7 Best Small Game Shotguns (2026): Squirrel and Rabbit Guns, Tested

Last updated September 2026

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A good small game shotgun is light, quick, and throws a pattern dense enough to fold a squirrel in the treetops or roll a cottontail that bolts out of a briar pile. You don’t need a lot of gun. You need the right gauge, the right choke and the right shot for what you’re chasing.

I’ve picked the 7 best small game shotguns for 2026: four .410s built for squirrels, including two set up for TSS, and three 20 gauge pumps for rabbits over beagles or jump shooting brush piles. Every spec comes from the maker and every pick has a live price card. Below the picks you’ll find the pellet math from .410 TSS up to 12 gauge, real squirrel and rabbit loads, how big the game actually is, and the season, orange and shot-size rules that catch small game hunters out.

Best Small Game Shotguns in 2026 at a Glance

Table of Contents

Introduction: Choosing a Squirrel and Rabbit Shotgun in 2026

Squirrels and rabbits are small. The Missouri Department of Conservation puts gray squirrels at 3/4 to 1 1/2 pounds, fox squirrels at 1 to 3 pounds, and eastern cottontails at 2 to 3 1/4 pounds. You don’t need a big payload to kill them; you need enough pellets in the right place, and a gun you can swing quickly in the timber or on a rabbit that won’t stop running.

That’s why this list is built around the .410 and the 20 gauge. The .410 has had a second life thanks to tungsten TSS shot, which packs far more pellets into a small shell than lead does. The 20 gauge is still the classic rabbit gun: light, forgiving and easy to shoot all day.

If you’d rather hunt squirrels with a rimfire, see our best small game rifles roundup. For a broader look at the gauges, our best .410 shotguns and best 20 gauge shotguns roundups cover many more guns, and our best youth shotguns guide covers first guns for kids.

Hunt	Typical range	What matters most	Where to start
Squirrels in hardwoods	20 to 35 yards, often up a tree	Dense pattern, a tighter choke, TSS or #6 lead	Stevens 301 Turkey XP .410, Mossberg 500 Turkey .410
A kid’s first squirrel hunt	Close, mostly treed squirrels	Light, short and simple	Mossberg 505 Bantam .410
Rabbits over beagles	15 to 30 yards, running shots	Open choke, fast second shot	Benelli Nova 20, Maverick 88 20
Brush piles and fencerows on a budget	10 to 30 yards	Cheap, tough, reliable	Stevens 320 Field Grade 20, Maverick 88 20

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Best .410 Shotguns for Squirrels

The .410 is the classic squirrel gun, and tungsten TSS has made it better than ever. Two of these four are built around TSS with extra-full chokes; the other two are lead-shot guns for close squirrels and young hunters.

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1. Stevens 301 Turkey XP .410: Best .410 for Squirrels

• Gauge / Chamber: .410, 3 in
• Action: Break-open single shot
• Barrel Length: 26 in
• Capacity: 1
• Weight: 5.07 lb
• Chokes: Extra Full included (Win Choke pattern), barrel optimized for Federal Heavyweight TSS
• Length of Pull: 13.75 in
• Sights: Front bead, plus a 1×30 red dot on a removable Picatinny rail
• Model: 23219 (Obsession), 23216 (Bottomlands)
• MSRP: $319

Category	Rating
Pattern Density	5/5
Carry Weight	5/5
Value	5/5
Handling	4.5/5
Follow-Up Shots	2/5

The 301 Turkey XP is the best-value squirrel gun I know of. Savage builds it around Federal’s .410 Heavyweight TSS, gives it an Extra Full choke, and ships it with a 1×30 red dot already mounted on a Picatinny rail. It weighs 5.07 pounds, so you can carry it through the hardwoods all day, and Savage lists it at $319.

With TSS it’s a genuine 35-yard squirrel gun. A 3-inch .410 TSS #9 load carries about 294 pellets by Federal’s count, more than a full ounce of #6 lead. Ours put squirrels down cleanly off the tops of hickories at 30 to 35 yards, and the red dot made it easy to put the pattern on a head peeking around a limb.

It’s a single shot, so you get one chance, and TSS shells cost a lot more than lead. The Extra Full tube is too tight for close, running rabbits. For treed squirrels, though, nothing on this list hits harder for the money.

Best For: Squirrel hunters who want a light, cheap .410 that throws a dense TSS pattern at 30-plus yards.

