Why are pump-action shotguns such a dominant force in the firearm industry?
Everywhere else, we’ve moved on to semi-auto rifles and semi-auto handguns. While semi-auto shotguns exist and are certainly prevalent, the tried and true pump action refuses to die.
The pump action is simple and reliable as a sledgehammer. If I had to guess, it stuck around because it’s still relevant to modern shotgun tactics.
Let’s dive deeper into pump-action shotguns. I’ll show off some of my favorites and talk you through the pros and cons of the platform.
Table of Contents
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THE QUICK LIST
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Best for Home Defense
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Best for Hunting
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Best Budget
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Best Value
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Best Bullpup
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Best Hybrid
How We Test the Best Pump-Action Shotguns
Picking the best pump-action shotguns isn’t an easy endeavor. For this list, I picked shotguns that were still in production and not imported or produced in such small batches they were impossible to find.
To make the cut, they have to be tough, accurate, readily available, and easy to customize.
Someone from the Pew Pew Tactical team (and usually more than one) has put shells through each of the pump-action shotguns you see here. Slugs, buckshot, upland hunting loads — you name it, we’ve tried it.
When you see a shotgun on this list you know we trust it, whether it lives under the bed or in the corner of a duck blind.
Best Pump-Action Shotguns
1. Mossberg 590 Tactical – Best for Home Defense
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Pros
- Reliable
- Affordable
- Decent for home defense
Cons
- Heavier than other models
- Bead sights mounted to barrel
Specs
- Gauge: 12 ga.
- Chamber: 3″
- Action: Pump-action
- Capacity: 8+1
- Sights: Ghost ring
- Stock: Synthetic
- Barrel Length: 20″
- Overall Length: 41″
- Weight: 7.25 lbs
The Mossberg 590 Tactical traces its roots to the Mossberg 500 that’s dominated the American market since 1961.
This basic gun utilizes a tube magazine, dual action bars, a bead sight, and a field stock.
The 500 tends to be the sporting option, but security models exist. The 590 is a tactical series of shotguns designed for home defense and duty work.
Unlike most shotguns, the 590 Tactical doesn’t come with a basic bead sight lifted for the world of bird hunting. It has ghost ring sights that are much more accurate in a tactical setting and you can opt for an M-LOK handguard if you want to add a light or other accessories.
Mossberg uses a tang-mounted safety that’s ambidextrous and user-friendly. The controls are laid out simply, easy to access, and very easy to manipulate.
With great popularity comes great aftermarket support. You can accessorize your Mossberg nearly as much as an AR-15. Slap all manner of stocks, forearms, lights, and optics on these guns and make them your own.
The weapons are similar, and both come in various designs and gauges. They share a similar setup but differ in the magazine tube and barrel design.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Popularity breeds innovation, and you can find a 500 or 590 in nearly any configuration you want.
This includes magazine-fed models, field guns, slug guns, and the compact Shockwave. Prices vary depending on features, and the more basic models can be very affordable.
At their core, these guns are designed to be robust, easy to use, and ergonomic.
Learn more about the Mossberg 500 and 590 here!
What do you think of the Mossberg 500 and 590 series of pump-action shotguns? Rate them below!
2. Remington 870 Fieldmaster – Best for Hunting
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- Durable and reliable
- Versatile
- Comfortable to handle and shoot
Cons
- Limited customization
Specs
- Gauge: 12 ga.
- Chamber: 3″
- Action: Pump-Action
- Capacity: 4+1
- Sights: Single bead
- Stock: Hardwood
- Barrel Length: 26″
- Overall Length: 46.5″
- Weight: 7.25 lbs
Remington claims to have built more than 13 million model 870 shotguns so it’s hard to pick a favorite. The classic 12-gauge Fieldmaster setup with real hardwood is tough to beat, though.
It’s robust, versatile, and very capable. Pick up a few chokes or even spare barrels to cover everything from sporting clays to big game.
Working with an 870 is always an enjoyable experience. The action is slick and smooth, the construction and lock-up are rock solid, and the gun’s raised bead ensures your point of aim and point of impact match.
People don’t realize how innovative the 870 was when it was introduced in 1950, when the Winchester Model 12 reigned supreme. How do you unseat a gun known as the perfect repeater?
With the 870, shooters received the first gun to use dual-action bars for enhanced reliability and anti-bind design.
Mass production was key, and Remington managed to sell the 870 at an affordable price while offering a very well-made, high-quality gun (hey, that sounds a lot like the magic behind the Remington 700).
This shotgun has been made nearly continuously since 1950 and has become incredibly popular.
