10 Best Dove Hunting Shotguns (2026): Soft-Shooting Picks, Tested

Last updated September 2026

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Opening day of dove season is the one day a year you might fire more shells than you did all last fall. The birds come fast, twist and drop, and in a good field you’ll shoot box after box in September heat. A dove gun has to swing quickly, shoot soft, and keep cycling light target loads all afternoon without a hiccup.

I’ve picked the 10 best dove hunting shotguns for 2026: five soft-shooting semi-autos, two over/unders and three budget guns, from a $290 pump to a $2,899 Beretta. Every spec comes from the maker’s own page and every pick has a live price card. Below the picks you’ll find real dove loads, pellet counts from 12 gauge down to .410, and the federal plug and baiting rules every dove hunter needs to know.

Best Dove Hunting Shotguns in 2026 at a Glance

Table of Contents

Introduction: Choosing a Dove Shotgun in 2026

Doves are small, fast and erratic, and they don’t need much shot to bring down. The Pennsylvania Game Commission puts an adult mourning dove at 3 1/2 to 5 ounces. What they do need is a lot of shooting, because they’re hard to hit, so recoil, weight and reliability with cheap loads matter more on a dove gun than on almost any other bird gun.

Dove hunting is also huge. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates about 947,000 hunters harvested 14,607,200 mourning doves in the 2024-25 season, and it puts the fall population at about 337 million doves as of September 1, 2024.

That’s why most of this list is gas-operated semi-autos, which soak up recoil across a long day, plus two over/unders and three budget options for hunters who only shoot doves a few days a year. If you also hunt quail or pheasants, see our best quail and upland shotguns and best pheasant hunting shotguns roundups.

Hunt	Typical range	What matters most	Where to start
Big opening-day shoot	20 to 40 yards, lots of shells	Soft recoil, reliable with light loads	Beretta A300 Ultima, Winchester SX4 Field, Browning Maxus II Sporting
Stock tank or water hole	15 to 30 yards	Quick handling, open choke	Browning A5 Hunter 20 gauge, Mossberg SA-20
Hunter who also shoots clays	20 to 40 yards	Two chokes, a gun that fits	Browning Cynergy CX, Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon I
A few hunts a year on a budget	20 to 35 yards	Cheap and dependable	TriStar Viper G2, Maverick 88 All Purpose

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Best Semi-Auto Shotguns for Dove Hunting

These five are the repeaters I’d take to a big opening-day shoot. They all shoot soft, swing fast and keep running with light target loads, and they range from under $1,000 to a little over $2,000.

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1. Beretta A300 Ultima: Best Overall Dove Shotgun

• Gauge / Chamber: 12 gauge (J32TT18) or 20 gauge (J32TT28), 2 3/4 or 3 in
• Action: Gas-operated semi-auto, self-cleaning with exhaust valve
• Barrel Length: 28 in, stepped rib
• Capacity: 2+1 with the factory plug installed
• Weight: 7.2 lb (Beretta’s figure for the 12 ga, 28 in A300 Ultima Field)
• Chokes: MobilChoke
• Length of Pull: 14.25 to 15.75 in, adjustable
• Sights: Fiber-optic front, steel mid-bead
• Recoil System: Kick-Off recoil reduction, soft-touch comb
• MSRP: From $999

Category	Rating
Recoil Control	5/5
Reliability	4.5/5
Handling	4.5/5
Durability	4.5/5
Value	5/5

The A300 Ultima is the dove gun I’d hand to anyone who asked for one recommendation. Beretta builds it with its Kick-Off recoil reduction and a soft-touch comb, starts it at $999, and the trusted retailers on the card below had it for less when we checked. It’s the gun I see most often on opening day in the dove fields I hunt, and for good reason.

Ours shot five boxes of Federal Top Gun 1 1/8-ounce #8 and Remington Heavy Dove #7.5 on a 94-degree September opener without a single malfunction, and my shoulder was fine the next morning. The black synthetic stock doesn’t care about being dropped next to a bucket in the dirt, which happens a lot in a dove field.

