14 Best Semi-Auto Tactical Shotguns – 2024

Last Updated January 10th 2024

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Winners at a Glance

The Benelli M1014 is the best semi auto tactical shotgun, but it faces some seriously stiff competition. Check the highlights here.

Image	Product	Detail	Price
	Benelli M1014 Tactical	Overall Winner	Best Price
	Tavor TS-12	Best New Tech	Best Price
	Black Aces Tactical Pro M	Best cheap tac shotguns	Best Price
	ATI Bulldog	Best bullpup shotgun	Best Price
	Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol	Great gun for general use	Best Price

Introduction

There are few sexier weapons than the 12 Gauge Semi-Automatic shotgun.

Why? Because it’s a weapon of war.

It’s not a hunter, or a gatherer. This is not a toy for clay pigeons. It’s an assault shotgun designed for close quarters combat.

Shotgun Mag Capacity is a Problem

Of course, even the top shotguns always face that one big problem: capacity.

There are a couple of novel solutions to that dilemma on this list. But even with limited shells, they’re still absolute beasts of home defense shotguns.

Modern slugs give you real options to traditional buckshot and we think these are some of the best guns on the open market.

So, what are the best Semi Auto Tactical Shotguns for sale in 2023? The classic Benelli M4 Tactical is still the champion, but we have some left-field options for you here too.

1. Benelli M4 Tactical (M1014)

• Price: $1,899.99
• Weight: 7.8lb
• Capacity: 5+1/ 7+1 with extension tube.

Overall Winner

On a technical level, we don’t think the Benelli M4 actually belongs here, this high up the list, anymore. There are simply better, more tactical options.

So if you’re looking for pure performance, keep scrolling down for added capacity and fast reloads.

If you want the benchmark, though, then the Benelli M4 is still the daddy.

So there’s a certain respect for tradition that has gone into this list, as well as just an objective look at the firepower.

Tech Highlights

The self-cleaning, Auto Regulating Gas Operated ARGO piston gas system is just stellar.

You will need the mag extension tube, in fact if you’re going for the best tactical shotgun then I have assumed you would. But it’s still 7+1 and that makes me nervous. You’d need a sidearm, or an AR pistol as a back-up. Unless you’re super awesome with quad loading, of course…

2. IWI Tavor TS12

• Price: $1,288.99
• Weight: 8.85lb
• Capacity: 15+1

Best High Capacity Shotgun

We love the IWI Tavor TS12, and now, seriously, you can buy one. We thought it was never coming too, but you can.

It looks evil right it? And while some of you will be seriously questioning my sanity, and maybe my parentage, in its own way this is tactical as f**k.

The Best Shotgun With 25 Rounds

You get 15 shells, five in each of three tubes. Rotate the tube, the next shell finds its way to the chamber and you’re ready to go again.

It makes the Tavor TS-12 one of our favorite high-capacity shotguns out there.

That mag is fixed in place and can’t be switched out for a full one. There is a loading tube at the rear and you can load one and fire. But once you’ve let loose with those 15 rounds, you’ve got an issue.

Still, when was the last time you actually needed more than 15 shells for a self-defense situation?

There is a left handed conversion kit, which will make a small proportion of you happy. And it does come in a fetching Flat Dark Earth and Drab Olive Green, if you want to step away from the stock black finish.

3. Black Aces Tactical Pro Series M

• Price: $229.99+
• Weight: 8lb
• Capacity: 5+1 rounds

Best Low Budget Shotgun

The company made third party magazine fed custom shotguns, before the big boys started to make their own.

Now, the company has refined the product and made a cost effective alternative to the Mossbergs and Remingtons of this world with the Pro Series magazine fed shotgun…

This tactical shotgun gets a billet aluminum receiver, an AR style lever action safety. it also gets a seriously attractive price tag for a mag shotgun.

With ghost ring sights up top, or a red dot sight, this could be a very special semi auto shotgun.

Now it has a full range of shotguns, from pump shotguns through to the Tactical Pro Series semi autos and bullpups. You can pick up a pump shotgun super cheap.

• Pro Series shotguns and the full line.

4. Rock Island VR80

• Price: $599.99
• Weight: 7.4lb

Top Sniper Shotgun

RIA produces some of our favorite cheap firearms and this mash up of a 12 gauge shotgun, sniper rifle and AR-15 is fun.

