One of the great things about my job is I get paid to research all the top-selling guns and tactical gear.
Finding all the best deals and what the rest of the world is looking at helps me find the best guns and gear for my arsenal.
Photo: Justin Baker, Media Manager at CMG.
I’ve noticed that shotguns vary in popularity more so than pistols and rifles do. I think it’s because we often buy shotguns year-round for different purposes and pistols are pretty straightforward.
Regardless of the hunting season, the best-selling shotguns are tactical shotguns that are more versatile, modular, and come in more compact sizes for improved ergonomics.
Depending on who you are, bullpup shotguns are the next great thing or not very practical. I respect the viewpoint of the traditionalist shooter, but I’m always about experiencing and searching for the newest innovations in weaponry. Anytime you can get a 12-Gauge shotgun with the ability to hold 15 (2.75") shells and 13 (3")shells, you gain a fire superiority that can’t be touched with other shotguns.
I haven’t shot the S&W M&P 12, but from what I’ve seen, it looks like it’s not only a lot of fun but also a futuristic shotgun model that is pushing the threshold of what shotgun capability to new heights. You love the versatility of having 4 palm swell grip options to choose from to accommodate shooters with small or excessively large hands. The AR ambidextrous safety mechanism is a nice feature that brings the nostalgia of an AR-15.
Ambidextrous Safety Lever provides versatility to us lefties
Bullpup design allows the barrel to be longer without increasing the overall length
Highest capacity of any shotgun I’ve seen
4140 Chrome-Moly Vanadium Steel is incredibly strong and durable for a barrel
Cons
Very expensive
Very heavy because of the extra barrel
Where Else Can Buy The Smith & Wesson M&P 12 Bullpup Shotgun?
All 3 companies below sell the Smith & Wesson M&P 12 Bullpup Shotgun, but they’re all currently sold out. I included the links to give you more opportunities to buy from other stores as they restock their shelves. Even though as of today it’s sold out, they could get new guns in any day, so it’s important to check back frequently.
The Maverick 88 Security differs from the Mossberg Maverick 88 in barrel length, overall length, and weight. 6.75" is a big difference in the shotgun’s ergonomics because the center of gravity of the Maverick 88 Security is going to be closer to your shoulder. I would buy the Magpul SGA stock because it’s thicker, heavier, and more modular (I also like the price). I think it does better with recoil, even though the AR stock helps make the shotgun more tactical in tight spaces in and around our homes.
Photo: Justin Baker, Media Manager at CMG.
The Maverick 88 Security features a shorter18" barrel and 6.75"overall length for a more compact shooting platform. It’s also 12.8 ounces lighter to make it easier to manipulate as you quickly move around corners and doors. The Maverick 88 offers the Mossberg reliability with the twin-action bars, dual extractors, and the steel-to-steel lockup to go with the traditional manual safety switch on the receiver.
I personally may have not shot the S&W M&P bullpup shotgun, but everyone at RE and CMG has hundreds of hours through our company Mossberg’s and Remington’s.
Photo: Justin Baker, Media Manager at CMG. Mossberg Shockwave (top), Middle/tan is a Remington 870 Express, Bottom is a Mossberg 590A1
Mossberg Maverick 88 Security Vs. Mossberg 88 Specs
The Mossberg 930 shotgun is arguably the most versatile of the Mossberg semi-auto shotgun. It has 9 different load-outs for either tactical or hunting applications. As far as the 930 tactical model, it’s the perfect solution to home defense. I own a few shotguns, but the ones I use are the Stoeger M3500 and the Mossberg 500. I think everyone should have at least 1 semi-auto shotgun for the versatility that it brings.
I travel a lot for work and even though I live in a quiet, rural area in SouthWest Virginia, I worry about my family when I’m gone. For this reason, I’ve trained my wife with my Stoeger M3500 and Mossberg. There is no easier and more effective gun than a semi-auto shotgun for home defense. I load my Stoeger up with 00 Buckshot, so all my wife has to do is keep the barrel towards the door and keep pulling the trigger until she feels safe. The 00 Buckshot will take care of the rest and ensure that no one wants that kind of smoke.
8-Shot capacity is more than enough for the job of self-defense
Drilled & Tapped For easy Optic Installation
8 shells are enough for both tactical and home defense situations
Cons
In a tactical situation, you’ll lose time reloading
Over-inflated price right now
The recoil is rough with 00 Buckshot
4. Remington Model 870 Express
Our Remington 870 Express might look a little different from what you’re used to seeing with the 870, but it’s still the same tried and true 870, with upgraded stock, trigger, and fore-grip. The 870 Express just means that it’s a 3" chamber instead of the original 2.75" chamber that made the Remington 870 so special for the hundreds of thousands of LEOs that have carried the 870 for the last 4 decades.
Remington 870 Express
The 870 Express also implies the stock and fore-grip are synthetic instead of wood. one of the only gripes I’ve had with the Remington 870 was the recoil from the wooden stock and thin recoil pad. Our modular synthetic stock has a thicker recoil pad, and slot for a sling, and features an adjustable LOP. We really like the aesthetics of the FDE stock and fore-grip and how it contrasts with the steel receiver. Even though it’s a little beaten up, the aftermarket stock and fore-grip make it look much newer and fresher than it actually is.
The Kel-Tec KS7 is very similar to the S&W M&P 12 with its bullpup barrel design and futuristic aesthetics. If you’re ever curious about why people buy this shotgun, all you have to do is look at it to see why it’s so intriguing for gun owners. This is another gun that I’ve not been able to shoot, but it’s one that’s on my list for sure. If you’ve seen the KSG shotgun before, the KS7 is very similar, cuts the ammo capacity from 15 to 7, and cuts the price point by more than $300.