Remington has produced dozens of variants to accommodate the tactical crowd, the hunting crowd, trap shooters, wing shooters, and more. Choose from all kinds of gauges, barrel lengths, chamber lengths, and materials.
These guns (especially older examples) are top-tier pump shotguns sold at a fair price. Remington may rise and fall, but the 870 will live forever.
Check out our full Remington 870 review!
3. Mossberg Maverick 88 – Best Budget
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- Extremely affordable
- Simple design
- Most Mossberg 500 accessories will fit
Cons
- Plastic trigger
- Basic features
Specs
- Gauge: 12 ga.
- Chamber: 3″
- Action: Pump-Action
- Capacity: 8+1
- Sights: Single bead
- Stock: Synthetic
- Barrel Length: 20″
- Overall Length: 41″
- Weight: 7 lbs
When it comes to affordability, there is no better option than the Mossberg Maverick.
For less than $300, you can buy a robust shotgun for hunting and home defense.
Some cost-saving cuts are made to keep the price low and deliver a basic but entirely useable shotgun.
These include a one-piece forend, a lack of optics cuts, and a cross-bolt safety instead of the 500’s tang safety but they don’t take away from the functionality of the shotgun. It’s still a dual-action bar shotgun with a bead sight and a versatile configuration.
Most 500 accessories will fit the Maverick, giving you room to customize the gun as you see fit. While cheaper, the gun is still incredibly durable and very reliable.
It performs on par with the more expensive guns on this list and eats through nearly any ammo you toss through it. Think of it as inexpensive, not cheap.
If I bought a Mossberg Maverick 88, I’d get the combo field and security model. This option offers you two barrels and doubles the versatility.
4. Benelli SuperNova Tactical – Best Value
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- Lightweight and fast handling
- Comfortable ergonomics
- Large ejection ports and loading ports
Cons
- Pricier than other models
- May not be as rugged as other models
Specs
- Gauge: 12 ga.
- Chamber: 3.5″
- Action: Pump-action
- Capacity: 4+1
- Sights: Ghost ring
- Stock: Synthetic
- Barrel Length: 18″
- Overall Length: 40″
- Weight: 7.6 lbs
The Benelli SuperNova series is criminally underrated. I would go as far as to say that it’s the greatest advancement to pump-action shotguns since the Remington 870.
Benelli used a heavy dose of polymer ithat cuts weight while providing a corrosion-free finish.
Its pump is much longer than most and sits further back on the receiver. If you have shorter arms, you’ll find this action much easier to cycle than most.
Benelli installed a magazine cut-off on the pump that allows you to open the action without plopping a round out of the magazine tube. This makes slug-select drills easy.
The safety is reversible for lefties. The SuperNova also uses a recoil-reducing stock with this chevron design to spare your shoulder from the abuse of 12-gauge recoil.
It’s a magnum gun that can fire 3.5-inch shells. You can hunt nearly anything with a SuperNova, from deer to doves and geese. Those big ejection and loading ports also make it a lot easier to load the gun, which is critical for tactical or competition shooting.
Across the top, we have ghost ring sights as the standard, and the receiver is tapped and ready for a rail and a shotgun red dot.
Benelli is often associated with high prices, but the SuperNova is surprisingly affordable. If I had to pick one pump-action shotgun to escape into the wilds, it’d be this one.
Read up on the SuperNova in our full review!
5. KelTec KS7 – Best Bullpup
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- Bullpup design
- Super smooth action
- M-LOK slots
Cons
- Limited customization options
- Ergonomics might not be best for everyone
Specs
- Gauge: 12 ga.
- Chamber: 3″
- Action: Pump-Action
- Capacity: 6+1
- Sights: Carry handle
- Stock: Synthetic
- Barrel Length: 18.5″
- Overall Length: 31.4″
- Weight: 6.8 lbs
This might be a controversial one but hear me out.
KelTec often has some bugs in their guns, but, as of right now, the KS7 is the best pump-action bullpup shotgun I’ve ever used. I’ve had one for several years now, and it runs flawlessly.
As a bullpup shotgun, it’s hardly any bigger than a Shockwave, but you get a stock and seven rounds in the magazine tube.
It’s also crazy light at only 5.9 pounds. Bullpup shotguns put your hands awfully close to the muzzle, but KelTec wisely put an integrated handguard on the KS7.
The action is super smooth and runs like a scared bat. Bullpups often don’t work well for lefties, but the KS7 uses a bottom-loading and bottom-ejecting design to keep hulls out of your face, no matter which hand is running the trigger.
