Best Pump Shotgun For Hunting

There are 3 types of shotguns that most Americans hunt with (auto-loading, pump-action, or over-under), but for today’s blog, I want to keep the focus on the best pump shotgun for hunting.

I’ve been hunting with a Mossberg 500 pump-action shotgun for the last decade and I absolutely love it. One of these days I’ll upgrade to one of the 5 shotguns below, most likely the Mossberg 500 FLEX Hunting shotgun.

Mossberg, Remington, and Benelli have been shotgun staples for decades and still produce the best pump-action shotguns on the market today.

I will be reviewing and explaining the Mossberg 500 Turkey, Mossberg 535 Combo, Mossberg 500 FLEX, Benelli Supernova, and the Remington 870 Express Deer shotgun.

Mossberg 500 Turkey Shotgun

The Mossberg 500 Turkey shotgun is one of the go-to shotguns for turkey hunters around the country. The dual extractors ensure each shell is properly fed into the chamber and extracted after firing.

The twin action bars prevent the metal rails on the pump-action from ever twisting or breaking during your cycle of operations. The anti-jam elevator assists the dual extractors in feeding the shell into the chamber.

The Mossberg 500 Turkey shotgun is also the lightest, has the shortest barrel, and the shortest length of pull of any other shotgun on this list. With 6 total rounds and a fiber optic front sight, you’ll be able to comfortably hunt in low-light at sunrise or sunset without any issue of clarity.

Specs

Why Should I Buy The Mossberg Turkey Shotgun?

The Mossberg Turkey shotgun is lightweight, durable, reliable, and affordable for all levels of turkey hunters.

One of the most underrated features on a Mossberg that other companies don’t always have is the ambidextrous safety lever on the receiver. This provides quick and easy access to your safety without removing your hand from the correct firing position.

As anyone who’s ever hunted turkey, a fraction of second can determine whether or not you go home with a bird or not. The Mossberg 500 Turkey is specifically designed to hunt turkey and is affordable enough for all hunters.

Mossberg 535 Combo Turkey/Deer Shotgun

The Mossberg 535 Combo is your answer to versatility with hunting either turkey or deer because of the 3.5" Magnum shells that it’s chambered in.

The Mossberg 535 comes with a variety of cheek risers for different shooting positions and purposes. The 535 comes with a very thick and soft recoil pad for reducing the felt-recoil from the more powerful 3.5" Magnum shells.

It also is built with a rail system on top of the receiver to add a scope or optic to replace the fiber optic if you’re more comfortable with a red dot over traditional sight.

This shotgun is one of the most versatile with the capability to hunt turkey, deer, coyote, waterfowl, and even a wild boar if you use a magnum slug.

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Why Should I Buy The Mossberg 535 Combo?

The Mossberg 535 comes with 3 separate barrels for specific animals, such as the turkey barrel, the field barrel (deer), and the 28"‘ bird barrel.

For just over $500 with the precision and features of Mossberg is never a bad buy.

I personally don’t like to hunt deer with a shotgun, but if I did, the Mossberg 535 would be one that I considered because of the added versatility with turkey and waterfowl hunting.

Mossberg 500 Flex Hunting Shotgun

The Mossberg 500 FLEX is the most versatile shotgun in the world and it’s not even close.

The FLEX technology allows you to interchange the stock, grips, friends, and recoil pads, without any tools. This technology is patent-pending at the moment, but it’s already become one of the most revolutionary features in the gun industry. It’s a series of 3 connection points that lock into place with only the use of your hand.

This model has a 28" barrel for the versatility to hunt any waterfowl, turkey, or deer by simply switching parts that are conducive for each prey you hunt. This shotgun is lighter than the Benelli by half a pound and balanced better than the Hatori Hanzo Samurai sword.

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Why Should I Buy The Mossberg 500 Flex Hunting Shotgun?

If you’re a hunter and would rather have one shotgun to meet all of your needs, then the Mossberg 500 FLEX is your gun.

There is no other company in the world that can offer this level of versatility for $500. If you’re wanting a tactical-style shotgun, just change out the buttstock and forend and replace it with a pistol grip and adjustable stock.

The best part about it all is it will only take you minutes to completely transform your shotgun from tactical to hunting purposes. For whatever it’s worth, this will be the next shotgun because it’s durable, reliable, versatile, and affordable.

Benelli Supernova

The Benelli Supernova is built around the ComforTech recoil reduction system and the steel skeletal framework with an over-molded polymer.

This skeletal frame and Chevron recoil-reduction system reduce the weight to about 8 lbs and ensure the shotgun will withstand the bumps and scrapes of walking through dense forests or rocky mountains.

The Supernova is built with an enlarged trigger guard for use in the winter months when gloves are required. They claim to be 30% larger than most competitors and able to fit most winter gloves for those winter ducks or goose hunts. The ComforTech stock and super soft cheek pad reduce the felt recoil by up to 48% and the muzzle climbs by 15%.

The Supernova is chambered in 2.75", 3", or 3.5" shells to accommodate magnum shells. However, with Benelli, I always recommend using at least the 3" shell to avoid any jamming in the loading port.

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Why Should I Buy The Benelli Supernova?

The Benelli Supernova is a great hunting shotgun with an almost 50% reduction in recoil and a simplistic design to ensure reliability.

It comes with 3 choke tubes (IC, M, Full) for versatility in hunting waterfowl (IC, M) or Turkey (Full). I love the 2-lug rotary bolt that ensures consistent contact and feeding of the heavy 3" shells.

The Supernova fires a magnum round that is capable of hunting any bird and even a whitetail deer if you used a slug round. It’s built to be weather-resistant for hunting in marshes, spring rains, or November snow in the mountains.

With a $600 price tag, there are not many Benelli’s with the capability and versatility of the Supernova.

Remington 870 Express Deer

The Remington 870 Express is one of the most reliable and durable shotguns ever built with its solid steel receiver and twin action bars to ensure proper functionality.

The 870 is an American icon and has been used by hunters and law enforcement for decades. The 870 Express will shoot a 3" slug from the solid steel platform and is built with a rifle sight for precision in deer hunting.

The Monte Carlo stock is finished with Satin and a rubber recoil pad to reduce the felt recoil of the heavy 3" magnum shell. The Remington comes with the added safety feature of a loaded chamber indicator. The reason I chose the Remington at 5 is the recoil is much heavier than the Mossberg and Benelli shotguns.

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Why Should I Buy The Remington 870 Express Deer?

The Remington 870 is one of the most popular shotguns on the planet and is used by more law enforcement officers than any other shotgun. You can find this gun used for as low as $250 and will still hold up for decades.

The affordable price tag and reliability of this shotgun is worth the price, especially for newer hunters just learning how to use a shotgun.

I recommend buying an aftermarket fiber optic front sight or a red dot optic to ensure your accuracy at ranges beyond 20 yards.

Conclusion

Selecting the best pump shotgun for hunting requires careful consideration of several factors to ensure optimal performance and success in the field. We have explored the top options available, taking into account key features such as reliability, versatility, durability, and affordability.

The Remington 870 Express Deer and Mossberg 500 Turkey Shotgun stand out as popular choices among hunters due to their proven track record, solid construction, and wide range of available accessories. These shotguns offer smooth operation, robust actions, and the ability to handle various game types and hunting situations. They have earned the trust of hunters worldwide for their reliability and consistent performance in the field.

For those seeking a higher-end option, the Benelli Supernova provides exceptional craftsmanship, innovative technologies, and superior recoil reduction. This shotgun offers an unrivaled shooting experience, especially for waterfowl and upland game hunters, with its ability to cycle various loads flawlessly.

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