7 Best Pump Action Shotguns
Without a doubt, the most popular type of shotgun on the market is the pump action. Pump action shotguns dominate the American shotgun market and come in a number of calibers and configurations. There are plenty of options out there for everybody, but also plenty of crappy options. Today, we are swinging in to show you the best pump action shotguns on the market.
What’s A Pump-Action Shotgun?
A pump-action shotgun is a manually activated weapon. It gains the name from its reciprocating forend, which moves rearward to eject a spent cartridge and then forward to load the next cartridge and cock the hammer. These designs have been around since the Spencer pump shotgun in 1882. The Winchester 1893 and later the 1897 popularized them. From there, the concept exploded, and pump-action shotguns became the standard.
Advantages of the Pump Action Shotgun
Pump action shotguns offer a repeating platform with a manual design that operates quickly and efficiently. Most modern weapons are not manually activated, but the pump action sticks around due to its efficiency and numerous advantages. The first advantage is reliability. A manually operated firearm doesn’t depend on a gas-operated or inertia action. It’s simpler and more reliable in the long term.
The nature of pump action shotguns means they don’t require a specific load power to function. A semi-auto shotgun often requires a certain velocity and power level to cycle reliably. A pump action can shoot the lightest loaded shells reliably. With some guns, this even includes mini shells. Light loads and reduced recoil options certainly won’t have an issue with a pump-action shotgun.
These guns also tend to be highly affordable. The simple design and the age of the design make them easy to manufacture. This keeps the price low. A good semi-auto shotgun might cost close to a grand, but a reliable pump action can be had for 200 dollars. There is also the added benefit of pump-action shotguns avoiding most gun control efforts, making them a great option in states with restrictive gun laws.
Gun University’s Best Pump Action Shotguns
Best Pump Action Shotguns
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Spec Comparison of the Best Pump Action Shotguns
Below is a table of the specifications for the best pump action shotguns:
| Shotgun | Gauge | Barrel Length (in) | Weight (lbs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12, 20, and .410 | 18.5-28 | 5.6-8 | |
| 12, 20, and .410 | 18.5-30 | 7-8 | |
| 12 | 18-28 | 5.9 | |
| 12 | 18.5 | 5.9 | |
| 12 | 19 | 8.3 | |
| 12 and 20 | 18.5-28 | 6-7.5 | |
| 12 | 18.5 | 6.5 |
Best Pump Action Shotguns
Here is our list for the best pump action shotguns:
- Mossberg 500/590
- Remington 870
- Benelli Nova 3
- KelTec KS7
- S&W M&P 12
- Mossberg Maverick 88
- Stoeger P3000 Tactical
Best Pump Action Shotguns – Reviews
1 Mossberg 500
Mossberg 500
Available in several calibers, Mossberg 500 models range from tactical to muzzle-loading.
- Shootability A-
- Reliability A+
- Ergonomics A-
- Accuracy A
- Value A+
Our Grade
A
Reader’s Grade
A-
Based on 39 Reviews
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1 Mossberg 590
Mossberg 590
This pump-action powerhouse was created through hot demand by the US military.
- Reliability A+
- Accuracy A
- Customization B
- Ergonnomics B
- Value C
Our Grade
B+
Reader’s Grade
A+
Based on 9 Reviews
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Mossberg 500/590 Specs
- Gauge 12, 20 and .410
- Barrel Length 18.5-28 in
- Weight 5.6-8 lbs
Mossberg 500/590 Review
The Mossberg 500 series of pump action shotguns have been floating around since the early 1960s. This classic American pump-action shotgun comes in all major calibers, giving us .410, 20 gauge, and 12 gauge, and in the past, they’ve produced calibers like the 16 gauge. The 500 series has been produced as both tactical and sporting guns, and the 590 is a member of the 500 series family designed for the United States military solely as a tactical shotgun.
The Mossberg series can be had for any purpose out there. This includes hunting deer and hogs as well as birds and small game. There are plenty of dedicated defensive shotguns with shorter barrels and higher capacities.
