The Best Home Defense Shotguns of 2024, Range Tested

Evaluating one of the best tactical shotguns and residential protection shotguns is a special kettle of fish in comparison with testing their sporting and hunting counterparts. Whereas tactical shotguns share the fundamental working rules as smoothbores designed for birds and busting clays, they serve a radically completely different goal.

Defensive shotguns are designed to cease threats from assailants and harmful animals, quite than pluck birds and clays from the sky. These are giant targets, sometimes engaged at very shut vary, that require a gun with stopping energy quite than one which prioritizes a candy swing.

This particular mission informs the pondering behind the development of defensive and tactical shotguns. Therefore the predominance of prolonged journal tubes, pistol grips, outsized controls, aggressive texturing, shorter barrels, and mounting factors for slings, lights, pink dots, shell carriers, and different {hardware}.

How We Examined Residence Protection Shotguns

We assembled a discipline of seven fashionable or new tactical shotguns, mounted pink dot sights on them (from Vortex, Trijicon, and Holosun), and put them via the kind of real-world torture take a look at that’s the hallmark of all our gun checks. This concerned plenty of set off pulling — lots of of rounds via every gun over the course of per week — utilizing a cross part of ammo. We performed this 12 months’s take a look at at Brownells’ home range outdoors Grinnell, Iowa, which was an excellent venue.

This 12 months the take a look at crew included editor-in-chief Alex Robinson, govt editor Natalie Krebs, freelance author and aggressive three-gunner Matt Foster, and yours actually. 

The Ammo We Used

Greater finish goal hundreds included Federal’s High Overall and Remington’s Premier STS. However we additionally burned up a bunch of extra inexpensive goal hundreds together with Federal Prime Gun and Remington Gun Membership goal hundreds.

Buckshot hundreds included Hornady Critical Defense, Remington Ultimate Defense, and Federal Copper Plated. We shot slugs for document with Remington Slugger, Federal Truball, and Hornady American Gunner. 

How We Grade Residence Protection Shotguns

We ran the weapons on completely different goal arrays and patterned them with buckshot at completely different distances. We shot IPSC targets, placing one 00 buckshot spherical heading in the right direction at 7 yards after which two photographs heading in the right direction at each 15 yards and 25 yards. We then tallied the variety of pellet strikes throughout the completely different goal zones at every vary. We additionally gathered group measurement information with the slugs at 25 yards, taking pictures 10-shot teams with three completely different hundreds. Our objective was to depart no stone unturned to disclose every shotgun’s strengths and weaknesses. As all the time, it was an illuminating train. 

Every shotgun is evaluated on eight classes and given a rating of 1 to five from every choose. We common these scores for every class and use their whole to find out the rating and awards. The classes are dealing with, workmanship, aesthetics, ergonomics, meets goal, versatility, reliability, and worth.

The scores then translate to the grades on the report playing cards for every firearm. Efficiency consists of the scores from dealing with, ergonomics, and reliability. Design consists of workmanship, aesthetics, assembly its goal, and flexibility. Worth stands by itself.

To earn an “Wonderful” score, the typical of that rating have to be 4.5 or greater, a tough mark to hit. “Very Good” is a mean rating of three.5 to 4.5; “Good” is from 2.5 to three.5; “Truthful” is from 1.5 to 2.5; and “Poor” is below 1.5.

Finest Residence Protection Shotguns of 2024, Opinions & Suggestions

See It

Report Card

• Efficiency: Wonderful
• Design: Very Good
• Worth: Very Good

Beretta 1301 Tactical Mod 2 Specs

• Gauge: 12
• Motion: Semi-auto, gasoline
• Capability: 7+1 
• Chamber: 3 inches
• Weight: 6.80 kilos (measured)
• Set off Weight: 2.88 kilos (measured)
• Barrel Size: 18 inches
• General Size: 37.8 inches
• LOP: 13 inches 
• Sight: Ghost ring, rail included
• Barrel End: FDE
• Inventory: Folding
• Worth: $2,279
• Consists of: CL, OCHP flush choke

On this planet of defensive and tactical shotguns the Beretta 1301 Tactical Mod 2 stands aside. There are plenty of fascinating shotguns within the house that deliver a lot to the occasion when it comes to worth, options and efficiency, however this iteration of the 1301 units a brand new highwater mark for the class.

