Why We Think Box Magazine Shotguns Are The Best
You may know I have a fetish for high-capacity shotguns and I think now is the time to buy a box magazine shotgun. That is the tech that has won the day.
Now Mossberg and Remington have released official shotguns, rather than third party conversions, it’s time to get one.
The Mossberg 590M and Remington 870 DM are the best shotguns in the world right now, in my humble opinion. Well, there’s a curveball here in the Vepr 12, but the box magazine shotguns are the step forward we have been waiting for.
Shotguns are great, but they’re generally limited by a puny capacity that means they’re just not the first port of call for most of us when it comes to home defense anymore.
Grandpa used to grab his trusty shotgun. Now? The trusty AR-15 or even more trusty AR pistols offer 30 rounds and unerring accuracy with a red dot.
The tactical shotgun was in danger of becoming a forgotten memory.
Novelties like the Kel-Tec KSG and Tavor TS-12 showed the way back to relevance with radical and yet complex designs. The box magazine fed shotgun is simply the combination of age-old tech that we know works. This is the
Specialist Shells Will Change The Game
The worry with mag-fed shotguns is that shells tend to settle when they’re stored in mags and that can make for an unreliable shotgun.
Rotating shells every few days really isn’t a big deal, just pop them out the mag, swap them out and rinse and repeat. It’s a manageable issue.
But now we have the works shotguns, there’s an intriguing possibility and I am sure they are coming.
We will soon have specialist magazine shells that solve any issues. They might come filled with gel that burns up right away, or thicker shell walls, or just a new design shotgun shell, but these shells have to be on the way.
The TL;DR version? The guns are set. They will develop, but they don’t need to. The big jump should come from the shells now.
So you can buy the guns with confidence that your box magazine fed shotgun wont be gathering dust in the back of the safe next year.
Here are the best mag fed shotguns on sale right now.
1. Kalashnikov KS-12T Tactical Shotgun
- Price: $999.99
- Caliber: 12 Gauge Shotgun
- Action: Semi auto.
- Barrel Length: 18.25 inch
- Total Length: 38 inch
- Weight: 8.86lb
- Capacity: 10+1
Kalashnikov is back with a 10-round 12 gauge shotgun that could quite literally blow you away.
The
Kalashnikov was hit with a US import ban for a while, but Kalashnikov USA has solved that thorny issue with US-built firearms and you can now get an official Kalashnikov USA shotgun that looks like an AK-47 to the untrained eye. I mean why wouldn’t you want that?
The 10+1 magazine is just the cherry on the cake as far as we are concerned. You can also use Saiga parts & accessories on the Kalashnikov USA shotgun, including those infamous 50-round drum magazines.
If you’re looking for a semi automatic, mag-fed shotgun and you like a modern take on military history then this is about as good as guns get. You don’t need a sales pitch, this is really one of those ‘Shut up and take my money’ moments.
The modern collapsible black synthetic stock and handguard give this fresh look at the AK-47 the edge in my humble opinion, especially when combined with a traditional AK-47 lever action safety. This is a great looking shotgun that comes with enough rails to hang all your tactical gear off this assault shotgun and the pistol grip is perfectly situated.
It’s a rifle layout, whereas others have the folding stock, but don’t think you’ll be restricted to proprietary Kalashnikov parts. All the Saiga mags, drums, muzzle devices and more will slot straight on to this firearm and turn it into a semi-automatic weapon of war.
2. Mossberg 590M Ghost Ring
- Price: $479.99
- Caliber: 12 Gauge Shotgun
- Action: Pump Action
- Barrel Length: 18.5″
- Total Length: 39.5″
- Weight: 7.75lb
- Capacity: 10+1 rounds / 20+1 Optional
The Mossberg 590M pump shotgun comes with an optional 20-round mag. Really, 20 rounds of 12 gauge venom and then you can pop in another mag and start firing again.
It also means you can load up an ammo belt with buckshot and slugs, so this tactical pump shotgun suddenly becomes a versatile gun as well. Fit a red dot, use the right slugs and this is a total
This is a real tactical shotgun, with ghost ring sights, a
In my humble opinion,
It is also a simple
A simple pump action shotgun holds a lot of
Gun reviews have noted, though, that the 20-round mag is noticeably harder to rack. It isn’t smooth and it is hard work, so you might opt for the 10-round version of pure performance reasons. The mags are also expensive for this tactical pump 12 gauge shotgun.