At their core, the guns use the same operating system with a number of external changes for the United States military. The Mossberg 590 is also available to anyone who wants one. The 500 series famously uses dual extractors for increased reliability non-binding dual action arms, and are even optics-ready with drilled and tapped receivers. Mossberg’s shotguns are highly functional and incredibly reliable.
Due to their massive popularity, the Mossberg 500 series has tons of aftermarket support. They also feature a design that is very user-friendly for repairs and upgrades. It’s easy to swap the furniture and barrels, but it’s also easy to fix broken parts like ejectors, extractors, and more. Not that the Mossberg breaks often, but if it does, it’s not tough to fix.
The Mossberg 500 falls into the same realm of customization as the AR-15 and Glock. You can swap nearly everything, add in lights and optics, as well as high-end furniture. The Mossberg 500 and 590 series allow you to build the gun you want for whatever purpose you want. It’s a legendary shotgun and continues to be produced in a number of different variants.
In this article we dive deeper into the difference of the Mossberg 500 vs 590. We also have complete reviews dedicated to the Mossberg 500 and the Mossberg 590.
Mossberg 500/590 Pros and Cons
- Super reliable
- Easy to customize
- Comes in tons of calibers and configurations
- Stock configurations are long
Mossberg 500/590 Deals
2 Remington 870
Remington 870
A classic pump action shotgun that has been used my thousands of hunters and sport shooters since its introduction.
- Shootability B
- Reliability A+
- Ergonomics A
- Accuracy A
- Value B
Our Grade
A-
Reader’s Grade
A
Based on 13 Reviews
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Remington 870 Specs
- Gauge 12, 20 and .410
- Barrel Length 18.5-30 in
- Weight 7-8 lbs
Remington 870 Review
The Remington 870 is the other American legend of pump action shotguns. When Remington designed the 870 in 1950, they essentially laid the groundwork for every pump action shotgun to follow afterward. This resulted in one of the most popular shotguns for sportsmen, police officers, military users, and home defenders. The 870 was the first pump action shotgun to use dual action bars with a non-binding design. This increased the reliability of the pump action shotgun and its durability.
Remington has had its troubles, and with those troubles came a lack of quality control on some Remington 870s. However, over 11 million Remington 870s have been produced, and most of them are great guns. The current production of Remington 870s has also been received extremely well. I feel comfortable tossing them on the list. A Remington 870 in .410 was my very first shotgun, and it’s still one of my favorites.
Remingtons have come in tons of calibers and configurations. They have three quality tiers. The king is the Wingmaster with its rich blued finish, and the use of beautiful wood furniture. Next, we have the Field Master, which mixes an affordable finish with great wood furniture and a purpose-built, slicked-up action. Finally, the Express model is the cheapest, with a simple finish and polymer furniture that’s built for functions rather than looks.
Remington 870 shotguns are tanks. They can take decades and decades of abuse. I have a military surplus model from 1971 that still functions perfectly fine. The use of heavy steel receivers and steel construction makes sure they can be used in patrol cars, deer blinds, and beyond for the life of their user. The addictingly smooth action puts the 870 a step above most other pump-action shotguns.
Jump over to our review on the Remington 870 Express tactical variant.
Remington 870 Pros and Cons
- Slick action
- Tons of options
- Easy to customize
- Not optics ready
Remington 870 Deals
3 Benelli Nova 3
Benelli Nova 3
The Nova 3 Pump Shotgun is a strong, lightweight 12-gauge that ocmes with all the modern features.
- Shootability B
- Reliability B
- Ergonomics C
- Accuracy A
- Value B
Our Grade
B
Reader’s Grade
F
Based on 1 Reviews
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Benelli Nova 3 Specs
- Gauge 12
- Barrel Length 18-28 in
- Weight 5.9 lbs
Benelli Nova 3 Review
The Benelli Nova 3 has entered the market, delivering a new, high-tech, lightweight shotgun designed to make the Nova series competitive in the modern shotgun world. The Nova series introduces some notable changes from the SuperNova, notably reducing the chamber to 3 inches from 3.5 inches. The Nova 3 does more than that, so let’s dig into it.