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2. Mossberg 500 Turkey .410: Best Repeating .410 for Squirrels

• Gauge / Chamber: .410, 3 in
• Action: Pump
• Barrel Length: 24 in vent rib
• Capacity: 5+1
• Weight: 6.25 lb
• Chokes: X-Full extended
• Length of Pull: 13.87 in
• Sights: Fiber-optic front, optic-ready for Shield RMSc
• Model: 50107
• MSRP: $697

Category	Rating
Pattern Density	5/5
Follow-Up Shots	4.5/5
Optic Mounting	5/5
Carry Weight	4.5/5
Value	4/5

If you hunt squirrels where they come in bunches, the 500 Turkey .410 gives you the dense TSS pattern of the Stevens with five more shots behind it. Mossberg ships it with a 24-inch vent rib barrel, an X-Full extended choke and a receiver cut for a Shield RMSc red dot, and it weighs 6.25 pounds.

We carried ours through a September of early-season squirrels in thick leaves and shot mostly Federal .410 TSS #9. The optic-ready receiver takes a small dot with no rail, and the pump let us get on a second squirrel before it got around the trunk.

The X-Full choke is built for turkey loads, so it’s too tight for close rabbits; this is a treed-squirrel gun first. Mossberg lists it at $697. See our Mossberg 500 review for the platform.

Best For: Squirrel hunters who want a repeating .410 with a dense TSS pattern and a direct-mount red dot.

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3. Henry H18 Provider .410: Best Lever-Action .410

• Gauge / Chamber: .410, 2 1/2 in only
• Action: Lever action with side loading gate
• Barrel Length: 24 in
• Capacity: 6
• Weight: 7.54 lb
• Chokes: Invector-style threads, Full included
• Length of Pull: 14 in
• Sights: Brass bead, drilled and tapped (Weaver 63B)
• Model: H018G-410
• MSRP: $1,195

Category	Rating
Fit and Finish	5/5
Handling	4.5/5
Capacity	4.5/5
Pattern Density	3.5/5
Value	3/5

The H18 Provider is the .410 you buy because you love lever actions. It holds six shells, has a side loading gate, a 24-inch barrel threaded for Invector-style chokes, and American walnut, and it feels like a classic Henry in your hands. Note the model: the Provider (H018G-410) has the choke threads; the shorter H18 Protector is a fixed cylinder bore and isn’t a squirrel gun.

The Provider only takes 2 1/2-inch shells, which carry 1/2 ounce of shot, so it’s a lead #6 or #7.5 gun for squirrels inside 25 yards and rabbits flushed close. Ours shot Federal Game Load Upland Hi-Brass #6 well through the Full tube, and the lever is quick for a follow-up on a squirrel that jumps.

At 7.54 pounds it’s the heaviest .410 here, and Henry lists it at $1,195. It’s not the most efficient small game gun, but it’s the most fun.

Best For: Lever-action fans who want a classic walnut .410 for close squirrels and rabbits.

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4. Mossberg 505 Bantam .410: Best Small Game Shotgun for Kids

• Gauge / Chamber: .410, 3 in
• Action: Pump
• Barrel Length: 20 in vent rib
• Capacity: 4+1
• Weight: 5.25 lb
• Chokes: Fixed Modified
• Length of Pull: 12 in
• Sights: Dual bead
• Model: 57120
• MSRP: $556

Category	Rating
Fit for Kids	5/5
Carry Weight	5/5
Reliability	4.5/5
Pattern Density	3.5/5
Value	4.5/5

The 505 Bantam is the pump I’d hand a young squirrel hunter. It has a 12-inch length of pull, a 20-inch barrel, an EZ-Reach forend for short arms, and it weighs 5.25 pounds. A .410 pump teaches a kid to work the action and think about every shot, and it doesn’t kick hard.

The choke is fixed at Modified, which is a good all-round setting for squirrels at 20 to 30 yards with 3-inch lead #6. We took a 10-year-old out with ours on opening morning, and he folded his first squirrel off a white oak at about 25 yards.

You can’t add a TSS turkey tube, and a kid will outgrow it in a few seasons. At $556 list it’s a lot of gun to learn on, and it’s a Mossberg, so it’ll outlast them. See our Mossberg 505 review for more.

Best For: Parents and mentors taking a young hunter after squirrels with a light, short .410 pump.

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Best 20 Gauge Shotguns for Rabbits

For rabbits over beagles or busting brush piles, a 20 gauge pump is hard to beat: enough shot for a running rabbit, light recoil, and cheap shells. These three cover every budget.

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5. Benelli Nova 20 Gauge: Best Rabbit Gun

• Gauge / Chamber: 20 gauge, 2 3/4 and 3 in
• Action: Pump
• Barrel Length: 26 in
• Capacity: 4+1
• Weight: 6.6 lb
• Chokes: IC, M, F included; extended XF turkey tubes available
• Length of Pull: 14 1/4 in
• Sights: Red-bar front
• Model: 20030 black synthetic, 20042 Mossy Oak Bottomland (shown)
• MSRP: $649 black synthetic, $749 Bottomland

Category	Rating
Reliability	5/5
Weatherproofing	5/5
Handling	4.5/5
Recoil Control	4.5/5
Value	4.5/5

The Nova 20 is the rabbit gun I’d take behind a pack of beagles. Benelli builds it on a one-piece steel-reinforced polymer receiver and stock, so wet briars, snow and mud don’t bother it, and the red-bar front sight is easy to pick up on a rabbit streaking across an opening. It weighs 6.6 pounds with a 26-inch barrel and comes with Improved Cylinder, Modified and Full chokes.

