Pump-action shotguns, like the iconic Mossberg 500 or Remington 870, have proven themselves in some of the harshest hunting environments. They stand up to dirt, grit, and frigid temperatures that would choke or jam semi-automatics. You can abuse the hell out of a pump shotgun, cake it with mud, or drop it in the lake, and it will still perform. Many hunters often prefer the reliability of a pump over any other shooting platform because they are less apt to fail, which is important when you are miles away from the truck at a public walk-in unit.
Some of the best pump shotguns can be found on the used rack at your local gun store. Many of the new pump shotguns are functional, but they are generally not built as well as the pumps our fathers and grandfathers owned. That’s not a knock on the craftsmanship of today’s pumps. A generation (or two) ago, the pump shotgun was a far more popular item among hunters, so gun companies dedicated more time to their development.
The fact is,a pump shotgunfrom the 1950s or 1960s may run just as well, or better, than many new pump shotguns. Pumps of that era, and shotguns that emulated their design, are still widely available on the used market and can be bought for a similar cost as today’s models. Most folks gravitate to what is new and shiny when buying just about anything. But in the case of the pump shotgun, old and dusty is often the better option. With that in mind, here’s six of the best pump-action shotguns of all time.
Gauge:12, 16, 20, 28
Capacity:6+1
Barrel Length:26-in, 28-in, 30-in, 32-in
Weight:7.5 lbs
T.C. Johnson’sWinchester Model 12is one of the most well-made mass-produced pump shotguns in American history. Built like a tank, the Model 12 was offered in 12-, 16-, 20-, and 28-gauge. A drawback for today’s hunters is the fact a majority of Model 12s were chambered for 2¾-inch shotshells. However, a magnum 3-inch 12-gauge was produced from the mid-1930s to the 1960s. The Model 12 was especially popular among clay and skeet shooters but served hunters just as well afield. It’s a multi-purpose shotgun that saw action in WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The Model 12’s popularity was supplanted by the less expensive Remington 870 and Mossberg 500, but neither of those shotguns was hand-fitted during the assembly process like the Model 12 was. More than 2 million M12s were produced, which should make one easy to find.
Gauge:.410
Capacity:5+1 (3-inch)
Barrel Length:26-in, 28-in
Weight:5.75 lbs
John Olin introduced the first 3-inch magnum shotshell chambered for the .410 so that theWinchester Model 42would appeal to skeet shooters and hunters alike. Its design was based on the Model 12. However, there were enough differences for Model 42, which had a removable sideplate to access the internals, to get its own designation. The Model 42 was dubbed “everyone’s sweetheart” due to its light weight and low recoil (so that anyone could shoot it). Fewer Model 42s were made, so it’s a much more rare find than the M12, and has a higher price that can exceed $1,500.
Gauge:12, 16, 20
Capacity:3+1
Barrel Length:20-in, 26-in, 28-in, 30-in, 32-in
Weight:6.8 lbs
Remington’s response to the Winchester Model 12 was the John Browning-designed Model 31. It was based on the Remington Model 17 platform, but the M31 featured one key difference—a side-loading gate. The M17 was a bottom-feed pump, which was fine for hunting but not ideal on the clays range.Remington offered the Model 31in 12- and 16-gauge initially, followed by a 20-gauge option. Known as the “ball bearing repeater” for its smooth action, the Model 31 was built on a steel frame and also a lighter alloy frame. More than 190,000 31s were produced over nearly two decades before the economical Remington 870 replaced it in 1950.
Gauge:10, 12, 20, 28, .410
Capacity:4+1
Barrel Length:26-in, 28-in
Weight:7lbs or 9lbs (depending on gauge)
The BPS (Browning Pump Shotgun)is based on the Remington 31 and another John Browning design, the Ithaca 37. Browning recently discontinued the bottom-eject BPS after it enjoyed almost 50 years in production, but there are plenty of used and new models to be had in every legal gauge. Unlike the Winchester 12 and 42 and the Remington 31, the BPS has screw-in chokes you can easily swap in and out. The Winchesters and Remington have fixed chokes, which means you may have to buy multiple barrels depending on the intended use of those shotguns. The recoil of a 3½-in 10- or 12-gauge variant of the BPS may cause you permanent shoulder damage, but the sub-guages are more tolerable and fun to shoot.
Gauge:12, 20, .410
Capacity:4+1
Barrel Length:26-in, 28-in
Weight:7lbs
Produced in every gauge but 10, theRemington 870used stamped parts and was built on the 16-gauge frame of the Model 11-87. This madethe 870cheaper and easier to produce than the Winchester Model 12. Since 1950, more than 11 million 870s have rolled off the assembly line in a smattering of variants. The vaunted Wingmaster remains in production, but the price point Express has been replaced by the Fieldmaster. Most 870s are solid, but Remington did run into some production issues with the gun at times. Before you buy a used model, look for any raised steel burrs in the action and ask the gun counter clerk if they will load and eject three dummy shotshells to ensure proper cycling.
Gauge:12, 20, .410
Capacity:5+1
Barrel Length:20-in, 26-in, 28-in
Weight:6.5 lbs
John Browning’s Model 31 design was so well done Mossberg decided to emulate it when buildingthe 500. It was a smart move. More than 10 million 500s have been sold. Still in production, the 500 is available in 12- and 20-gauge, plus .410 bore. It has multiple configurations and can be usedfor hunting just about anything, including small game, upland birds, waterfowl, turkey, deer, hogs, and more. There are also home-defense variants of the 500. Mossberg also developed the 500 Flex series. This allows shooters to change recoil pads, stocks, forends, and barrels without tools.
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