6 Best AR-12 Shotguns – 2024

Last Updated January 10th 2024

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Winners at a Glance

Image	Product	Detail	Price
	Rock Island VR80	Overall Winner	Best Price
	Panzer AR12	Best Cheap Shotgun	Best Price
	Genesis Gen-12	Best High End Shotgun	Best Price
	Citadel BOSS	Best Budget Tactical Shotgun	Best Price
	Charles Daly AR-12S	Best Newcomer	Best Price

Intro

The Rock Island Armory VR60 is the best AR-12 shotgun on the market in 2024, 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.

1. Rock Island Armory VR80

• Price: $599.99
• Barrel Length: 20
• Weight: 7.4lb
• Capacity: 5+1

Overall Winner

Rock Island Armory makes budget friendly firearms that shoot better than they look.

This 12 gauge semi auto shotgun looks like a child drew an AR-15 from a 5 year old memory, but it all kind of works.

Inside , 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 VR80 Tactical is as cute as it is inauthentic.

The carry handle removes to leave lots of room on the optics ready Picatinny rail. Slot a red dot sight 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 VR60 shotgun is another option, with a lot more plastic.

Both AR12 semi automatic shotguns 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

• Price: $319.99
• Barrel Length: 20
• Weight: 6.5lb
• Capacity: 5+1

Best Low Budget Shotgun

This Turkish manufacturer 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 BP12 semi auto 12 gauge shotgun comes it a super low price point. It isn’t the prettiest, most reliable or the best, but the price point sure is pretty for a basic home defense shotgun.

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 shotgun parts and picatinny rail up top and down below for scopes, optics & lasers.

Experience tells us that these tacticool Turkish semi automatic shotguns, bullpup shotguns too, can have spare shotgun 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

• Price: $2,544.99
• Barrel Length: 18.25
• Weight: 7.5lb
• Capacity: 10+1

Best High End AR Style Shotgun

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 based semi automatic shotgun..

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…

• Genesis Gen-12 Uppper – Brownells.
• Gen 12 10 round magazine – Brownells

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. For home defense

4. Citadel Boss

• Price: $363.99
• Barrel Length: 18
• Weight: 8lb
• Capacity: 5+1

A Safe Bet

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 semi-automatic 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 home defense tactical shotguns here.

It’s a nice magazine fed shotgun for this price range and has a solid following. THe M-Lok rail means there’s plenty of space for shotgun parts & accessories too.

So this 12ga shotgun deserves to be here, and could possibly be the best buy if you find the right semi automatic shotgun gun deals on any given day.

5. Charles Daly AR-12S

• Price: $421.99
• Barrel Length: 19.75
• Weight: 7.5lb
• Capacity: 5+1

Rising Star

This is an up and coming brand that isn’t quite a match for the Rock Island Armory, 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 price, we’d go with the RIA or Panzer every day. But if you find this semi-auto shotgun on sale, it’s worth considering.

The company also has a full range of pump actions you might want to look at as well for your next 12ga shotgun.

6. Landor Arms AR12

• Price: $544.99
• Barrel Length: 18.5
• Weight: 7.9lb
• Capacity: 5+1

An interesting newcomer

Landor Arms deserves some credit for the interesting stock design that hints at some kind of sniper capabilities. So we applaud the effort.

Underneath, theit seems like another Turkish made shotgun, because it is.

Now the 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 semi auto 12 gauge shotgun.

But if you spot one of these semi-auto shotguns at a lower price, the gun deals God favor you that day, it is a solid option at less than $400 for home defense.

Get a Pump Action Shotgun Too

You can get a cheaper 12 gauge shotgun if you go for pump actions.

Semi automatic shotguns & pump action can be separated by hundreds of dollars, and some people simply prefer pump actions for home defense thanks to their reliability.

I mean you could have a side by side shotgun too…

• Pump Action Shotguns on sale now, from the Kel Tec KSG to the S&W M&P.

Where to Buy Shotgun Ammo

If you want rifle ammo, shotgun ammo, 9mm ammo, 300 Blackout ammo, rimfire ammo and ammo cans, we have a few suggestions.

If you need ammo for home defense, competition or practise, these are great places.

• Firearms Depot – Amazing bulk ammo deals for handgun ammo & 12 gauge shotgun ammunition.
• Sportsman’s Guide – Shotgun shells, rifle ammo, handgun ammo, rimfire ammo, the works.

Where to Buy Gun Parts & Accessories

You can buy a world of gun parts & accessories for shotguns at Palmetto State Armory, Primary Arms and your local gun store.

Shotgun parts, rifle parts, 1911 parts & Glock parts are all available. And more, obviously.

Red dot sights, optics, a new pistol grip, magazine extension tubes and detachable box magazines are just the start. You can get new rails, internal gun parts and receivers. And don’t forget gun cleaning kits.

• PSA – Red dot sight and other parts for your 12ga shotgun.
• Primary Arms – Red dot sights, optics, gun cleaning kits and other accessories.

Other Posts For You

• Lever Action Rifles – Great repeater lever action rifle choices for home defense and hunting.
• Powerful Rifles – Brilliant bolt action rifles, single shot and semi auto rifles you need to buy.
• Single shot rifles – The greatest single shot rifle you can buy.

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