The Nova 3 is coming in numerous configurations, my favorite being the Tactical model that’s 922R compliant. This gives us modern capacity from the factory to give us seven rounds of 12 gauge. The action is still incredibly smooth, and the rotating bolt unlocks, giving the bolt a push back and making it one of the fastest cycling pump-shotguns on the market.
The pump now features M-LOK slots, allowing you to mount all sorts of accessories. Like older models, the pump still has a button that acts as a magazine cutoff. This allows you to work the action and conduct a slug swap drill or just clear the chamber without one dropping out of the magazine.
The Nova 3 gets away with weighing a hair less than six pounds. This makes the Nova 3 one of the lightest modern shotguns on the market. It’s light, it’s handy, and it’s quick on target. The Nova 3 series does suffer from a lot of typical shotgun problems. Namely, the length of pull. It’s 14.5 inches, which is crazy for a modern shotgun. They should have made this thing adjustable at the very least.
Benelli Nova 3 Pros and Cons
- Reliable action
- Super modern design
- Affordable
- Stock has a long length of pull
Benelli Nova 3 Deals
4 KelTec KS7
- Shootability A
- Reliability A
- Ergonomics C
- Accuracy A
- Value A+
Our Grade
A-
Reader’s Grade
C+
Based on 9 Reviews
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KelTec KS7 Specs
- Gauge 12
- Barrel Length 18.5 in
- Weight 5.9 lbs
KelTec KS7 Review
I was hesitant to consider the KelTec KS7 a great shotgun. It took me shooting the hell out of one to believe it. Not only was I surprised by the gun’s reliability, but I was also impressed with its functions and features. I think the bullpup concept works well with shotguns since bullpups excel at close range, and so do shotguns. KelTec has an odd history with reliability, but the KS7 works quite well.
As a bullpup, it’s super short. It’s just a hair over twenty-six inches overall. It’s nearly the same length as a Mossberg Shockwave, but it comes with a stock and holds seven rounds. The KelTec KS7 features an inline stock design, similar to that of an AR. This helps with recoil, specifically muzzle rise, and provides a more controllable platform.
This uber-lightweight little gun can be a bit fierce when it comes to recoil control. If you don’t execute a good push/pull, the recoil can get a hold of you. Especially since the cartridge ignites right beside your shoulder, there isn’t much between you and the recoil. The KS7 handles nicely if you can activate that push/pull.
The rounds eject from the bottom, so it’s one of the few bullpup’s that’s lefty friendly. The controls are mostly ambidextrous and easy to use. The action is smooth, and the integrated guard on the pump keeps your hand from drifting in front of the gun. The short length of pull makes the gun easy to square up with.
The downside is the carry handle sighting system. Namely, the height over bore and the fragility of the thing. Height over bore sucks with shotguns since they are designed to be used at close range. The carry handle itself breaks easily, and mine has broken. I think KelTec should ditch it and add an optic’s rail and call it a day.
KelTec KS7 Pros and Cons
- Slick action
- Bullpup
- Fast cycling design
- Carry Handle
KelTec KS7 Deals
5 S&W M&P 12
S&W M&P 12
The M&P 12 is a pump-action, bullpup, twin tube-fed, 12 gauge shotgun capable of holding up to 14 rounds of 2.75-inch shotgun shells. It’s a behemoth in some ways but quite compact in others.
- Shootability B
- Reliability A+
- Ergonmics C
- Accuracy A
- Value C
Our Grade
B
Reader’s Grade
C+
Based on 13 Reviews
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S&W M&P 12 Specs
- Gauge 12
- Barrel Length 19 in
- Weight 8.3 lbs
S&W M&P 12 Review
Let’s get a bit weird with it. Let’s dive into the world of bullpup, dual tube, pump action shotguns. The S&W M&P 12 was quite a surprise from a company that hadn’t produced shotguns in decades. Zipping straight to the future with this M&P 12 may have surprised us all, but it was a welcome one. Who says the standard shouldn’t be challenged? The S&W M&P 12 isn’t the most novel design; dual tube, bullpup shotguns have existed before, but the M&P 12 series increased the quality and useability of the idea.