The pump action shotgun itself was way more expensive than the Remington, too. Mossberg seems to have relented and we’re starting to see sensibly priced 590M. Now with this deal that gives you the ghost ring sights and much more menacing set-up than that base-level for a price that isn’t too far away, the Mossberg 590M is one of the best magazine-fed shotguns on sale in 2019.
3. Kalashnikov Komrad 12.5
- Price: $1049.99
- Caliber: 12 Gauge Shotgun
- Action: Semi auto
- Barrel Length: 12.5 inch
- Total Length: 31.5 inch
- Weight: 7.85lb
- Capacity: 5+1
If Kalashnikov USA had not taken the best mag fed shotgun award with the
The only gun that can beat a Kalashnikov here is another semi auto Kalashnikov shotgun. If we’re being entirely honest, this should be number two. That’s how far ahead of the game we think this
The Kalashnikov Komrad pistol is an AK shotgun pistol with a
There, we said it. Bring your Benelli M4, your John Wick special, whatever you want. This, right here, is probably the closest you can buy to an assault shotgun. It’s a great Close Quarters Combat weapon, you can mix up mags with buckshot and slugs and it’s about as potent a weapon as you can reasonably have by the side of your bed.
This is a semi-auto shotgun with sawn-off shotgun manoeuvrability, AK-47 simplicity and insane capacity, Like the longer AK-47 rifle style shotgun, this shorter pistol uses any and all Saiga shotgun magazines, which include the 50-round drum mags.
So you can turn the Kalashnikov Komrad shotgun for sale into an absolute weapon of war. There are rails for all your tactical gear, a solid SB Tactical SBA3 pistol brace that you normally see on an AR pistol and that pistol grip up front are just special for a gun in this class.
There’s a
Upgrade to the 10-round shotgun magazines for sale from Kalashnikov USA and you have got real options with this gun. The short barrel turns serious buckshot into pure evil at close quarters, while slugs will be effective at anything like personal defense distances.
You will lose some of the top end range that you’ll get with the 18.5 inch barrel version. That’s inevitable, but you get an awful lot in return. This is a pretty unique weapon, it’s easily the best tactical shotgun on this list and it might usurp your AR pistol’s place in the home defense firearms collection.
This is the next generation shotgun, high technology in gunporn form. There really isn’t a more complete defensive shotgun out there right now. Get one…
The Mossberg 590 has been with us since 1960 and there’s a vast number of Mossberg parts and accessories. You can produce a fully custom Mossberg 590M, then, and turn this gun into something truly special.
A lightweight, AR tactical brace and pistol grip can turn your Mossberg 590 into a serious black synthetic warrior.
3. Remington 870 DM
- Price: $429.99
- Caliber: 12 Gauge Shotgun
- Action: Pump Action
- Barrel Length: 18.5 inch
- Total Length: 38.5 inch
- Weight: 7.5lb
- Capacity: 6+1
The pump action magazine shotgun war inevitably has come down to Mossberg vs Remington. For a long time, the Remington held the advantage thanks to the price.
Remington just kept undercutting the
The Remington’s other USP is that it can take either 2 3/4 inch or 3 inch shells. The Mossberg can only take the smaller shells and this does make the Remington more flexible in the field.
On the downside, the Remington can only take six shells in the mag and we’re waiting to see if this pump action shotgun with a a magazine gets a bigger box mag in the future.
The stock might look like veneer, but it’s actually real wood, although
A SuperCell recoil pad helps soak up the impact on your shoulder and this is a great shotgun that is simply a Remington 870, with a mag. That makes it awesome in our eyes.
The Remington 870 pump-action shotgun is an icon. It has been with us since 1950 and although it has evolved, it has been basically the same shotgun since. Until now, when the Remington 870 Express has basically sprouted a mag.
The addition of a magazine changes the gun’s character, as well as it’s potential. This is a real tactical shotgun now, a shotgun that gives you options in the field. You can hunt with it, you can keep it loaded with slugs and by your door, you can use it for what you want.
It’s very clearly an 870 that has been modified with the grafted on mag receiver, and that’s good. It just needs a bigger mag and we are sure that is on the way.
5. Armscor VR80-A Tactical
- Price: $679.99
- Caliber: 12 Gauge Shotgun
- Action: Semi Automatic
- Barrel Length: 20 inch
- Total Length: 40 inch
- Weight: 8.27lb
- Capacity: 19+1
This might be damning the Armscor AR-15 shotgun with faint praise, but it really is the most attractive AR-style shotgun in my humble opinion.