Because of its wonderful set off, ergonomic security, and superlative gas-operated motion, the Beretta 1301 Mod 2 is by far the quickest shotgun we evaluated. The clear set off break and brief set off reset, together with the pace and reliability of the motion, lets the shooter run shells via it at a break-neck clip whereas retaining management. That is true whether or not we had been firing mild goal hundreds or defensive slug and buckshot rounds.

The 1301 Tactical comes with a superb, and sturdy, adjustable ghost-ring rear sight and stuck front-post which might be protected by beefy wings. There’s additionally a bit of Picatinny rail in entrance of the rear sight for mounting a pink dot, in addition to a mounting plate on the folding inventory that accepts RMR sample pink dots. This offers the operator plenty of choices in the case of deciding on a sighting system. That flexibility is complimented by the folding inventory from Chisel Machining that adjusts for LOP and cheek top so you possibly can match the gun’s dimensions to the shooter for an ideal match.

The folding inventory may also accommodate a shell service (which we didn’t have), and even when folded, lets the shooter run the gun. It’s an ideal design.

The fore-end has deep knurling on it for a constructive grip and consists of three M-Lok slots on the entrance finish for mounting lights or different equipment.

Our pattern got here with the optionally available MatchSaverZ, which is a bracket that holds an additional shell and screws into the fore-end simply forward of the loading port. While you run the gun dry all it’s a must to do is strip the shell out (with the correct approach) and it’ll glide into the open port for an additional shot.

The shotgun hundreds in a glassy-smooth method and we may stuff shells into it almost as quick as we may shoot the gun dry. The lifter doesn’t pinch or bind in your fingers — even in the event you don’t make use of a refined reloading approach. The gun is remarkably forgiving. One ding we discovered was that we had bother loading the journal with a full seven rounds. Generally the gun would perform with a full seven-round magazine, different instances it will fail to feed. Finally, we settled on a 6+1 capability and had no extra issues. 

The Beretta 1301 Tactical shot each slugs and buckshot exceptionally effectively. It averaged 1.939-inch, 10-shot teams at 25 yards throughout three completely different rifled slug hundreds. With Hornady’s Essential Protection 00 buckshot, all pellets landed throughout the A Zone of an IPSC goal at each 7 yards and 15 yards. At 25 yards, all however two pellets hit throughout the A Zone and C Zone (these two pellets ended up within the D Zone). 

I’ll publish an extended full-length evaluate of this shotgun quickly, however suffice to say that it’s a gun we will advocate with out qualification, and whereas the $2,500 price ticket is steep, it’s price each penny.

See It

Report Card

• Efficiency: Very Good
• Design: Good
• Worth: Very Good

Mossberg 940 Professional Tactical Thunder Ranch Specs

• Gauge: 12
• Motion: Semi-auto, gasoline
• Capability: 7 +1
• Chamber: 3 inches
• Weight: 7.5 kilos (measured)
• Set off Weight: 2.68 kilos (measured)
• Barrel Size: 18.5 inches
• General Size: 37 inches
• LOP: 12.5 to 14.25 inches 
• Sight: Crimson bar, optics prepared receiver lower
• Barrel End: Cerakote
• Inventory: Artificial, patriot brown
• Worth: $1295
• Consists of: Fastened cylinder choke

We’ve been massive followers of the Mossberg 940 collection because it debuted, and have been very proud of their competitors, searching, and defensive fashions. The 940 Professional Tactical Thunder Ranch is an extension of this successful method and was one in all our favourite shotguns at this 12 months’s take a look at.