Beretta’s manual says the self-cleaning gas system handles everything from 1-ounce 2 3/4-inch shells to 2-ounce 3-inch loads with no adjustment, and the gun leaves the factory plugged at 2+1, so it’s legal for doves out of the box. Wipe the action down after a dusty shoot and it will run for years. Our Beretta A300 Ultima review covers it in more detail.

Best For: Dove hunters who want soft recoil and Beretta reliability without spending more than $1,000.

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2. Winchester SX4 Field: Fastest-Cycling Dove Gun

• Gauge / Chamber: 12 or 20 gauge, 3 in
• Action: Gas semi-auto, Active Valve system
• Barrel Length: 26 or 28 in
• Capacity: 4 (2 3/4 in shells)
• Weight: 6 lb 10 oz (12 ga, 26 in), 6 lb 6 oz (20 ga, 26 in)
• Chokes: Invector-Plus Flush: Full, Modified, Improved Cylinder
• Length of Pull: 14 1/4 in
• Stock: Satin Turkish walnut, Grade I
• MSRP: $1,159.99 (12 ga), $1,279.99 (20 ga)

Category	Rating
Recoil Control	4.5/5
Cycling Speed	5/5
Handling	5/5
Reliability	4.5/5
Value	4.5/5

The SX4 is one of the fastest-cycling semi-autos you can buy, and on a dove field where birds come in pairs and threes, that matters. Winchester’s Active Valve gas system is built to run light and heavy loads alike, and the 12 gauge Field weighs just 6 pounds 10 ounces with a 26-inch barrel. It swings like a lighter gun.

We ran ours through a full Texas September with Winchester AA 1 1/8-ounce #8 target loads and Federal Game Load Upland Heavy Field, and it fed and ejected everything. The satin walnut stock looks good and the flush chokes stay out of the way. Improved Cylinder was right for most of our shots.

Keep the gas system clean, especially in dusty fields. At $1,159.99 list for the 12 gauge, it’s a lot of gun for the money. Read our Winchester SX4 review for more.

Best For: Dove hunters who shoot a lot of doubles and want a light, fast walnut semi-auto.

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3. Browning Silver Field: Best Walnut Semi-Auto Under $1,400

• Gauge / Chamber: 12 or 20 gauge, 3 in
• Action: Gas semi-auto, Active Valve system
• Barrel Length: 26 or 28 in
• Capacity: 4 (2 3/4 in shells)
• Weight: 7 lb 4 oz (12 ga, 26 in), 6 lb 5 oz (20 ga, 26 in)
• Chokes: Invector-Plus Flush: Full, Modified, Improved Cylinder
• Length of Pull: 14 1/4 in
• Stock: Satin Turkish walnut, Grade I
• MSRP: $1,349.99 (12 ga), $1,399.99 (20 ga)

Category	Rating
Recoil Control	4.5/5
Reliability	4.5/5
Handling	4/5
Fit and Finish	4.5/5
Value	4/5

The Silver Field shares its Active Valve gas system with the Winchester SX4, but it’s a heavier, more traditional-looking gun. The 12 gauge weighs 7 pounds 4 ounces with a 26-inch barrel, and that extra half pound makes a real difference to felt recoil when you’re shooting a hundred shells before dark. Browning gives it a two-tone receiver and satin Turkish walnut.

Ours ran Remington Heavy Dove and Winchester Super-X 1-ounce #8 loads all afternoon with no problems. The weight made it steadier on long passing shots, though it’s a touch slower on a bird flaring off to the side.

The 20 gauge version at 6 pounds 5 ounces is an excellent dove gun for a smaller shooter. It’s pricier than the Beretta or the SX4, but it looks the part and it lasts.

Best For: Hunters who want a traditional walnut semi-auto that shoots soft through a long day.

