From January 17th through the 20th, the great firearms pilgrimage once again took place. SHOT Show was once again the destination for tens of thousands of people. While less crowded than shows in the past, it was still packed full of new and interesting products. While I did my best to take in the miles of booths, one of my favorite items to search for was new shotguns. After four days and 40-plus miles of walking, I have put together some of the best, most interesting shotguns for 2023.
Best New Shotguns 2023
Benelli Montefeltro
Let’s begin with one of the powerhouses, Benelli. Their new offering this year is a new Montefeltro. This is a fresh makeover of the exciting gun and offers more modern styling as well as several ergonomic changes. One of those changes is a more relaxed magazine spring, making loading much easier. It also has the Easy Locking Bolt that eliminates out-of-battery misfires as well as larger controls that are easy to use even with gloved hands.
Aesthetically, the receiver has a more contemporary look, and the walnut stock and forend have new lines. The slim, trim, and lightweight design of the Benelli Montefeltro makes it ideal for carrying over endless fields while pheasant hunting or busting through heavy brush after grouse or quail. The Montefeltro comes with a lightweight, low-profile vent rib, with a red bar front sight. The barrel and choke tubes use Benelli’s Crio System that creates an even-grained, slick surface, resulting in less resistance against wads and shot for uniform shot patterns. (benelliusa.com)
Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol
Next up, yet another Italian powerhouse, Beretta. I actually got to run this blaster during a Beretta media event just prior to SHOT and fell in love with it. The new gun is the Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol. The A300 has been around awhile, but Beretta has built a new gun around that core. This is a semi-auto gun that Beretta has built for the tactical and protection market. It is a 12-gauge shotgun equipped with a 19-inch barrel topped by a modified cylinder choke and has a magazine-tube capacity of seven rounds.
Other standout features include enlarged controls, an improved loading port, thinner fore-end and multiple QD sling points and M-Lok accessory attachment points. While the gun runs everything, I was told at the event that it has been tuned for best performance with Federal Flight Control ammo. It is a fast-good-looking gun and will sell well. (beretta.com)
Beretta A400 Upland
Beretta has made a splash by joining a growing list of gun makers producing a 3-inch 28-gauge shotgun. Their new A400 Upland will make a great all-around smallbore gun, with the ability to shoot light 28-gauge target and dove loads but also handle heavier payloads for pheasants, ducks, and even turkeys with the right ammunition. The Beretta A400 is a great combination of the latest technologies with a classic look, for all the hunters that are looking for the best shooting experience. It features an elegantly engraved nickel-plated receiver with game scene engraving, classic Beretta blue barrel, and select walnut stock with Xtra Grain finish and integral Kick Off Mega recoil dampener. The design of the pistol grip and forend improves the gun’s comfort and enhances the overall look and slim new design. (beretta.com)
Browning Citori 50th Anniversary
My next stop in the scattergun search brought me to Browning. This year they have released their Citori 50th anniversary shotgun. Browning has built north of a million Citori over-under shotguns since they first launched in 1973. That year Browning launched the successor to the famed Superposed — the Citori. Produced by Miroku Corporation in Nangoku, Japan, the Citori utilized the same design as the Superposed, and included a number of changes to the original design that streamlined manufacturing and made the Citori more affordable, putting these fine shotguns in the hands of even more users.
Fifty years later, the best-selling Citori continues to inspire shooters with balanced handling, unwavering reliability and traditional elegance. This commemorative high grade 50th anniversary model includes extensive receiver engraving with gold accents and a beautifully finished Turkish walnut stock and forearm. As with every Citori, it is manufactured following an exacting hand-fitting process that is performed by the skilled hands of the men and women at the Miroku facility. (browning.com)
CZ 712 G3
CZ never disappoints and this year they are offering their new 712 G3. This is an enhanced version of their popular gun. The new CZ 712 G3 is at home in the field or on a clay target course. The gun’s gas-operated system reduces recoil and cycles 2¾- and 3-inch shotshells. Two pistons are included with the shotgun for light and heavy loads. Either piston accepts a wide range of shotshells within its designation. With the light piston installed, soft recoiling shotshells for target shooting can be cycled easily.