Like different 940s, the Thunder Ranch is simple to load, may be run actually quick, is sturdy and dependable, and represents an ideal worth. As a lot as we gushed over the Beretta 1301 Mod 2, this shotgun makes a powerful case in a head-to-head shootout, particularly in mild of its budget-friendly worth. 

The receiver consists of an optics lower that we affixed a pink dot to, making the shotgun a formidable instrument. We had no problem holding that dot on our goal throughout drills with a lot of transitions and whereas taking pictures shortly.

The phrase that stored cropping up in the course of the analysis to explain the motion was “snappy” and we by no means felt like we had been at risk of outrunning the gun. It’s tremendous quick. 

The Thunder Ranch does have a pair limitations that assist clarify its attainable worth. The barrel has a fixed-cylinder bore and solely comes with a fundamental entrance bead for sighting except you add a rail or use the optics lower to mount a pink dot. 

The shotgun ran with none points, however the charging deal with on ours did get a bit wiggly — to not the purpose the place it affected efficiency however it was a bit distracting to our choosy, eagle-eyed judges. 

From a patterning and accuracy standpoint, the 940 was an overachiever. It recorded our tightest slug group of the take a look at, placing 10 Remington Slugger hundreds inside a 1.149-inch group at 25 yards. With Hornady Essential Protection buckshot hundreds it put all pellets contained in the A Zone at 7 yards and 15 yards. At 25 yards it put all pellets contained in the A Zone and C Zone. 

The protection on the rear of the receiver works nice, toggling forwards and backwards in a simple and constructive trend. The protection tab itself has sufficient reduction to your thumb to realize simple buy, however it isn’t obtrusive or overly cumbersome.

One fascinating refinement is the cocking indicator on the within of the set off guard, which is a characteristic on different 940s as effectively. This lets you verify the standing of the gun in the dead of night by urgent the again of your set off finger towards the entrance of the set off guard to really feel for the protruding little bit of metallic that signifies that the motion is cocked. 

The gun has sling mounts for each QD attachments and conventional swivel studs, providing you with some flexibility in that regard. If you wish to mount a light-weight on the gun, you should use the M-Lok slots on the barrel clamp for that goal.

In a aggressive discipline of defensive and tactical shotguns the Mossberg 940 Tactical Thunder Ranch is likely one of the greatest values, and was a consensus alternative for a Nice Purchase award.

See It

Report Card

• Efficiency: Good
• Design: Good
• Worth: Good

Benelli M4 Specs

• Gauge: 12
• Motion: Semi-auto, gasoline
• Capability: 5 +1
• Chamber: 3 inches
• Weight: 7.8 kilos (measured)
• Set off Weight: 4.06 kilos (measured)
• Barrel Size: 18.5 inches
• General Size: 40 inches
• LOP: 14 3/8 inches 
• Sight: Ghost ring, consists of rail
• Barrel End: Black phosphate
• Inventory: Artificial
• Worth: $2,299
• Consists of Modified choke

The Benelli M4 is likely one of the most legendary firearms of the trendy period and is an OG semi-auto tactical shotgun. It was launched 25 years in the past, and though the world of defensive and tactical shotgun taking pictures has advanced significantly over the past quarter century, the Benelli M4 nonetheless holds its personal.

The reliability of the gas-operated M4 is one in all its best-known qualities, and true to type our pattern ran flawlessly. We had no malfunctions of any sort, whether or not working mild goal hundreds or defensive slugs.

The gun’s heft and pistol grip make it really feel strong and cozy in hand even when pounding targets with hefty buckshot.

Regardless of this — and this may sound like sacrilege to some — the M4 is displaying its age and may benefit from an replace. 

It has small, undersized controls and from an ergonomic perspective doesn’t function very easily. It’s stiff to load, the bolt launch button is small and stiff to depress, and the gun requires extreme effort to run.

The fore-end may use extra aggressive texturing to offer a greater grip. The horizontal cuts within the fore-end don’t supply the form of buy different shotguns within the class have.

