BEST OVER UNDER SHOTGUNS OF 2023

Over the past 3 years, we've had the opportunity to shoot, test, and review numerous over-under shotguns. To round out 2023, we've put together this list of our favorite over-under shotguns of the year. These are all guns that we've personally shot and reviewed, so the information you're getting is coming from real-life experience. This list covers guns for every category such as upland hunting, clay shooting, best all-purpose, and waterfowl hunting. Whether you agree or disagree with any of our 2023 picks we want to hear about it on the TFL Community!

What is the best over-under shotgun? First off, that question is impossible to answer, there are many variables such as what will you be doing with the shotgun and how much are you willing to spend. We've curated our lists of best over-under shotguns using only guns that we've personally shot. We've also included multiple shotguns in each category in the hopes of covering the best options at varying price points so there's a pick for everybody. Let's get this list kicked off with our first category:

BEST FOR CLAY SHOOTING

#3 MOSSBERG SUPER SPORT

This is an over-under shotgun that has great adjustability at a very affordable price. You get a lot of shotgun for the money - plain and simple. It's got decent ergonomics with a palm swell - We really like the forend. this gun is about 8 lb 8 oz which is absolutely great for clay shooting and it comes in at a price point of about $1,400. To get an over-under for $1,400 with that much adjustability is just awesome. 

• This is a 12-gauge (410 available)
• MSRP: $1,400 (Base Gold with limited adjustability is $1,000) 
• Intended for sporting disciplines
• The length of pull is adjustable from 13 1/2" to 15" (Add a FalconStrike for less recoil)
• Drop at comb is very adjustable as well
• Comes with 5 color-coded extended chokes (upgrade to Carlson's Chokes) Use Code "targetfocused20" for 20% off
• 30" barrel 
• 8.5 LBS
• Decent feeling mechanical triggers - average pull weight of 7 LBS

#2 SKB 90TSS

Number two on our list is the SKB 90 TSS. Now this gun is supposed to be a dedicated trap gun, but we found it to be a great overall clay shooting gun. Like the Mossberg Super Sport, it has a ton of adjustability. We were impressed with the performance overall of this gun. It had minimum recoil - we thought it was well-suited for multiple disciplines. It comes in at 8lbs 4oz and the MSRP is $2,049, so it's a little bit more money than  Mossberg, but we'd say its a little bit better on the quality and ergonomics. It's a great overall shotgun - We really liked the SKB 90 TSS.

• 12 gauge 
• Break action
• The 90TSS comes with three chokes - But of course, we've swapped those out with a Carlson's Choke Tube Use Code "targetfocused20" for 20% off
• 3" chamber 
• 32" Barrell (30" available)
• Shotgun Weight is 8lbs 14oz 
• Length of pull is adjustable from 14" - 15 1/4" (On the adult version) SKB has many offerings for different-sized as well as left and right-handed shooters (Add a FalconStrike for less recoil)
• The comb is parallel and can be adjusted up or down by about an inch
• The butt plate can swivel left or right to kick the toe away from your chest as needed to fit your body perfectly
• The cast is also adjustable from left to right as well to fit to get your eye centered on the shotgun

#1 RIZZINI BR110 SPORTER IPS

Topping the list for best clay shooting over under shotguns is the Rizzini BR110 Sporter IPS. You know a gun is good when it has four names. The br110 Sporter IPS is the first Rizzini shotgun that we've ever reviewed here on the TFL channel. There was just so much we loved about this shotgun. First, we loved the look of this beautifully crafted shotgun. It has a great adjustable comb, an awesome trigger, super solid grade 2 Walnut, and it just felt great in the hands. We liked the adjustable rib that requires no tools to adjust. You can easily adjust the rib to give you different points of impact. If you're moving from Trap to Skeet to Sporting Clays, you have the option to adjust it on the fly. The grade 2 wood has impressive 26-lines per inch checkering and comes in at 8 lb 5 oz. Now it's going to cost you a little bit more than the other guns on this list with an MSRP of $3,565. We loved this gun so much that Steve made it his official trap gun for the 2023 season.

• This is a 12-gauge, 3-inch model with inertia triggers 
• MSRP: $3,565 (Sporter IPS) $2,620 (Sporter) $2935 (Sporter X)
• Intended for sporting disciplines
• The length of pull is 14 3/8 according to Rizzini, we measured 14 3/4" (Add a FalconStrike for less recoil)
• Drop at comb is 1 1/4 adjustable to 1 5/8 (according to Rizzini)
• Drop at heel is 2 1/5 (according to Rizzini)
• 26 lines per inch checkering throughout (impressive and nice!)
• This is the 30" barrel option (28" and 32" available)
• The rib is adjustable! (50/50, 60/40, 70/30) No tools needed!
• Adjustable comb
• Xl Bore - Back bored with extended forcing cone
• 8.5 LBS according to Rizzini, we weighed this gun at 8lbs 14.3oz
• When we put this shotgun on the trigger scale, we got an average pull weight between 3.5lbs and 4lbs. Making this the lightest shotgun trigger we've ever reviewed. Super stoked to see how this benefits our speed shooting test!
• (upgrade to Carlson's Chokes) Use Code "targetfocused20" for 20% off

