Best Combat And Tactical Shotguns

When it comes to the best combat and tactical shotguns, it seems like there’s just an infinite number of choices out there. But do you really know which ones are the best for your needs?

At Gun University, we understand that the differences and similarities can sometimes get confusing. That’s why we’ve put to the test a number of different shotguns and have determined our favorites.

Best Combat and Tactical Shotguns from Best to Worst

Below is our pick of the best shotguns for tactical civilian use:

Best Combat and Tactical Shotguns

#1 Remington 870 Magpul		Magpul Stock Rugged And Reliable Receiver 18.5″ Tactical Barrel Magpul Fore End	Check Price
#2 Mossberg 590A1		Interchangeable Buttstock Heavy Walled Barrel Military Proven	Check Price
#3 Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical		Integrated Optics Cut Massive Controls Redesigned Gas System	Check Price
#4 Beretta 1301 Tactical		Rugged Checkered Grip Fast Blink Action Oversized Bolt Handle And Release	Check Price
#5 IWI Mafteah		Bird’s Head Grip 5 Round Capacity Hand Strap	Check Price
#6 Mossberg 990 Aftershock		5 Round Capacity Birds-Head Grip Optics Ready	Check Price
#7 Benelli M4 EXT		Pistol Grip Option Ghost Ring Sights Mounted Picatinny Rail Extended Magazine Tube	Check Price
#8 Remington TAC-14		Fits 12 Gauge Furniture Modern Capacity Optics Ready	Check Price

List of the Best Combat and Tactical Shotguns

The below is the list of the best tactical and combat shotguns on the market:

1. Remington 870 Magpul
2. Mossberg 590A1
3. Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical
4. Beretta 1301 Tactical
5. IWI Mafteah
6. Mossberg 990 Aftershock
7. Benelli M4 EXT
8. Mossberg 590 20 Gauge

How I Ranked the Shotguns 

The most critical factor in my picks was reliability. If the gun goes click when it should go bang in a home defense or tactical scenario, you’re up a creek, and you better hope your shotgun makes a good paddle. I picked shotguns that aren’t just reliable from my experience, but from military and police use. I also took the advice of shotgun instructors who have provided me with value as a shotgunner. 

Next, I chose guns that were easy to use. Nothing is overly complicated and should be easy to manage for the average shooter. You’ll only see pump and semi-auto designs on this list. You’ll also notice that box magazines are off the list. Some box magazine shotguns are great, but there are complications when it comes to using shotguns that most people won’t want to deal with. 

The proper fit of a shotgun is critical to control. If the gun is too long or too heavy, it becomes cumbersome. We want a stock with a proper length of pull that allows for maximum control. This will enable you to square up to the target, put your body behind the gun, and exercise excellent control. 

For me, a home defense long gun needs a weapon light. So the shotguns need to be able to be accessorized. I also like to add red dots and a sling. I might also want to swap stocks, forends, and more, so that played a role in my selection. 

Finally, the gun needs to be available. Out-of-production guns, even if they are great, aren’t going to make the list. I love the Winchester Defender, but it’s no longer available. I also factored in price and wanted to offer a diverse selection of guns at every price point. 

Why I’m Qualified To Rank Tactical Shotguns

I have been shooting shotguns my entire life. My first gun was a Remington 870 in .410. I’ve hunted a ton, trained a ton, and have fired hundreds of different shotguns for tens of thousands of rounds. I’ve fired shotguns, both large and small.

I’ve received professional instruction in the use of shotguns and train regularly to improve skills and bridge the gap between the platform’s inherent weaknesses and strengths. Tactical shotguns are my bread and butter. From weird bolt actions to the most modern, sleekest guns on the market.

Reviews of the Best Combat and Tactical Shotguns

Combat and Tactical shotguns are a popular weapon for many shooters. Below we review our list and give you the pros and cons on each shotgun. What are your thoughts? Let us know your grade on each shotgun down below.

REMINGTON MAGPUL 870 REVIEW

Unless you’re a Remington 870 decked out in upgraded Magpul furniture.

Honestly, when it comes to shotguns of any variety, it’s damn near impossible to beat a good ole Remington 870.

