24/7 Wall St. Insights
- 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a report from Gun Genius to identify the 10 most popular pump-action shotguns in America.
- Our list of 10 shotguns is made by six companies.
- In 2020, Americans bought 2.4 million shotguns.
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The first slide-action (or pump-action) shotgun was patented in Great Britain in 1854. Since then, technology for the weapon has come a long way. One of the best-selling American shotguns is the Mossberg Model 590, which is also used by militaries and law enforcement. A version of the 590, the Mossberg 590A1, is designed with a heavy-walled barrel for military use. Shotgun purchases have surged in America in recent years. In 2020, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Americans bought nearly 2.4 million shotguns.
Using a report from Gun Genius, which analyzed sales data from GunBroker.com, 24/7 Wall St. identified the 10 most popular pump-action shotguns in America. Shotguns are ranked on sales volume in the 2023 calendar year, though exact sales figures were not provided. Supplemental data on domestic manufacturing locations and production volume in 2021 are from the ATF. These 10 firearms are manufactured by six gunmakers, including four models from O. F. Mossberg & Sons and two from the Herstal Group, a company that owns the Browning and Winchester brand names.
Most civilian-owned shotguns in the U.S. are either pump-action, break-action, or semi-automatic. While not the most technologically advanced design, pump shotguns are the most popular. According to the latest annual sales figures from GunBroker.com, the largest online firearm marketplace, four of the five best-selling shotguns in the U.S. in 2023 were pumps. (Here is a look at the 10 best-selling shotguns in America.)
Pump-action shotguns differ from many semi-automatic or autoloading shotguns. Pump-actions can reliably load varying types of ammunition, from heavy buckshot to lighter loads. Another benefit, pumps are less likely to jam than some semi-automatic shotguns. Pumps can also be loaded with two to three times as many shells as double-barrel break-action guns. Because they offer mechanical simplicity, combined with high-magazine capacity, pump-action shotguns are a favorite of law enforcement and the military. In fact, these shotguns have been used by soldiers in the U.S. military since WWI.
Most companies on the following list have large U.S.-based manufacturing locations and produce tens of thousands of shotguns domestically every year. However, imported shotguns have been taking a growing share of the market recently, and many formerly iconic American brands are now manufactured overseas. Winchester, for example, was acquired by the Belgian arms maker Herstal in the late 1980s. Now, the brand’s Super X Pump shotgun, which ranks at number five on this list, is manufactured in Istanbul, Turkey. (Here is a look at the company making the most guns in every state.)
It is important to note that this list was compiled using online gun sales only. Unlike most items purchased online, firearms are generally not shipped directly to your door. Typically, the process requires buyers to have their gun shipped to a Federally Licensed Firearm Dealer which will run a background check before transferring the gun to the customer.
Why Are We Covering This?
Nearly 16.7 million guns were sold in America in 2023. Despite political differences around the country regarding gun laws and regulations, the gun industry has a wide impact on the country’s economy. 24/7 Wall St. is covering some of the best-selling guns on the market, sold by well-known American firearm companies.
These are America’s 10 best-selling pump-action shotguns:
10. Mossberg Model 510
- Approx. base retail price: $520
- Available chamberings include: 20 ga, .410
- Parent company: O. F. Mossberg & Sons, Maverick Arms
- Mossberg and Maverick U.S. shotgun production in 2021: 293,089 (43.4% of all U.S. shotgun production)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: North Haven, CT and Eagle Pass, TX
9. Savage Model 320
- Approx. base retail price: $210
- Available chamberings include: 12 ga, 20 ga
- Parent company: Savage Arms, Inc.
- Savage U.S. shotgun production in 2021: 13,352 (2.0% of all U.S. shotgun production)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Westfield, MA
8. Browning BPS
- Approx. base retail price: $680
- Available chamberings include: 10 ga, 12 ga, 20 ga, 28 ga
- Parent company: Herstal Group
- Browning U.S. shotgun production in 2021: 02 (0.0% of all U.S. shotgun production)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Morgan, UT (Browning)
7. Benelli Nova
- Approx. base retail price: $430
- Available chamberings include: 12 ga, 20 ga
- Parent company: Beretta Holding
- Beretta U.S. shotgun production in 2021: 24,210 (3.6% of all U.S. shotgun production)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Gallatin, TN
6. KelTec KSG
- Approx. base retail price: $590
- Available chamberings include: 12 ga, .410
- Parent company: Kel-Tec CNC Industries Inc.
- Kel-Tec U.S. shotgun production in 2021: 46,737 (6.9% of all U.S. shotgun production)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Cocoa, FL
5. Winchester Super X Pump
- Approx. base retail price: $360
- Available chamberings include: 12 ga, 20 ga
- Parent company: Herstal Group
- Winchester U.S. shotgun production in 2021: 00 (N/A% of all U.S. shotgun production)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: None
4. Mossberg Maverick 88
- Approx. base retail price: $230
- Available chamberings include: 12 ga, 20 ga
- Parent company: O. F. Mossberg & Sons, Maverick Arms
- Mossberg and Maverick U.S. shotgun production in 2021: 293,089 (43.4% of all U.S. shotgun production)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: North Haven, CT and Eagle Pass, TX
3. Mossberg Model 500
- Approx. base retail price: $330
- Available chamberings include: 12 ga, 20 ga, .410
- Parent company: O. F. Mossberg & Sons, Maverick Arms
- Mossberg and Maverick U.S. shotgun production in 2021: 293,089 (43.4% of all U.S. shotgun production)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: North Haven, CT and Eagle Pass, TX
2. Remington Model 870
- Approx. base retail price: $410
- Available chamberings include: 12 ga, 20 ga, .410
- Parent company: RemArms
- Remington U.S. shotgun production in 2021: 45,277 (6.7% of all U.S. shotgun production)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Ilion, NY
1. Mossberg Model 590
- Approx. base retail price: $410
- Available chamberings include: 12 ga, 20 ga, .410
- Parent company: O. F. Mossberg & Sons, Maverick Arms
- Mossberg and Maverick U.S. shotgun production in 2021: 293,089 (43.4% of all U.S. shotgun production)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: North Haven, CT and Eagle Pass, TX
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