BEST FOR WATERFOWL

#1 BROWNING CYNERGY CX

Not a lot of Manufacturers make over-unders specifically for waterfowl and if they have, we maybe haven't reviewed it. But there's one gun that came to mind when we put together this list and that's the Browning Cynergy. We reviewed the Browning Cynergy in walnut, but Browning also makes the Cynergy in a Wicked Wing Edition that's Cerakoted and dipped and looks great. This gun has an adjustable comb, and comes in at 7 lb 6 oz, and has an MSRP of $2,579. So if you're one of those folks who really loves to hunt waterfowl with an over-under, we want to hear from you on the TFL Community! This is a great option - we'd love to review more over-unders that would be good for waterfowl, but since this is where our experience starts and stops, we think it's a great option.

• 12 gauge 
• 30" Barrel (26" or 28" option)
• 7lbs 14oz 
• Length of Pull 14 1/4" (Add a FalconStrike for less recoil)
• Drop at Comb 1 5/8" 
• Drop at Heel 2"
• Comes with spacers to adjust the length of pull
• Comes with 3 Invector Plus Midus chokes (upgrade to Carlson's Chokes) Use Code "targetfocused20" for 20% off

BEST FOR UPLAND

#3 MOSSBERG GOLD RESERVE

Number three on this list is the Mossberg Gold Reserve over under in 20 gauge. Now there's nothing overly fancy about this shotgun - kind of standard wood, a nice black receiver, and certainly nothing fancy. But we took it out hunting this last weekend and as I walked through the field, the slender grip and overall weight made it a very enjoyable shotgun to walk with. It shot incredibly well too. There was just so much that we came to like about this shotgun while bird hunting. It comes in at 6 lb 4 oz - you can walk all day with this thing. This is a great gun for the money coming in at an MSRP of $1,135. It's within the price range that a lot of folks can afford. That's why it's number three on our list for Upland shotguns

• 20-gauge (available in 12 as well)
• MSRP: $1,135, but check out the prices we found at Reeds (at time of publishing)
•  3-inch chamber
• The length of pull is 14" - this gun does not come with spacers - you'll need an aftermarket pad to extend the LOP. (Add a FalconStrike for less recoil)
• Drop at comb is 1 1/2"
• Drop at heel is 2 1/4"
• It appears that this gun has a little cast-off (stock angle for right-handed shooters)
• This shotgun comes with 5 extended chokes (upgrade to Carlson's Chokes) Use Code "targetfocused20" for 20% off
• 30" barrel 
• 6lbs 4oz
• This Mossberg has a mechanical trigger
• The average pull weight of this trigger was 6lbs 10oz

#2 CZ SHARPTAIL

Here's a curveball - The CZ sharptail in 20 gauge. This gun isn't an over-under, but we decided to make an exception for this list as it's the only side-by-side we've reviewed to date. This shotgun stood out as an incredible value. The MSRP is $999 and yet it looks beautiful. It looks way more expensive than it is. It was fun to shoot, has nice craftsmanship, and a pretty decent trigger. Coming in at 6 lb 5 oz, this is another one of those guns that you can carry all day in the field. We took this gun to the field this fall as well and hunted doves with it. It shot very naturally and we enjoyed it tremendously. At this price point, it's hard to beat the value that this sharptail brings to the table. That's why it is number two on the list.

• 20 gauge (12,28, 410 gauge available)
• Side-by-side break action
• 5 chokes that come in a nice hard case - But of course, we've swapped those out with a Carlson's Choke Tube Use Code "targetfocused20" for 20% off
• 3" chamber 
• 28" Barrell 
• Shotgun Weight is 6lbs 5oz
• 14 1/2" Length of pull (LoP can be changed by purchasing different-sized recoil pads) (Add a FalconStrike for less recoil)
• 1 1/2" Drop at comb
• 2 1/4" Drop at heel

#1 BERETTA 686 SILVER PIGEON

Number one on our list of best upland shotguns has made the list before. This is returning from years prior: It's the Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon. This gun is also super light so you can carry it for long periods of time. It's comes in at 6 lb 3 oz, and has a really nice balance, slender grips. It operates, looks, and feels as a very nice shotgun such as this Beretta should. This gun is quite a bit more than the others on this list with an MSRP of $2,350. We've also hunted with this shotgun and really enjoyed its maneuverability, pointability, and light weight. We liked everything except for one thing: The Auto Safety. Once you open that gun up, it goes back on safe. So just be aware that if you shoot your two shells, reload, and close the gun, the safety will automatically turn back on. A slick, but somewhat annoying feature if you're not use to it. Otherwise, this gun easily takes the number one spot on this list. 

