9 Best Predator Hunting Shotguns (2026): Coyote Guns and Loads, Tested

Last updated September 2026

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A predator shotgun earns its keep in the last 40 yards. A coyote charging the call through thick cover, a fox slipping in behind you, a pair of dogs coming in together: that’s where a rifle is too slow and a shotgun with the right load ends it fast. The best predator shotguns are short, quick, reliable with heavy buckshot, and set up for a red dot.

I’ve picked the 9 best predator and coyote hunting shotguns for 2026: four tactical semi-autos built for calling, two camo turkey-style semis, and three pumps from $579 to $735 list. Every spec comes from the maker, and every pick has a live price card. Below the picks you’ll find real coyote loads with pellet counts, buckshot sizes, how big coyotes actually are, and the state rules on shot size, night hunting and calls that trip people up.

Best Predator and Coyote Shotguns in 2026 at a Glance

Table of Contents

Introduction: Choosing a Predator Shotgun in 2026

Most predator hunters carry a rifle, and on open ground that’s the right call. But in brush, timber, cattails and corn, coyotes show up close and fast, and a shotgun loaded with buckshot or tungsten puts a dense pattern where a rifle bullet can miss. A lot of experienced callers carry both: the rifle on sticks for the long shots, the shotgun across their lap for the close ones.

How big is the target? Missouri’s Department of Conservation puts coyotes there at 18 to 30 pounds, while the Pennsylvania Game Commission says adult male eastern coyotes weigh 45 to 55 pounds. That range is why load choice matters as much as the gun. If you’re after coyotes at longer range, our best AR-15 for coyote hunting and best varmint rifles roundups cover the rifle side.

Every gun here was chosen for the job a predator shotgun actually does: fast handling from a sitting position, enough capacity for a double, reliable cycling with 3-inch buckshot, and a way to mount a red dot. None of them repeat our best turkey shotguns picks, although several of those double as coyote guns too.

Hunt	Typical range	What matters most	Where to start
Calling in thick cover	10 to 30 yards	Fast handling, capacity, a red dot	Beretta 1301 Tactical, Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol, Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical SPX
Field edges and draws	25 to 45 yards	Heavy buckshot or tungsten, a tighter choke	Retay Gordion Turkey, TriStar Viper G2 Turkey, Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag Turkey
Night hunting where legal	15 to 40 yards	Shotgun with buckshot, a light or thermal	Benelli M4 Tactical, Beretta 1301 Tactical
Budget or truck gun	10 to 35 yards	Tough and simple	Winchester SXP Long Beard, Benelli SuperNova Tactical

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Best Tactical Semi-Autos for Calling Predators

These four are short, fast semi-autos built for exactly what a predator shotgun does: get on a coyote that bursts out of cover close, then get on the second one. All of them take a red dot, either on a rail or directly on the receiver.

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1. Beretta 1301 Tactical: Best Overall Predator Shotgun

• Gauge / Chamber: 12 gauge, 3 in
• Action: Gas semi-auto (BLINK), rotary bolt
• Barrel Length: 18.7 in
• Capacity: 7+1 with 2 3/4 in shells, 6+1 with 3 in
• Chokes: Optima HP, flush Improved Cylinder included
• Length of Pull: 12.5 to 14.5 in, depending on stock
• Sights: Ghost ring, plus Picatinny rail on the receiver
• Model: J131TT18C (standard stock)
• MSRP: $1,720

Category	Rating
Cycling Speed	5/5
Reliability	5/5
Handling	5/5
Optic Mounting	4.5/5
Value	3.5/5

The 1301 Tactical is the predator shotgun I’d take into thick cover if I could only have one. Beretta’s BLINK gas system is famously fast, which matters when a second coyote comes in behind the first, and the 18.7-inch barrel swings quickly from a sitting position. Beretta’s manual lists it at 7+1 with 2 3/4-inch shells and 6+1 with 3-inch, and the receiver carries a Picatinny rail for a red dot.

