Shotgun Tier Lists

FlokiBear · Nov 17, 2021

erwos said:
You know what? Tactical semi-autos:
A. Beretta 1301, Benelli M4
B. Benelli M1/M2, Remington Versa-Max, FN SLP
C. Stoeger M3000, Mossberg 930 SPX, Remington 1100
D. Mossberg 930 non-SPX (I know this is a controversial take)
E. All those < $300 budget shotguns from Turkey

I'd agree with this list,
Could even throw in some Taran Tactical upgrades to those Benellis for some extra $$

woodline · Nov 17, 2021

erwos said:
Personal opinion, but the Benelli Supernova beats the stuffing out of everything Mossberg makes, excepting maybe the genuine milspec 590A1s. Only real beef with the SuperNova is no Aridus and Magpul accessories. But out of the box... hard to beat.

I do have a kitted-out old 870, but while it's a decent enough serious use gun, I simply don't use it very much. Might buy a quick open long gun safe for the bedroom and permanently home it in there.

No opinion on the Benelli Supernova, but that is exactly what I do with my Remington 870. I like the Secure IT under the bed cabinets for that purpose, but don’t mistake them for actual safes.

Unfortunately for the 870, I just took possession of a police trade in Mossberg 590a1 factory SBS. It will be replacing the 870. I need to get it cut for chokes so I can run my SilencerCo Salvo 12 on there, and then I need to mall ninja it with an Aridus side saddle and RMR / rear sight combo.

Not sure what I’ll end up doing with the 870. Seems silly to just throw it in the safe. Maybe I’ll set it up for slugs or something.

woodline · Nov 17, 2021

As to the OP, I would suggest that a “collector” or “heirloom” category be considered. It doesn’t make much sense to me to lump hand made $150,000 shotguns into the same grading scale as normal production shotguns.

That is like trying to make one category for 2 door cars and only having 5 grades for everything from Bugatti Veyron/McLaren F1 to Kia forte. The spread between A and F is so vast as to not be particularly useful to someone trying to learn basic information about shotguns. Probably 90% of the items you are trying to characterize will end up in one or two grades, which could be misleading to potential new gun owners just looking for a good quality firearm.

USArmyJoe · Nov 17, 2021

fbi_surveillance_van said:
As to the OP, I would suggest that a “collector” or “heirloom” category be considered. It doesn’t make much sense to me to lump hand made $150,000 shotguns into the same grading scale as normal production shotguns.

That is like trying to make one category for 2 door cars and only having 5 grades for everything from Bugatti Veyron/McLaren F1 to Kia forte. The spread between A and F is so vast as to not be particularly useful to someone trying to learn basic information about shotguns. Probably 90% of the items you are trying to characterize will end up in one or two grades, which could be misleading to potential new gun owners just looking for a good quality firearm.

This is exactly why I wanted to break it out by sub-categories. I think maybe an S-tier is the "everything over A-tier because the scale goes so high up on the high end". I will add that to the original post.

I hope there aren't so many crazy tactical semi-autos, for example, that I would need a "over $20k" tier.

erwos · Nov 17, 2021

fbi_surveillance_van said:
Unfortunately for the 870, I just took possession of a police trade in Mossberg 590a1 factory SBS. It will be replacing the 870. I need to get it cut for chokes so I can run my SilencerCo Salvo 12 on there, and then I need to mall ninja it with an Aridus side saddle and RMR / rear sight combo.

I'm still kicking myself for not grabbing one of the old Mossberg 500 Compact Cruisers for a super short SBS. Guess I'll have to keep an eye on the secondary market...

Johnny5k · Nov 17, 2021

Never cared for the shockwave, but they had a 20ga "nightstick" version in the store that was gorgeous.