If you love the Remington 870 and modern features, this is absolutely the firearm for you. Mossberg 500 and wooden furniture fans need not apply.

The 870 Magpul brings everything you’ve grown to love about the original model to the next level.

It’s really hard to find anything negative to say about this except that the forend does tend to get a bit slick through sweaty firing. Check Out Full Review

Remington 870 Magpul Pros and Cons

Mossberg 590A1 Review

The Mossberg 590A1 is the pump shotgun of choice for the United States military. This mighty pump-action design has proven itself since the late 1970s in military use. The 590A1 evolved from the Mossberg 500 and would become an absolute legend of a shotgun. It’s the shotgun I was issued for a short period of time, and one of my favorites. 

The 590A1 utilizes a thick-walled barrel that makes the gun hefty and unbalanced, but it has its own benefits. A front-heavy gun has less upward recoil. Additionally, the heavy-walled barrel design helps keep patterns tight. When I ran it side by side with a Mossberg 500, the patterns were almost 50% tighter. 

The 590A1 is all metal, down to the trigger guard mechanism. It’s tough as nails and was the only shotgun to pass the military’s 3443 test, which includes 3,000 rounds of buckshot being fired over a short period of time with minimal malfunctions. 

The 590A1 is remarkably reliable, and with the pump-action design, it can handle anything. With an adapter, it can even handle mini shells reliably. 

The 590A1 comes in nearly every format you could want, from bayonet mounts to short-barreled shotguns. The 590A1 shares furniture with the 500 series shotguns, so it can wear a wide variety of furniture, and it’s easy to accessorize. 

Mossberg 590A1 Pros and Cons

Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical Review

This isn’t the first or the last Mossberg on this list. My current home defense shotgun of choice is the Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical. It combines a semi-auto design with modern ergonomics and a flurry of modern features that defy its price point. Plus, it’s American-made, and there is no concern with 922R compliance. 

The 940 series builds on the 930. They made a huge improvement to its gas system. The old 930 would start to slow down after around 500 rounds. The 940 series can go 1,500 rounds between cleanings. This makes it easier to train and easier to rely on. The 940 series is also quite reliable and can handle low-recoil tactical loads without complaint. 

The 940 series features massive, downright oversized controls. The charging handle, the bolt release, and the safety are massive and easy to engage. The loading port is beveled to enable quick, on-the-fly reloads. The 940 series comes with an optics cut, and the cut accommodates direct mounting of RMSc optics. 

The 940 Pro Tactical has low recoil and cycles quickly, making sub-second double-taps a reality for even inexperienced shooters. The Mossberg 940 comes with an adjustable stock, and I replaced my handguard with an M-LOK Truckee handguard for accessory attachment. The Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical isn’t cheap, but for a reliable semi-auto shotgun, it’s a bargain. 

Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical Pros and Cons

Beretta 1301 Tactical Review

The Beretta 1301 is the current king of semi-auto tactical shotguns. It’s the option most high-level police agencies are swapping to, and it’s a favorite of shotgun instructors and enthusiasts. 

The heart of the 1301 Tactical is Beretta’s proprietary BLINK Gas System.  The BLINK system allows the 1301 to cycle up to 36% faster than its competition, easily facilitating those critical sub-second follow-up shots. 

The 1301 is incredibly reliable. It can cycle just about any standard SAAMI spec load. This includes low-recoil tactical loads, which, to me, are an absolute must-have for home-defense. It can also cycle cheap birdshot, which makes training with cheap birdshot practical.

Beretta produces a wide variety of 1301s for various uses. The tactical model is a true fighting shotgun, as evidenced by its oversized, tactile controls. The charging handle and the bolt release button are aggressively oversized. The loading port is generously sized and makes reloads quick. 

The 1301 Tactical is optics-ready out of the box, featuring a full-length Picatinny rail machined directly into the receiver, providing a secure, low-profile platform for mounting red dots of all types. 

The 1301 allows you to adjust the length of pull with a series of spacers so you can fit the gun to your body. While the Beretta 1301 Tactical commands a premium price, you are getting the shotgun that every other shotgun wants to be.