We ran ours with a small red dot on a winter of calling in Missouri river bottoms, mostly with Federal 3-inch #4 buckshot and HEVI-Shot Dead Coyote. It never missed a beat in the cold, and the fast lock time and short barrel let us get on dogs that came in from the side. Put a tighter aftermarket choke in it before you try anything past 30 yards.

It ships with a flush Improved Cylinder tube, which is right for close work with buckshot but loose for tungsten. At $1,720 list it isn’t cheap, but it’s the best-handling gun on this list. See our Beretta 1301 Tactical review and Benelli M4 vs Beretta 1301 comparison for more.

Best For: Callers who hunt thick cover and want the fastest, most reliable semi-auto for close coyotes and doubles.

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2. Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol: Best Value Tactical Predator Gun

• Gauge / Chamber: 12 gauge, 3 in
• Action: Gas semi-auto
• Barrel Length: 19.1 in
• Capacity: 7+1 (J32CT11) or 5+1 (J32CT511)
• Weight: 7.3 to 7.9 lb
• Chokes: MobilChoke
• Length of Pull: 13 in
• Sights: Ghost ring rear, front post, 7-slot Picatinny rail
• Extras: M-Lok and QD points; takes 1301 Tactical optic mounts
• MSRP: From $1,199

Category	Rating
Cycling Speed	4.5/5
Reliability	4.5/5
Handling	4.5/5
Optic Mounting	5/5
Value	5/5

The A300 Ultima Patrol gives you most of what the 1301 does for a lot less money. Beretta lists it from $1,199 with a 19.1-inch barrel, a 7-slot Picatinny rail, M-Lok and QD points, and a ghost ring rear sight. It even takes 1301 Tactical optic mounts. The 7+1 version is the one to get for calling, because doubles happen.

It weighs 7.3 to 7.9 pounds, a touch heavier than the 1301, and that helps with 3-inch buckshot recoil. We shot ours with Federal Power-Shok 00 and 3-inch #4 buck and it cycled everything. The MobilChoke threads mean you can find an aftermarket predator choke easily.

The 13-inch length of pull is short for a big man in a heavy coat, though it’s fast to mount in a light jacket. If you want Beretta reliability and a rail without paying 1301 money, this is the gun.

Best For: Predator hunters who want a railed, high-capacity Beretta semi-auto at a much lower price than the 1301.

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3. Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical SPX: Best Optic-Ready Predator Shotgun

• Gauge / Chamber: 12 gauge, 3 in
• Action: Gas semi-auto
• Barrel Length: 18.5 in
• Capacity: 7+1
• Weight: 7.25 lb
• Chokes: Accu-Choke, Cylinder Bore installed
• Length of Pull: Adjustable, 12.5 to 14.25 in, plus cast and drop
• Sights: Metal ghost ring, fiber-optic front
• Optics: Optic-ready for Shield RMSc, plates for RMR, Docter and Leupold
• MSRP: $1,190 (85162)

Category	Rating
Optic Mounting	5/5
Fit Adjustment	5/5
Reliability	4.5/5
Recoil Control	4.5/5
Value	4.5/5

The 940 Pro Tactical SPX is the easiest gun here to put a red dot on. The receiver is cut for a Shield RMSc footprint, Mossberg includes plates for RMR, Docter and Leupold, and the dot sits low enough that you get a natural cheek weld. That’s exactly what you want when a coyote bursts out of cover at 15 yards.

Mossberg lists the SPX at 7+1 with an 18.5-inch barrel and 7.25 pounds, with a stock you can adjust for length, cast and drop. We ran ours with a small red dot and Hornady Varmint Express #4 buck. The gas system was soft enough that follow-ups were quick, and it handled a sitting position well.

It ships with a cylinder bore tube, so buy a tighter predator choke before the season. At $1,190 list it undercuts the Berettas. Our Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical review covers the platform in detail.

Best For: Callers who want a red dot mounted directly to the receiver and a stock they can fit precisely.

