The best pump action shotgun is reliable, simple, and will hold more shells than its break-action counterpart at a relatively low price. If you are an aspiring new owner, this roundup will give narrow down your potential choices.
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Best Pump Action Shotgun | The 10 Best You Need to Invest In
1. Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag All-Purpose Field
The Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag is the world's first 3.5″ pump-action shotgun. It seamlessly manages powerful magnum loads with its overbored 26-inch barrel for reduced felt recoil, better-shot patterns, and reduced muzzle jump for faster follow-up shots.
What's more, it features positive steel-to-steel lockup, dual extractors, anti-jam elevator, and twin action bars for smooth operation. This makes the Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag All-Purpose Field ideal for demanding hunts or home defense.
Lastly, it features a conveniently placed top-mounted safety for ergonomics and high visibility.
Specs:
- Capacity: 5+1
- Gauge: 12
- Barrel Length: 26″
- Barrel Type: Vent rib
- LOP Type: Fixed
- LOP: 13.87″
- Overall Length: 46.75″
- Weight: 7.5 lbs
- Chamber: 3.5″
- Bases/Sights: Front Fiber Optic
MSRP: $568.00
2. Browning BPS Field Composite – Mossy Oak Shadow Grass Habitat
While a selected few are pump-action people, the ones at the top of the game more often than not sport a Browning BPS. The Browning BPS Field Composite elevates the pump-action concept with a sleek Mossy Oak shadow grass habitat camo finish.
You will love it if you demand total performance regardless of light conditions, shells involved, and the temperature.
Thanks to its ambidextrous design, you can easily operate the top-tang safety with your right or left hand. On the other hand, the shotgun's composite stock features a straight heel section enabling you to shorten the length of pull ¾-inch or adjust the recoil pad.
Another outstanding feature on the Browning BPS Field Composite is the bottom ejection that keeps empty hulls out of the line of your line of sight for increased accuracy. Lastly, the Browning BPS Field Composite comes with interchangeable chokes for increased versatility.
Specs:
- Gauge: 12
- Barrel Length: 26″
- Chamber Length: 3 1/2″
- Length of Pull: 14 1/4″
- Overall Length: 47 1/4″
- Drop at Heel: 1 7/8″
- Drop at Comb: 1 5/8″
- Magazine Capacity: 4, 2 3/4″ shells
- Weight: 8 lbs 0 oz
- Rib Width: 5/16″
MSRP: $829.99
3. Winchester SXP Black Shadow
With a reliable and rugged barrel and receiver that comes with a non-glare finish, the Winchester SXP Black Shadow guarantees discreet shooting, especially during hunting.
It will fire 2 ¾”, 3″ and 3 ½” lead, tungsten, steel, and bismuth factory loads, and its sturdy composite forearm and stock will brave most if not all tough conditions.
Specs:
- Gauge: 12
- Barrel Length: 24″
- Chamber Length: 3 1/2″
- Overall Length: 45″
- Drop at Comb: 1 5/8″
- Drop at Comb: 1 5/8″
- Length of Pull: 13 3/4″
- Drop at Heel: 2″
- Magazine Capacity: 4, 2 3/4″ shells
- Weight: 6 lbs 14 oz
- Rib Width: 1/4″
MSRP: $409.99
4. FN P-12
You will love that the barrel on the FN P-12 features a factory-installed improved cylinder stainless steel choke tube. Also standard is the flip-up iron sight and fiber-optic front sight for swift target acquisition and, of course, precise aiming.
Tip: A weaver rail pattern facilitates additional optical accessories mounting.
Specs:
- Gauge: 12-gauge, 2 3/4″ and 3″ chamber
- Capacity: five 2 3/4″ or four 3″
- Operation: Pump-action repeater
- Weight: 7 lb. 7 oz.
- Overall Length: 39″
- Barrel Length: 18″
- Sight Radius: 14″
- Trigger Pull: 6.2 – 7.3 lb.
MSRP: $669.00
5. STF 12 COMPACT
Though new to the tactical shotgun market, the STF/12 features a cutting edge design that is capable of serving both defense-driven civilians and armed professionals alike. It offers a modular platform with a ton of user-friendly features compared to other pump action shotguns in this list.
For instance, it comes with five interchangeable barrels with color matching heat shields.