They built the KS7 in the same image as the KSG, but with a carrying handle, instead of a Picatinny rail system. This prevents you from adding optics as easily as the KSG, but they addressed this concern with the M-Lok attachment points all over the shotgun. The KS7 has only 1 barrel, versus the 2 barrels from the KSG, and is ready to accept slings, lights, lasers, or a combo of both with the easy M-Lok points.
The Remington 870 Tac-14 is the direct competitor to the Mossberg Shockwave. We have the Shockwave that we’ve put hundreds of shells through, but I haven’t put as many through the Tac-14. You’ll notice the Raptor’s Birds-Eye grip Mossberg made so famous but has a smaller capacity by 1 shell versus the Mossberg Shockwave.
The 870 Tac 14 means the barrel is only 14" and features the Bird’s-eye Raptor grip from Shockwave Industries. This shotgun is slightly shorter than the Mossberg Shockwave and is perfect as a truck gun or under your bed kind- of gun. The raptor grip allows you to firmly grip the firearm and draw faster than any shotgun on this list because of the shortened length and lighter weight. I get the interest in a short shotgun for tight spaces, but I wouldn’t buy this shotgun unless I got a deal I couldn’t pass up.
Shotgun wraps for improved concealment and weather-resistance
The G-Force GF2P is the most affordable shotgun on the list and is currently outselling some of the most well-made and versatile shotguns on the market, such as the Mossberg 590, and Remington 870. The GF2P is not the lightest shotgun, but it’s not the heaviest either. With a weight of 7 lbs (unloaded), it’s right in the middle of weight versus the shotguns on this list. I have not had a lot of experience with this shotgun because we have so many other shotguns we’d rather buy and test for reviews.
With a 6-shell capacity, 20" barrel length, and price point of only $147.99 on Guns.com, if you’re needing a shotgun, this is a great deal for anyone. G-Force is getting better every year with their arsenal, but you’ll notice the difference in quality when you hold a Mossberg 590 or Remington 870 Express. There’s a saying, " you get what you pay for" that rings true for this shotgun. However, sometimes you just need a shotgun to go shoot like crazy and not care if it gets trashed from overuse at the range with a group of friends or family.
If you’re looking for the best opportunity to own a cheaper 12-gauge shotgun with the ability to defend your home or self in a defensive situation, G-Force does a great job at giving you a few years’ worth of fun for under $150.
The Mossberg 590 has taken over the Remington 870 as the primary tactical shotgun for most LEOs because of its reliability, modularity, and versatility. The 590 comes optic-ready with a drilled & tapped receiver for an RDS attachment like the Crimson Trace RAD MAX Pro. You’ll notice the thicker recoil pad on the 590A1, which does a great job at reducing the felt recoil of the heavier magnum shells.
Mossberg 590A1
Similar to Glock, the 590 platforms from Mossberg is the most trusted shotgun from the LEOs I have in my family and the officers I served with as a former LEO. If you’re on the fence about whether the 590 is worth it, I’d trust the fact that the men and women who need to trust their lives with their tools, prefer the Mossberg 590.
You’ll notice the M-Lok attachment points on the fore-grip of the 590A1, but it doesn’t come standard with the regular Mossberg 590. However, the 590 platform is incredibly modular and will allow for an aftermarket fore-grip for extra attachment points and improved ergonomics.
It’s easily customizable, with many aftermarket options.
Readily available
Cons
I’d spend the extra $100 and get the A1 model to provide more versatility out of the box
Where Else Can Buy The Mossberg 590?
Gritr Sports-$549.99
9. Stevens 320 Security
The Stevens 320 Security shotgun is actually one of my favorite budget shotguns because of the similar features to the Mossberg and rotary bolt that provides a smoother pump-action. In fairness to Savage Stevens, I think the machining is done well, but I notice that the faster I shoot with it, I see pretty quick wear and tear on the bolt head. Either way, it’s a great shotgun that will give you years of service, but I wouldn’t make it my primary shotgun over a more reliable Mossberg or Kel-Tec shotgun.
It comes with a cylinder bore that’s perfect for home defense, but wouldn’t be practical in hunting applications. The carbon steel barrel provides a lighter weight than many other reinforced steel barrels and offers a reduction in cool-down time versus the heavier barrel of the G-Force GF2P or the Kel-Tec KS7.
Besides the Remington 870 Express, we’ve shot the Mossberg Shockwave more than any other gun. The Mossberg Shockwave is a compact personal defense shotgun that can be carried in your backpack while hiking, your hunting pack, or fit inside your truck for the perfect companion when you’re out in the woods or alone in the mountains.
It’s almost identical in length, weight, and capability as the Remington Tac-14, but it has 1 extra shell and allows for more customization than the Remington Tac 14. The barrel length of the Mossberg is 0.3" longer than the Remington and even though it doesn’t sound like a difference, everyone at RE Factor and Clandestine Media Group (CMG) agrees it shoots better and has less recoil. You’ll also notice the difference in weight with a 5.3 lbs unloaded weight for the Mossberg and a 6.3 lbs unloaded weight for the Remington.
I think the Remington Tac 14 sells more right now than the Shockwave because it’s newer and can be found for $50-$75 cheaper than the Shockwave. For me, the $75 difference for a heavier gun with less capacity isn’t worth it.
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