• 20 gauge - Over-under (Available in 12,28, and 410 gauges as well)
• Designed for upland/wing shooting
• 28"  Barrell (30 inch available)
• 6lbs 3oz 
• Length of Pull 14 3/4" Out of the Box (Longer pads available) (Add a FalconStrike for less recoil)
• Drop at comb 1 3/8"
• Drop at Heel  2 1/4"
• Comes with 5 flush mount chokes - Mobil Chokes (upgrade to Carlson's Chokes) Use Code "targetfocused20" for 20% off

BEST ALL-PURPOSE

#3 WEATHERBY ORION

Number three on our list is the Weatherby Orion. Just like some of the other Weatherby guns that we've tested over the years, we didn't necessarily have the highest expectations of their shotguns. We've been pleasantly surprised every time we shoot them. This gun is very plain looking and very basic. We don't say that to knock it, but it's just kind of a no frills gun. Bang for the buck though, it is a phenomenal gun. It's very affordable! It's a little chunky in the hands and comes in at 7 lbs, but it's an overall solid gun for the money with an MSRP of $1,049. This is a gun that a lot of folks can afford and it's just overall a really good gun. That's why the Weatherby Orion is number three for all-purpose shotguns.

• 12-gauge
• Double Barrel over under
• MSRP: $1,149 
• 3-inch chamber
• The length of pull is 14 5/8" - you'll need an aftermarket pad to extend this (Add a FalconStrike for less recoil)
• Drop at comb is 1.5 inches - the entire comb is adjustable with provided washers and alan key. The combs posts are also adjustable to adjust your cast from left to right. 
• This shotgun comes with 5 extended chokes (upgrade to Carlson's Chokes) Use Code "targetfocused20" for 20% off
• 30" barrel 
• 7lbs 11oz
• The average pull weight of this trigger was around 8 lbs. This gun has mechanical triggers and the first pull always seemed to be lighter than the second. This is a bit heavier than we would prefer but the break was pretty crisp. Also keep in mind that new guns need sometime to break in it's tolerences.

#2 FRANCHI INSTINCT SIDE-PLATE

Number two on the list is the Franchi Instinct. Now we reviewed this gun a few years ago - it was the side plate version. One of the things that really stood out about this gun was how beautiful it looked for the price point. Like the Sharptail, it looked like a gun that was a lot more expensive than it was. It tips the scale at 7 lb 9 oz and has really decent ergonomics overall. But what stands out the most is its high quality look, and very high-quality of build relative to the price-point. There are a lot of great things about this Franchi shotgun. It's an all-around great shotgun that feels and operates well. This Franchi is quite a bit more than the Weatherby coming in at $2,229 MSRP, but just like many over/under sportsmen, we really appreciate the craftsmanship of our firearms. This is a top-tier break action for the money. 

• 12 gauge (20 gauge available)
• 3" chamber
• 28" Barrel
• 7lbs 9oz 
• Length of Pull 14 1/4" (Add a FalconStrike for less recoil)
• Drop at Comb 1 1/2" 
• Drop at Heel 2" Adjustable with shims
• Comes with 5 chokes (upgrade to Carlson's Chokes) Use Code "targetfocused20" for 20% off
• Auto-reset safety

#1 BROWNING CITORI 725 SPORTING

The highly coveted number one spot on our list for all-purpose over under shotguns goes to the Browning Citori 725 - And even more specifically, the Sporting version. We reviewed this shotgun in 28 gauge and absolutely fell in love with it. It has a trigger under 4 lb which is just phenomenal. It has an adjustable trigger, and replaceable trigger shoes so you can get different feels on your trigger to best suit your shooting style. We prefer the cantilevered trigger that shapes to fit your finger. There's also smooth triggers, and textured triggers to choose from. We're all about customization to accomplish the best performance possible and Browning really killed it in the 725 trigger. It feels great in the hands, and mounts and swings more naturally than any other gun on this list. A big part of the fact that we reviewed the 28 gauge. Sub-gauges are automatically just more enjoyable all-around in our book. This 725 sports very nice wood with 20-line per inch checkering. This is a phenomenal looking shotgun. But more importantly, Its a phenomenal operating shotgun. If you want to shoot a little bit of everything but really like to crush clays, this would be a phenomenal gun for you. However, you're going to pay a little bit more for this gun. The MSRP is $3,599. We hope to get into some higher end shotguns as we continue to put out reviews, but relative to what we've shot, this Browning 725 is hard to beat. 

• 28 gauge (12, 410 available)
• 30" Barrel (32" option)
• 7lbs 8oz 
• Length of Pull 14 3/4" (Add a FalconStrike for less recoil)
• Drop at Comb 1 9/16" 
• Drop at Heel 2 3/16"
• Comes with 5 chokes (upgrade to Carlson's Chokes) Use Code "targetfocused20" for 20% off

That concludes our 2023 list of best over/under shotguns! This has been a great year for TFL and we really appreciate you tuning in! We want to hear from you! Do you agree with our list? What guns would you have rather seen on this list? Whether you agree or disagree with us, make your voice heard on the TFL Community! And remember, whether you're in the field or in life, you'll only hit the shots you're laser-focused on, so live target-focused!