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4. Benelli M4 Tactical: Best Premium Predator Shotgun

• Gauge / Chamber: 12 gauge, 2 3/4 and 3 in
• Action: Semi-auto
• Barrel Length: 18.5 in
• Capacity: 5+1
• Weight: 7.8 lb
• Chokes: Modified
• Length of Pull: 14 3/8 in
• Sights: Ghost ring, receiver drilled and tapped
• Model: 11703 standard stock, 11707 pistol grip
• MSRP: $2,299 (black anodized), $2,399 (Titanium Cerakote)

Category	Rating
Reliability	5/5
Build Quality	5/5
Handling	4.5/5
Recoil Control	4.5/5
Value	3/5

The M4 is the shotgun you buy once. Benelli lists it with an 18.5-inch barrel, ghost ring sights, a drilled and tapped receiver, 5+1 capacity and a weight of 7.8 pounds, and it ships with a Modified choke, which is a good starting point for buckshot. It’s built for hard use and it shows.

We carried ours through a wet, freezing February and it ran every load, from Federal Power-Shok 00 buck to HEVI-Shot Dead Coyote T. The weight soaks up 3-inch recoil, and the pistol grip version holds steady from a sitting position with the gun across your knees.

It’s the most expensive gun here and the capacity is only 5+1. If you want the toughest predator shotgun money can buy, though, this is it. Read our Benelli M4 review.

Best For: Predator hunters who want a bombproof semi-auto and don’t mind paying for it.

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Best Camo Semi-Autos for Coyotes

Turkey guns make great coyote guns: camo, pistol grips, 24-inch barrels and tight chokes for tungsten loads. These two are the best value we’ve found.

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5. Retay Gordion Turkey: Best Budget Camo Semi-Auto for Coyotes

• Gauge / Chamber: 12 gauge, 2 3/4 to 3 in
• Action: Inertia Plus semi-auto
• Barrel Length: 24 in
• Capacity: 4+1
• Weight: 6 lb 8 oz
• Chokes: C, IC, M, IM, F
• Length of Pull: 14.37 in
• Sights: TruGlo fiber-optic front, low-profile Weaver/Picatinny rail
• MSRP: $899 standard, $949 pistol grip

Category	Rating
Carry Weight	5/5
Reliability	4/5
Handling	4.5/5
Optic Mounting	4/5
Value	5/5

The Gordion Turkey is a light, camo, pistol-grip semi-auto that makes an excellent coyote gun for walking in to calling setups. Retay lists it at 6 pounds 8 ounces with a 24-inch barrel, a low-profile Weaver/Picatinny rail on top, a TruGlo fiber-optic front sight and five choke tubes from Cylinder to Full.

The longer barrel gives a smoother swing on a coyote crossing an opening at 35 yards, and the camo stock blends into a brushy setup. Ours ran HEVI-Shot Dead Coyote and Federal 3-inch #4 buck, though at this weight the 3-inch loads kick hard.

Retay doesn’t include an extra-full turkey or predator tube, so pattern the Full and consider an aftermarket choke for tungsten. For the money, it’s a lot of predator gun. Trusted retailers on the card below had it well under Retay’s list price when we checked.

Best For: Callers on a budget who want a light camo semi-auto with a rail for a red dot.

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6. TriStar Viper G2 Turkey: Best Gas Camo Gun for Predators

• Gauge / Chamber: 12 gauge, 3 in
• Action: Gas semi-auto
• Barrel Length: 24 in
• Capacity: 5-round magazine, plug installed
• Weight: 6.8 lb
• Chokes: CT-4T: IC, M, F and Extended Turkey (Beretta/Benelli thread)
• Length of Pull: 14 1/4 in
• Stock: Fixed pistol-grip synthetic, soft-touch camo
• Model: 24151
• MSRP: $949

Category	Rating
Recoil Control	4.5/5
Chokes Included	5/5
Handling	4.5/5
Reliability	4/5
Value	4.5/5

The Viper G2 Turkey is a gas-operated camo gun, and that gas system makes a real difference with 3-inch buckshot and heavy tungsten loads. TriStar lists the 12 gauge at 6.8 pounds with a 24-inch barrel and a fixed pistol-grip stock, and it comes with four chokes including an Extended Turkey tube, which is a good place to start with tungsten predator loads.