The M&P 12 can hold 14 rounds of 2.75-inch 12 gauge shells. That’s double what most guns hold. The bullpup design cuts the length to a very manageable 27.8 inches long. In the world of shotguns, smaller ones are usually better for defensive purposes. Shotguns are close-range weapons, and smaller guns work better in CQB environments. Switching tubes is super easy, and all you have to do is hit a button on the pump.
The pump comes with a massive M&P textured foregrip. It’s super nice and ensures your hand doesn’t drift in front of the action. That’s a rear with competing shotgun designs. Across the top is a large optics rail, and on the sides, it looks like a heat shield, but those are actually M-LOK rails. The controls are ambidextrous and take good cues from the AR-15 in the safety department.
The action is a bit rickety but reliable. The gun loads and ejects from the bottom, making it ambidextrous. This is a must-have to accommodate lefties since shells ejecting to the face isn’t exactly desirable. The main problem with this is having to reload the gun, which is slower than most other shotguns. However, with 14 rounds of ammo in the gun, who needs to reload? S&W even foresaw problems with fixing malfunctions, and to fix this, they allow you to open up the ejection port for a stuck round to easily drop free.
S&W M&P 12 Pros and Cons
- 14 round capacity
- Super short design
- Modular for accessories
- Ambidextrous
- Slow to reload
S&W M&P 12 Deals
6 Mossberg Maverick 88
Mossberg Maverick 88
A budget shotgun – reliable but no frills.
- Shootability B
- Reliability A
- Ergonomics B
- Accuracy A
- Value A+
Our Grade
A-
Reader’s Grade
B
Based on 6 Reviews
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Mossberg Maverick 88 Specs
- Gauge 12 and 20
- Barrel Length 18.5-28 in
- Weight 6-7.5 lbs
Mossberg Maverick 88 Review
Another Mossberg, and arguably, it can be considered a member of the Mossberg 500 series. It’s not directly tied to the lineage of the 500 but shares a similar design overall. It’s Mossberg’s very affordable alternative to the Mossberg 500, which is an already affordable shotgun. The Mossberg Maverick 88 utilizes the same proven 500 series action. Changes include a standard cross bolt safety instead of a tang safety, a one-piece forend, and super simple stock.
Unlike the 500, these guns are not optics-ready. They come in a few configurations, including a field model with a long barrel. We have a security model with a seven-round tube and another with a five-round tube. Not to mention the combination field and security model that comes with a short and long barrel. At around 200 dollars, this is the most effective and affordable pump action option.
It runs absolute circles around the cheap Turkish imports that are flooding the market for roughly the same price point. The Maverick 88 series are brutes who can take some serious abuse. It will stand up to whatever you put through it and do so over and over again. The Maverick 88 was my go-to defensive shotgun when I was a poor E3 in the Marine Corps, and it never let me down.
It’s a competent gun with competent controls. Nothing will blow you away, but it all clicks and pops with ease. The action can feel a little sloppy but will never fail or prevent you from easily operating the weapon. If you just need a bare-bones shotgun that’s reliable, then you can’t beat the Maverick 88.
Mossberg Maverick 88 Pros and Cons
- Affordable
- Easy to use
- Reliable
- Sloppy action
Mossberg Maverick 88 Deals
7 Stoeger P3000 Tactical
- Reliability A
- Accuracy A
- Customization A+
- Ergonomics A+
- Value A+
Our Grade
A+
Reader’s Grade
TBD
Based on 0 Reviews
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Stoeger P3000 Tactical Specs
- Gauge 12
- Barrel Length 18.5 in
- Weight 6.5 lbs
Stoeger P3000 Tactical Review
The Stoeger P3000 has changed rapidly, and it’s become one of the most modern budget shotguns on the market. Stoeger shotguns are typically good, reliable, but outdated, lacking many modern features. The P3000 is their latest model, and they have reworked the entire gun to be modern and packed with features. The P3000 might be one of the best surprises to ever come out of Stoeger.