Not everybody digs AR-15 shotguns and we get that. The collapsible stock doesn’t really collapse at all
3 Gun shooters are gradually shifting over to these mag fed shotguns that handle just like a Modern Sporting Rifle. The Armscor VR80-A Tactical shotgun is arguably easier to aim than a traditional shotgun, it’s more practical and flexible than a walnut stock field sport specialist and you can strap all your tactical gear to the free float handguard and Picatinny rail.
Armscor and Rock Island Armory are basically interchangeable in this sector and the only difference between the two is the name on the gun. So you know what to expect, a lot of basic stock black finish, black synthetic materials and a gun that works. Is it a combat shotgun? It might be you know…
6. AA-12 Shotgun
- Price: $3000
- Caliber: 12 Gauge Shotgun
- Action: Semi-auto
- Barrel Length: 18″
- Total Length: 39″
- Weight: 11.4lb
- Capacity: 20+1 rounds / 32+1 Optional
This is basically an overgrown Uzi, according to the creators. There is almost no recoil on this gun, it comes with a massive capacity and it’s an absolute beast of a home defense system.
It comes with a 20-round drum mag, although 32-round drums are available. Put a red dot on it, and this would be a monster to have in your home, in modern semi-automatic form.
Originally, this was just for the special forces, which needed an automatic warrior for the increasing issues presented by urban warfare. That explains the basic black synthetic finish. Calling this a matte black synthetic stock is missing the point, the whole thing is one big plastic wedge.
As a SHTF, last line of defense, zombies are closing in kind of gun, I can’t think of a better one. Mag fed shotguns really could be the grim future. Up close, they’re AR-15 killers.
You can fit box magazines with a lower capacity if you don’t need the full fury of the drum mags, too.
It was a secret military weapon for many years, but Max Atchisson signed over the rights to this gun in 1987. Jerry Baber has refined the basic concept since then and finally the gun went on sale to the public this Summer. Kind of.
Every sale is limited to 1000 units and they’re going through Gunbroker. So you have to be on your toes to get one of these. if you do, you will simply love one of the best shotguns for sale in 2018. It’s a seriously expensive semi-auto shotgun, but it is basically Milspec.
You get a basic bullpup design that looks like someone made it at home, but that’s a simple polymer case for the serious welded metalwork underneath. It’s stainless steel, it doesn’t even need lubrication and it has been taken into action by some very serious fighting forces around the world.
The Russian fella got one too, and he thinks it’s even better than the Saiga thanks to the reduced recoil and the sheer stopping power of a 32-round shotgun.
Of course his is automatic, natch. But even in semi-auto shotgun form, the AA-12 is an almighty magazine fed shotgun that could make you rethink your home defense firearms collection..
7. MOLOT Vepr 12 Tactical
- Price: $899.99
- Caliber: 12 Gauge Shotgun
- Action: Semi-Automatic
- Barrel Length: 19″
- Overall Length: 38.5″
- Weight: 8.5lb
- Capacity: 5+1 / 8+1/ 10+1 optional
Long before Mossberg and Remington opted for box magazine shotgun options, the Eastern Bloc was making waves with the Saiga 12 semi-automatic shotgun.
Due to the vagaries of Russian copyright law, there are several variations of the basic AK 12 Gauge. The MOLOT Vepr 12 is one of the best.
This is AK functionality with 12 gauge shotgun horsepower.
It’s not just one of the best mag fed shotguns, it’s one of the best home defense shotgun for sale in 2019. It’s a tactical shotgun and then some.
You get a pistol grip, Picatinny rail, a folding stock and a 5+1 round mag that can easily be switched out for the 10+1 mags that can be found on the web. There are even 20-round drums, so it depends on exactly how much ass you need to kick at any given time.
It was designed around the AK basics, which means it’s tried and trusted technology and nobody tried to get too clever.
Check this one out, the crazy Russian has a fully automatic version of the Saiga-12. You will get the semi-auto shotgun, which does almost as good a job.
Now the gun is used in 3-gun competitions and it’s a star on Youtube. All the gun reviews are basically eulogies to the best semi auto shotgun in the world.
It is an assault shotgun, not just a magazine fed shotgun. You can even trust the bigger drum mags from these guys, as they’ve been around so long and they’ve just kept working on the basics.
Fit a drum mag and you can have 20 shells, with no pump action required. Bear in mind, burn through that in a home defense situation and you’ll remodel your own house in the process.
That is a serious weapon right there folks, and could make you think twice about grabbing for the AR-15.
It is also a seriously well-loved hunting shotgun, with the longer barrel, because it’s more or less an AK platform.
That means accessories fit, you can slap your red dot on top, you can tune your MOLOT Vepr 12 and there is even a cottage industry in custom parts and high-end firearms. It’s basically unique, but some have taken it to the next level.
