benelli-SBE3.jpeg 889w" sizes="(max-width: 810px) 100vw, 810px" data-attachment-id="608533" data-permalink="https://gearjunkie.com/product/benelli-super-black-eagle-3/attachment/benelli-sbe3" data-orig-file="https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2025/08/Benelli-SBE3-388x450.jpeg" data-orig-size="889,1032" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Benelli SBE3" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2025/08/Benelli-SBE3-388x450.jpeg" data-large-file="https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2025/08/Benelli-SBE3-388x450.jpeg" />   
            

      

      

                  

            

   

      

         9.4      

   

   How we rate products ⓘ

         

            
         

            

   
   

      Rating Details
   

   

      

                     
• 
                 Upland
                 
  
                    

  
                 
  
                 7.8
              

                     
• 
                 Waterfowl
                 
  
                    

  
                 
  
                 9.8
              

                     
• 
                 Turkey
                 
  
                    

  
                 
  
                 8.5
              

                     
• 
                 Taget Shooting
                 
  
                    

  
                 
  
                 8.0
              

               

   

   
   

      Specifications
   

   

      

                     
• 
                 Length:
                                   49.6"                           

                     
• 
                 Weight:
                                   7 lbs.                           

                     
• 
                 Barrel:
                                   24", 26", 28"                           

                     
• 
                 Action:
                                   Semi Auto (Inertia Driven)                           

                     
• 
                 Capacity:
                                   3+1                           

                     
• 
                 Length of Pull:
                                   4 3/8"                           

                     
• 
                 Chamber:
                                   3" or 3.5"                           

               

   

      

      

         Pros      

      

         

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                                      Ultra-reliable intertia system
                 

                           
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                                      B.E.S.T. version backed by 25 year warranty
                 

                           
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                                      Turkey model available
                 

                           
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                                      Numerous colors available
                 

                     

      

   

         

      

         Cons      

      

         

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                                      Price
                 

                     

      

   

      

            

      

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   Sean McCoy

      

         
      

         

   

Benelli invented the inertia-drive system of shotguns and thus has earned a reputation for producing the most reliable semiautomatics on the planet. And the https://affiliate.cabelas.com/c/381569/185932/2623?u=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.cabelas.com%252Fp%252Fbenelli-super-black-eagle-3-semi-auto-shotgun" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Super Black Eagle 3 (starting at $2,199) might be the most reliable of all.

Unlike many shotguns that cycle through the redirection of expanding gases, Benellis use the inertia created by recoil to cycle new shells. It’s a foolproof method that is recently being copied by a lot more brands now that Benelli’s patent on the system has expired.

But still, there’s nothing like the original. The https://affiliate.cabelas.com/c/381569/185932/2623?u=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.cabelas.com%252Fp%252Fbenelli-super-black-eagle-3-semi-auto-shotgun" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Super Black Eagle 3 is a beast of a shotgun, with the 12-gauge model capable of chambering everything from 2.75- to 3.5-inch rounds. It’s a renowned weapon of waterfowl hunters, but capable of handling light enough loads to tackle upland game.

Now, for the B.E.S.T acronym: It means “Benelli Surface Treatment” and is the brand’s new proprietary finishing technology. The coating protects steel with a tough, impenetrable armor that stops rust and corrosion.

Benelli is so confident the treatment is impervious to the elements, the brand backs parts treated in B.E.S.T. with a 25-year warranty. Throw it in a duck boat, drop it in the mud, and shake it off. It will keep on firing and cycling reliably.

In 2025, Benelli also introduced the A.I. version of the SBE 3. No, that doesn’t mean artificial intelligence, but rather “advanced impact.” This technology is in the barrel of the shotgun and results in deeper penetration of bb’s. That means more effective kills and fewer cripples.