It additionally isn’t accent pleasant. It doesn’t have QD cups, M-Lok slots, or any sort of rail apart from the one on high of the receiver. If you wish to mount a light-weight on it you’re going to want to buy aftermarket {hardware}. 

The 5+1 capability can also be out of step with different choices within the tactical shotgun market. This isn’t a deal-breaker, however is one other indication of how tactical shotguns have superior because the M4 was launched. 

In the course of the accuracy portion of the take a look at, three 10-shot teams with the slugs averaged 3.546 inches at 25 yards, with the Hornady American Gunner (2.957 inches) and Federal Truball (2.982 inches) hundreds being almost similar. 

The M4 did a great job patterning buckshot. At 25 yards it stored all its pellets within the A and C Zones with Hornady Essential Protection, and all pellets within the A Zone at 7 and 15 yards. With the Remington buckshot, it stored 15 out of 18 pellets (two photographs) within the A and C Zones, whereas pushing three into the D Zone. Additionally, superb efficiency. 

It’s nonetheless an ideal gun — make no mistake about it. But when it desires to reclaim the place it as soon as held because the baddest tactical shotgun on the planet it’ll want a makeover. 

See It

Report Card

• Efficiency: Good
• Design: Good
• Worth: Good

Mossberg 590S Magpul Holosun Micro Dot Combo Specs

• Gauge: 12
• Motion: Pump
• Capability: 5 +1
• Chamber: 3 inches
• Weight: 6.75 kilos (measured)
• Set off Weight: 3.43 kilos (measured)
• Barrel Size: 18.5 inches
• General Size: 38 inches
• LOP: 12.25 to 14.5 inches 
• Sight: Mounted Holosun HS407K
• Barrel End: Matte blue
• Inventory: Magpul SGA Adjustable Inventory and MOE Forend
• Worth: $1,035
• Cylinder choke

The Mossberg 590S Magpul Holosun Micro Dot Combo was the one pump-action within the roundup, making it the odd man out within the discipline of tactical shotguns. However this previous warhorse (the 590s have been seeing army service since 1987) continues to be a related house protection shotgun.

Mossberg 590s are available quite a few configurations, and this model sports activities an adjustable Magpul inventory and fore-end and features a Holosun HS407K pink dot pre-mounted on the receiver. It is likely one of the fancier inventory 590s ever supplied and due to this fact carries a price ticket simply north of $1,000.

This combo mannequin is constructed on a sturdy and confirmed platform. The gun options twin extractors on the bolt face, twin motion bars, and Mossberg’s “anti-jam” elevator. 

These parts contribute to the shotgun’s reliability, and certainly we didn’t have any points with feeding or ejection.

The fore-end consists of M-Lok slots for mounting equipment and is contoured in such a means to supply good grip. 

This shotgun has ambidextrous parts, together with the security that’s mounted on the again of the receiver and a reversible barrel band so it may be slung on both aspect. 

Whereas this 590 runs effectively we discovered it a bit clunky and tough to cycle and, as a result of it’s a pump-action, it couldn’t rival the semi-autos when it comes to pace throughout our drills. Switching between it and all of the semis was a great reminder for the necessity to follow with a pump in the event you’re going to depend on one for private safety.

By way of accuracy, it confirmed a transparent choice for the Remington Sluggers, with which it printed a 2.26-inch 10-shot group at 25 yards. It didn’t just like the Federal Truball one bit (7.95 inches), whereas the Hornady American Gunner slugs (4.036 inches) fell within the center.

It did tremendous with the buckshot, printing strong A and C Zone patterns at 7 and 15 yards. At 25 yards it nonetheless put greater than sufficient shot in the midst of the goal to be deadly, however it did kick a small variety of pellets off beam at that distance. 