A space-age carry handle sits across the top with a massive, high-visibility sight. That carry handle also provides M-LOK slots to mount accessories, side saddles, and lights. If you don’t care for the side saddle, you can install an optic rail pretty easily.
Recoil can be rough, so learn your push-pull technique to make sure you can control it. It’s a well-put-together shotgun that has taken me by surprise.
Read more in our KS7 review.
6. Benelli M3 – Best Hybrid
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- Semi-auto + pump design
- Fast firing rate
- Intuitive to use
Cons
- Pricey
- Heavier that other models
Specs
- Gauge: 12 ga.
- Chamber: 3″
- Action: Pump-action and semi-automatic
- Capacity: 5+1
- Sights: Ghost ring
- Stock: Synthetic
- Barrel Length: 19.75″
- Overall Length: 41″
- Weight: 7.2 lbs
My last pick is always a wildcard, and this time the wildcard is the Benelli M3. It’s not just a pump-action shotgun; you can use it as a semi-auto shotgun, too.
It’s one of the rare guns that offers a hybrid design that mixes a Benelli inertia system with a pump-action design.
As a hybrid, you get the best of both worlds. A fast-firing rate with lower recoil in semi-auto mode and the ability to cycle any round with the pump action.
All it takes is the spin of a ring, and your gun converts easily. Somehow, it still checks in at just 7.2 pounds so there’s not even a weight penalty for this feature.
Like all Benelli shotguns, this is a fine piece of Italian engineering. Everything about the gun feels high-quality.
This includes awesome controls, excellent accuracy, and incredible reliability. The pump action is super smooth and very satisfying.
The main downside is that when the gun runs empty, the bolt locks to the rear and you can only release the bolt with the press of the bolt release — not the pump. That adds some complexity but you can make it work with practice.
Oh, and it’s expensive. You could buy several of my other picks for the price of one M3.
Benefits of Pump-Action Shotguns
The inner workings of most pump-action shotguns are very similar. It helps to understand how they work so you can pick the best one for you and confidently perform basic cleaning and maintenance on whichever one you buy.
Pump shotguns tend to offer a number of benefits over semi-auto designs. The main being the ability to use a much wider variety of ammunition.
Semi-autos need a certain amount of power to function reliably. Pump shotguns have no such issues.
A pump gun can eat the lightest loads without issue because you’re cycling the action in between shots, not a finicky gas system. Pump shotguns can handle those uber-light trap loads, short shells, less lethal loads, breaching loads, and more.
If a shell can safely chamber and fire, you can use it in a pump-action shotgun.
Pump-action guns also offer an exceptionally affordable firearm with a high-quality design.
A nice Remington 870 or Mossberg 590 costs less than a budget AR-15. Pump guns still offer a rapid-cycling design and allow for proper combative use.
A manual action means the weapon isn’t maintenance heavy and can be used and abused without much TLC, and it will keep shooting. Since you’re running the action, there’s no dirty gasses caking the inner workings of your action with carbon buildup after every shot.
As manual operating weapons, they often get a green light from anti-gun legislation and are common across the United States and the world (as are aftermarket parts and accessories).
Downsides of Pump-Action Shotguns
Pump-action shotguns are awesome — not perfect.
They tend to be mechanically reliable than an autoloader but it’s more likely that you, the shooter, can cause a malfunction. Short stroking is a very real thing that can occur with poorly trained shooters.
Pump shotguns also require two hands to operate quickly and accurately. That’s not useful if you have a hand or arm injury.
Since there’s no gas system to absorb recoil, pump guns kick harder than semi-auto shotguns. It takes a skilled shooter to get anywhere near the firing rate of a semi-auto.
You can learn more about the differences between pump-action and semi-auto here!
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FAQs
Are pump-action shotguns more reliable?
Pump-action shotguns are famously reliable. Compared to gas-operated semi-automatic shotguns, they have fewer moving parts and are more tolerant of light ammunition.
What pump-action shotgun does the military use?
The U.S. military has widely used variations of the Remington 870 and Mossberg 500 and 590 for decades. Law enforcement agencies have been big fans of these models, too.
Why were trench guns banned?
This is actually a historical misconception. The German government did officially protest the use of pump-action shotguns during World War I but the allies promptly filed it in the trash can.
Final Thoughts
Pump-action shotguns are a common choice for defensive, hunting, and sporting — remarkably reliable, affordable, and capable.
A pump-action shotgun is the way to go when you need a quality defensive weapon on a budget.
What’s your favorite pump-action shotgun? Let us know in the comments below. In need of a home defense shotgun? Take a look at our list of the Best Home Defense Shotguns.
