BEST SEMI-AUTO SHOTGUNS OF 2022:

Here we are, our last video for 2022! This has been great year for TFL and we appreciate your continued support! I've had the opportunity to get my hands on a lot of new guns to review this year. Luckily, I got to spend quality time with most of them and feel confident in the opinions I've formed. For this "Best Semi-Auto Shotguns of 2022" list, I am not only considering guns that I reviewed this year - Some of these picks are guns that I reviewed last year because of how they continue to impress me. Also, note that this list may change over time as I become more experienced, and shoot more guns. With that said, you know the drill: Our five categories are best for clay shooting, duck hunting, upland hunting, all-purpose, and the best bang for the buck. This list is a bit different than the other videos because I'll be selecting both a gas and an inertia gun for each category. Let's go!

BEST FOR CLAY SHOOTING:

Beretta A400 XCEL (Gas):

(WATCH REVIEW HERE) This is a solid gun that was designed for busting clays. This Beretta has awesome oversized controls and a beautiful finish. It is a little bit front-heavy, making that swing nice a smooth. This is the updated XCEL - You may remember the old XCEL had a bright blue receiver. The forend cap is weighted to help you dial in that perfect balance. This A400 stock sports the kick-off recoil reduction system which handles recoil very well. The only thing I'd maybe change about this gun is the flat rib - I much prefer a stepped-up rib. But with that said, I love to shoot this gun, and I point it well.

Benelli Ethos Sport (Inertia):

(WATCH REVIEW HERE) The Benelli Ethos Sport is a killer gun. The Ethos Sport I reviewed was in 28ga. Man, I love shooting 28ga.  This Benelli was also designed with the sportsman in mind as it comes with a super ergonomical grip, incredibly smooth recoil, and a replaceable carbon fiber rib. I really enjoy how lightweight this gun is. You can really maneuver it how you need to with no issue. The barrel is also ported. The stock has the Comfort Tech 3 cheek pad as well. Fantastic looking, and operating gun. 

BEST FOR DUCK HUNTING:

Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus (Gas):

(WATCH REVIEW HERE) This gun is a tank. When you pick it up, you can feel the heft of the build. For a duck gun, this doesn't particularly matter to me if I'm just sitting in a blind. As a matter of fact, I prefer it because I know the weight is going to handle the recoil of bigger duck and goose loads much better. This gun is similar to the XCEL sporting and also has the kick-off system. The rubber grips are awesome. The trigger guard is oversized as well, making it super easy to operate with gloves on. The more I shoot this shotgun the more I love it. Hats off to Beretta for making some fantastic guns!

Franchi Affinity 3 (Inertia):

(WATCH REVIEW HERE) This is absolutely one of my favorite guns right now. There's really not much I think I'd change about it. I picked it as my duck gun because of how reliable it has been. I've thrown so many tests at this gun and it continues to perform. I know this may not be important to most people, but I was able to shoot this gun extremely fast. This is also a super good-looking gun. There are not many people that put this much value into a duck/waterfowl gun at this price point. I appreciate how well this Franchi is put together for the reasonable price that I got it for.  

BEST FOR UPLAND HUNTING:

Winchester SX4 Upland Edition (Gas):

(WATCH REVIEW HERE) A close all-around contender to my Franchi Affinity is the Sx4. I have used this gun professionally for most of my career. I also enjoy upland hunting the most out of all these categories. So, naturally, an SX4 would be my pick. This upland edition comes with an engraved receiver and nice-looking wood stock. Like the Affinity, this gun is super reliable. It's been my go-to for trick shooting, so why not continue with it out in the field? This is my no-brainer pick for the best upland gun that I'd be happy to carry with me all day in the field. (In my opinion)

Browning A5 Sweet 16 (Inertia):

(WATCH REVIEW HERE)  Speaking of carrying guns in the field all day long, there's one inertia gun that comes to mind: The Browning Sweet 16. This is a super classy gun with that nostalgic A5 look. I like the weight and practicality of a 16 gauge and would gladly hunt with it. This Browning is one of those guns that when I grab it, it just feels right. The slender, glossy wood forearm is super easy to grip and hold onto. Holding this gun all day would be a breeze. 

BEST ALL-PURPOSE:

Mossberg 940 PRO (Gas):

(WATCH REVIEW HERE) This category is all about picking a gun that I know will perform no matter the circumstance. Whether we're hunting birds, shooting clays, or doing trick shots, I KNOW that the 940 is going to perform. I have had the opportunity to learn a lot about Mossberg this year and shoot many of their guns. As a matter of fact, I did my 940 review with Jerry Miculek himself! This 940 has surprised me. I like that It's pretty customizable to set up how you'd like, and to what you may be using it for. What I like here is that the 940 is a super affordable gun for what you're getting. Mossberg makes fantastic, high-quality guns without some of the flash that leads to a higher price point for the customer.

Benelli Ethos Cordoba BE.S.T (Inertia):

(WATCH REVIEW HERE)  Introducing the gun so good that it has three names! I shot this gun way better than I  expected to. My past experiences with Benelli have been kind of on and off, so I wasn't sure what to expect. As soon as I picked this gun up and shot it, I knew that it'd be on this list or 2022. I like that this gun has a stepped-up rib, unlike a lot of these guns. However, this gun steps up in price as well, coming in at around $2,000. A large part of that price point comes from Its BE.S.T coating (Benelli Surface Treatment), which claims that it can withstand all elements, including saltwater. I haven't tried that, but I'd like to! Technicalities aside, I was able to shoot this shotgun very well, and I really enjoyed it. 

BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK:

Mossberg 940 PRO AND The SX4 (Gas):

The more I shoot the 940 pro and compare it to many years of experience with the SX4, the more and more I respect the 940 as an awesome, versatile option. All I can say is that they both shoot super well at a good price. The only edge that I'd maybe give the 940 PRO is the fact that it comes with adjustment shims, whereas the SX4 does not. Both are great guns.

Weatherby Element (Inertia):

(WATCH REVIEW HERE)  This Weatherby was my inertia pick last year as well. There are not many guns that come in this kind of package at the price that Weatherby is asking. It's not often you can even find a gun with rubber over moldings for less than $1,000 - Weatherby has done that, and much more in the Element. To be completely honest, I didn't have high expectations for this gun as Weatherby is known more for their rifles. Boy, was I surprised. I truthfully loved shooting this shotgun.

Honorbale Mention: Franchi Affinity 3 (Inertia):

I don't have much more to say as the Affinity has already been on the list, but when it comes to the best bang for the buck, this Franchi deserves mention. I love using this gun for all sorts of shooting activities, knowing it didn't break the bank.  

These are my top picks for semi-auto in 2022! Thanks for tuning in! Please note that as I review more guns and have more experiences, this list might change. Also, note that this is just my opinion and you are fully entitled to yours! With that said, hop on the free TFL community and let me know if you agree/disagree or whatever!

Whether our targets in the field or our targets in life, we will only hit what we are focused on, so live the #targetfocusedlife 

Stay Target Focused,

Steve