See It

Report Card

• Efficiency: Good
• Design: Good
• Worth: Good

Savage Renegauge Safety Specs

• Gauge: 12
• Motion: Semi-auto, gasoline
• Capability: 6 +1
• Chamber: 3 inches
• Weight: 7.5 kilos (measured)
• Set off Weight: 3.47 kilos (measured)
• Barrel Size: 18.5 inches
• General Size: 40 inches
• LOP: 14.25 to fifteen inches 
• Sight: Ghost ring (rail not included)
• Barrel End: Melonite
• Inventory: Artificial
• Worth: $1,279
• Chokes included: F, M, IC (Invector Plus)

The Savage Renegauge Safety is a very pleasing shotgun to make use of — it runs a lot smoother than the blunt angular traces on the inventory and receiver recommend. By way of pace, it was one of many faster weapons within the discipline, biking in a quick, assured method that allow us put photographs on a number of targets simply.

Among the many Renegauge Safety’s virtues are the convenience with which it hundreds and the adjustability of the inventory, which comes with LOP spacers and the power to swap inserts to regulate the comb top.

The one important problem we had with our pattern was the stiff crossbolt security that took plenty of effort to maneuver forwards and backwards, particularly when beginning the gun from the low prepared; the security would typically get hung up. This had a significant affect on the pace with which we may get off an preliminary shot. In competitors it will be an annoyance, however for a tactical shotgun and residential protection shotgun it’s a severe downside.

The shotgun comes with good ghost-ring sights, however no rail. We bought one individually with the intention to mount a pink dot on it, as we did with all the opposite weapons within the take a look at — in order that’s one thing potential consumers ought to bear in mind.

The Renegauge wasn’t one of many tighter-shooting weapons when it got here to accuracy testing with slugs however it was pretty constant from one load to the following. The common 10-shot group at 25 yards was 3.65 inches, with the teams rating as follows: Federal Truball (3.128 inches), Hornady American Gunner (3.702 inches), Remington Slugger (4.136 inches).

With buckshot it stored all pellets within the A Zone at 7 yards, and the bulk within the A Zone at 15 with a small variety of charlies. At 25 yards it delivered okay patterns with the Remington Final Protection double-ought, with 9 alphas, one charlie, six deltas, and two misses. The Hornady buckshot patterned roughly the identical with 5 alphas, 6 charlies, 2 deltas, and three misses. 

The gun’s aesthetics are in line with different firearms within the Savage lineup. In the event you take a look at the chunky cocking serrations on the slide of the Savage 1911, for example, you’ll see the household resemblance. The vibe is purposeful quite than elegant, and offers the Renegauge a no-nonsense, nearly Soviet-era, really feel.

See It

Report Card

• Efficiency: Truthful
• Design: Truthful
• Worth: Truthful

Stoeger M3000 Pistol Grip Specs 

• Gauge: 12
• Motion: Semi-auto, gasoline
• Capability: 7 +1
• Chamber: 3 inches
• Weight: 6.95 kilos (measured)
• Set off Weight: 3.01 kilos (measured)
• Barrel Size: 18.5 inches
• General Size: 40.25 inches
• LOP: 14 3/8 inches 
• Sight: Bladed entrance sight 
• Barrel End: Matte bluing
• Inventory: Artificial
• Worth: $583
• Choke: Fastened IC

The Stoeger M3000 Pistol Grip shotgun borrows a lot from the Benelli M1 via M3 collection shotguns — on paper at the very least. They’ve comparable inertia-driven actions (to not be confused with the M4’s ARGO gas-operated motion), the M3000’s silhouette is far the identical, and Stoeger is a fully-owned subsidiary of Benelli — which is, in flip, owned by Beretta. 

As with different Stoegers, the M3000 Pistol Grip, is Turkish quite than Italian-made, and is available in at a budget-conscious worth level. At lower than $600, a defensive shotgun of this kind can be an ideal purchase, besides we discovered ourselves arduous pressed to advocate it.