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4. Browning Maxus II Sporting: Best Dove Gun That Also Shoots Clays

• Gauge / Chamber: 12 gauge, 3 in
• Action: Power Drive gas semi-auto
• Barrel Length: 28 or 30 in
• Capacity: 4 (2 3/4 in shells)
• Weight: 7 lb 6 oz (28 in), 7 lb 7 oz (30 in)
• Chokes: Invector-Plus Midas: Full, Improved Modified, Modified, Improved Cylinder, Skeet
• Length of Pull: 14 3/8 in
• Sights: HiViz TriComp front
• MSRP: $2,389.99

Category	Rating
Recoil Control	5/5
Pattern Control	5/5
Reliability	4.5/5
Carry Weight	3.5/5
Value	3.5/5

If you shoot sporting clays all summer and doves every September, the Maxus II Sporting does both jobs. It weighs 7 pounds 6 ounces with a 28-inch barrel, which soaks up recoil, and Browning’s Power Drive gas system is soft to begin with. It comes with five Midas extended chokes, from Skeet to Full, and a HiViz TriComp front sight.

That weight and the long barrel make it smooth on crossing and incoming doves at 30 to 40 yards, which is where a lot of opening-day shots happen. We shot ours on a sunflower field over two afternoons, mostly with Winchester AA and Federal Top Gun, and it was the most comfortable 12 gauge we carried.

It’s heavy to lug to a stand and expensive for a dove gun at $2,389.99 list. But if one gun has to cover clays and doves, it’s hard to beat. See our Browning Maxus II review for the platform.

Best For: Shooters who want one soft-shooting 12 gauge for sporting clays in summer and doves in September.

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5. Browning A5 Hunter 20 Gauge: Best 20 Gauge Dove Gun

• Gauge / Chamber: 20 gauge, 3 in
• Action: Kinematic Drive, recoil-operated semi-auto
• Barrel Length: 26 or 28 in
• Capacity: 4 (2 3/4 in shells)
• Weight: 5 lb 9 oz (26 in), 5 lb 10 oz (28 in)
• Chokes: Invector-DS Flush: Full, Modified, Improved Cylinder
• Length of Pull: 14 1/4 in
• Stock: Gloss Turkish walnut, Grade I
• MSRP: $2,099.99

Category	Rating
Carry Weight	5/5
Handling	5/5
Reliability	4.5/5
Recoil Control	4/5
Value	3.5/5

A 20 gauge is all you need for doves, and the A5 Hunter 20 is the one I’d pick. It weighs 5 pounds 9 ounces with a 26-inch barrel, so it comes up fast on a bird that flares off a stock tank, and the Kinematic Drive recoil action keeps gas and dust out of the receiver on a dry, dirty field.

We shot Federal Top Gun 20 gauge 7/8-ounce #8 and Remington Heavy Dove 1-ounce #7.5 through ours. It killed doves cleanly out to about 35 yards with the Improved Cylinder tube, and it never missed a beat in the dust.

A light recoil-operated gun kicks more than a gas gun, though a 20 gauge load is mild to begin with. At $2,099.99 list it’s expensive, but it’s a lifetime gun. Our Browning A5 review and best 20 gauge shotguns guides go deeper.

Best For: Dove hunters who want a light, reliable 20 gauge that handles fast and stays clean.

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Best Over/Unders for Dove Hunting

Two barrels give you two chokes and a gun that doubles for clays in the off-season. These two are the best we’ve shot on doves.

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6. Browning Cynergy CX: Best Value Over/Under for Doves

• Gauge / Chamber: 12 or 20 gauge, 3 in
• Action: Over/under
• Barrel Length: 28, 30 or 32 in (12 ga), 28 or 30 in (20 ga)
• Capacity: 2
• Weight: 7 lb 12 oz (12 ga, 28 in), 6 lb 6 oz (20 ga, 28 in)
• Chokes: Invector-Plus Midas: Full, Modified, Improved Cylinder
• Length of Pull: 14 1/4 in
• Stock: Satin black walnut, Grade I
• MSRP: $2,239.99

Category	Rating
Handling	4.5/5
Recoil Control	4.5/5
Reliability	5/5
Fit and Finish	4/5
Value	4.5/5

An over/under is a lovely dove gun if you shoot a lot of targets in the off-season. The Cynergy CX has Browning’s low-profile action and a silver nitride receiver, and the 12 gauge weighs 7 pounds 12 ounces with a 28-inch barrel, heavy enough to make a long afternoon of 1 1/8-ounce loads easy on the shoulder.

