Cowboy Shotguns: 13 High-Quality Reproductions Fit for the Frontier

1 of 13

Chiappa Model 1887
This is a dead ringer for the Winchester Model 1887 lever-action shotgun, which was Winchester’s first repeating shotgun. Chiappa updates the design with a 28-inch barrel and three choke tubes. This 12 gauge can put food on the table and keep your homestead safe. Gauge: 12 • Barrel: 28 inches • OA Length: 45 inches • Weight: 9.3 pounds (empty) • Stock: Walnut • Sights: Front bead • Action: Lever • Finish: Blued, casehardened • Capacity: 5+1 • MSRP: $1,569

2 of 13

Cimarron 1878 Coach Gun
Cimarron’s 1878 Coach Guns are true workhorses in 12 gauge with exposed hammers and 20- or 26-inch barrels with fixed chokes. More features include brass bead front sights, double triggers and smooth natural walnut stocks and forends. Gauge: 12 • Barrels: 20 or 26 inches • OA Length: 45 inches • Weight: 8-8.95 pounds (empty) • Stock: Walnut • Sights: Front bead • Action: Break • Finish: Vintage satin blue • Capacity: 2 • MSRP: $597-$623

Cimarron 1883 Double Barrel cowboy shotguns

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Cimarron 1883 Double Barrel
The Cimarron 1883 Double Barrel shotgun is designed so you don’t have to cock back any hammers—opening the action automatically cocks the internal hammers. The deluxe broad forend protects your fingers from hot barrels during extensive firing. Variants are available in 12 gauge with 22- or 28-inch barrels or .410 with 18-inch barrels. Gauge: 12 or .410 • Barrels: 18, 22 or 28 inches • OA Length: 45 inches • Weight: 6.85 pounds (empty) • Stock: Walnut • Sights: Front bead • Action: Break • Finish: Blued • Capacity: 2 • MSRP: $883

4 of 13

Cimarron Doc Holliday
Doc Holliday blasted his way into folklore with a sawed-off shotgun during the fight at the OK Corral, and Cimarron’s Doc Holliday shotgun is close to Doc’s original scattergun with exposed hammers; 20-inch, fixed-choke barrels; and locks with a frothy casehardened finish. Gauge: 12 • Barrels: 20 inches • OA Length: 45 inches • Weight: 7.1 pounds (empty) • Stock: Walnut • Sights: Front bead • Action: Break • Finish: Blued, casehardened • Capacity: 2 • MSRP: $1,605

5 of 13

CZ Hammer Classic
This side-by-side is definitely not a wall-hanger. With its casehardened sidelocks with exposed hammers, walnut stock and forend, and long 30-inch barrels, this shotgun is a modern interpretation of shotguns from generations passed. Gauge: 12 • Barrels: 30 inches • OA Length: 47.4 inches • Weight: 7.5 pounds (empty) • Stock: Walnut • Sights: Front bead • Action: Break • Finish: Black chrome, casehardened • Capacity: 2 • MSRP: $963

6 of 13

CZ Hammer Coach
If you were riding shotgun in the Old West, this would be the type of shotgun cradled in your lap. Featuring double triggers and double barrels with fixed cylinder-bore chokes, the Hammer Coach is a fast-handling shotgun offering a quick one-two punch. Gauge: 12 • Barrels: 20 inches • OA Length: 37.38 inches • Weight: 6.7 pounds (empty) • Stock: Walnut • Sights: Front bead • Action: Break • Finish: Black chrome, casehardened • Capacity: 2 • MSRP: $922

Dixie Gun Works Baker Cavalry cowboy shotguns

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Dixie Gun Works Baker Cavalry
This short-barreled shotgun is a reproduction of a gun made in the 1850 by Ezekiel Baker, a gunsmith in London. It is of typical English style with 11¼-inch barrels, percussion locks, a single trigger and an overall length of only 27½ inches. These weapons were devastating in close-quarters combat, and now you can have a modern reproduction. Gauge: 20 • Barrels: 11¼inches • OA Length: 27½ inches • Weight: 5.75 pounds (empty) • Stock: Walnut • Sights: Front bead • Action: Percussion • Finish: Blued, casehardened • Capacity: 2 • MSRP: $995

Dixie Gun Works M1887 Mare's Leg cowboy shotguns

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Dixie Gun Works M1887 Mare’s Leg
This Mare’s Leg version of the Winchester Model 1887 offers a compact, maneuverable design that is only 28½ inches long but offers plenty of 12-gauge power. This lever-action shotgun has a cylinder-bore, 18½-inch barrel equipped with a brass bead front sight that lines up well with a rear sight groove on top of the receiver. Gauge: 12 • Barrel: 18½ inches • OA Length: 28½ inches • Weight: 6.5 pounds (empty) • Stock: Walnut • Sights: Front bead, rear groove • Action: Lever • Finish: Blued, casehardened • Capacity: 5+1 • MSRP: $1,195