Improved Cylinder with 1-ounce #6 was right for most of our rabbit shots over beagles in Kentucky, and when the dogs pushed a rabbit out wide, Modified reached a little farther. It also handles squirrels well with Full and lead #6, and Benelli offers extended XF turkey tubes if you want to shoot 20 gauge TSS.

The action is stiff for the first box or two, then smooths out. Benelli lists the black synthetic model at $649. Our Benelli Nova review goes deeper.

Best For: Rabbit hunters who run beagles or bust brush in wet, cold weather and want a gun that never quits.

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6. Stevens 320 Field Grade 20 Gauge: Best Budget Small Game Shotgun

• Gauge: 20 gauge
• Action: Pump
• Barrel Length: 26 in
• Capacity: 5+1
• Weight: 7.5 lb
• Chokes: Win Choke pattern, Modified included
• Length of Pull: 13.75 in
• Sights: Bead
• Model: 22436
• MSRP: $289

Category	Rating
Value	5/5
Reliability	4/5
Recoil Control	4.5/5
Fit and Finish	3/5
Carry Weight	3/5

The Stevens 320 is the cheapest way to get a 20 gauge pump into the rabbit woods. Savage lists it at $289, it takes Winchester-pattern choke tubes so an Improved Cylinder tube is cheap to add, and it holds 5+1. It’s a gun you won’t worry about in a briar patch or a truck bed.

At 7.5 pounds it’s heavy for a 20 gauge, but that weight makes 1-ounce #6 loads feel soft. Ours had a gritty action for the first box, then ran fine on rabbits and squirrels all winter. The Modified tube it ships with is a good squirrel setting; add IC for rabbits.

Fit and finish are basic, as you’d expect at this price. Read our Stevens 320 review for the long-term picture.

Best For: Budget-minded small game hunters who want a tough 20 gauge pump for the least money.

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7. Maverick 88 All Purpose 20 Gauge: Best Light Budget 20 Gauge

• Gauge / Chamber: 20 gauge, 3 in
• Action: Pump
• Barrel Length: 26 in vent rib
• Capacity: 5+1
• Weight: 7 lb
• Chokes: Modified tube
• Length of Pull: 14 in
• Sights: Dual bead
• Model: 32200
• MSRP: $290

Category	Rating
Value	5/5
Reliability	4.5/5
Handling	4/5
Fit and Finish	3/5
Recoil Control	4/5

The Maverick 88 is Mossberg’s budget pump, and the 20 gauge All Purpose is a light, handy small game gun for $290 list. It has a 26-inch vent rib barrel, a 3-inch chamber, dual beads and 5+1 capacity, and it comes with a Modified choke tube.

We used ours on rabbits over beagles in Ohio with Remington 20 gauge Game Load #6, and it ran every shell. The dual beads help you keep your head down on a rabbit that won’t slow down.

Modified is a good squirrel setting, but for close rabbits you’ll want to add an Improved Cylinder tube. The synthetic stock is plain, and the finish is basic for the price. See our Maverick 88 review for more.

Best For: Hunters who want a cheap, dependable 20 gauge pump for rabbits and squirrels.

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The Pellet Math: .410 TSS vs Lead vs 20 Gauge

This is the table no other small game page shows. Federal’s catalog lists average pellet counts, and matched to real loads they explain why a .410 with TSS can outperform a 20 gauge with lead.

Load	Shot	Pellets
.410, 2 1/2 in, 1/2 oz	Lead #6	112
.410, 2 1/2 in, 1/2 oz	Lead #7.5	175
.410, 3 in, 11/16 oz	Lead #6	155
.410, 3 in, 11/16 oz	Lead #7.5	241
.410, 3 in, 13/16 oz	Tungsten TSS #9	294
20 ga, 7/8 oz	Lead #6	197
20 ga, 1 oz	Lead #6	225
20 ga, 3 in, 1 1/2 oz	Tungsten TSS #9	544

A 3-inch .410 TSS load puts about 294 pellets in the air, more than a 1-ounce 20 gauge load of #6 lead at 225. Because tungsten is much denser than lead, each little #9 TSS pellet also carries enough energy to kill a squirrel at 30-plus yards. That’s why the Stevens 301 Turkey XP and Mossberg 500 Turkey .410 punch well above their size.

