9 Best Benelli Shotguns – 2026

Last updated Copy updated February 6th 2026, Prices are updated live

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Best Benelli Shotguns at a Glance

The Benelli M1014 is the best shotgun the company makes, in our humble opinion, but there are other specialist choices and cheaper options.

Intro

Benelli produces the best shotguns that special military units and run of the mill law enforcement officers use every single day of the week in pretty much every country that can afford them.

Benelli has spent the last 50 years building a reputation on the back of their Inertia Driven system, a mechanism so simple and robust that it changed the way we think about semi-auto reliability. But in 2026, Benelli isn’t just resting on the “click-clack” reliability of the legacy M2.

With the rollout of the Advanced Impact (A.I.) barrel system, which uses complex bore geometry to increase pellet velocity, and the rust-proof BE.S.T. (Benelli Surface Treatment), the brand has widened the gap between itself and the competition.

We have field-tested the latest lineup, from the bomb-proof M4 to the featherweight Ethos, to bring you the definitive ranking of the best Benelli shotguns on the market today.

1. Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 12ga

• Action Type: Semi Auto
• Starting Price: $2,199
• Gauge: 12, 20, 28
• Chamber: 3.5-inch
• Weight: 6.9 lbs

The Undisputed King of Waterfowl Hunting

If you walk into any duck blind in America, you will see a Super Black Eagle. It is the standard by which all other waterfowl guns are measured. The third generation (SBE3) perfected the ergonomics, but the 2026 A.I. model is a ballistics leap forward.

The new Advanced Impact (A.I.) barrel system isn’t just marketing fluff. By redesigning the internal contours of the barrel, Benelli has managed to squeeze higher velocity out of standard steel loads. Faster pellets mean harder hits and shorter leads on passing teal.

The Verdict The Super Black Eagle 3 is expensive, with a starting price north of $1.5k, but it is the last duck gun you will ever need. The Inertia Driven system will cycle light 2-¾ inch target loads and heavy 3-½ inch goose loads without adjustment. We highly recommend spending the extra cash for the BE.S.T. finish, Benelli’s proprietary coating that is virtually impervious to saltwater corrosion.

Check the full line here:

• Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 12ga Semi_Auto Shotgun line on Guns.com

Super Black Eagle vs. Black Eagle

What is the difference? They are both top Benelli shotguns, in different ways.

• Super Black Eagle: 3.5-inch chamber.
• Black Eagle: 3-inch chamber. If you don’t shoot 3.5-inch goose loads, you can save money and get the Black Eagle, which has a lower starting price.

Benelli 20ga is a Popular Shotgun

The Benelli 20ga has joined the best sellers list too. With a little less recoil and punch, the 20ga variant is more than enough shotgun for most of us and is great for waterfowl hunting and recreational shooting.

2. Benelli M4 EXT (M1014)

• Action Type: Semi Auto
• Barrel Length: 18.5 inch
• Starting Price: $2,299
• Capacity: 7+1
• Sights: Ghost Ring
• Weight: 7.8 lbs

Best Home Defense Shotgun

This is the special forces shotgun of choice, almost everywhere. It is the extreme version of the Benelli M4 Tactical shotgun, and we love it.

It’s a cliche because it’s true, the Benelli Tactical 12 gauge shotgun is an equalizer, a breech tool and an almighty close quarters combat weapon.

This is a compact, soft shooting shotgun with a telescoping shoulder brace and fully adjustable cheek guard if you really want to apply yourself to the accuracy side.

For years, civilian buyers had to deal with “neutered” versions of the legendary M4 due to import restrictions. That meant fixed stocks, limited magazine tubes, and 922r compliance headaches. The new M4 EXT solves that. It comes from the factory configured the way the Marine Corps intended.

The M4 differs from the rest of the Benelli lineup because it uses the A.R.G.O. (Auto-Regulating Gas Operated) system rather than Inertia. Why gas? Because when your life depends on it, you want a system that works..

The Verdict This is the gold standard for tactical defense shotguns. The dual stainless steel pistons of the A.R.G.O. system are self-cleaning and brutally reliable. The recoil is significantly softer than the Inertia guns, making rapid follow-up shots on target effortless. If you want the best home defense tool money can buy, look for the Benelli M4.

Of course the Benelli M4 provides all the same engineering with a fixed stock, for a lot less money. So you could get one of those here.