I ordered a Langdon Tactical 1301, a few days ago. I did start to create a post to let the members here know they were in stock, but by the time I wrote it, they were sold out.

mopar92 · Nov 17, 2021

erwos said:
Personal opinion, but the Benelli Supernova beats the stuffing out of everything Mossberg makes, excepting maybe the genuine milspec 590A1s. Only real beef with the SuperNova is no Aridus and Magpul accessories. But out of the box... hard to beat.

I do have a kitted-out old 870, but while it's a decent enough serious use gun, I simply don't use it very much. Might buy a quick open long gun safe for the bedroom and permanently home it in there.

Accesories make the case for Mossberg. Surefire and Streamlight don't make anything for Benelli and having a lack of Magpul stuff means you're either dipping into custom work or using NCStar "universal" accesories which are only universal in the sense they're consistently garbage.

For $800 pre Covid I could buy a Mossberg a dedicated forend light AND a spare Mossberg to strip for parts.

erwos · Nov 17, 2021

mopar92 said:
Accesories make the case for Mossberg. Surefire and Streamlight don't make anything for Benelli and having a lack of Magpul stuff means you're either dipping into custom work or using NCStar "universal" accesories which are only universal in the sense they're consistently garbage.

For $800 pre Covid I could buy a Mossberg a dedicated forend light AND a spare Mossberg to strip for parts.

Benelli Supernovas are like... $500-$600. Right now. They're not any more expensive than a 590A1. Arguably, they're cheaper. I agree that it would be nice if Streamlight and Surefire would make a fore-end for them.

SkiPatrolDude · Nov 17, 2021

A Beretta 1301 is on my must have list. Once I find a deal on one I will prob pull the trigger.

USArmyJoe · Nov 17, 2021

SkiPatrolDude said:
A Beretta 1301 is on my must have list. Once I find a deal on one I will prob pull the trigger.

I feel the same way. It is definitely at the top of the Semi-Auto list with the Benelli M4

Sirex · Nov 17, 2021

erwos said:
Benelli Supernovas are like... $500-$600. Right now. They're not any more expensive than a 590A1. Arguably, they're cheaper. I agree that it would be nice if Streamlight and Surefire would make a fore-end for them.

I just picked up a Supernova, and it is a very nice shotgun. I like the sights, the plastic armor and futuristic look of it. I have not shot it yet, so that may sway my opinion since it has the Comfortech stock, but compared to my go to Mossberg 500/590 wanna be, I still choose the Mossberg as my home defense shotty for now. Action is smoother on my Mossy, (again, the SN is new, so may need break in), the Mossberg controls are more natural for me, parts, IF NEEDED are easier to acquire, and for close home defense use, I prefer the bead sight for now. I think my Benelli was 550 just a month or two ago. My Mossberg 500 started out as a home/field combo for around 300. I used gift cards to buy 590 parts like a metal trigger assembly, heavy barrel, a speed feed stock to beef up the gun. I have a light and laser on the Mossberg, trying to figure out what to do on the Benelli. I do want to take them both to the range, side by side to compare when it warms up, and 00 buckshot is plentiful again.

The Benelli;
https://www.mdshooters.com/showpost.php?p=6446082&postcount=1622

Mossberg
https://www.mdshooters.com/showpost.php?p=3956157&postcount=24

USArmyJoe · Nov 19, 2021

Sirex said:
I just picked up a Supernova, and it is a very nice shotgun.

So how would you rank them?

Brent · Nov 19, 2021

We have tac semis, what about sporting Semi’s? Most of the majors make them! I’d vote a Benelli M2 Field as high ranker. It has been a steady work horse for them for a long time.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sirex · Nov 20, 2021

USArmyJoe said:
So how would you rank them?

Well, I think the overall finish of the Supernova is nicer, but the feel of my 500 is better, for now. The Benelli is new, and unfired, the 500 is my go to, and has been fired a lot. The Benelli is like a luxury brand SUV, and the Mossberg is like a cheaper, easier to repair domestic SUV you wouldn't especially be afraid to take off road. The Benelli is a much better looking gun as well. Sleeker, futuristic. While the Benelli is nicer, I probably wouldn't just throw it in my trunk and drive off like the Mossberg. It will get cased. Once I shoot the Benelli it may win me over. I will have to do some pattern tests, and I want to find a light and laser combo for it, if I can find one to fit.