Let’s start with the stock. The P3000 tactical stock has a 13.75-inch length of pull, and it’s non-adjustable. That’s a hair long, but not terrible. The stock features M-LOK slots so you can mount sling points or even spare ammo carriers. The robust recoil pad helps take some sting out of the gun, and the cheek riser makes it easy and comfortable to use with optics.
Speaking of, it’s optics-ready and uses direct mounting to attach Trijicon RMR or Fastfire pattern optics. You can also add a rail for red dots outside of those two patterns. Besides dots, you get a set of ghost ring sights. Our pump action features M-LOK slots for accessories, including lights, which is critical for a home defense shotgun.
Shooters get a seven-round tube for modern capacity. The Stoeger P3000 Tactical uses a rotating bolt, like the old era of Winchester shotguns. Rotating bolts give you both rotational and rearward force when it comes to shell extraction. Basically, it’s more reliable. The Stoeger P3000 gives you all that at a price point below $500.
Stoeger P3000 Pros and Cons
- Great ergonomics
- Smooth action
- Modern design
- Long Stock
Stoeger P3000 Tactical Deals
Pump It Up
The pump action shotgun has been kicking around since the late 1800s and doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, anytime soon. The versatility, affordability, and usefulness of the design ensures they maintain their dominance over the market. Unfortunately, within this market, there are a lot of crap-tier guns, a lot of poor imports, and a lot of just bad guns. Luckily, there are plenty of great options, and if you go with any of the above guns, you’ll be ready to rock and roll.
About Travis Pike
Travis Pike is a former Marine Machine Gunner and a lifelong firearms enthusiast. Now that his days of working a 240B like Charlie Parker on the sax are over, he's a regular guy who likes to shoot, write, and find ways to combine the two. He is a "simplicisist" when it comes to talking about himself in the 3rd person and a self-professed tactical hipster. Hit him up on Instagram with story ideas.
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I chose the Mossberg 590 for its reputation and robustness. I have not been disappointed. I heartily recommend it to anyone who can manage the extra pound or two of weight. Rugged as a tank!
So I tried to use your “Contact Us” page to send you a copy of my comment that I was able to salvage by retracing my steps on your website. I wanted you to see it for yourself so maybe you could fix the problem.
Your contact page refused to send my message. It said the Captcha/ReCaptcha response had not been received.
I was never presented with a Captcha/ReCaptcha challenge.
I tried to post a comment that I spent a significant amount of time thinking about, fact-checking and self-editing, and got THIS for my trouble:
“Sorry, your comment cannot be accepted as it contains URLs or links.”
It did not. Your virtual editor has a glitch. That being the case, I won’t try to re-write or re-submit it. 😡
I currently own three of the pump guns on the list. Naturally the Mossberg 500 is probably the most popular, mainly due to the price. But the Rem 870 has been a die brand/model used by LEO for years. The 870 actually belongs to my son, a Deputy Sherriff. His department allows their Deps to keep an 870 in their cars, as a back-up weapon. The Deps need to be, and have the gun certified for use, and can only use Dept ammo. Both the Deps and the gun need to be re-certed every 6 months. If this doesn’t say enough about the 870, then choose another option.
I’m a military retiree who finds the 870 to fit like a glove for home defense and other shooting pursuits. It’s easy to operate, utterly reliable, and simply tough. There are other great shotgun options but for the money the 870 is tough to beat.
Travis said:
“The carry handle itself breaks easily, and mine has broken. I think KelTec should ditch it and add an optic’s rail and call it a day. ”
Kel tec just dumped the KS7 carrying handle and their rail is now standard (“GEN2”).
PS: If you want a free KS7 carrying handle, I’ll give you mine for the price of postage.
Consistently referring to shotgun gauges as “calibers” and not designating the .410 as the .410 bore is not using correct terminology, this is important for a site titled “Gun University”. All of these are fine shotguns, I find the 870’s, at least the older models, to be much smoother than the Mossbergs. I think articles on the best bird guns and the best tactical/home defense guns would be more informative, instead of lumping the types into one article. The “best” guns really depends on the intended use.
The only shotgun tested with all ratings of A or above is the Stoeger. That alone would make me think that it deserves the #1 slot in this ranking. So what am I missing?