STOEGER M3500 – THE TOP BUDGET SEMI-AUTO SHOTGUN

Don’t get fooled by the price. The Stoeger is a great choice for a reliable shotgun with great power minus all the bells and whistles of some of the more fancy tactical choices.

The Stoeger runs via inertia meaning that cartridges are pulled into the shell and old ones ejected via recoil.

Comes with interchangeable chokes a couple of different lengths of barrels. Shells range from 2 ¾ to 3 ½ for the bigger slugs. You can easily fit a shotgun sight onto this.

You can shop around and find the Stoeger for pretty cheap.

TOP PICK FOR HUNTING SEMI-AUTO SHOTGUN – BROWNING A5

For anyone who has shot this, they’ll know why we picked it as our top choice.

If you’re thinking isn’t this the A5 from World War 2? Don’t worry, I’m not recommending you to use some antique weapon for your hunting trips.

The A5 is a new and improved version of the old vintage model. It comes with all the old functionality plus a very expanded design. The new A5 is lighter and utilizes a patented recoil system known as “Kinematic Drive”, this feature lets you pick between lighter or heavier loads.

This is a great gift for a gun lover and also makes one of those timeless pieces that you can keep in your family for years.

BEST SEMI-AUTO SHOTGUN FOR SELF DEFENSE

Right off the bat I’ll mention that I’m not a fan of traditional shotguns for home defense.

The reasons are simple. They fire slower and have a higher possibility of jamming which is not something you can afford in a home invasion.

Semi-auto shotguns provider serious power, increased ability to shoot multiple rounds and a very small likelihood of jamming.

We all know that in self defense situations reaction time is vital. Even a few seconds can mean the difference between life and death.  Using a traditional shotgun isn’t something you can really afford when the stakes are that high.

BEST SEMI-AUTOMATIC SHOTGUN FOR THE MONEY – BERETTA 1301 TACTICAL

Beretta has been making quality pistols for a long time. They are one of the world’s top gun manufacturers.  The 1301 Tactical is no exception to that.

It is a gas powered 12 gauge semi-auto that fires extremely powerful and slightly reduced loads. The 1301 Tactical is one of the most recommended and used tactical auto shotguns out there. It’s a favorite of tactical teams and special forces units worldwide.

I wouldn’t recommend this as a shotgun for shooting competitions — the slightly more expensive variant, the 1301 Comp, is the better choice for that purpose. However, if personal defense or home protection is what you’re concerned about, then the 1301 is a VERY good choice.

SECOND BEST SEMI-AUTO FOR THE MONEY – MOSSBERG 930

Another great choice for home defense. I didn’t put this as number one just because I’m biased towards the Beretta 1301, (which superseded the TX4 that I’ve had for a few years).

The Mossberg is like a Ford 150 – functional, reliable and easy to use. There is nothing fancy about it but it’s pretty cheap considering the build.

Great for a backup gun for home defense or even a backup gun for hunting. For shells I’d recommend Hornady Critical Defense shell. You can read about it in our shotgun ammo article.

IF YOU HAVE THE $$ – FNH SLP MARK 1

If you want durability than the FNH is what you want.

It’s built specifically for military units so its design allows for a lot of damage. It still has the same autoloading functionality as all the other semi-auto shotguns. The FNH is also the recipient of the Shotgun of the Year Award.

BENELLI M4

You know I wasn’t going to leave this out.

I got one of these three years ago as a Christmas present from my wife. I’ve never looked back since and I recommend it to anyone looking to spend a bit more money on a VERY solid and reliable semi-automatic shotgun for home defense.

The M4 is the top pick for the US Marine’s special forces units. The M4 is also not inertia operated rather it runs on a gas powered system.

Since the M4 is so well designed it rarely gets jammed and requires a lot less cleaning than some of its cheapest counterparts. It comes with a platform to add an adjustable scope and works well with a few different models of gun slings.

If you’re looking for the top notch, king of all shotguns than the M4 Benelli is your choice. Only downside is the price.

WHAT ARE THE BEST SHOTGUNS FOR COMPETITION?

Anyone who has been skeet shooting knows that using a semi-automatic shotgun is a lot more fun than a pump action piece.

Faster shots equal a lot higher chance to hit your target and avoid dealing with jams.

The Versa Max was designed with competitions in mind.

It’s a 12 gauge auto-loader that was built with competition in mind. This is a great choice for 3-gun shooting comps.

The Versaport system handles gas pressure and modifies pressure based on the size of the shotgun shell. The idea behind the Versaport was that shooters should be able to have recoil that is consistent and not affected by the load.

Priced a little higher than some of the other models. It’s a great choice for anyone who is serious about competitive shooting and wants a shotgun that they can use reliably for the next twenty years.

BENELLI M2 TACTICAL

If you read my previous review of the M4, you’ll know that I love Benelli.

This one is no exception to the rule. It comes in a few different designs: Standard, Pistol Grip and specially designed and patented ComforTech which reduces recoil by a massive degree allowing for enhanced control.

The M2 is also surprisingly light and built using high quality finishes and metal.

I won’t pigeonhole the M2 and say it’s only good for competitive shooting. It’s a great choice for hunting, self defense and competition.

CONCLUSION

Since the days of the Browning A5, the semi-auto shotgun has come a long way. Originally produced as military weapon, it has now transitioned into competitive shooting and self defense.

The biggest advantage of the semi-auto shotgun is that it’s just easier to use. While shotgun “purists” swear by the reliability, simplicity and aesthetics of the classic pump-action shotgun, and given enough time in the range it can be fired as fast as any semi-auto, the features of semi-autos make it the better choice for novice users.

Semi-auto shotguns don’t kick as hard. You’ll avoid the huge recoil that you get with a regular shotgun. Less recoil equates to a marked improvement in your ability to aim and shoot your boomstick.

I would recommend any of the shotguns we discussed for new shooters, people looking for tactical firearms for home defense or competitive shooters.

This article by Will Ellis originally appeared at Gun News Daily.

Image: Reuters.