3. Benelli M2 Field

• Barrel Length: 18.5, 19.75. 20 inches
• Action Type: Semi Auto
• Gauge: 12, 20
• Chamber: 3-inch
• Weight: 6.7 lbs

Best All Round Hunting Shotgun

The Benelli M2 Tactical is the cut-price alternative to the legendary Benelli M4 semi automatic shotgun, and the Field is largely the same compared to the Super Black Eagle. .

While the Super Black Eagle gets the glory, the Benelli M2 does the work. For 2026, Benelli has updated the M2 Field with a redesigned stock and forend, making it sleeker and more ergonomic.

It lacks the 3.5-inch chamber of the Super Black Eagle, but for 99% of hunters, a 3-inch chamber is all you need. Because it doesn’t have the new A.I. barrel tech or the massive marketing push, the starting price remains accessible for a premium Italian semi auto.

The Verdict The M2 is the “Toyota Hilux” of shotguns. It isn’t flashy, but it will run forever. It is lighter than the M4 and faster than the Nova. If you need one gun to handle doves, ducks, and home defense, the M2 Field is the most versatile semi auto shotgun in the catalog.

4. Benelli Nova

• Starting Price: $429.99
• Action: Pump Action Shotgun
• Weight: 7.6lb
• Capacity: 4+1

Best Budget Pump Action

You don’t have to spend two grand to own a Benelli. The Benelli Nova revolutionized the pump action shotgun market with its single-piece polymer receiver and stock. This “skeleton” design makes the gun incredibly tough and impervious to weather.

Unlike traditional pump action shotguns that use a steel receiver mated to a wood stock, the Nova is built like a tank. It’s ugly, it’s loud, and it absolutely refuses to break.

These are the Tactical pump action shotguns, but Benelli has produced a full line of long barrel shotguns. The 26″ barrel version with the RealTree Max camo finish is a perfect gun for the great outdoors.

But we also like the shorter barrel pump action Nova, so that’s our pick.

The Verdict For a starting price under $500, you are getting a 3.5-inch chambered pump action that can hunt anything in North America. The Nova Pump is heavier than its rivals, but that weight helps soak up the recoil of heavy magnum turkey loads.

5. Benelli SuperNova Tactical

• Barrel Length: 18 inches
• Weight: 7.6lb
• Capacity: 4+1 rounds.

A Great Budget Shotgun with Versatility

The Benelli SuperNova Tactical is a cheap shotgun that is as good as any pump action shotgun on the market in 2024.

A steel frame with an overmolded polymer finish and sexy trigger guard meets a Comfortech gel pad at the rear and it’s a super light solution. The pump action is chambered for up to 3.5 inch shells and you basically can’t miss if you’re reloading normal shells. That means super fast reload times.

The SuperNova takes the robust heart of the Nova and adds modularity. The key difference is the ComforTech stock, which can be removed and swapped for a pistol grip, making it a favorite for tactical pump builds.

The SuperNova Tactical is widely used by police forces in Europe because of its massive trigger guard (easy to use with gloves) and the magazine cut-off button, which allows you to switch loads on the fly without emptying the tube.

You can order a variety of SuperNova field shotguns, too, and the idea is that it’s fully modular and you can turn this receiver into a multitude of shotguns with the right parts & accessories.

The Verdict: If you want a tactical pump action shotgun that feels more modern than an 870 or 590, the SuperNova Tactical is the answer. The ability to shoot 3.5-inch shells also makes it a surprisingly capable turkey gun if you swap the barrel. Get the right parts and this is two or three shotguns in one, which means it’s just as cost effective as the more common American brands,

6. Benelli 828u

• Action: Break Action Shotgun
• Weight: 6.5lb
• Capacity: 2
• Ejectors: Impulse Driven
• Recoil: Progressive comfort

The Innovative Over/Under

The Benelli 828u is a classic over/under shotgun, really the type grandpa might have owned. If grandpa had a butt ton of money he never told you about.

When Benelli decided to make an Over/Under, they didn’t just copy the Browning Citori. They reinvented the break action shotgun concept entirely. The 828U uses a unique steel locking plate system that takes the stress off the receiver, allowing Benelli to use lightweight aluminum.

The result is a fast-swinging, futuristic bird gun that doesn’t wear out its hinge pins like traditional break-actions.

