Best Semi Auto Tactical Shotguns

The semi-auto shotgun gained a lot of ground on the pump action in recent years. There was a time when semi-auto shotguns were so finicky that they weren’t reliable enough for defensive or tactical use. When they finally got reliable enough, the price was sky-high. In some cases, its still sky high, but it’s come down a lot, and semi-auto shotguns have evolved considerably. 

We have an absolute ton of different options, and as such, we’ve gathered the very best for you. Before we dive into the world of semi-auto tactical shotguns, let’s take a brief moment to discuss the pros and cons of the genre. 

The Benefits of A Semi-Auto Shotgun

First, it’s easier to operate. There is no lever, pump, or bolt to fool with. Pull the trigger, and it goes bang until empty. This makes it easier and faster to operate. It’s faster to shoot not just because of the semi-auto action but also because there is less recoil. Every semi-auto shotgun has less recoil than a manually operated shotgun. 

Semi-auto shotguns are even easier to use with one hand if necessary. A manually operated gun does not allow you to fire more than one round without having to revert to a two-handed grip. Firing a shotgun one-handed can be extremely difficult. 

Downsides to a Semi-Auto Shotgun 

Semi-auto shotguns are arguably more likely to fail than a quality pump action. Anytime we add complications, things become a little more complicated. Semi-auto shotguns also tend to be heavier, but not always; gas-operated systems tend to do that. 

Semi-auto shotguns are also pricer. They are expensive because they are complicated. They also tend to be more niche. Very few have the same levels of customization that a gun like the Remington 870 and Mossberg 590 would have. 

The Best Semi-Auto Shotguns

1. Benelli M4		Well Proven Design Self-Regulating ARGO System Choice of the United States Military	Check Pricing
2. Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol		Massive Controls Optics Rail Gas Operated	Check Pricing
3. Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical		Optics Ready Massive Controls Gas Operated	Check Pricing
4. Savage Renegauge Security		D.R.I.V. Gas System Ghost Ring Sights Large Controls	https://snp.link/78fc56b0
5. Beretta 1301		BLINK Gas System Optics Ready Several Models Available	Check Pricing
6. Benelli M2		Intertia Operated Tons of Models Available Customizable	Check Pricing
7. SRM 1216		Roller Delayed Blowback  16 Round Magazine Optics Ready	https://snp.link/05fa4297

The Best Semi-Auto Shotgun Reviews

I have more than a few problems with the Benelli M4. It’s a bit dated, but I can’t deny its reputation, its reliability, and its overall design. Even at 26 years old, the Benelli M4 can do more than rent a car. It’s one of the most proven combat shotguns in the world and is the gun that sets the standard for semi-automatic shotgun reliability. 

The ARGO dual-piston, self-regulating, gas-operated system has proven to be one of the best options for a semi-auto shotgun. Sure, it adds a little heft and weight to the gun’s front end, but it allows the gun to cycle in the most adverse conditions. My M4 has eaten a wide variety of different loads, including 1145 feet per second low recoil buckshot loads. 

The Benelli M4 offers ghost ring sights, an optic rail, and plenty of sling slots. It’s easy to shoot, and the gas system does wonders to tame the gun’s recoil. It’s a real kitten to shoot. The gas piston system under the barrel also helps prevent muzzle rise due to the extra weight. The weapon is a breeze to control. 

The rotating bolt and gas operation allows for a very decisive operation. It cycles quickly and cleanly, and you can very rapidly empty the tube while keeping the gun on target. It’s rare you need more than one round of buckshot on a target, but if you need to, you can. 

There are downsides. The controls are small, smaller than most modern guns. The gun comes neutered because it’s been imported from Italy. It only has a five-round tube and a fixed stock. Getting a new stock, magazine tube, and all the other 922R parts is possible but ridiculously expensive.

Beretta makes nice shotguns. In fact, they make up a good portion of the shotgun industry. Most Beretta shotguns are expensive, and Beretta must have recognized they were losing market share to the mid-priced shotgun and dived in headfirst with the A300 Ultima PAtrol. The A300 series are traditionally sporting shotguns made in America. 