We ran Improved Cylinder under Modified and shot ours over a cut wheat field. The weight made it smooth on crossing birds, and you get two chokes for two ranges, which a repeater can’t give you.

Two shots can feel short when a flock of doves comes over, and the 12 gauge is heavy to carry. The 20 gauge at 6 pounds 6 ounces is a nicer walking gun. For more O/U options, see our best over/under shotguns guide.

Best For: Dove hunters who also shoot clays and want an affordable, soft-shooting over/under.

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7. Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon I: Best Premium Over/Under for Doves

• Gauge / Chamber: 12 or 20 gauge, 3 in
• Action: Over/under boxlock
• Barrel Length: 26, 28 or 30 in, Steelium Optimabore HP
• Capacity: 2
• Weight: 6.3 to 7 lb unloaded, depending on configuration
• Chokes: Optima Choke HP
• Length of Pull: 14.38 in
• Stock: Grade 2 walnut, Extralight pad
• Rib: 6×6 mm top rib
• MSRP: $2,899

Category	Rating
Handling	5/5
Fit and Finish	5/5
Reliability	5/5
Recoil Control	4/5
Value	3.5/5

The 686 Silver Pigeon I is the over/under a lot of dove hunters dream about, and it’s the one you hand down. Beretta’s low-profile boxlock action, Grade 2 walnut and engraved silver receiver make it one of the best-looking guns you can take to a dove field. It’s offered in 12 and 20 gauge with 26, 28 or 30-inch barrels and Optima Choke HP tubes.

Ours pointed naturally and swung smoothly on fast, low doves coming off a tree line. With Improved Cylinder and Modified, it covered every shot we took inside 40 yards. The Extralight recoil pad did its job through a couple of boxes of 1 1/8-ounce #8.

Beretta lists it at 6.3 to 7 pounds unloaded depending on configuration, and the 2024 update added a smoother top lever and floral laser engraving that now runs onto the receiver tail. At $2,899 list it’s the most expensive gun here. Our Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon review has the full picture.

Best For: Dove hunters who want a classic, beautifully made over/under they’ll keep for life.

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Best Budget Dove Guns

If you only shoot doves a few days a year, you don’t need to spend much. These three all work, and the cheapest costs less than two cases of shells.

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8. TriStar Viper G2 Synthetic: Best Budget Semi-Auto for Doves

• Gauge / Chamber: 12 or 20 gauge, 3 in
• Action: Gas semi-auto
• Barrel Length: 26 or 28 in
• Capacity: 5-round magazine, plug included
• Weight: 6.8 lb (12 ga, 26 in), 6.1 lb (20 ga, 26 in)
• Chokes: Mobil-thread CT-3: Improved Cylinder, Modified, Full
• Length of Pull: 14 1/4 in
• Stock: Black soft-touch synthetic, Cerakote receiver
• MSRP: $789

Category	Rating
Recoil Control	4.5/5
Reliability	4/5
Handling	4.5/5
Fit and Finish	3.5/5
Value	5/5

The Viper G2 is the cheapest gas semi-auto I’d trust in a dove field. TriStar lists it at $789, the 12 gauge weighs just 6.8 pounds with a 26-inch barrel, and it takes Mobil-thread chokes, so aftermarket tubes are easy to find. TriStar says every Viper G2 is tested for 5,000 rounds.

Ours had two failures to eject with 7/8-ounce target loads in the first box, then ran clean through the rest of the season on 1-ounce and 1 1/8-ounce #8. The gas system made it soft to shoot, and the fiber-optic front sight was easy to see against a bright September sky.

TriStar’s recall on the Viper G2 applies to the .410 only, not the 12 or 20 gauge. For a hunter who shoots doves a few days a year, it’s a smart buy.

Best For: Budget-minded dove hunters who still want the soft recoil of a gas semi-auto.

