8 Best Shotguns Under $1,000 in 2026: The Sweet Spot for Quality

Last updated March 28th 2026

Brand-loyalty buyer? See the parallel best Remington shotguns ranked roundup for picks across the 870, V3, and 1100 lineup.

Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, we may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Best Shotguns Under $1,000 in 2026 at a Glance

Eight shotguns under $1,000 we would put our own money on, ranked by action type and use case. The mid-range bracket is where Italian-made (Beretta, Benelli, Franchi), Turkish-made (Weatherby SA-08, CZ Redhead Premier), and USA-assembled (Remington 870 Wingmaster) all compete for the best shotgun for the money.

Why $1,000 Is the Shotgun Sweet Spot

The $500-$1,000 range is where shotguns get seriously good. You’re past the budget compromises, into territory where every major manufacturer puts their best mid-range work. Semi-autos that actually cycle everything, pump actions with buttery smooth strokes, and O/Us that don’t feel like they’ll rattle apart after a season.

I think of this bracket as the sweet spot for most serious shooters. The jump from a $300 shotgun to a $700 shotgun is far bigger than the jump from $700 to $1,500. You get better triggers, tighter tolerances, smoother actions, and features like gas-operated recoil reduction and chrome-lined bores that genuinely affect your shooting experience.

Whether you’re upgrading from a budget pump or buying your first quality shotgun, this list covers every action type and use case under a grand. For cheaper options, see best shotguns under $500. For the foundation of everything, start with our shotgun buying guide.

---

1. Beretta A300 Ultima. Best Semi-Auto Under $1,000

• Gauge: 12 Gauge
• Barrel: 28″ (field), various
• Action: Semi-Auto (Gas)
• Weight: 7.1 lbs
• Capacity: 3+1
• Chokes: MobilChoke (IC, Mod, Full)
• MSRP: ~$850

The Beretta A300 Ultima is what happens when one of the oldest gun manufacturers in the world (since 1526, if you’re counting) builds a mid-range semi-auto using technology from their $2,000+ A400 platform. The gas system self-regulates, which means it cycles 1-ounce target loads and 3-inch magnums without any adjustment. Load it and shoot it. That’s it.

Recoil on the A300 is noticeably softer than any pump and softer than most inertia semi-autos. The gas system spreads the recoil impulse over a longer period, and the Kick-Off system in the stock adds another layer of absorption. After 100 rounds of sporting clays, you’ll feel fresh instead of beat up. That matters for competition and for long days in the duck blind.

Overbored barrel is a Beretta signature. It improves pattern density by reducing pellet deformation as shot travels down the bore.

Is it a night-and-day difference? No. But it’s measurable, and at this price point, every little edge counts. The MobilChoke system is widely supported with aftermarket options from Briley, Carlson’s, and others.

Best For: Sporting clays shooters, waterfowl hunters, and anyone who wants a do-everything semi-auto that’ll eat any ammo you feed it. The best gas gun under a grand.

---

2. Benelli Nova. Best Premium Pump Action

• Gauge: 12 Gauge (also 20)
• Barrel: 28″ (field), 26″
• Action: Pump
• Weight: 8 lbs
• Capacity: 4+1
• Chokes: 3 choke tubes included
• MSRP: ~$500

Benelli Nova is overbuilt in the best way possible. The receiver and stock are one molded polymer unit with the steel skeleton embedded inside. You could run this thing over with a truck and it would probably still function. It’s the most durable pump-action shotgun you can buy at any price, and it happens to cost around 0. For traditional double-barrel options at this price, see our side-by-side shotgun picks.

What sets it apart from the Mossberg/Remington crowd is the action quality. The Nova’s pump stroke is smooth from day one, with no need for a break-in period. The rotating bolt head locks up tight, and the 3-1/2-inch chamber means you can shoot anything from light target loads to goose-smashing magnums without swapping a thing.

Monolithic design is the one tradeoff. You can’t swap the stock to a pistol grip or adjustable stock like you can on a 500 or 870. The Benelli SuperNova (big brother at ~$550) adds a ComforTech stock with shim-adjustable fit, which solves that problem if it bugs you. For straight-up durability and action quality, the Nova punches way above its price.

Best For: Waterfowl hunters who need 3-1/2″ capability, hard-use environments, and anyone who wants a pump that’ll outlast them. Built like a tank.

---

3. Browning BPS. Smoothest Pump Action Made

• Gauge: 12 Gauge (also 20, 28, .410)
• Barrel: 26″, 28″
• Action: Pump (bottom eject)
• Weight: 7.75 lbs
• Capacity: 4+1
• Chokes: Invector-Plus (3 tubes)
• MSRP: ~$750

The Browning BPS is the pump action for people who appreciate craftsmanship. Everything about it feels a step above: the walnut is nicer, the bluing is deeper, and that bottom-ejecting action is the smoothest pump stroke in the shotgun world. It’s liquid. I’ve owned pumps from every major brand, and nothing cycles as cleanly as a broken-in BPS.

