Last Updated August 30th 2023
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The Rock Island Armory VR60 is the best AR12 shotgun on the market in 2023, when you look at the bang for your buck.
Of course there’s more to it than that and we all have different priorities in life. That’s why we’ve got a selection of the best AR shotguns on sale and we know we’ve got the right one for you here.
But if you just want to
1. Rock Island Armory VR60
Overall Winner
- Price: $405.99
- Barrel Length: 20
- Weight: 7.4lb
- Capacity: 5+1
Pros
- Budget Friendly Price
- Solid brand
- Reliable
Cons
- A visual mess
- Aluminum receiver
Rock Island Armory makes budget friendly firearms that shoot better than they look.
This one looks like a child drew an M16 from a 5 year old memory, but it all kind of works.
Inside that engorged polymer handguard, you’ll find the gas operated action, return spring and support tube. The manual safety position and magazine release mimics the M16 rifle and the best-selling Rock Island Armory VR60 is as cute as it is inauthentic.
The carry handle removes to leave lots of room on the optics ready Picatinny rail. Slot red dot sights on that top rail and you’re good to go with a pull on the side charging handle.
You get interchangeable and adjustable choke tubes, too, so you can switch between 2 3/4 inch birdshot through to 3 inch magnum slugs on your magazine fed shotguns.
The Rock Island Armory VR80 AR12 shotgun is another option, with a metal rail and lower. But it is more expensive, and heavier, so the VR60 won this one.
Both are imported Turkish guns, both are sourced from the Derya line of semi auto shotguns in Turkey, but you get hassle free RIA customer service at this end. And that matters, a lot.
2. Panzer Arms AR12
Best Low Budget Shotgun
- Price: $329.99
- Barrel Length: 20
- Weight: 6.5lb
- Capacity: 5+1
Pros
- Price
- Accurate
- Versatile and customizable.
Cons
- Not the most reliable
- It is cheap, but looks cheaper
- Parts could be a problem
Turkish manufacturer Panzer Arms is one of the pioneers of this offbeat mag fed shotgun scene and it has a great bullpup shotgun for you too.
Now the Panzer Arms BP12 comes it a super low price point. It isn’t the prettiest, most reliable or the best, but the price point sure is pretty.
People use this gas operated shotgun for home defense, hunting and sport shooting. It comes with a detachable carry handle and front sight, and it is chambered for up to 3″ shells.
Accuracy is acceptable, thanks largely to the 20 inch longer barrel, and it’s a relatively customizable shotgun thanks to the detachable parts and picatinny rail up top and down below for scopes, optics & lasers.
Experience tells us that these tacticool Turkish semi auto shotguns, bullpup shotguns too, can have spare parts issues down the line.
It will be easier to service an RIA AR12 shotgun, but it’s not an insurmountable problem, and you do get a great gun at a best buy price.
3. Genesis Arms Gen-12 Competition
Best High End AR Style Shotgun
- Price: $2,544.99
- Barrel Length: 18.25
- Weight: 7.5lb
- Capacity: 10+1
Pros
- World’s Fastest Shotgun
- John Wick used the shorter gun
- Real AR-10 lower, you can just buy an upper
Cons
- Damn it’s expensive.
John Wick grabbed the shorter version of the Genesis Arms Gen-12 tactical shotgun in John Wick 4, and now you can choose from a full range of barrel lengths, including this full length AR-10.
Really, you can buy a complete gun or use a DPMS 308 AR-10 lower and just buy a Genesis upper and magazine kit from Brownells. It’s still expensive, but less so…
This may well be the fastest shotgun in the world and you just need some Dragon’s Breath shells for the full John Wick effect with your magazine fed shotgun.
And you can get the 7.5″ barrel that basically gives you a concealed carry semi-auto shotgun.
4. Citadel Boss
A Safe Bet
- Price: $338.99
- Barrel Length: 18
- Weight: 8lb
- Capacity: 5+1
Pros
- Up to 3 inch shells
- M-LOK Rail
- Great price
Cons
- Doesn’t stand out like the old days.
Back in the old days the Citadel Boss was one of the standout AR-12 semi auto shotgun pioneers.
These days it is one of the AR12 shotgun crowd and it is relying on aggressive pricing a cheek riser and adjustable sights. It is also easy to field strip and is well put together, arguably better than some of the other tactical shotguns here.
It’s a nice magazine fed shotgun for this price range and has a solid following. So it deserves to be here, and could possibly be the best buy if you find the right gun deals on any given day.
5. Charles Daly AR-12S
Rising Star
- Price: $421.99
- Barrel Length: 19.75
- Weight: 7.5lb
- Capacity: 5+1
Pros
- Compatible with Beretta/Benelli chokes
- Cheek riser on stock
Cons
- Price is high for an off brand gun.
Charles Daly is an up and coming brand that isn’t quite a match for the Rock Island Armory and Panzer Arms, yet.
But with time and more positive reviews, this side charging AR-style semi auto shotgun could threaten the RIA and Panzer. Truthfully the price feels too high for this level of prestige, but we have seen this AR12 shotgun advertised cheaper.
At the current Charles Daly AR12 price, we’d go with the RIA or Panzer Arms AR12 every day. But if you find the Charles Daly AR12S semi-auto shotgun on sale, it’s worth considering.
The company also has a full range of pump action shotguns you might want to look at as well.
6. Omega Arms AR12
An interesting newcomer
- Price: $530.99
- Barrel Length: 20
- Weight: 7.5lb
- Capacity: 5+1
Pros
- Interesting stock design
Cons
- Most the fun stuff is window dressing.
- Price is too high.
- Other Turkish made guns are better value
Omega Arms deserves some credit for the interesting stock design that hints at some kind of sniper capabilities. So we applaud the effort.
Underneath, the Omega AR12 seems like another Turkish made shotgun, because it is. And it used to be $399.99, which feels about the right price range for a gun with a novelty stock and small top rail.
Now the Omega Arms AR12 price has crept up, and that’s why it’s down here. Being tough to find is not enough here to justify this price point for this AR style 12 gauge shotgun.
But if you spot one of these Omega AR12 semi-auto shotguns at a lower price, the gun deals God favor you that day, it is a solid option at less than $400.
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