9 of 13

IAC Model 1897 Cowboy
IAC Imports is now offering a reproduction of the iconic Winchester Model 1897 pump-action shotgun. The IAC Model 1897 Cowboy is faithful to the original design but has a few added features that improve safety and performance. The 20-inch barrel features a fixed cylinder-bore choke. Gauge: 12 • Barrel: 20 inches • OA Length: 39 inches • Weight: 7 pounds (empty) • Stock: Walnut • Sights: Front bead • Action: Pump • Finish: Blued • Capacity: 5+1 • MSRP: $600

Stoeger Coach Gun Single Trigger cowboy shotguns

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Stoeger Coach Gun Single Trigger
Need more controllable power? Then the Stoeger Coach Gun Single Trigger is a great choice. This shotgun is available in 12 or 20 gauge with extractors, bead front sights and 20-inch barrels with Improved Cylinder and Modified chokes. Of course, double-trigger versions are also available. Gauge: 12 or 20 • Barrels: 20 inches • OA Length: 36½ inches • Weight: 6.4-6.5 pounds (empty) • Stock: Walnut • Sights: Front bead • Action: Break • Finish: Blued • Capacity: 2 • MSRP: $499

Stoeger Coach Gun Supreme cowboy shotguns

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Stoeger Coach Gun Supreme
Perhaps not that traditional but styled for Cowboy Action Shooting and keeping foxes out of the hen house, the Stoeger Coach Gun Supreme features an AA-grade walnut stock and blued, polished nickel or stainless finishes. Available in 12 or 20 gauge, it comes with removable Improved Cylinder and Modified choke tubes and double triggers. Gauge: 12 or 20 • Barrels: 20 inches • OA Length: 36½ inches • Weight: 6.4-6.5 pounds (empty) • Stock: Walnut • Sights: Front bead • Action: Break • Finish: Blued, nickel, stainless • Capacity: 2 • MSRP: $549

Taylor's & Co. Black Powder Shotgun cowboy shotguns

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Taylor’s & Co. Black Powder Shotgun
The Pedersoli Black Powder shotgun from Taylor’s & Company Firearms lets you take on on quail or rabbits and produce lots of smoke. This side-by-side has exposed hammers, engraved locks and 28.56-inch barrels with a ramrod tucked underneath. It’s a true reproduction of a shotgun from the Old West. Gauge: 12 • Barrels: 28.56 inches • OA Length: 44.31 inches • Weight: 7.05 pounds (empty) • Stock: Walnut • Sights: Front bead • Action: Percussion • Finish: Blued, casehardened • Capacity: 2 • MSRP: $1,081

Taylor's & Co. Wyatt Earp Shotgun cowboy shotguns

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Taylor’s & Co. Wyatt Earp Shotgun
This is a truly fun, old-school side-by-side shotgun. The Wyatt Earp features locks engraved with Wyatt Earp’s name or it can be had without, plus exposed hammers for true period authenticity. The barrels are 20 inches, and it also comes with a rounded pistol grip, a thumb safety and shell extractors. Gauge: 12 • Barrels: 20 inches • OA Length: 37¾ inches • Weight: 7.05 pounds (empty) • Stock: Walnut • Sights: Front bead • Action: Break • Finish: Blued, casehardened • Capacity: 2 • MSRP: $1,595

Truth be told, the shotgun was the versatile weapon that helped tame the wild West. Countless shotguns were carried by settlers, pioneers, farmers and wagonloads of others. For lawmen, the shotgun had the ability to stifle barroom arguments and bring desperados to their knees. The break-action, side-by-side shotgun was the most common type, but pump- and lever-action shotguns made their mark, too. And well before shells, there were muzzle-loading percussion models where you loaded all the required fixings. Luckily, several companies are offering modern reproductions to suit your needs. So, without further ado, here’s a roundup of some of the best cowboy shotguns.

For more on the cowboy shotguns featured in the gallery above, please visit the following sites.

Chiappa Model 1887
chiappafirearms.com

Cimarron 1878 Coach Gun
cimarron-firearms.com

Cimarron 1883 Double Barrel
cimarron-firearms.com

Cimarron Doc Holliday
cimarron-firearms.com

CZ Hammer Classic
cz-usa.com

CZ Hammer Coach
cz-usa.com

Dixie Gun Works Baker Cavalry
dixiegunworks.com

Dixie Gun Works M1887 Mare’s Leg
dixiegunworks.com

IAC Model 1897 Cowboy
iacshotguns.com

Stoeger Coach Gun Single Trigger
stoegerindustries.com

Stoeger Coach Gun Supreme
stoegerindustries.com

Taylor’s & Co. Black Powder Shotgun
taylorsfirearms.com

Taylor’s & Co. Wyatt Earp Shotgun
taylorsfirearms.com

This article was originally published in “Guns of the Old West” #90. To subscribe to the magazine, visit outdoorgroupstore.com.

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