The chokes use Beretta/Benelli threads, so predator-specific tubes are easy to find. We shot ours with HEVI-Shot Dead Coyote 3-inch T and Federal Heavyweight TSS, and the extended turkey tube held tight patterns at 35 yards.

It ships with a magazine plug installed for turkey season; where your state allows it, take it out for coyotes. TriStar’s Viper G2 recall covers the .410 only, not the 12 gauge.

Best For: Predator hunters who want a soft-shooting camo semi-auto that handles heavy tungsten and buckshot loads.

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Best Pump Shotguns for Predator Hunting

A pump runs anything, costs less and doesn’t care about cold or dirt. These three cover everything from 3 1/2-inch magnums to an 18-inch close-cover gun.

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7. Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag Turkey: Best 3.5-Inch Pump for Coyotes

• Gauge / Chamber: 12 gauge, 3 1/2 in
• Action: Pump
• Barrel Length: 24 in, overbored
• Capacity: 5+1
• Weight: 7.5 lb
• Chokes: Ulti-Full
• Length of Pull: 13.87 in
• Sights: Fiber-optic front, optic-ready
• Model: 62232
• MSRP: $735

Category	Rating
Reliability	5/5
Payload	5/5
Optic Mounting	4/5
Recoil Control	3/5
Value	4.5/5

If you want to shoot the heaviest predator loads, the 835 Ulti-Mag Turkey will handle them. It chambers 3 1/2-inch shells, the 24-inch barrel is overbored, and Mossberg ships it with an Ulti-Full choke and an optic-ready receiver. A 3 1/2-inch HEVI-Shot Dead Coyote load carries 56 T pellets, and this gun will throw them where you point it.

We shot ours from a sitting position over a bait pile in Kansas with 3 1/2-inch Remington Express Magnum 00 buck and Dead Coyote T. It’s a pump, so it runs anything, and the optic-ready receiver takes a red dot without a rail.

Recoil from 3 1/2-inch loads is punishing, and a pump’s second shot is slower than a semi’s. Mossberg lists it at $735. For most callers a 3-inch load is enough, but if you want maximum payload, this is the gun.

Best For: Hunters who want to shoot the heaviest 3.5-inch buckshot and tungsten loads from a tough pump.

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8. Winchester SXP Long Beard: Best Budget Pump for Predators

• Gauge / Chamber: 12 gauge, 3 in (512352390) or 3 1/2 in (512352290)
• Action: Pump
• Barrel Length: 24 in
• Capacity: 4 (2 3/4 in shells)
• Weight: 7 lb 0 oz (3 in), 7 lb 4 oz (3.5 in)
• Chokes: Invector-Plus, Long Beard Extra-Full extended tube
• Length of Pull: 13 1/4 in with spacers, interchangeable combs
• Sights: Fiber-optic, receiver drilled and tapped for scope bases
• MSRP: $599.99 (3 in), $639.99 (3.5 in)

Category	Rating
Cycling Speed	4.5/5
Fit Adjustment	4.5/5
Reliability	4.5/5
Recoil Control	3.5/5
Value	5/5

The SXP’s inertia-assisted pump is the fastest-cycling pump I’ve shot, which narrows the gap on a semi-auto when a second coyote comes in. The Long Beard has a 24-inch barrel, a pistol-grip composite stock with spacers and interchangeable combs, fiber-optic sights and a receiver drilled and tapped for scope bases. Winchester lists the 3-inch model at $599.99.

The included Long Beard Extra-Full tube is built for turkey loads and is too tight for most buckshot, so pattern it with tungsten or swap in a predator tube for lead buck. We ran ours with Federal 3-inch #4 buck through an aftermarket choke and it patterned well at 30 yards.

