24/7 Wall St. Insights
- We used data from a Gun Genius report and sales data from GunBroker.com
- Semi-automatics were introduced over a century ago
- Also, Discover “The Next NVIDIA”
According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, more than one million shotguns have been sold in the US annually since 1999. Shotguns are available in various designs, including pump-action, bolt-action, break-action, and semi-automatic. Out of all of them, the semi-automatic is the most popular and most technologically advanced. Unlike a pump gun, which requires shooters to manually cycle the bolt in between shots, or a break-action gun, which has a maximum capacity of two rounds, semi-automatics can carry as many shells as a magazine can legally hold and fire a round with nothing more than a trigger pull.
The advantages of semi-automatics, or autoloaders, do not stop there. Semi-automatic shotguns are known to have less recoil than break- or pump-action guns, as the bolt absorbs much of the energy of a discharge in order to cycle. Introduced over a century ago, semi-automatics remain a favorite among waterfowlers, as well as both competitive and casual trap and skeet shooters.
Using a report from Gun Genius, which analyzed sales data from GunBroker.com, 24/7 Wall St. identified the ten most popular semi-automatic shotguns in America. Shotguns are ranked on sales volume in the 2023 calendar year, though exact sales figures were not provided. Supplemental data on domestic manufacturing locations and production volume in 2021 are from the ATF.
These ten firearms are manufactured by four gunmakers, including six models from Beretta, a company that also owns the Benelli brand name. Estimated base prices of these shotguns range from about $750 to nearly $2,000.
It is important to note that this list was compiled using online gun sales only. Unlike most items purchased online, firearms are generally not shipped directly to your door. Typically, the process requires buyers to have their gun shipped to a Federally Licensed Firearm Dealer, which will conduct a background check before transferring the gun to the customer.
Why Is This Important?
Most companies on this list have large U.S.-based manufacturing locations and produce tens of thousands of shotguns domestically every year. However, imported shotguns have been taking a growing share of the market recently, and many formerly iconic American brands are now manufactured overseas. Winchester, for example, was acquired by the Belgian arms maker Herstal in the late 1980s. Now, Winchester’s Super X4 shotgun, which ranks at number eight on this list, is manufactured in Portugal.
These are America’s ten most popular semi-automatic shotguns.
10. Remington V3
- Approx. base retail price: $950
- Available chamberings include: 12 ga
- Parent company: RemArms
- Remington U.S. shotgun production in 2021: 45,277 (6.7% of all U.S. shotgun production)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Ilion, NY
9. Benelli M2
- Approx. base retail price: $1,140
- Available chamberings include: 12 ga, 20 ga
- Parent company: Beretta Holding
- Beretta U.S. shotgun production in 2021: 24,210 (3.6% of all U.S. shotgun production)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Gallatin, TN
8. Winchester Super X4
- Approx. base retail price: $750
- Available chamberings include: 12 ga, 20 ga
- Parent company: Herstal Group
- Winchester U.S. shotgun production in 2021: 00 (0.0% of all U.S. shotgun production)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: None
7. Browning A5
- Approx. base retail price: $1,500
- Available chamberings include: 12 ga, 16 ga
- Parent company: Herstal Group
- Browning U.S. shotgun production in 2021: 02 (0.0% of all U.S. shotgun production)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Morgan, UT (Browning)
6. Beretta A400
- Approx. base retail price: $1,410
- Available chamberings include: 12 ga, 20 ga, 28 ga
- Parent company: Beretta Holding
- Beretta U.S. shotgun production in 2021: 24,210 (3.6% of all U.S. shotgun production)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Gallatin, TN
5. Beretta 1301
- Approx. base retail price: $1,380
- Available chamberings include: 12 ga
- Parent company: Beretta Holding
- Beretta U.S. shotgun production in 2021: 24,210 (3.6% of all U.S. shotgun production)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Gallatin, TN
4. Benelli Super Black Eagle
- Approx. base retail price: $1,640
- Available chamberings include: 12 ga, 20 ga, 28 ga
- Parent company: Beretta Holding
- Beretta U.S. shotgun production in 2021: 24,210 (3.6% of all U.S. shotgun production)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Gallatin, TN
3. Mossberg 940
- Approx. base retail price: $790
- Available chamberings include: 12 ga
- Parent company: O. F. Mossberg & Sons, Maverick Arms
- Mossberg and Maverick U.S. shotgun production in 2021: 293,089 (43.4% of all U.S. shotgun production)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: North Haven, CT and Eagle Pass, TX
2. Benelli M4
- Approx. base retail price: $1,930
- Available chamberings include: 12 ga
- Parent company: Beretta Holding
- Beretta U.S. shotgun production in 2021: 24,210 (3.6% of all U.S. shotgun production)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Gallatin, TN
1. Beretta A300
- Approx. base retail price: $900
- Available chamberings include: 12 ga, 20 ga
- Parent company: Beretta Holding
- Beretta U.S. shotgun production in 2021: 24,210 (3.6% of all U.S. shotgun production)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Gallatin, TN
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