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Best Semi-Auto Shotguns of 2024

shotgun showdown Dec 26, 2024

It's that time of year again when we countdown our top picks of semi-auto shotguns! Every year, we get our hands on more shotguns to review, and the more shotguns we shoot, the more experience we gain. With that, we update this list every year to reflect what we believe to be the best shotguns on the market. Since we only speak to what we know, this list only includes shotguns that we've reviewed! Keeping track of all these guns can be challenging, so we use the Shotgun Finder tool to help us make this video.

We decided to rank guns within four categories this year: Best for clays, best for waterfowl, best for all-purpose/general shooting, and best for upland hunting. Each category has three subcategories: Best on a budget, best value (The value ratio based on our Shotgun Finder Scoring system), and best overall. This is our favorite gun, regardless of price. We spend a lot of time testing and scoring these shotguns. But at the end of the day, this list is just our opinion, so feel free to disagree! Let's get into it!

If you have opinions about our picks, let us know your thoughts on the TFL COMMUNITY!

Best Semi-Auto Shotguns for Clay Shooting

Best on a Budget: CZ 712 G3

A great dedicated target shotgun, the CZ 712 G3 comes with a 30-inch barrel, adjustable comb and shims, and improved ergonomics over its predecessor, the G2. It handles recoil well, and is well balanced for its competitive price of right around $800.

Best Value: SKB RS300

The SKB RS300 stands out for its excellent adaptability for gun fit. It's a no-frills shotgun, but gun fit is super important. This SKB will definitely meet your stock spec needs. $1,229 is a good price for this value-packed shotgun.

Best Overall: Beretta A400 Xcel Multi-Target

The more we shot this shotgun, the more we loved it. This is a premium shotgun with an adjustable rib and light recoil courtesy of the kick-off system, good versatility, awesome ergonomics, and the list goes on. Not to mention, this was a fast shotgun, and we love speed. The Beretta A400 Xcel Multi-Target excels across multiple clay disciplines. Starting at $3,110, this is a relatively good price for how much greatness is packed into this shotgun.

Honorable Mentions:
- Benelli Performance Shop Ethos Sport A.I.: We really enjoyed shooting this new Benelli. We're not sure if the A.I tech does anything significant but it sure shot nice!

- Beretta A400 Xcel Sporting: A classic. You can never go wrong with an A400.

Best Semi-Auto Shotguns for Waterfowl Hunting

Best on a Budget: Weatherby Element Waterfowler

This budget-friendly shotgun feels like it should be double its price. This Weatherby is $799. It is an inertia-driven shotgun. The ergonomics stand out for us, with our favorite aspect being the rubber over-molded grips that you typically only see on shotguns, which are more expensive than this one. Despite its modest price tag, the Weatherby Element Waterfowler feels premium and performs well.

Honorable Mentions:
- Mossberg 935 : A very reliable 3.5 inch shotgun with minimal recoil for around $800.
- Tristar G2 Pro: This is a reliable shotgun for around $900. Nothing special, but worthy of an honorable mention.

- CZ 712 G3: We believe that CZ does a good job of providing good quality at a very competitive price. We loved the CZ and found it in the wood version for only $529!

Best Value: Franchi Affinity 3 Waterfowl Elite

This is a super competitive category. There is a plethora of shotguns claiming to "Be the best value". In our experience, The Franchi Affinity 3 Waterfowl Elite continues to be a stand out shotgun. It combines durability and reliability in a package that outshines many pricier options. With excellent build quality and consistent performance, this shotgun is an outstanding choice for waterfowl hunters seeking value. We found it for around $1,300.

Honorable Mentions:
- Mossberg 940 Pro: We love the 940 Pro and have shot tens of thousands of rounds through it.

- Remington V3: This shotgun has an incredible gas system.

- Retay Masai Mara: For a Turkish shotgun, this Retay really impressed us with itsergonomics and slick features.

- Winchester SX4: This is a tried and true shotgun. Very versatile and reliable.

- Beretta A300 Ultima: The A300 platform is fantastic. All of these are great, but the Franchi takes the cake!