Beretta 1301 Tactical Pros and Cons

IWI Mafteah Review

I’ve been kicking it with the PGO-style firearms since before the Shockwave was cool, and they still present one of the most fun challenges in shooting. IWI has jumped into the mix with the Mafteah, and they didn’t just make another gas-operated semi-auto. It’s a unique PGO option for close-quarters use. 

It’s American-made by IWI and it brings a ton of features that put it in a class of its own. 

The real story here is the operating system. We assumed it was going to be an inertia gun, like the fancy Benellis. Wrong. IWI uses its own proprietary recoil system.

A recoil system keeps things nice and clean. There are no hot, dirty gases bled back into the action, so it doesn’t start to slow down and chug along when you hit those high round counts. It’s just simple, and simple is more reliable, and cheaper. The Mafteah is retailing for about $350 less than the competition.

IWI worked hard to make the Mafteah something modern. First, they threw in a reversible charging handle. That’s almost unheard of on a shotgun like this, and it makes racking the action without breaking your shooting grip easy. Next, they gave it a Glock MOS system cut on the receiver. You can slap nearly any small optic right on there, and the low profile is perfect for a scattergun. 

They didn’t stop there, either. You get M-LOK rails for accessories and an adjustable, easily removable strap on the forend. You can press into the strap and get that good push/pull going, which makes even heavy buckshot manageable. My fastest time putting two rounds of Flitecontrol on target was .89 seconds, and that’s plenty good for defensive use.

The gun handles any standard 12-gauge load perfectly, and that’s what counts. The challenge of running a PGO is part of the fun, but the Mafteah gives you the modern features and a clean operating system. IWI delivered a winner here, and it deserves a look.

IWI Mafteah Pros and Cons

Mossberg 990 Aftershock Review

Mossberg isn’t new to the game, especially when it comes to the short-barreled “other firearm” segment. They practically invented the modern category. The 990 Aftershock is their answer to the semi-auto craze, and shaping it into a compact, maneuverable 12-gauge. It’s got a 14.75-inch barrel and is built to deliver fast, semi-automatic shots on target. 

At its core, the 990 Aftershock is a gas-operated semi-auto. Mossberg designed a new gas system for this specific platform, tucking it neatly under the forend. The semi-auto action drastically reduces the felt recoil compared to the pump-action Shockwave. I can dump the tube without much effort. 

Mossberg gave this gun a full suite of tactical upgrades. They threw in a roversized, paddle-style bolt release and a beefy charging handle. The safety is their signature ambidextrous tang safety, which is now wider and easier to use. They gave the 990 an enlarged and beveled loading port. 

Up front, the magazine clamp features multi-sided M-LOK slots for easy accessory mounting, and the streamlined forend features an essential strap to keep your support hand locked in. The receiver comes with an optic mount, which I would keep a red dot on.

The Mossberg 990 offers something else: the deep-seated trust that comes from an American-made brand with a built-in aftermarket. The fact that the 990 can accept many 590/590A1 stocks means it’s a prime candidate for an easy Form 1 Short-Barreled Shotgun build for those looking for a short-barreled semi-auto shotgun. It’s a fast, compact, feature-rich semi-auto that lives up to the Mossberg name.

Mossberg 990 Aftershock Pros and Cons

Benelli M4 EXT Review

When the Marines chose the Benelli M4, they cemented its status, but the civilian model was always “neutered.” Benelli finally fixed that. The M4 EXT is the legendary scattergun finally delivered in its full, uncompromised potential, ready for serious work right out of the box.

The biggest win is ditching that restrictive magazine tube. My M4 EXT comes with a true seven-round capacity. Benelli also modernized the collapsible stock. It’s a Gen 2 model that’s a massive ergonomic improvement, featuring a push-button, five-position adjustment. 

That lets me quickly adjust to find the perfect length of pull. Benelli tossed in a significantly larger bolt release button, which is great for emergency reloads and getting the gun in action. 

The heart of the M4 EXT is still the ARGO dual-piston gas system. It’s incredibly soft-shooting, and that low recoil, paired with the new adjustable stock, means my follow-up shots are fast, accurate, and manageable. 

It’s super reliable and chews through everything I put through it. I adore this gun, and it’s good to see the M4 finally hit the market without all the neutered features. 