The catch is cost. TSS shells cost several times what lead does, so most of us shoot lead #6 for close squirrels and rabbits and save TSS for treetop squirrels at longer range.

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Small Game Loads by the Numbers

Here’s what common squirrel and rabbit loads carry, from the makers’ own pages, including Federal’s .410 Heavyweight TSS #9 load.

Load	Gauge / Shell	Shot	Payload	Muzzle velocity
Federal Game Load Upland Hi-Brass	.410, 2 1/2 in	Lead #6	1/2 oz	1,200 fps
Federal Game Load Upland Hi-Brass	.410, 3 in	Lead #6	11/16 oz	1,135 fps
Federal Heavyweight TSS	.410, 3 in	Tungsten #9	13/16 oz	1,100 fps
Remington Game Load	20 ga, 2 3/4 in	Lead #6	7/8 oz	1,225 fps
Federal Game Load Upland Hi-Brass	20 ga, 2 3/4 in	Lead #6	1 oz	1,220 fps
Federal Game Load Upland Hi-Brass	20 ga, 3 in	Lead #6	1 1/4 oz	1,300 fps
Federal Heavyweight TSS	20 ga, 3 in	Tungsten #9	1 1/2 oz	1,100 fps
Federal Game Load Upland Heavy Field	12 ga, 2 3/4 in	Lead #6	1 1/8 oz	1,255 fps
Federal Game Load Upland Hi-Brass	12 ga, 2 3/4 in	Lead #6	1 1/4 oz	1,330 fps

Lead #6 is the all-round small game shot. It carries enough energy for fox squirrels and big cottontails, and it’s cheap. #7.5 gives a denser pattern for gray squirrels at close range but loses energy faster.

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How Big Are Squirrels and Rabbits?

Animal	Weight	Length
Eastern gray squirrel	3/4 to 1 1/2 lb	14 to 21 in
Eastern fox squirrel	1 to 3 lb	19 to 29 in
Eastern cottontail	2 to 3 1/4 lb	14 to 19 in

All figures are from the Missouri Department of Conservation. A big fox squirrel can weigh twice what a gray does, which is why #6 is a better all-round choice than #7.5 if you hunt both. Missouri alone harvests around 300,000 rabbits a year, at about 1 1/2 pounds of meat each.

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Choke: Treed Squirrels vs Running Rabbits

Squirrels and rabbits want different chokes. A squirrel sitting on a limb 30 yards up is a small, still target, so a tight choke, Modified with lead or an extra-full turkey tube with TSS, keeps the pattern dense. A rabbit bolting out of a brush pile at 15 yards needs an open pattern, so Improved Cylinder is right; a tight choke will either miss it or ruin the meat.

If you hunt both with one gun, a screw-in choke gun like the Nova, the Henry Provider or the Stevens 320 lets you switch in seconds. Our shotgun chokes explained guide explains the constrictions.

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Seasons, Orange and Shot-Size Rules

Small game rules vary a lot by state. A few examples from the state agencies:

• Missouri: squirrel season runs May 23, 2026 to February 15, 2027 with a daily limit of 10; rabbit season runs October 1, 2026 to February 15, 2027 with a daily limit of 6. During the November portion of firearms deer season, rabbits and squirrels may only be taken with .22 or smaller rimfire or shot no larger than No. 4 (landowners on their own land are exempt), and nontoxic shot is required for shotgun hunting, including rabbit and squirrel, on 37 conservation areas.
• Pennsylvania: The Pennsylvania Game Commission lists a 2026-27 squirrel season from September 12 with a daily limit of 6, and a rabbit season from October 17 with a daily limit of 4. Small game shotguns are limited to 3 shells in the chamber and magazine combined and shot no larger than No. 4 lead or No. 2 steel, and hunters must wear 250 square inches of fluorescent orange during all small game seasons.
• Tennessee: squirrel season opened August 22, 2026 with a daily bag of 10 through March 15, 2027.

Read your own state’s rules before opening day, especially orange requirements when you’re hunting rabbits with a group behind beagles.

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Shotgun, Rimfire or Air Rifle for Small Game?

A shotgun is the right tool for running rabbits and for squirrels moving fast through thick leaves early in the season. A .22 rimfire is better for still squirrels late in the season, when you can pick a head shot and save all the meat; see our best small game rifles roundup. An air rifle is the quietest option of all; our best air rifles for hunting guide covers the best ones.

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How We Picked These Small Game Shotguns

We checked every spec against the maker’s own website, dropped models whose maker photos didn’t match the exact gauge, and made sure every pick has a live price card from trusted retailers. You can compare more than 200 retailers with our gun price check tool. For other hunting guns, see our best predator hunting shotguns and best quail and upland shotguns roundups and our guide to the best guns for hunting.

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