Specs:
- Gauge: 12 / 76 MM ( 12-3”)
- Total Capacity: 11” (5+1), 14” (5+1), 18” (6+1 ), 20” ( 7+1), 22” (7+1)
- Barrel Lengths: 11″, 14″, 18″, 20″, 22″
- Bore Diameter: 11″, 14″, 18″, 20″, 22″
- Barrel Finish: Black non glare
- Chock: Inner HP accuracy
- Overall Length: 33″
- Length of pull: 12.6″
- Sights: Detachable ghost and front sights
- Muzzle Brake: Included
MSRP: $1,195 to $1,285
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6. Benelli SuperNova Model 20100
The SuperNova model 20100 is a lightweight but powerful 12-gauge pump-action shotgun. It comes chambered for the 3 ½ inch magnum and is designed to withstand all weather conditions.
Some of its outstanding features include an extended trigger guard for effortless use, especially with gloved hands. This is in addition to a reduced recoil mechanism for usability and a steel framework for durability.
Specs:
- Stock finish: Black Synthetic
- Hand dominance: Right-handed
- Receiver Finish: Matte, Blued
- Magazine Capacity: 4+1
- Barrel Finish: Matte, Blued
- Chambered for : 2 ¾ “ , 3″, 3 ½ “
- Gauge: 12
- Sight: Red-bar front
- Barrel Length: 28″
- Length of pull: 14 ⅜”
- Grip: Standard
- Overall Length: 49.5″
- Average Weight: 8lbs
MSRP: $559
7. Mossberg 590 Retrograde
From twin action bars to positive steel-to-steel lockup to dual extractors and anti-jam elevators, you can count on the Mossberg 590 Retrograde to offer smooth operation.
Additional features include adjustable stocks for length-of-pull adjustments for up to four inches without needing extra tools. And a tri-railed forend for accessory addition.
Specs:
- Gauge: 12
- Length: 41″
- Capacity: 8+1
- Weight: 7.25
- Chamber: 3″
- Stock Finish: Walnut
- Barrel Type: Heat Shield
- Barrel Finish: Matte Blued
- Barrel Length: 20″
- LOP: 13.87″
- Sight/Base: Bead
- LOP Type: Fixed
- Choke: Cylinder Bore
MSRP: $609.00
8. Mossberg 500 Hunting All Purpose Field
The Mossberg 500 is renowned for being one of the most reliable and versatile and reliable shotgun platforms available today. This can be attested to by the various models designed to fit almost every application from law agencies to households to the military globally.
Specs:
- Gauge: 20
- Length:45.5″
- Capacity: 5+1
- Weight:7
- Chamber: 3″
- Stock Finish: Wood
- Barrel Type: Vent Rib
- Barrel Finish: Blued
- Barrel Length: 26″
- LOP: 13.875″
- Sight/Base: Dual Bead
- LOP Type: Fixed
- Choke: Accu-Set
MSRP: $459.00
9. Winchester SXP Long Beard
Nothing beats a pump-action shotgun that is as great for home defense as it is for turkey hunting. That's not all. The shotgun's pistol grip stock features spacers that facilitate the length of pull adjustments.
Though primarily designed for turkey hunting, the Winchester SXP Long Beard is compact enough to serve as a camp gun thanks to its manageable lightweight.
Specs:
- Gauge: 20
- Barrel Length: 24″
- Chamber Length: 3″
- Length of Pull: 13 1/4″
- Overall Length: 43″
- Drop at Heel: 2″
- Drop at Comb: 1 3/4″
- Magazine Capacity: 4, 2 3/4″ shells
- Weight: 6 lbs 14 oz
- Rib Width: 1/4″
10. Weatherby PA-08 Slug Gun Combo Pump Shotgun
Target acquisition with the Weatherby PA-08 Slug Gun Combo pump shotgun is almost effortless with the brass bead sight at the front.
On the other hand, the vent rib dissipates heat into the barrel, promoting a seamless “swing-through” and therefore giving you an outstanding target line for improved accuracy.
Though different barrel lengths come with finishes, you can rest assured that you will land a sleek piece whether you go for a 24 or 28-inch one. For instance, the 28″ field barrel has a gloss black distinctive look while the 24-inch rifled barrel comes in matte black.
Specs:
- Gauge: 12 Gauge
- Length: 44in / 48in
- Chamber: 3in
- Action: Pump
- Capacity: 4+1
- Weight: 7 lbs
- Barrel Length: 28in/24in
- Choke: Fully Rifled Barrel
- LOP: 14in
- Stock: Black Synthetic
- Finish: Matte Black
MSRP: $469
Pump action shotguns are comfortable, ambidextrous, and have an intuitive feel making them easy to handle and operate in many firing positions. That's not all. They are popular for their wide applications including self-defense, law enforcement, hunting, sport shooting, and military combat. With such versatility and reliability, the pump-action shotgun is worthy to buy for any shooter.
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