Beretta trimmed, tinkered, and adapted the A300 into the Ultima Patrol. This created a sub-1000-dollar semi-auto tactical shotgun from a company everyone knows and respects. The Ultima Patrol might be cheaper than most Berettas, but it doesn’t lag behind. 

We get massive, oversized, and easy-to-use controls. The stock is adjustable via inserts for changing the length of pull so it can fit a ton of shooters. Beretta used the loading port from their competition guns to provide a quick and intuitive reload. I love shooting this gun, and the massive controls make it much easier to wield. 

The gun comes with lots of modern features. It has ghost ring sights, is optics ready, and is sling ready. There are plenty of M-LOK slots on the handguard for mounting accessories and goodies. The A300 Ultima Patrol features a smooth gas-operated action that chucks shells with ease. Recoil and control aren’t issues, and the gun is easy to control and keep on target. You can blast through a fair bit of ammo without worrying about losing control of the gun. 

The lower price does result in some lower-cost features. The sights are ghost rings, but not adjustable. That’s lame. They are also plastic, and my front sight comes loose every so often. I need to Loctite it. That’s my only real complaint, and I use a red dot anyway, so it’s a minor one. 

My current ‘bedside’ gun is the Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical. I love this gun. It’s an evolution of the 930. The big improvements are better reliability and a less maintenance-heavy design. This gun can go through crates of ammo between cleanings. The 940 Pro Tactical also gives us some of the best modern features on a shotgun for less than 1,000 dollars. 

The Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical comes with giant oversized controls. The charging handle and bolt release are just huge. We still get the standard tang safety, which is perfect for the traditional shotgun stock. That stock is adjustable via inserts to customize the length of pull. It’s an excellent system and makes the gun easier to control. 

The Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical comes with a simple high-visibility front sight. Basically, it’s a bead. However, it’s also red dot ready. The gun features a Holosun K pattern cut that’s part of the receiver. There is no need for a rail or rail adapter. It allows the optic to sit low, which is perfect for a shotgun. 

The gas-operated Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical is an extremely capable shotgun. It’s super reliable outside of one weird flaw. If I use Monarch buckshot, the gun fires and cycles fine, but if I want to clear the gun manually, the 940 won’t eject the Monarch buckshot. It’s the only load that does this. 

That’s a minor problem, and I don’t use Monarch for serious use. With every other cartridge, it works like a champ. The 940 has also grown a nice aftermarket which makes it easy to customize and change for your needs. 

The Renegauge is a bit of a dark horse in the semi-auto shotgun world. It’s a gas-operated semi-auto, and the security model is their tactical variant. Savage made a mix of good decisions and downright weird ones, to be completely honest. Overall, it’s a fantastic shotgun. Savage aims for the high-end market with what’s close to a 1,500 dollar MSRP, however, they seem to retail for right around a thousand dollars. 

The Renegauge uses a system Savage calls the D.R.I.V. D.R.I.V., which stands for dual-regulating inline valve system. Basically, one valve directs gas to a piston to operate the bolt and allow the gun to cycle. Simultaneously, another valve vents off unneeded gas. This regulates gas flow, prevents the gun from being over-gassed, and prevents excessive recoil. 

The Renengauge uses a rotating bolt to help with extraction and ejection. Rotational force helps free the hull from the chamber and increases reliability. The reciprocating components are chrome-plated to reduce friction and make them easy to clean. There are a few interesting features you don’t see elsewhere. The barrel is fluted, which helps reduce weight and better balance the gun with its front heavy gas system. 

We get ghost ring sights and really nice furniture. The gun can be equipped with an optics rail and an M-LOK barrel clamp for attaching lights and slings. Savage really outfitted the gun quite well. Where the gun falls short is the adjustable LOP. It starts at 14.25 inches long and only gets longer. It’s a bizarre choice to make. Also, the magazine tops out at six rounds, whereas most of these guns can hold seven or eight rounds in a similar-length magazine tube. 