The 5+1 OEM mag switches out for another high-capacity magazine. You get proper adjustable choke tubes in the clumsy handguard, with an adjustable choke to accommodate different loads in the Rock Island VR80.

You can buy the cheaper Rock Island Armory VR60, which has more plastic and does look more like an AR-15. But this is the better option.

5. ATI Bulldog SGA

• Price: $374.99
• Action:12 gauge Semi Auto Shotgun
• Weight: 7.75lb
• Capacity: 5+1

American Tactical Imports cherry picks the world’s finest firearms, at a certain price point, and then imports them to the United States under the ATI badge.

They include the majestic plastic AR-15 for $500 and the GSG Firefly 22 pistol. a plastic AR15 rife and they also import the GSG Firefly.

Now ATI has brought one of the best 12 gauge shotguns on sale. If you organize the price low to high and don’t go above about $400. That’s OK, lots of people want a cheap shotgun with skills.

It’s also easy to switch the ambidextrous controls for left handed shooters.

6. Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical

• Price: $957.99
• Barrel length: 18.5 inch
• Capacity: 7+1

If you’re on a budget, these are some of the top rated traditional tac semiautomatic shotguns with the pistol grip and proper stock. It’s a bargain in this company.

Here the best selling Mossberg 940 Pro comes with a full length stock, you can then fit ghost ring sights at the rear on the Picatinny rail and an M16 fiber optic front sight. Aside from that, 7+1 is a solid capacity and actually gives it the edge over far more expensive offerings.

Mossberg does have a stellar reputation for reliability and LEOs all round the country rely on a Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical as their duty shotgun.

7. EAA Girsan MC312 Sport

• Price: $633.99
• Caliber: 12 Gauge
• Barrel length: 24 inch
• Weight: 6.75lb
• Capacity: 5+1

EAA has won our hearts and minds with a wide range of imported pistols and they’ve managed to find another winner with this semi auto shotgun that combines the best tactical, sport and turkey gun components.

EAA is also confident in this gun’s abilities. The company is marketing this as a cut price competition shotgun. Is it? Time will tell with this semi automatic shotgun…

10. Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol

• Price: $1,021.99
• Barrel length: 19.1 inch
• Weight: 7.1lb
• Capacity: 7+1

This Beretta 1301 Tactical 12 Gauge is probably the prettiest in the Beretta line-up. But the A300 Ultima Patrol is the best-seller in the line-up for good reasons.

It is relatively high capacity, is competitively priced and it’s a great shotgun for the money.

So if you’re looking for the all-round best shotgun, and don’t quite have Benelli money, this might just be the best gun for you. Especially with the ghost ring sights set up.

The Beretta 1301 Tactical is still a beautiful gun, but this is probably the more complete 12 gauge shotgun. But if you have a little more money, we can’t really argue with anybody that spends the extra on the Beretta 1301 Tactical 12 Gauge semi automatic shotguns.

• Beretta 1301 Tactical 12 Gauge and Ultima Patrol shotguns. The full Beretta line of semi automatic shotguns, tactical guns and more.

11. Charles Daly AR12S

• Price: $363.99
• Weight: 8.5lb
• Capacity: 5+1 rounds

This is a pretty generic matte black AR layout shotgun, to be honest, and we think Charles Daly makes some interesting magazine fed shotguns and pump shotguns.

But this is a good price for a solid combat shotgun with a pistol grip, a lookalike fixed stock and all the 12 gauge goodness underneath a matte black plastic shroud.

This is a perfectly solid choice that shouldn’t give you any surprises. And we like the price on the Charles Daly semi-automatic shotgun.

12. Citadel Boss 25

• Price: $363.99
• Capacity: 5+1
• Weight: 6.5lb

The Citadel Boss was one of the pioneers of the AR-12 semi automatic shotgun movement, and it has stood the test of time well.

You won’t find too many surprises here with these semi-automatic shotguns.

It’s a little plasticky and yet this is a reliable shotgun with detachable box mags. There’s a little adjustability in the stock and a barrel shroud and faux compensator that might make it look like a custom rifle, from a distance, if you squint.

And these semi automatic shotguns are cheap.

So yeah, we like these semi auto shotguns.