The M4 EXT isn’t cheap, but you’re paying for a fully realized, reliable, combat-proven shotgun that no longer requires you to spend a fortune on aftermarket parts. It’s the king, finally unleashed.

Benelli M4 EXT Pros and Cons

Mossberg 590 20 Gauge Review

I’m a 12-gauge guy, always have been, but not everyone wants to beat themselves up 12-gauge recoil. That’s where the Mossberg 590 in 20-gauge steps in. It takes the classic dependability of the 590 series and repackages it into a lighter, lower-recoiling shotgun that’s purpose-built for defense.

This gun is lightweight, low-recoiling, and incredibly handy. My scale put it right around 5.7 pounds. That light-weight makes it easy to maneuver through a house or keep shouldered during extended use. It delivers a powerful payload without the excessive punishment. After burning through 250 rounds of 2.75-inch buckshot over a few days, my shoulder was completely unbruised. 

The 20-gauge receiver is so similar to the 12-gauge, it can accept the vast majority of 12-gauge furniture. That means accessorizing is incredibly easy. You can swap stocks and grips to fit your preference, even if finding light-mounting solutions is a little trickier. The receiver is still drilled and tapped, so throwing a red dot on is simple, and that’s a must for quick, instinctive shooting.

Recently, Flitecontrol now comes in 20 gauge, which gives us an awesome, low-recoil, high-performing load. The Mossberg 590 in 20-gauge is a high-quality, low-recoil fighting shotgun that has a ton to offer recoil-adverse shooters.

Mossberg 590 20 Gauge Pros and Cons

BEST COMBAT AND TACTICAL SHOTGUNS BUYER’S GUIDE

When you’re in the market for buying a combat or tactical shotgun, here’s what we recommend you consider.

First of all, what is considered a shotgun? If the thing shoots shells, it’s a shotgun. Right?

And while that mostly holds true, the US Government doesn’t necessarily think so. The law breaks firearms up into two main categories.

Hand guns and Long guns.

And yep, you guessed it shotguns typically fall under the long gun category–meaning they are intended to be fired from your shoulder and are at least 26″ in length. And long guns can be further broken down into two other subcategories.

Rifles and Shotguns. Shotguns of course having smooth barrels, and rifles having rifled barrels–ergo the name. But what happens when a shotgun doesn’t mean the criteria to be well… a shotgun?

This applies to a few on our list such as the Remington V3 TAC-13 and the Mossberg Shockwave. And while we believe they have the heart of a shotgun, they can’t be officially labeled as one.

These particular types of firearms fall under a specific category known as AOWs or “Any Other Weapon”–how original, I know. This is a catch-all category of the NFA that covers all sorts of neat guns alienated from the standard classifications of the NFA.

Here’s the thing though. AOWs are typically “easily concealable”. With the Remington TAC-14 having an overall length of 40″ and no buttstock, it seems that these shortie shotties aren’t AOWs either.

So what the heck are they?

Thankfully, the ATF has created a unique placement for firearms such as these. Pistol-Grip Firearms.

This covers guns that are not fired from the shoulder, are not easily concealable, and are longer than 26″. They’re not shotguns or AOWs. But a breed all of their own.

For more info, check out this article Ryan wrote for Mossberg.

ADVANTAGES AND BENEFITS OF THE NON-NFA SHOTGUNS

If you’re on the fence about owning one of these PGFs, here’s a few reasons you may want to look into one.

• They make excellent truck guns.
  Their short stature make these among the best truck guns. With the stopping power of a full sized scattergun and tactical portability, you can’t get much better than this. And if you opt for a semi-auto option — such as the Remington V3 TAC-13– you don’t even have to fuss with a pump action.
• They’re great in tactical situations.
  If you ever find yourself needing an easily carried breaching weapon or something with a little more punch, these guns can definitely provide the support you need. Coupled with an appropriate scabbard, you’re always ready for whatever arises.
• They’re super fun to shoot.
  While I wouldn’t give them the time of day for competition shooting, these are just so much fun to go and sling metal downrange.

WHAT DO OTHERS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT CHOOSING THE BEST COMBAT AND TACTICAL SHOTGUNS?

Our opinion isn’t the only one that matters–although it does mean a lot to us anyway. Let’s check out some of the choices made by YouTuber Iraqveteran8888.