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9. Mossberg SA-20 All Purpose Field: Best Budget 20 Gauge

• Gauge / Chamber: 20 gauge, 3 in
• Action: Gas semi-auto
• Barrel Length: 26 or 28 in vent rib
• Capacity: 4+1
• Weight: 5.75 lb (26 in), 6 lb (28 in)
• Chokes: Sport Set, five tubes
• Length of Pull: 14.25 in
• Stock: Black synthetic
• Model: 75771 (28 in), 75772 (26 in)
• MSRP: $794

Category	Rating
Carry Weight	5/5
Recoil Control	4.5/5
Reliability	4/5
Fit and Finish	3.5/5
Value	5/5

The SA-20 is a light, soft-shooting 20 gauge for a lot less than the Browning. Mossberg’s 26-inch model weighs 5.75 pounds, the gas action makes 7/8-ounce loads feel like nothing, and it comes with a set of five choke tubes. It’s a perfect first dove gun for a younger or smaller shooter who has outgrown a single shot.

We shot Federal Top Gun 20 gauge and Winchester AA 20 gauge 7/8-ounce #8 loads through ours on a stock tank shoot in Oklahoma. It cycled everything and pointed fast on doves dropping in to water.

Fit and finish are basic, and the gas system needs a cleaning after a dusty afternoon. For the money, it’s an excellent 20 gauge dove gun. See our best 20 gauge shotguns guide for more.

Best For: New or smaller dove hunters who want a light, soft-shooting 20 gauge on a budget.

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10. Maverick 88 All Purpose: Cheapest Dove Gun That Works

• Gauge / Chamber: 12 gauge (28 in) or 20 gauge (26 in), 3 in
• Action: Pump
• Barrel Length: 28 in (12 ga), 26 in (20 ga), vent rib
• Capacity: 5+1
• Weight: 7 lb
• Chokes: Modified tube
• Length of Pull: 14.5 in (12 ga), 14 in (20 ga)
• Sights: Dual bead
• Model: 31010 (12 ga), 32200 (20 ga)
• MSRP: $290

Category	Rating
Reliability	5/5
Recoil Control	3/5
Handling	4/5
Fit and Finish	3/5
Value	5/5

If you only hunt doves a day or two a year, the Maverick 88 is all the gun you need. Mossberg lists it at $290 for the 12 gauge, which is less than a couple of cases of shells, and it’s built on the same design as the Mossberg 500. It’ll run any load in any weather, and it doesn’t mind getting knocked around in a truck.

Ours shot cheap 1-ounce #8 game loads all afternoon without a single problem. The Modified choke it ships with is a bit tight for close birds over a stock tank, so an Improved Cylinder tube is a smart first upgrade.

A pump kicks more than a gas semi-auto and the second shot is slower. But for a budget gun that simply works, it’s hard to beat. Our Maverick 88 review covers it in detail.

Best For: Occasional dove hunters and new shooters who want a dependable gun for the least money.

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Dove Loads by the Numbers

Here’s what common dove and field loads carry, from the makers’ own pages, including Federal’s Top Gun and Remington’s Heavy Dove loads.

Load	Gauge / Shell	Shot	Payload	Muzzle velocity
Federal Top Gun	12 ga, 2 3/4 in	#8	1 1/8 oz	1,200 fps
Federal Game Load Upland Heavy Field	12 ga, 2 3/4 in	#8	1 1/8 oz	1,255 fps
Remington Heavy Dove	12 ga, 2 3/4 in	#7.5	1 1/8 oz	1,255 fps
Winchester Super-X (XU128)	12 ga, 2 3/4 in	#8	1 oz	1,290 fps
Winchester AA (AA128)	12 ga, 2 3/4 in	#8	1 1/8 oz	1,145 fps
Federal Top Gun	20 ga, 2 3/4 in	#8	7/8 oz	1,210 fps
Remington Heavy Dove	20 ga, 2 3/4 in	#7.5	1 oz	1,165 fps
Winchester AA (AA208)	20 ga, 2 3/4 in	#8	7/8 oz	1,200 fps
Winchester Super-X (X28H8)	28 ga, 2 3/4 in	#8	1 oz	1,205 fps
Winchester Super-X (X417)	.410, 2 1/2 in	#7.5	1/2 oz	1,245 fps

Most dove hunters shoot #7.5 or #8 lead in 7/8 to 1 1/8 ounces, and cheap target loads like Top Gun and AA work fine on doves inside 35 yards. Save the heavier 1 1/8-ounce field loads for birds that are high or passing wide.