Bottom ejection is the same feature that makes the Ithaca 37 special. Shells eject straight down through the loading port instead of flying out the side. For lefties, this is a huge deal since you never get brass bouncing off your face. For righties, it just means a cleaner ejection pattern and easy scope mounting since there’s no ejection port on the side of the receiver.

Is it worth the $300 premium over a Mossberg 500? That depends on how much you value the shooting experience itself. The 500 is more practical, more customizable, and cheaper.

The BPS is smoother, prettier, and nicer to shoot. Some people buy tools, some people buy instruments. The BPS is the instrument.

Best For: Upland hunters and traditionalists who want the finest pump-action experience available under $1,000. Also excellent in 20 and 28 gauge for smaller-framed shooters.

---

4. Franchi Affinity 3. Best Inertia Semi-Auto Under $1,000

• Gauge: 12 Gauge (also 20)
• Barrel: 28″ (field), 26″
• Action: Semi-Auto (Inertia)
• Weight: 6.5 lbs (20 GA), 7 lbs (12 GA)
• Capacity: 4+1
• Chokes: 3 extended choke tubes
• MSRP: ~$900

Franchi is Benelli’s sister brand (both owned by Beretta), and the Affinity 3 uses the same inertia-driven operating system as the Benelli M2. The difference is price.

Where the M2 runs $1,200-$1,500, the Affinity 3 comes in under $900. You’re getting 90% of the Benelli experience for 60% of the price — a strong value proposition.

Weight is the Affinity’s secret weapon. The 20 gauge version at 6.5 pounds is one of the lightest semi-autos you can buy. For upland hunting where you’re walking miles through cover, that weight savings is the difference between enjoying the last hour and wanting to die. The 12 gauge at 7 pounds is light too, and it handles more like a pump than the heavy gas guns.

Inertia guns need break-in. Expect to run 200 rounds of full-power loads before it reliably cycles target loads.

After that, the Affinity 3 runs like a top. The TSA recoil pad is genuinely comfortable, and the simplified internals mean cleaning takes about 5 minutes. If Benelli money isn’t in the cards, Franchi is the next best thing.

Best For: Upland hunters who want a lightweight inertia semi-auto without Benelli’s price tag. The 20 gauge version is particularly outstanding.

---

5. CZ Redhead Premier. Best O/U Under $1,000

• Gauge: 12 Gauge (also 20)
• Barrel: 28″
• Action: Over/Under
• Weight: 7.9 lbs
• Capacity: 2
• Chokes: 5 flush choke tubes
• MSRP: ~$950

CZ Redhead Premier is the big step up from the Drake. You get ejectors instead of extractors (shells fly out when you break it open), nicer wood, a silver receiver, and overall better fit and finish. At around $950, it’s the best O/U value you can buy under a grand, and it actually competes with guns costing $300-$500 more.

I’ve shot the Redhead Premier at sporting clays and it handles well. The balance point is right where you want it (about an inch forward of the hinge pin), the trigger breaks clean, and the gun swings predictably. It’s not a Browning Citori, but it’s not trying to be. It’s an honest mid-range O/U that does what it’s supposed to do.

Pick through the inventory if you can. Turkish walnut quality varies from gun to gun, and you might find one with genuinely beautiful grain right next to one with boring wood.

The metalwork is consistently good. For your first serious O/U, or a reliable field gun you won’t baby, the Redhead Premier is the one to beat at this price. See more options in our best O/Us under $1,000 guide.

Best For: Sporting clays shooters and hunters who want a quality O/U with ejectors without spending Browning/Beretta money.

---

6. Weatherby SA-08 Deluxe. Underrated Gas Gun

• Gauge: 12 Gauge (also 20)
• Barrel: 28″
• Action: Semi-Auto (Gas)
• Weight: 6.5 lbs
• Capacity: 4+1
• Chokes: IMC choke system (3 tubes)
• MSRP: ~$700

Nobody talks about the Weatherby SA-08, and that’s a shame. It’s a gas-operated semi-auto that weighs 6.5 pounds, which is lighter than most inertia guns and way lighter than other gas guns. The dual-valve gas system is clever: it automatically regulates gas pressure based on the load, so light target loads and heavy magnums cycle equally well without adjustment.

Deluxe model with walnut stock is a genuinely attractive shotgun. The wood-to-metal fit is tight, the bluing is nice for the price, and it just looks like a more expensive gun than it is. At a street price of $550-$650, it undercuts the Beretta A300 while offering comparable gas-operated softness.

The downside is brand recognition. If you sell a Beretta A300, everyone knows what they’re getting; if you sell a Weatherby SA-08, you’ll need to explain what it is.

Resale value reflects that. But if you’re buying a gun to shoot, not to flip, the SA-08 is one of the best kept secrets in the semi-auto market.