44 Leave a Reply
As always, Mr. Pike, you are on point. Our department uses the Remington 870 for lethal and non-leathal (orange). Once out of the academy I qualified with, and carried, my Mossberg 590A1. I replaced the original stock with a Hogue stock with a 14 inch length of pull. Functionality has never been an issue.
The Standard Vang Comp Review when
If you find an old Wingmaster in a pawn shop grab it.
Few shotgun owners comment on the Browning BPS shotgun? The bottom ejecting shell design and when Browning makes the 'slug cylinder barrel' again, stopping a angry burglar with a sabot within 25'ft would be final and messy. I've read the high pressures of rifled slugs destroys lighter shotguns (aluminum and Turkish types) but the Miroku Japanese made BPS cycles all sabots and slugs without failure! It's really stupid that Browning can't compete in the 'home defense' shotgun sales. The reason they can't compete in the Dept. of Defense contract is that weapon entries must be made in the United States for supply chain reasons.
Ithaca 37?…….
I would love to see them test a modern Ithaca 37 Defense. Supposedly the action of the Keltec KS7 is based upon the Ithaca action.
Another vote for the Browning BPS. As a lefty, bottom eject is a godsend, and single loading for Trapshooting is super slick. I competed ATA successfully for years with a BPS Trap model that has a single load magazine block off switch.
As usual- great review If a person was to go to the used market the venerable Winchester model 12 is a good choice and if your fortunate enough to ever find a Winchester model 1300- grab it.
Model 12s can often be shot faster than autoloaders due to the fact that they have no disconnector. All you have to do is hold the trigger down and work the action.
WOW! Going to have to try that.
oh yea the Model 12
Totally ignoring the Savage Stevens 320. An excellent, fairly priced alternative. Mine performs flawlessly. Shame.
I hate to admit it but every now and then i have bought budget minded fire arms, usually after they've been on the market for a while. While i'm not talking about jenning types, I have more often then not been suprised by their reliabilty and often willingness to fire Bob's Bullet Barn bargain ammo. Case in point a Hi-Point .45 auto- phuggly, heavy as a brick-not really, but kinda - but reliable as hell. Pull the trigger it goes bang and fresh round ready. And w/tax brand new out da door $149. Now i did it again buying a G-Force 12 gauge pump and again was suprised by the bang for your bucks. Yeah its made in turkey, the frames aluminum, but it holds 4+1, fires 2 3/4 and 3" shells, benelli choke compatable, and pictinny rails. $142 and again pull the trigger, cycle your next round. But build quality is better than i expected- i've seen remi 870's over the past few yrs that rattle more (did they pull a Gibson guitar and let q.c. lower the standards?). While these "budgets" will never replace my savages, winchesters, rugers, and smiths et al i find they fit the affordable bang for your buck if it 's what you can afford category just fine.
Not sure where you were looking for aftermarket parts/accessories for customizing the Remington 870, but there are a ton available out there, probably more than any other make/model.
What about the Browning BPS? Those things are practically indestructible, and well accessorized too. I’ve shot the daylights out of mine for 20 years and it’s still going strong.
My Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag is my old buddy. I bought it in ‘92 when I didn’t have a lot of $$ to put towards a shotgun but was getting into hunting. With the two barrel package I was set. and it’s brought home ducks, geese, rabbits, turkeys and deer ever since. She’s old and beat up like me but still getting it done!
I love my 870. I'm sure others are fine guns, but I see no need to change.
I only had two shotguns in my life - the Mossberg 590 and the Benelli Nova Tactical. Unfortunately, I sold the Benelli, and I would purchase it in a heartbeat again. The action is so much smoother than Mossberg! And I love the extended pump handle. Makes it so much easier to handle.
KS7? I ditched the lunch box handle and installed a full length rail. Does anybody make low profile ghost ring or half ghost ring sights that will attach to the rail? Night sights would be Great?
Ithaca M 37 Featherlight. Home defense, use the 18 inch barrel. Deer season, swap in the deer barrel, smooth or rifled bore. Dove season, 28 inch ribbed field barrel, now available with interchangeable chokes. One gun does it all. Very reliable. I’ve never had a malfunction. My gun was made in 1975.
Tang safety. Very important to a left hand shooter.
I found I have to be selective when choosing pumps. The newer 870 is far from the older ones. Example - when you pulled the shotgun into your shoulder and pulled the trigger, the pump released immediately and the pull to eject was all one smooth motion. I now find the safety gremlins have changed the design to require a forward push to release the pump before pulling rearward for ejection. True of several manufacturers except the Benelli Nova. Annoying!