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12, 20, 28 or .410 for Doves? The Pellet Math

Federal’s shotshell catalog publishes average lead pellet counts. Match them to the typical load for each gauge and the difference is clear.

Typical load	#7.5 pellets	#8 pellets	#9 pellets
.410, 1/2 oz	175	205	292
20 or 28 ga, 7/8 oz	306	359	512
12, 20 or 28 ga, 1 oz	350	410	585
12 ga, 1 1/8 oz	394	461	658

A 1/2-ounce .410 load of #8 carries about 205 pellets. A 7/8-ounce 20 gauge load carries about 359, and a 1 1/8-ounce 12 gauge load about 461. The .410 puts fewer than half the pellets of a 20 gauge in the air, which is why it’s a hard gun to kill doves cleanly with. A 20 or 28 gauge is plenty; a .410 is a challenge gun for experienced shots. See our best 28 gauge shotguns and best .410 shotguns guides.

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Federal Dove Rules Every Hunter Needs to Know

Your shotgun must be plugged

Doves are migratory game birds. Federal law defines migratory game birds to include the dove and pigeon family, and under 50 CFR 20.21(b) you can’t take them with a shotgun that holds more than three shells unless it’s plugged with a one-piece filler that can’t be removed without taking the gun apart. That applies to every semi-auto and pump on this list. The light-goose and September goose exceptions don’t cover doves.

Baiting and planted fields

Hunting over a baited area is illegal. But doves, unlike ducks and geese, can be hunted over fields where grain or seed is on the ground solely because a crop was manipulated where it grew, or because of a normal agricultural operation. Under the federal definitions, manipulation includes mowing, shredding, discing, rolling, chopping, trampling, flattening or burning, but not scattering grain or seed brought in from somewhere else. If you’re not sure how a field was prepared, ask the landowner before you hunt it.

Eurasian collared-doves

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lists the Eurasian collared-dove as a species the Migratory Bird Treaty Act does not apply to. Texas Parks and Wildlife says there is no closed season or bag limit for them, but recommends leaving plumage on the birds for identification. In Tennessee, any dove not readily identifiable as a Eurasian collared-dove counts toward the mourning dove limit. Check your state.

Seasons, limits and shooting hours

States set dove seasons inside the federal framework. In Texas, for example, Texas Parks and Wildlife lists a September 1 opener in all three zones for 2026, a 15-bird daily bag with no more than 2 white-tipped doves, and shooting hours from a half hour before sunrise to sunset. Tennessee’s 2026 season opens at noon on September 1. Read your state’s rules before opening day.

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Chokes for Dove Hunting

Most doves are shot inside 35 yards, so Improved Cylinder is the right choke for the majority of hunters, especially over a stock tank or a small field. For high passing birds or a big field where doves won’t come close, Modified gives you a denser pattern at 35 to 40 yards. On an over/under, run Improved Cylinder in the first barrel and Modified in the second. Our shotgun chokes explained guide explains constrictions.

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Heat, Dust and Recoil: What a Dove Gun Has to Survive

Dove season opens in the hottest weeks of the year, and dove fields are dusty. Gas guns soak up recoil but collect carbon and grit, so bring a rag and a bore snake and wipe the action at lunch. Recoil-operated and inertia guns stay cleaner but kick a little more. Whatever you shoot, a gun that weighs a bit more and a lighter 7/8 or 1-ounce load will leave you shooting better at 5 p.m. than a light gun with heavy loads.

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How We Picked These Dove Guns

We started with the guns dove hunters actually carry, checked every spec against the maker’s own website, and dropped models that are discontinued or couldn’t be verified, including the Retay Masai Mara, which Retay no longer sells in the US. Every pick has a live price card from trusted retailers, and you can compare more than 200 retailers with our gun price check tool. For other birds, see our best goose hunting shotguns and best pheasant hunting shotguns roundups and our guide to the best guns for hunting.

Frequently Asked Questions