Meanwhile, with the heavy piston installed, the CZ 712 G3 can take on even the hottest loads waterfowl hunters use. The chrome-lined barrels of the 712 G3 hold up under extended firing and ensure consistent patterns with five provided extra-long Active-Choke tubes. The CZ 712 G3’s receiver and barrel have a stylish, sturdy matte black finish that reduces glare, and can be paired with either black synthetic, camo, or walnut stocks. (cz-usa.com)
KelTec KSG-410
From 12 gauge we will jump down to .410 with the new KelTec KSG-410. This new gun is a slightly smaller version their popular KSG bullpup. Like the KSG it’s fed by two shell tubes that run underneath the 18.5-inch barrel. The gun is chambered in .410 and supports both 3-inch and 2.75-inch shells. Essentially everything with the gun is reduced in size, making it lighter than its KSG bigger brother at around five pounds. It comes with a carry handle featuring M-LOK slots and a fiber optic front sight, but that can be removed, and you can install a Picatinny rail that will accept optics, lights, laser, or any other iron sights you want. Being chambered in .410 makes it very easy to shoot with almost no recoil compared to other guns. The gun is unique looking and will certainly find a home with those looking for an easy shooting shotgun. (keltecweapons.com)
Mossberg 500 Turkey
No discussion on shotguns is complete without a visit to Mossberg. While they had several new guns, the first one that caught my eye was the new Mossberg 500 Turkey optics-ready pump-action shotgun. A rugged and reliable, pump-action platform for turkey hunters, the 500 Turkey’s tight patterns with rifle-like accuracy. Featuring the proven dual extractors, dual action bars, and anti-jam shell elevator of the 500 platform, this shotgun delivers short cycling times for fast follow-up shots. The streamlined aluminum receiver keeps the gun’s weight down and well balanced.
This drilled and tapped receiver also features cuts that allow direct mounting of its installed Holosun sight and other low-profile, Shield RMSc-pattern micro dot sights to offer improved eye alignment and target acquisition. The ambidextrous, top-mounted safety is highly visible, and easy to reach without moving the shooter’s trigger finger. This sure performing hunting gun also features a ventilated recoil pad, sling swivel studs, vent rib barrel with fiber optic front sight, and X-Factor Ported Choke Tube. It has a Mossy Oak Greenleaf camo finish, 5+1 capacity, and a 3-inch chamber. It’s another great gun from Mossberg. (mossberg.com)
Remington 870 FieldMaster
One company I was excited to see a new gun from was Remington. Their new 870 FieldMaster shows great promise. Like all Model 870 shotguns, this workhorse features a receiver milled from a solid billet of steel for maximum strength and reliability. The smooth, twin action bars prevent binding and twisting so that you’ll always have the chance to get off a second shot. Appropriately dressed for the hunt and not for the wall, each shotgun sports non-reflective black matte metalwork and a no-frills laminate stock and fore-end.
Its solid, dependable action makes it a favorite. Along with continually evolving designs, this shotgun’s guaranteed performance is a matter of rugged dependability, great pointing characteristics and versatility. In fact, the Model 870 has been the standard for slide-action performance for more than 60 years. (remarms.com)
Stoeger M3K 3-Gun
New from Stoeger, this year they are showcasing the M3K 3-gun model. This is sure to catch the eye of the competition crowd. This 12-gauge has a combo of black synthetic stock and forend around a 24-inch barrel and easily cycles 2 3/4- and 3-inch shells thanks to its Inertia-Driven System. The M3K comes with oversized, anodized aluminum bolt release, oversized safety, and extended tactical-style anodized aluminum bolt handle. The triad of components makes for quick and easy operation when seconds count. And for quicker and easier reloading, the M3K features a custom elongated carrier and enlarged, beveled loading port. The M3k 3-gun shotgun comes race-ready and gets you up and competing right out of the box. (stoegerindustries.com)
TriStar G2 PRO
Finally, a visit to TriStar is always good, and this year they are releasing their new G2 PRO. These guns comprise enhanced versions from their popular G2 line. TriStar primarily made enhancements to the user controls. New oversized operational hardware helps shotgunners achieve solid performance, even with gloves. There’s an enlarged triangular safety, over-molded rubber grips on the stock and forend, as well as an enlarged magazine well for easier loading. TriStar is offering these new guns in a variety of flavors, including 410, 28, 20, 16, and 12 gauge. The G2 PRO was designed for the serious hunter or shooter to be perfectly balanced for comfortable shooting. Gas-operated for peak performance in any weather condition. All while backed by TriStar’s 5-year warranty. TriStar Arms delivers professional shooting with the Viper G2 PRO. (tristararms.com)
I am a bit of a shotgun junkie so to see so many new guns warmed my heart. If you are a scattergun fan like me, then 2023 will be a great year.
Discussion about this post