The Beretta 1301 is the cool kid on the shotgun block. This Italian stallion has set a tough-to-reach standard and, some would argue, has dethroned the Benelli M4 as the king of combat shotguns. This gas-operated semi-auto shotgun has become immensely popular, and that’s due to its ergonomics, operating system, and low recoil. 

The Beretta 1301 comes in numerous configurations these days. There are various tactical law enforcement and competition models. The main model appears to be the 1301 Tactical Gen 2 Enhanced. These guns all use the B-LINK or Blink operating system. This system uses a rotating bolt and sealed gas system that keeps constant pressure on the piston. 

This creates a soft recoiling and fast-firing shotgun. Beretta claims it’s 30% faster than other systems. I can’t quite test that, but I’ll take their word for it. The Beretta 1301 handles very well with a much-reduced recoil impulse. 

Beretta embraced modern features on the Gen 2 guns. This includes a stock that allows you to adjust the LOP and massive, easy-to-hit controls. It’s optics-ready and comes with ghost ring sights. I love that Beretta uses an elongated forcing cone to improve the patterns and deliver a longer effective range than other shotguns. 

The downside? Well, it’s subject to the 922R cause it’s imported. It’s also expensive, at nearly two grand it’s not cheap, but the best is never cheap. 

So far, every shotgun on this list has been gas-operated. Let’s take a break with the inertia-driven Benelli M2. The Benelli M2 is arguably one of the guns that pushed semi-auto shotguns into the serious tactical realm. It did that by being extremely reliable, as well as being easy to shoot, accurate, and capable. 

The Benelli M2’s inertia system allows the weapon to be lighter and better balanced than you’d get from a gas gun. The trade-off is a little more recoil and sensitivity to weight. You’d have to add a lot of weight onto the gun to see reliability issues, but it’s worth mentioning. The inertia system translates to quick cycling action that’s reliable with a multitude of ammo types. 

The Benelli M2 has been around for a long time. This means you have tons and tons of models available and a ton of accessorization. The Super 90 series gives you the tactical model most of you want. You can more or less customize it to be exactly what you want it to be, and that’s a bit rare for a semi-automatic shotgun. It has nearly the same level of customization as a Remington 870. 

The downside comes down to the controls. They are small. Modern semi-auto shotguns has embraced nice big controls, but Benelli is being left in the dust. The M2 and even the M4 reflect that.

Let’s add a final wildcard. The SRM Arms 1216 is not a new gun, but many people ignore it. It’s a semi-automatic shotgun with an interesting operating system and magazine design. It’s made in America and is one of the few shotguns that holds more than ten rounds without being obnoxious or being made in Turkey. 

The operating system is a roller-delayed blowback system similar to those of the MP5 or G3 series of guns. It’s the first shotgun I know of that uses this design, which allows it to avoid the need for a gas-operated or inertia-operated design. This also allows the gun to use its rather fascinating magazine. With that in mind, the roller-delayed blowback system imparts more recoil than gas-operated guns. 

The magazine is made up of four separate four-round tubular magazines. It holds 16 rounds in total. When you fire four rounds, you rotate the magazine, the next tube is in line, and you have four more rounds on tap. This big magazine thing is removable, and when all four tubes are empty, you can remove the giant 16-round magazine and replace it with another. 

In terms of reliability, the gun likes full-powered stuff. It’s not partial to lightly loaded reduced recoil rounds unless they are high-quality premium loads. I’m not sure what the difference is, but Flitecontrol works fine, but reduced recoil Remington doesn’t. It’s odd, but true. 

The SRM Arms 1216 is an odd duck with some quirks, but it’s perfect for fighting the Xenomorphs!

Going Full Semi-Automatic 

Semi-auto shotguns are quickly becoming the standard for defensive and tactical use. The higher rate of fire, ease of use, and increased reliability make it tough to choose a pump over a semi-auto these days. Plus, the ever-growing amount of options helps keep things relevant and very appealing. 

Are you on the semi-auto train? Let us know below!