For many top-level competitors and hunting traditionalists, double-barrel, break-action shotguns are the firearm of choice.
Double-barrel shotguns are available in two distinct barrel configurations: side-by-side and over-under. Shotguns with two barrels side-by-side gained popularity with bird hunters in the late 18th century, and were widely carried by American pioneers and farmers in the era of Westward expansion. Meanwhile, over-under shotguns, which feature two vertically stacked barrels, were widely adopted within the last 100 years.
The more modern, over-under design has some clear advantages to side-by-side guns. Not only do they have a single sight plane, but the follow-up shot from an over-under tends to be more accurate, as recoil from the first shot does not twist the gun in the shooter’s hands as it does with a side-by-side. For these reasons, you are not likely to see a side-by-side facing off against an over-under in high-level competitions. Still, many sportsmen and women prefer the more traditional side-by-side.
Using a report from Gungenius, which compiled sales data from Gunbroker.com, an online firearm marketplace, 24/7 Wall St. identified the 16 most popular double-barrel shotguns in America. Our list includes six side-by-side shotguns and 10 over-under shotguns. Online sales of both new and used guns in 2022 were considered. Because exact sales numbers were not available, shotgun models are listed in alphabetical order.
Modern repeaters – including semiautomatic and pump-action shotguns – tend to be less expensive than double-barrel models, while also offering greater magazine capacity. Perhaps not surprisingly, these types of shotguns tend to be more popular in the United States than double-barrel models. Based on 2022 sales from Gunbroker.com, the Browning Citori is the only double-barrel shotgun to rank among the 10 best-selling shotguns of any type. (These are America’s 19 top shotgun companies.)
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 the buyer’s door. Typically, the process requires buyers to have their firearm shipped to a Federally Licensed Firearm dealer – usually a local gun store – which will then run a background check before transferring the gun to the customer. (These are the 22 best-selling guns bought online last year.)
Here are the most popular double-barrel shotguns in America, and how much they cost.
American Tactical Cavalry
Source: Courtesy of Sportsman's Warehouse
- > Approx. base price: $600
- > Barrel configuration: Over-under
- > Chambered in: 12 ga, 20 ga, 28 ga, .410 ga
- > 2022 sales ranking: Num. 8 of top 10 over-under guns
- > Parent company: American Tactical Inc.
- > Parent company U.S. headquarters: Summerville, SC
Beretta Model 686 Shotguns
Source: Courtesy of Beretta Holding
- > Approx. base price: $2,600
- > Barrel configuration: Over-under
- > Chambered in: 12 ga, 20 ga, 28 ga, .410 ga
- > 2022 sales ranking: Num. 2 of top 10 over-under guns
- > Parent company: Beretta Holding
- > Parent company U.S. headquarters: Accokeek, MD
Beretta Model 690 Shotguns
Source: Courtesy of Sportsman's Warehouse
- > Approx. base price: $2,650
- > Barrel configuration: Over-under
- > Chambered in: 12 ga
- > 2022 sales ranking: Num. 10 of top 10 over-under guns
- > Parent company: Beretta Holding
- > Parent company U.S. headquarters: Accokeek, MD
Browning Citori
Source: Courtesy of Browning
- > Approx. base price: $2,180
- > Barrel configuration: Over-under
- > Chambered in: 12 ga, 20 ga, 28 ga, .410 ga
- > 2022 sales ranking: Num. 1 of top 10 over-under guns
- > Parent company: Herstal Group
- > Parent company U.S. headquarters: Morgan, UT (Browning)
Browning Citori 725
Source: Courtesy of Browning