The Verdict Purists hate it; hunters love it. The starting price is high, but the 828U offers a level of adjustability (shims for drop and cast) that you usually only find on semi auto guns.

7. Benelli M2 Speed

• Weight: 6.6lb
• Capacity: 10+1 (Extended)
• Action: Semi-auto
• Chokes: Extended Knurled
• Purpose: Competition

The Competition King, Out the Box

The Benelli M2 Tactical semi automatic shotgun is the volume seller, but there’s a whole range that has won legions of fans around the world.

The Benelli M2 has dominated 3-Gun competitions for decades, but shooters always had to spend hundreds of dollars modifying them. The Benelli M2 Speed comes race-ready out of the box.

It features oversized loading ports (for quad-loading), an enlarged bolt handle, and the ComforTech 3 recoil system. The bolt is lightened for faster cycling, and the distinctive red accents let everyone at the range know this isn’t a hunting gun.

The Verdict If you want to win, get the M2 Speed. The starting price reflects the custom shop upgrades you get for free. It is the fastest cycling semi auto shotgun we have ever tested.

Of course you can spend a ton more money on an M2 and go for the TTI tuned John Wick Benelli M2.

8. Benelli Montefeltro

• Action Type: Semi Auto
• Weight: 6.3 lbs
• Finish: Blued / Walnut
• Rib: Low / Flat

The Gentleman’s Semi Auto

Sold firmly as a waterfowl shotgun, the Benelli Montefeltro is a lightweight shotgun that won’t bog you down when you’re otherwise getting bogged down.

At just 5.5lb this is the lightest shotgun here by a mile. and it’s also chambered for up to 3 inch Magnum loads. Switch from light birdshot to M3″ magnum slugs with no adjustment. If you’re duck hunting in bear country, maybe that could be a thing?

It’s AA grade Satin walnut, anodized receiver and other goodies that help resist corrosion and keep it on point for shooting targets or ducks. The average rating is basically 5 stars everywhere for these semi auto shotguns.

9. Benelli Lupo HPR

• Action Type: Bolt Action
• Calibers: 6.5 CM, .308, .300 Win Mag
• Chassis: Aluminum Bedding

Yes, I Know it’s a Bolt Action Rifle

Okay, it’s not a shotgun. But we can’t talk about Benelli in 2026 without mentioning the Lupo HPR (High Precision Rifle). Benelli applied their chassis system knowledge to the bolt action world and created a sub-MOA rifle that feels like a shotgun.

The Verdict If you love the fit and feel of your Super Black Eagle, the Lupo will feel instantly familiar. And that’s a good, good thing.

Buying Guide: Choosing the Right Benelli

IInertia vs. Gas (A.R.G.O.)

Most Benelli shotguns use the Inertia Driven system. This uses the recoil energy of the shot to cycle the bolt.

• Pros: Runs clean (no gas fouling), lightweight, reliable.
• Cons: More felt recoil.
• Models: Super Black Eagle, M2, Montefeltro, Ethos.

The M4 uses the A.R.G.O. gas system.

• Pros: Extremely soft shooting, reliable with heavy weight added.
• Cons: Heavier, needs more cleaning.
• Models: M4, M1014.

The “Benelli Click”

You may hear about the infamous “click.” This happens on Inertia guns if the rotating bolt head gets bumped out of battery. Benelli has largely solved this on the Super Black Eagle 3 and Ethos lines with a new “Easy Locking” detent system that forces the bolt closed.

Why Trust USA Gun Shop?

We don’t just read spec sheets; we burn powder. Our team includes competitive 3-gun shooters, dedicated waterfowlers, and tactical instructors. We have logged thousands of rounds through Benelli shotguns—from the original H&K imports to the latest A.I. series. We rank based on reliability, value, and real-world performance.

Competitor Analysis: How We Compare

Many other review sites will give you a generic list of “Top 10 Shotguns.” We focus specifically on the nuances between the models. For example, while others might lump the M2 and M2 Speed together, we recognize they are distinct tools for different jobs. We also track the starting price trends daily to ensure our value propositions are accurate for 2026.

Where to Find a Cheap Benelli Shotgun Models

This used to be a hard question with me telling you how to find the best deals and sales pages at a number of different dealers. It was a pain, so we fixed that.

Now you just go here to the USA Gun Shop’s Price Check tool, and you’ll see inventory from 100 dealers, with more than 70,000 products, and you get the best price instantly.

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