I would say in terms of build quality though, the Benelli IS a step above the Mossberg, but in terms of a user being able to take down, repair themselves, and obtain parts and accessories, the Mossberg is ahead. For home defense, the Mossberg is still the king of the hill here. When it warms up, it will have a challenger though.

erwos · Nov 20, 2021

brentona said:
We have tac semis, what about sporting Semi’s? Most of the majors make them! I’d vote a Benelli M2 Field as high ranker. It has been a steady work horse for them for a long time.

What sport, though? In terms of 3gun shotguns, it's something like this:
A. Benelli M2 3gun, Beretta 1301 Comp (Pro)
B. Franchi Affinity 3, FN SLP Competition, Remington Versa Max 3gun
C. Stoeger M3K Freedom, Mossberg 940 JM Pro
D. Mossberg 930 JM Pro (and this is generous)
F. Pretty much anything else

Browning A5 could be on that list in the B or C slot if you're willing to do a lot of work to one, but I personally think just slapping a lightning lifter and Benelli extractor in an M3K is a better budget option. MOA Precision customized M3K is a solid B choice.

USArmyJoe · Nov 20, 2021

erwos said:
What sport, though? In terms of 3gun shotguns, it's something like this:
A. Benelli M2 3gun, Beretta 1301 Comp (Pro)
B. Franchi Affinity 3, FN SLP Competition, Remington Versa Max 3gun
C. Stoeger M3K Freedom, Mossberg 940 JM Pro
D. Mossberg 930 JM Pro (and this is generous)
F. Pretty much anything else

Browning A5 could be on that list in the B or C slot if you're willing to do a lot of work to one, but I personally think just slapping a lightning lifter and Benelli extractor in an M3K is a better budget option. MOA Precision customized M3K is a solid B choice.

Thank you for this! Would you put the A5 on there and say (with work) and (out of the box) next to it if they fall on separate tiers?

erwos · Nov 20, 2021

USArmyJoe said:
Thank you for this! Would you put the A5 on there and say (with work) and (out of the box) next to it if they fall on separate tiers?

I mean, every gun is going to improve if you put some work into it. Even the 1301 Comp Pro will benefit from getting the loading port opened a little further.

Pinecone · Nov 24, 2021

USArmyJoe said:
Yeah the range is so wide. The super high end fancy Beretta ones are $10k+, and I have seen some super custom ones a few times more than that.

$10K is peanuts.

Back in about 1993 we went to the SHOT show. The Perazzi booth guy TOSSED me a 28 gauge. A mear $68,000 shotgun. Over 25 years ago.

Pinecone · Nov 24, 2021

FlokiBear said:
Krieghoff K-80 is top tier idolized by a few skeet shooters I know, in the O/U category

But to me, they feel and swing like a 2x4.

Too many opinions. And too much variation on how they fit each person.

STeveZ · Nov 24, 2021

Rizzini's BR110, their current entry level shotgun, is easily the equal of a SP or Citori and should be a "C". That said, the Rizzini name has been around a long time with varying level of quality and finish.

https://www.rizziniusa.com/

Shotgun Tier Lists

The #1 community for Gun Owners of the Northeast

Member Benefits:

Member

Ultimate Member

Ultimate Member

Pretty good shot

The Hebrew Hammer

Ultimate Member

Official MDS Court Jester

The Hebrew Hammer

Ultimate Member

Pretty good shot

Powered by natural gas

Pretty good shot

#2ALivesMatter

Powered by natural gas

The Hebrew Hammer

Pretty good shot

The Hebrew Hammer

Ultimate Member

Ultimate Member

Thank you, Abelard

Users who are viewing this thread

Log in

Forum statistics