You won’t get much change out of $4000 for a Lone Star Saiga 12 conversion, but it is an intense shotgun that shoots like nothing else.
You can find bullpup
It’s one of the best magazine fed semi-auto shotguns in the world. Get one.
8. Mossberg 590M Shockwave
- Price: $546.99
- Caliber: 12 Gauge Shotgun
- Action: Pump Shotgun
- Barrel Length: 14.37″
- Total Length: 27.5″
- Weight: 6.55lb
- Capacity: 10+1 rounds / 20+1 Optional
Shockwave is Like a Sawn Off Shotgun With AR Capacity
The mag-fed Mossberg 590 Shockwave version is even more menacing in its own spectacular way. It’s a home defense Pitbull of a
Of
We love the Mossberg Shockwave pump action shotgun for that optional 20-round magazine, but you might find yourself opting for the lighter 10-round magazine instead for a smoother, lightweight pump-action shotgun. If you do, then the Mossberg loses its decisive competitive advantage as a
The smaller detachable box magazines make it easier to swing and pivot the pump-action gun, though, so there’s always a trade-off. Shotgun shells are heavy and you will feel the difference between a slimline detachable box magazine and a clunky drum mag.
A box magazine fed shotgun has its advantages, then. It’s a very different kind of tactical shotgun and you have to decide if you would trust this gun with your life. I would, although there are other options with serious appeal.
The
That’s because it’s tried and trusted
It’s a compact, devastating firearm, as well. This is exactly the kind of weapon that could end a home invasion before it begins. It’s an intimidating gun that gives you the edge, as long as you have the capacity to back it up. With the magazine reload system, you really do.
The Mossberg 590 Shockwave magazine fed shotgun is a fussy eater. It will only take 2 ¾ inch shells, while the Remington happily spits and swallows 3” magnum shells.
Right now, you can only get a 6-round magazine for the Remington 870 DM, but it will shoot anything and the 20-round mag might be just round the corner.
The Mossberg is still a real contender with this capacity. Find the right ammo
Cheap 12 gauge shotgun shells at BrownellsC
9. Rock Island Armory VR60
- Price: $419.99
- Caliber: 12 Gauge Shotgun
- Action: Semi automatic
- Barrel Length: 20″
- Total Length: 39″
- Weight: 7.4lb
- Capacity: 5+1 rounds
Rock Island Armory and Armscor, it’s all basically the same thing with
With the 19 round extended magazine, it’s an absolute weapon of war when it needs to be as well.
There’s nothing fancy about the Armscor shotgun, or RIA shotgun in this form. All the furniture is basic polymer down to the
Apart from
10. Remington 870 Tac-14 DM
- Price: $432.50
- Caliber: 12 Gauge Shotgun
- Action: Pump Shotgun
- Barrel Length: 14″
- Total Length: 26.3″
- Weight: 6lb
- Capacity: 6+1 Rounds
Remington 870 Tac-14 is Awesome
Remington has its own alternative to the Mossberg Shockwave in the Remington 870 Tac-14 DM pump-action shotgun. It’s compact, it looks like a
The
The gun just looks sexy, and the overall length of 26.3″ means it’s a compact firearm you can have fun with. It’s not quite concealed carry, but it’s absolutely a truck gun. The only problem is the Mossberg does the whole mag fed pump shotgun thing better.
11. Panzer Arms BP-12
- Price: $599.99
- Caliber: 12 Gauge Shotgun
- Action: Semi-automatic
- Barrel Length: 18.5 inch
- Total Length: 29.5 inch
- Capacity: 5+1
We are getting down into the new breed now, which you will either love or instantly dismiss as novelty shotguns. When you break it down, though, the Panzer Arms BP-12, that’s BullPup 12 Gauge, has a lot of positive features.
This is a compact shotgun, which nestles in the shoulder by design. The barrel is long enough to take it on a turkey shoot, although people might stare, and yet it’s one of the most intriguing shotguns here when it comes to
Put a red dot and a strobe lamp on this and you’ve got more or less a home intruder’s worst nightmare. As defense shotguns go, it’s an almighty weapon out in the field, too, especially with larger 10-round mags that you can obviously source pretty easily. The fold-down iron sights that come with the Panzer Arms BP-12 shotgun are enough for pretty much all
That Picatinny rail could handle a full-on scope and with shotgun slugs tuned for long-distance shooting, you’ll find this shotgun can outperform an entry-level AR-15 when it comes to range and the payload at the far end. It’s a legit hunting weapon with 10+1 rounds at your disposal, Picatinny rails everywhere, a recoil pad and a form that basically makes sure your shooting technique is right. That’s got to work for some of you.