Best Overall: Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus

The Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus is a true workhorse, equipped with rubber over-molding on the grips, light recoil, and reliable cycling in harsh conditions. Its superior build quality and performance make it a top pick for serious waterfowl hunters. This is a true tank and comes in around $1,800.

Honorable Mentions:
- Fabarm XLR Chesapeake: A very unique, but well built shotgun. This ranked very close to the A400.

- Browning A5: You can't go wrong with the new A5.

- Browning Maxus II: The Maxus II has always performed well in our testing. It has great ergonomics and features that exceed that of the Winchester SX4 but at nearly double the price.

- Breda 3.5SM: The Breda was a high contender. Not many people know of this shotgun, but it's definitely worth checking out.

Best Semi-Auto Shotguns for Upland Hunting

Best on a Budget: Retay Gordion

Weighing just 6lbs 2oz, the Retay Gordion 20-Gauge is lightweight, ergonomically designed, and equipped with slender grips, making it ideal for all-day field use. Its affordability and reliability make it a great shotgun for upland hunters on a budget. For this category, not many other shotguns come close to the Gordion.

Best Value: Retay Gordion

Offering exceptional quality at the crazy affordable price of $949, the Retay Gordion continues to dominate the budget, and value categories. We simply love the Gordion.

Honorable Mentions:
- Retay Masai Mara: As you can see, Retay definitely has something going in upland department.

- Winchester SX4 Upland: We love the SX4. It comes in around $1,400. We believe that the Retay options pack more punch for the money.

Best Overall: Benelli Ethos

Combining lightweight construction, a beautiful design, and an easy breakdown for cleaning, the Benelli Ethos is a top-tier choice for upland hunters. Its functionality and aesthetics make it a pleasure to use in the field, and elsewhere if you so choose. This is a dynamic gun. We haven't reviewed the base model Ethos specifically, but we can confidently conclude that it's hands down best overall based on our other Ethos reviews. This base model Ethos is $2,300.

Honorable Mentions:
- Fabarm L4S: As we said, Fabarm knows how to make a high-quality shotgun. However, the Ethos beat this category because the L4S only comes in 12 gauge and we love a good 20 gauge option for upland.

- Browning A5 20 Gauge: We really enjoyed this new addition to the A5 family. It's super light and easy to walk with. Ergonomically, we prefer the Ethos line.

Best All-Purpose Semi-Auto Shotguns

Best on a Budget: Weatherby Element Synthetic

Durable, reliable, and versatile, the Weatherby Element Synthetic is a solid choice for hunters seeking an affordable shotgun that can handle a variety of scenarios. Its all-around performance makes it a dependable workhorse. The synthetic version comes in at only $649!

Honorable Mentions:
- Retay Gordion (Synthetic): Need we say more? Actually yes - The Gordion is available in a compact model as well!

- Wimberley S12: Another not well known shotgun that you should check out. This thing is only $589!

Best Value: Mossberg 940 Pro

The Mossberg 940 Pro boasts adjustability, light recoil, and consistent reliability. Tested to the limits, this shotgun delivers exceptional performance in every category, earning its reputation as a versatile and valuable firearm. We've used and abused this shotgun a lot. With tens of thousands of rounds through it, we can confidently say this is a high-value shotgun for the money. ($987)

Honorable Mentions: (All previously mentioned)
- Beretta A300 Ultima: $979 (For the synthetic)
- Franchi Affinity 3: $949 (For the synthetic)
- Winchester SX4: $898 (For the synthetic)

Best Overall: Benelli Ethos Cordoba BE.S.T.

Elegant yet rugged, the Benelli Ethos Cordoba BE.S.T. features ultra-reliable cycling, ported barrels for reduced muzzle jump, and the BE.S.T. coating for awesome durability. Its ability to excel in every shooting scenario makes it our best overall pick. This Cordoba is $2,549.

Honorable Mentions: (All previously mentioned)
- Fabarm XLR Chesapeake: The Cordoba beat out the Fabarm because it only comes in a camo version. We believe an "All-Purpose" shotgun should be available in a base-model synthetic.
- Browning A5: $1,539.
- Browning Maxus II: $1,729.