- > Approx. base price: $2,880
- > Barrel configuration: Over-under
- > Chambered in: 12 ga, 20 ga, 28 ga, .410 ga
- > 2022 sales ranking: Num. 6 of top 10 over-under guns
- > Parent company: Herstal Group
- > Parent company U.S. headquarters: Morgan, UT (Browning)
Browning Cynergy
Source: Picanox / Wikimedia Commons
- > Approx. base price: $1,980
- > Barrel configuration: Over-under
- > Chambered in: 12 ga, 20 ga
- > 2022 sales ranking: Num. 4 of top 10 over-under guns
- > Parent company: Herstal Group
- > Parent company U.S. headquarters: Morgan, UT (Browning)
CZ-USA Bobwhite
Source: Courtesy of CZ-USA
- > Approx. base price: $800
- > Barrel configuration: Side-by-side
- > Chambered in: 20 ga
- > 2022 sales ranking: Num. 1 of top 6 side-by-side guns
- > Parent company: Colt CZ Group
- > Parent company U.S. headquarters: Kansas City, KS (CZ USA)
CZ-USA Drake
Source: Courtesy of Sportsman's Warehouse
- > Approx. base price: $800
- > Barrel configuration: Over-under
- > Chambered in: 20 ga
- > 2022 sales ranking: Num. 3 of top 10 over-under guns
- > Parent company: Colt CZ Group
- > Parent company U.S. headquarters: Kansas City, KS (CZ USA)
CZ-USA Hammer
Source: Courtesy of Sportsman's Warehouse
- > Approx. base price: $1,100
- > Barrel configuration: Side-by-side
- > Chambered in: 12 ga
- > 2022 sales ranking: Num. 2 of top 6 side-by-side guns
- > Parent company: Colt CZ Group
- > Parent company U.S. headquarters: Kansas City, KS (CZ USA)
Ruger Gold Label
Source: Courtesy of Ruger via Facebook
- > Approx. base price: $5,500 (pre-owned only)
- > Barrel configuration: Side-by-side
- > Chambered in: 12 ga
- > 2022 sales ranking: Num. 6 of top 6 side-by-side guns
- > Parent company: Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc
- > Parent company U.S. headquarters: Southport, CT
Savage Model 555 Shotguns
Source: Courtesy of Savage Arms
- > Approx. base price: $770
- > Barrel configuration: Over-under
- > Chambered in: 12 ga, 16 ga, 20 ga, 28 ga, .410 ga
- > 2022 sales ranking: Num. 7 of top 10 over-under guns
- > Parent company: Savage Arms, Inc.
- > Parent company U.S. headquarters: Westfield, MA
Stoeger Coach Gun
Source: Picanox / Wikimedia Commons
- > Approx. base price: $500
- > Barrel configuration: Side-by-side
- > Chambered in: 12 ga, 20 ga, .410 ga
- > 2022 sales ranking: Num. 5 of top 6 side-by-side guns
- > Parent company: Beretta Holding
- > Parent company U.S. headquarters: Accokeek, MD
Stoeger Condor
Source: Courtesy of Sportsman's Warehouse
- > Approx. base price: $330
- > Barrel configuration: Over-under
- > Chambered in: 12 ga, 20 ga, 28 ga, .410 ga
- > 2022 sales ranking: Num. 5 of top 10 over-under guns
- > Parent company: Beretta Holding
- > Parent company U.S. headquarters: Accokeek, MD
Stoeger Double Defense
Source: Courtesy of Sportsman's Warehouse
- > Approx. base price: $530
- > Barrel configuration: Side-by-side
- > Chambered in: 12 ga, 20 ga
- > 2022 sales ranking: Num. 4 of top 6 side-by-side guns
- > Parent company: Beretta Holding
- > Parent company U.S. headquarters: Accokeek, MD
Stoeger Uplander
Source: Courtesy of Stoeger Industries
- > Approx. base price: $500
- > Barrel configuration: Side-by-side
- > Chambered in: 12 ga, 20 ga, 28 ga, .410 ga
- > 2022 sales ranking: Num. 3 of top 6 side-by-side guns
- > Parent company: Beretta Holding
- > Parent company U.S. headquarters: Accokeek, MD
Weatherby Orion Shotgun
Source: Courtesy of Weatherby
- > Approx. base price: $1,050
- > Barrel configuration: Over-under
- > Chambered in: 12 ga, 20 ga
- > 2022 sales ranking: Num. 9 of top 10 over-under guns
- > Parent company: Weatherby, Inc.
- > Parent company U.S. headquarters: Sheridan, WY
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