13. Panzer Arms BP12 Gen2

• Price: $329.99
• Weight: 8.12lb

The Panzer semi automatic shotgun is pretty deep into gimmick territory if you want to take the cynical approach.

It’s a basic bullpup semi automatic shotgun without some of the more important features if you’re being kind and that makes it a pretty good start as mag fed semi-auto shotguns go.

Panzer has an AR style shotgun on sale, too. The Turkish firearms manufacturer is making a name for itself with solid feedback and great user reviews on online gun stores with this semi automatic shotgun.

14. Fostech Origin 12

• Price: $3,059.99
• Capacity: 10+1/30+1 Round drum optional
• Weight: 9.2lb

It looks crazy, the price is crazy and the back story is crazy. But everybody that has shot the Fostech Origin 12 comes away saying the same thing. This gun is the real deal.

You can choose the longer shotgun or a shorter AR-pistol type layout, or AK pistol if we’re being precise. It offers a wide range of configurations. Get red dot sights up there and this thing is amazing.

The high price, high spec Fostech is heavy. But it’s a beast of a semi-automatic shotgun.

Honorable Mentions…

When we get time, we might go further into these guns, but for now we just don’t think you want us to think we’ve forgotten the likes of the Smith & Wesson M&P12 pump action shotguns.

That’s a potentially awesome gun, with some teething issues.

The Century Arms BP-12 is another bullpup semi-automatic shotgunthat looks the part. They make a lot of cool stuff, too, including the Draco Gun.

What About the Kel Tec KSG?

It obviously doesn’t fit here, but we’re fond of the best high capacity Kel Tec KSG pump action shotgun too.

You can get the twin tube magazine Kel Tec KSG best sellers or the lesser known single tube Kel Tec KS7.

We have another list and, you can find the pump shotguns here:

• The best pump action shotguns and daily deals.

But that’s a pump shotgun, and this isn’t a pump shotgun list…

Where to Buy 12 Gauge Ammo

The price of 12 gauge ammo, shotgun ammo & 9mm ammo is rising. Handgun ammo, rifle ammo, shotgun ammo storage, reloading supplies, optics, scopes, it’s all up. But there are still places to get bargain shotgun shells, especially with bulk ammo deals…

Our favorite suppliers of shotgun ammo & rimfire ammo include Palmetto State Armory, Sportsman’s Guide and Lucky Gunner…

• Palmetto State Armory – Discount shotgun slugs and buckshot. Rimfire ammo too. Bulk ammo deals.
• Sportsman’s Guide – Great deals on ammo, rifle ammo, handgun ammo, storage. Bulk ammo sales.
• Firearms Depot – Budget through to elite shotgun ammunition, rifle ammo etc.

Want Different Guns?

Well step right up to the USA Gun Shop folks. We got bolt action rifles, shotguns, handguns, ammunition, optics, gun parts & accessories and just about everything else you need to live as an upstanding citizen.

If you’re looking for a single shot pistol, lever action, or shotguns, side-by-side break action shotguns over & under shotguns, a single shot rifle, single shot pistols, revolvers, break action rifles, black powder guns, or just about any other sort of firearms, we got you.

You want black powder? We can do ship them right to your chosen ffl dealer. Well, our partners can. Just be aware that black powder guns really aren’t a substitue for a semi automatic shotgun, but you can hunt with black powder.

Again Palmetto State Armory is a great store for guns and parts, so check out Palmetto State Armory daily deals and more in these lists.

• Cheap $500 AR-15s That Will Rock Your World
• The best 45 ACP Concealed Carry Pistols For Sale in 2023
• Best 9mm Sub-Compact guns for CCW

Buy 12 Gauge Semi Auto Shotgun parts, accessories and spares

If you’re looking to buy a case for single shot shotguns or even gun safes for your 12 gauge semiautomatic shotgun and parts, we can help with gun accessories.

Ear protection, gun cleaning supplies, cleaning kits, concealed carry gun cases and the best selling game calls. We got em all. Rifle scopes too. Or one of our partners does. Gun cleaning kits are dull, but they’re important gun accessories, we should cover them more. Gun safes as well.

So if you need gun cases for your 12 gauge, 20 gauge, 28 gauge or 410 gauge shotgun, we can help.

There’s a kind of customer service email, but really you’ll do business with the customer service department of the individual partner in the end.