There are plenty of bullpup 12 gauge shotguns hitting the market right now and it’s really down to personal taste and your own brand allegiances rather than any real discernible difference. Panzer Arms has a solid rep at a sensible price point and this gun certainly looks the business, although we have to be honest we’re playing safe with our money and opting for the big names.
It’s our personal favorite of this new breed of bullpup shotguns, but we want to point out that there’s an element of personal bias.
13. EAA Akdal MKA 1923
- Price: $649.99
- Caliber: 12 Gauge Shotgun
- Action: Semi Auto
- Barrel Length: 20 inch
- Total Length: 29.5 inch
- Weight: 9.7lb
- Capacity: 5+1
This is one of many bullpup shotguns for sale in 2019 and it’s basically a clone of the IWI Tavor bullpup rifle layout, tweaked to take 12 gauge shells. The action and the mag sit behind the trigger and it’s a surprisingly fun, durable and solid shotgun.
There isn’t much innovation here and it is generic, but the EAA shotgun works and the layout means it’s great for home defense. It’s short enough to swing
You can also get a solid grip on this black synthetic polymer frame and there’s a long rail for a red dot, iron rear sights and tower front that comes with the package or other
It’s not the most prestigious shotgun here, but the bullpup mag-fed shotgun is showing just how to make friends and influence people with great reviews on gun sites and user reviews on the
14. SRM Arms M1216
- Price: $1,699
- Caliber: 12 Gauge Shotgun
- Action: Semi Auto
- Barrel Length: 18.5 inch
- Total Length: 33.75 inch
- Weight: 7.75lb
- Capacity: 16+1
The four rotating tubes on the SRM Arms M1216 makes it look a little like the much more famous Tavor TS-12. But there’s another trick up this shotgun’s sleeve. As well as a 16+1 starting capacity, you can pop those four tubes out as one and replace it with another 16 rounds of buckshot.
That’s cool, but be under no illusion that this is as smooth as popping out a mag from a box mag shotgun. It really isn’t. But there’s a lot of trick-tech on this shotgun that we do like.
Like the Tavor TS-12a semi-automatic. So you rotate the tube into place and if there’s a shell in the pipe then it will load automatically. It’s a roller-delayed blowback firing system, much like the iconic HK SP5K, which isn’t a bad system to copy if you’re going looking for inspiration.
The synthetic stock and recoil pad work pretty well and this is a soft-shooting semi-automatic shotgun. The flip up sights are basically a hybrid of ghost rings and AR-15 irons. They work.
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15. Panzer Arms AR-Twelve
- Price: $399.99
- Caliber: 12 Gauge Shotgun
- Action: Semi Automatic
- Barrel Length: 18.5 inch
- Total Length: 39.75 inch
- Weight: 8.12lb
The Panzer Arms
This is a mongrel of a shotgun, but it also works pretty well as a tactical shotgun. The mag-fed shotgun aspect excites us, because we love the new wave of fast reloading shotguns, and it costs less than $400. So you really should get one.
Panzer Arms has a bullpup shotgun on sale and a growing line of rifles. The Turkish firearms manufacturer is making a name fast with great user reviews on online gun stores. The Panzer Arms AR-12 is a 12 gauge is hardly a new idea, but it really does work here as a functional shotgun for everything from home defense to shotgun hunting.
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This falls short not calling out the actions of each gun. Some are pump , some are semi auto. A very big difference to some and especially in comparison to each other when considering price.
I can take that on the chin and I’ll add it in to the spec list. I have to do a bit of work on that piece anyway, but I also have others on the best semi-auto tactical shotguns, so I’m trying to do a general post like this, then drill down. But you’re right, I can highlight that difference here too.
I’m surprised the RIA VR80 isn’t on this list. All great guns though.
You know I keep meaning to put it in there. I think I even started once. It’s on the never ending list of things to do! I still don’t think it threatens the big guns, but it deserves a place somewhere.
Price on the 590’s are cheap because the clips are ludicrous. Plan on a c-note+ for any capacity. Each.
Yep it’s a fair point, and another reason why Mossberg is losing the price war. It’s a good looking thing and I am kind of drawn to it, but the numbers keep giving this one to Remington!
What about the panzer arms ar12? No love?
There will be, it’s like all these things, we do it in terms of priority and we’re constantly adding when questions like yours come in. We kind of respond to what you want. So it will go in, but I don’t think it’s a number one contender if I am honest!