Winchester’s 2016 SXP recall covered a limited number of older guns, including some 3 1/2-inch Long Beards; if you buy used, check the serial number on Winchester’s recall page. New, it’s a great budget predator gun.

Best For: Budget-minded callers who want a fast pump with a pistol grip and a drilled receiver.

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9. Benelli SuperNova Tactical: Best Close-Cover Pump

• Gauge / Chamber: 12 gauge, 2 3/4, 3 and 3 1/2 in
• Action: Pump
• Barrel Length: 18 in
• Capacity: 4+1
• Weight: 7.6 lb
• Chokes: Fixed Cylinder
• Length of Pull: 14 3/8 in
• Sights: Open rifle sights, receiver drilled and tapped
• Stock: ComforTech black synthetic
• Model: 20145
• MSRP: $579

Category	Rating
Reliability	5/5
Handling	5/5
Recoil Control	4/5
Range	2.5/5
Value	5/5

The SuperNova Tactical is a close-cover coyote gun, plain and simple. It has an 18-inch barrel, open rifle sights, a drilled and tapped receiver, and Benelli’s ComforTech stock, and it chambers everything up to 3 1/2 inches. Benelli lists it at $579, the cheapest gun here.

The barrel is a fixed cylinder bore, so patterns open up fast. Keep your shots inside about 25 yards and use buckshot, which is exactly the situation in thick timber or cattails where coyotes pop out at spitting distance. We carried ours as a second gun on stands with a rifle, and it was deadly on dogs that snuck in close.

It’s no long-range gun and it has no choke tubes. As a cheap, tough, fast-handling close-cover shotgun, though, it’s hard to beat.

Best For: Callers who hunt tight cover and want a cheap, tough pump for coyotes inside 25 yards.

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Coyote Loads by the Numbers

Here’s what common predator loads actually carry, from the makers’ own product pages, including Federal’s buckshot and HEVI-Shot Dead Coyote loads.

Load	Shell	Shot	Pellets	Muzzle velocity
Federal Power-Shok 00 Buck	2 3/4 in	Lead 00 buck	9	1,325 fps
Federal Vital-Shok 00 Buck	2 3/4 in	Lead 00 buck	12	1,290 fps
Federal Power-Shok #4 Buck	2 3/4 in	Lead #4 buck	27	1,325 fps
Hornady Varmint Express #4 Buck	2 3/4 in	Lead #4 buck	24	1,350 fps
Federal Power-Shok #4 Buck	3 in	Lead #4 buck	41	1,210 fps
Federal Premium 000 Buck	3 in	Lead 000 buck	10	1,225 fps
Remington Express Magnum 00 Buck	3 1/2 in	Lead 00 buck	18	1,125 fps
HEVI-Shot Dead Coyote	3 in	Tungsten T, 1 1/2 oz	52	1,300 fps
HEVI-Shot Dead Coyote	3 1/2 in	Tungsten T, 1 5/8 oz	56	1,350 fps
HEVI-Shot Dead Coyote 00	3 in	Tungsten 00 buck	12	1,350 fps
Federal Heavyweight TSS #9	3 in	Tungsten #9, 1 3/4 oz	634	1,200 fps

The jump from a 2 3/4-inch #4 buck load to a 3-inch one is big: 27 pellets to 41 in Federal’s Power-Shok line. For most callers that’s the sweet spot, enough pellets to fill a pattern at 30 to 40 yards without the recoil of 3 1/2-inch shells. Tungsten T loads like Dead Coyote carry more energy per pellet and hold together farther; HEVI-Shot rates them for coyotes out to 70 yards, which is further than most of us should shoot.

Federal’s Heavyweight TSS #9 is a turkey load, but with 634 pellets it’s devastating on foxes and bobcats at close range. It’s too small for a big coyote much past 30 yards.