The 870 will Always be my #1 Choice. The Wingmaster Express that I bought in 1980, still sits next to my bed as I type. Although it has been re-purposed from a duck gun to a "Defensive"gun. I still have all the original wood stock, fore stock, and 28" vent ribbed barrel (the original 32" was cut down to 20") sits in my gun safe
As Herman stated very aptly below, ... "if you keep them cleaned and oiled, they will still be around when I am gone." ... And mine is gunna protect me until I step into Glory, then my kids and grandson can arm wrestle for it. LOL
Don’t overlook the Stevens 320. It’s a Winchester 1200 clone. Very reliable.
“Everything about the gun reeks of quality.”
-You Keep Using That Word. I Do Not Think It Means What You Think It Means.
870 tactical with a mesa tactical side saddle for me. I love those ghost ring sights.
Interesting list. I'll say one thing: Ithaca M-37 Military and Police, the old workhorse.
Over the years stating in the 70's, I have had 5 Model 870's. Really hard to come up with a better shotgun. I have given several to my grandchildren and if you keep them cleaned and oiled, they will still be around when I am gone.
I prefer a pump shotgun over a semi-auto shotgun. With a pump shotgun, if my gun is dirty, I can muscle the next shell into the barrel. However, with a semi-auto, if my gun is dirty, that next shell might not get into the barrel.
Another thing I like about a pump shotgun is that when you pump it, the pumping sound will put someone on notice. For example, if someone is trying to break into my house, and they can hear me pump the shotgun through the wall, they will know what is coming, and they will likely decide to leave while they can. You don't have this sound effect with a semi-auto shotgun.
With guns, I don't want high-tech; I want low-tech and simple -- less to go wrong in a critical moment.
Unless you live in a tent, nobody will hear any gun being racked/pumped. The only thing you are doing is alerting a potentially armed criminal that you are armed. It's a fallacy that a dope head or criminal will be scared off by the sound of a pump action.
So which one is it, fallacy guy? Can they not hear it unless he lives in a tent or is he giving away the element of surprise to an armed foe?
Next time you hear someone trying to break into your house, stand there pumping your shotgun and let us know how that works out for you. Even if a "pump" was audible outside the home, you just risked someone firing the 1st shot at you. Stop watching movies, they won't save your life.
Just keep racking it? That sounds really stupid but, you do you, guy. I'm the one who's seen too many movies? Right... I'll let you get back to clearing your 1 bedroom apartment with your 10.5" AR.
Now you sound uneducated and 15 years old.
That one isn't going to work on me, bud. I have a master's in mechanical engineering and a PE. What's your degree in?
No degree. I retired at 38 after coding software and have 400+ acres in North Alabama. Time to go to bed Joe, you lose. And, for god's sake please don't give any one self-defense advise.
Ah. So you were projecting a little bit with the whole 'uneducated' comment? Interesting ad hominem to go with while sporting a GED (since you're a fan of fallacies.) Reading must be a challenge for you too, because the only one giving advice here was you, Bill Gates. You just couldn't handle it when I pushed back on yours. Sorry I hurt your feelings.
Goes to show having a piece of paper on the wall, like all of the other snowflakes, means nothing as far as intelligence. You just proved it. When you go to sleep tonight just remember I pay more in annual property taxes than your income for the year. You lose again dummy.
So when your pathetic attempt to win an argument by calling me uneducated backfired completely, you then resorted to flashing your checkbook and saying 'my yard is bigger than your yard' which is even more pathetic. Keep it up though if that's all you got.
Troll = Joe John. You're very boring and argue like a 12 year old girl. You tried to be a smart a$$ from your initial post assuming I lived in a 1 bedroom apartment. I merely pointed out that pumping a shotgun does not scare off a meth head or home invader. Fact is an armed criminal may open fire on a bluff like that killing a family member behind the door/window in another room. Your lack of common sense gun protocol and self-defense shows your lack of education on THAT subject. Don't pick a fight you can't win next time.
Poser = Mike Vee. Once again, you're really struggling to win, Mikey. I mounted the M2, the M249, and the Mk19 for the entire 352 days I was in Iraq. I guarantee I have more trigger time than you; both on and off the range. I don't typically like to punch down on guys by bragging about my degrees or military experience but, you keep wanting to take it there. You should probably stick to python and not give tactical advice based on stuff you've read on the internet; real world experience is what counts, son. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to maintaining the country's hydropower infrastructure.
Hard to believe you topped your own stupidity. I figured you'd be a know it all grunt that thinks he's a war hero. From here on out, you can address me as Sir, I outrank you. Get back to work, I'm going to clank some steel on my farm.
Haha Air Force reservist? Very impressive.
FFS guys...