Best For: Hunters who want gas-gun recoil softness in the lightest possible package. Outstanding upland gun in 20 gauge.

---

7. Remington 870 Wingmaster. The Classic Upgraded 870

• Gauge: 12 Gauge (also 20)
• Barrel: 28″ or 26″
• Action: Pump
• Weight: 7.25 lbs
• Capacity: 4+1
• Chokes: Rem Choke (3 tubes)
• MSRP: ~$850

Wingmaster is the 870 in its Sunday best. Same legendary action, same steel receiver, but with high-gloss walnut, deep polished bluing, and a level of finish that the Express model can’t touch. This is the 870 that your dad or grandpa probably had, and there’s a reason those guns got passed down. They’re beautiful and they run forever.

At $850, you could argue you’re overpaying for a pump action. You could buy a Stoeger M3000 semi-auto for less, or a Beretta A300 for the same money.

And you’d be right from a features-per-dollar perspective. But the Wingmaster isn’t about features per dollar — it’s about the feeling of working that impossibly smooth action with a gun that looks like it belongs in a museum.

If you want a pump action you’ll own for 40 years and hand to your kid, the Wingmaster is the one. The walnut will develop a gorgeous patina over time, the bluing will show honest wear that tells your story, and the action will only get smoother. That’s worth something that doesn’t show up on a spec sheet.

Best For: Traditionalists and collectors who want the finest production pump action made. A heirloom-quality shotgun under $1,000.

---

8. Benelli SuperNova. Nova’s Better-Dressed Brother

• Gauge: 12 Gauge
• Barrel: 28″ (field), 26″
• Action: Pump
• Weight: 8 lbs
• Capacity: 4+1
• Chokes: 3 choke tubes included
• MSRP: ~$550

SuperNova takes everything good about the Nova and adds Benelli’s ComforTech stock system. That means a gel recoil pad, chevron-shaped flex points in the stock, and a shim kit for adjusting drop and cast. The result is a pump-action shotgun that fits more shooters out of the box and kicks noticeably less than the standard Nova.

For about $50 more than the Nova, the ComforTech upgrade is an easy call. The recoil reduction is real, especially with 3-inch and 3-1/2-inch magnum loads where you feel every advantage. And the shim system lets you adjust the stock fit to your face without spending money at a gunsmith. For waterfowl hunters running heavy steel loads all season, the reduced beating on your shoulder adds up.

Receiver is drilled and tapped for optics, which the Nova isn’t. If you want to mount a red dot for turkey hunting or slug shooting, the SuperNova is ready. Same tank-like durability, same smooth action, but with the customization that the Nova lacks.

Best For: Waterfowl and turkey hunters who want Nova durability with better recoil management and stock adjustability. The best pump for heavy magnum loads.

---

How We Tested These Shotguns

Six of the eight picks here are guns I have personally put hundreds to thousands of rounds through across waterfowl seasons, sporting clays, and upland hunting (the Beretta A300 Ultima, Benelli Nova and SuperNova, Browning BPS, Franchi Affinity 3, and Remington 870 Wingmaster). The CZ Redhead Premier and Weatherby SA-08 Deluxe were each tested across two or three range sessions with a mix of light target loads and 3-inch field loads.

For each gun I tracked: action smoothness from out of the box and after break-in, reliability across light and heavy loads, felt recoil with 1-1/8oz target loads through 3-inch magnums, balance and swing dynamics, fit and finish, and value vs the next price tier up. Prices are pulled live from 80+ retailers via our price comparison tool and verified weekly.

---

Buyer’s Guide: Best Mid-Range Shotgun for the Money

Picking the best shotgun for the money in the $500-$1,000 bracket comes down to three calls: action type, intended use, and the country of manufacture you trust most. The best mid-range shotgun for one buyer is a $700 Italian inertia gun; for the next, it is an $850 USA-assembled pump that will outlast them.

This price range is all about deciding between action types. Pump, semi-auto, or O/U. Each has clear advantages, and your use case should drive the decision.

For hunting versatility and reliability in any conditions, the premium pumps (Benelli Nova/SuperNova, Browning BPS, 870 Wingmaster) are hard to argue with. They’ll work in mud, rain, snow, and sand without complaint. For reduced recoil and faster follow-up shots, the semi-autos (Beretta A300, Franchi Affinity 3, Weatherby SA-08) are the play. And for the break-action experience with sporting clays or upland hunting, the CZ Redhead Premier is the O/U to beat.

My general recommendation: if you already own a budget pump, your upgrade should be a semi-auto. The Beretta A300 Ultima for gas-gun reliability, or the Franchi Affinity 3 for lightweight inertia performance. If you’ve never owned a pump and want something premium, the Browning BPS or Benelli SuperNova will remind you why pump actions are still relevant in a semi-auto world.

Browse Shotgun Deals →

FAQ: Best Shotguns Under $1,000