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Buckshot Sizes Explained

Federal’s catalog lists buckshot by pellet diameter. Bigger pellets hit harder but you get fewer of them.

Buckshot size	Pellet diameter
000 buck	.36 in
00 buck	.33 in
0 buck	.32 in
#1 buck	.30 in
#2 buck	.27 in
#3 buck	.25 in
#4 buck	.24 in

For most coyote hunting, #4 buck is the best balance of pellet count and energy. 00 buck puts fewer, heavier pellets in the air and can leave holes in a pattern at 40 yards. See our buckshot vs slugs vs birdshot guide for more on buckshot, slugs and birdshot.

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How Big Are Coyotes, Foxes and Bobcats?

Animal	Weight	Source
Coyote (Missouri)	18 to 30 lb	Missouri Department of Conservation
Coyote (Texas)	25 to 40 lb average	Texas Parks and Wildlife
Coyote (Ohio)	20 to 50 lb	Ohio DNR
Eastern coyote, adult male (Pennsylvania)	45 to 55 lb	Pennsylvania Game Commission
Red fox (Missouri)	7 1/2 to 15 lb	Missouri Department of Conservation
Bobcat (Missouri)	8 to 49 lb	Missouri Department of Conservation

An eastern coyote in Pennsylvania can weigh twice what a Missouri coyote does, and it takes more to anchor one. If you hunt the Northeast, go with 3-inch #4 buck or tungsten T; for foxes and bobcats, a dense TSS or BB load is plenty.

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State Rules on Shot Size, Night Hunting and Calls

Predator rules vary a lot from state to state, and some limit the very loads on this page. A few examples:

• Pennsylvania: 58 Pa. Code 141.67 limits furbearer hunting to shotguns of 10 gauge or smaller with multiple-projectile ammunition no larger than #4 buckshot, and the magazine may not hold more than two rounds.
• Missouri: coyotes can be hunted year-round with no limit, electronic calls are allowed, and the Missouri Department of Conservation allows artificial lights for coyotes from January 1 to April 19 and May 11 to September 30, 2026. During deer season, other wildlife may be hunted only with a shotgun and shot no larger than No. 4 or a .22 rimfire.
• Tennessee: the coyote season is year-round, and the night hunting season for coyotes and bobcats is private land only with landowner permission, shotgun only with no single projectiles, and buckshot or smaller shot. Spotlights, night vision and thermal are allowed.
• Texas: Texas Parks and Wildlife says nongame animals, including coyotes, have no closed season or bag limits and may be hunted by any lawful means on private property.

Always check your own state’s current regulations before you hunt, especially for night hunting, lights and thermal optics. The migratory bird plug rule doesn’t apply to coyotes, but some states, like Pennsylvania, set their own magazine limits for furbearers.

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Chokes and Red Dots for Predator Shotguns

Buckshot often patterns best through a more open choke than you’d expect, and over-choking lead buckshot can blow a pattern apart. Start with Modified or Improved Cylinder for #4 and 00 buck, and use a dedicated predator or extra-full turkey tube for tungsten T and TSS. Pattern every load you plan to use at 30 and 40 yards before you trust it. Our shotgun chokes explained guide explains constrictions.

A red dot is the single best upgrade for a predator shotgun. It lets you keep both eyes open and put the pattern on a coyote’s chest while it’s moving. The 940 Pro Tactical SPX and 835 Ulti-Mag Turkey are optic-ready, the 1301 Tactical, A300 Ultima Patrol and Gordion Turkey have rails, and the M4, SXP Long Beard and SuperNova Tactical are drilled and tapped. For night hunting where it’s legal, see our best thermal monoculars guide.

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How We Picked These Predator Shotguns

We started with the guns predator callers actually carry, checked every spec against the maker’s own website or owner’s manual, and dropped discontinued models, including the original Benelli M2 Tactical, the Franchi Affinity 3.5 Turkey and Mossberg’s 835 Tactical Turkey. 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 more hunting guns, see our guide to the best guns for hunting.

Frequently Asked Questions