It had a couple of drawbacks that, in mixture, prompted us to achieve this conclusion. This listing consists of the issues the gun had biking mild goal hundreds, its harsh felt-recoil (typical of inertia pushed actions), and the slick fore-end with no texturing that was tough to grip securely. The shotgun didn’t include a rail for mounting optics.

Throughout accuracy testing with slugs, it was notably vexing to deal with the gun’s recoil and hold onto the inventory. The pistol grip beat up the webs of our arms and the entire course of was noticeably extra attempting with the Stoeger than with different weapons. 

That stated, it averaged 3.079-inch 10-shot teams at 25 yards with slugs, which is respectable. It shot each the Hornady and Remington buckshot very effectively at 7 and 15 yards, however confirmed a powerful choice for the Hornady Essential Protection at 25 yards. At that distance it stored all 16 pellets within the A (12 pellets) and C (4 pellets) zone with two photographs, whereas the Reminton buckshot did a lot worse. (Three alphas, seven charlies, three deltas, and 5 misses.)

The set off has a good bit of creep however breaks at an inexpensive 3 kilos, and the barrel has a hard and fast IC choke with a single blade entrance sight up high and no rear sight — one of many design concessions the corporate made to maintain the value low. 

See It

Report Card

• Efficiency: Truthful
• Design: Truthful
• Worth: Truthful

Winchester SX4 Defender Specs

• Gauge: 12
• Motion: Semi-auto, gasoline
• Capability: 4 +1
• Chamber: 3 inches
• Weight: 6.87 kilos (measured)
• Set off Weight: 4 kilos (measured)
• Barrel Size: 18 inches
• General Size: 39.5 inches
• LOP: 14.25 inches 
• Sight: Ghost ring (rail included) 
• Barrel End: FDE Cerakote
• Inventory: Artificial
• Worth: $1,190
• Chokes included: F, M, IC (Invector Plus)

We now have been massive followers of the Winchester SX4 platform because it debuted a couple of years in the past. The SX4 has earned awards from our judges throughout previous checks and excessive reward in individual reviews. However these had been for searching weapons, and we’re undecided the SX4 magic interprets as effectively in a tactical shotgun. 

Listed here are a number of the professionals and cons we encountered. On the professional aspect, the shotgun ran effectively, apart from a pair feeding points over the course of the take a look at. It comes with a great ghost ring sight setup and features a Picatinny rail to mount a pink dot or different optic. The crossbolt security is generously sized, making it simple to seek out, although ours was a bit sticky. The bolt launch tab, whereas not the dimensions of a number of the furnishings on different tactical shotguns, was additionally fast to find and manipulate.

The Defender, like different members of the SX4 household, pointed effectively and was nimble from the shoulder. 

With regards to the cons, the most important problem was the quantity of blowback the shotgun pushed again into our face, particularly when taking pictures high-powered hundreds. It was extraordinarily distracting, and whereas one ought to all the time put on eye safety when taking pictures, the amount of gasoline the Defender expelled makes it an absolute requirement. 

We additionally discovered the texturing on the grip and fore-end insufficient for severe tactical shotgun use. We had a tough time hanging onto it when working it arduous and quick with heavy hundreds.

It additionally lacks another parts generally discovered on higher tactical shotguns. The inventory doesn’t modify in any respect. There’s no provision for mounting a light-weight on the fore-end. It solely has fundamental swivel studs for a sling. The capability is simply 4+1.

Whereas the FDE Cerakote is definitely sturdy, the general aesthetic of the Defender is fairly plain. Even providing it in a two-tone configuration, with an OD Inexperienced inventory to offset the FDE metalwork would go an extended solution to give it extra visible attraction.

In the course of the accuracy portion of the take a look at, the Winchester SX4 Defender shot Hornady’s American Gunner slug load effectively, printing a 1.994 inch 10-shot group at 25 yards, which was one of many high teams of the take a look at. It did tremendous with buckshot as effectively, simply holding the pellets centered up within the A and C Zone out to fifteen yards, and printing strong patterns at 25 yards with the Hornady Essential load, with no pellets flying vast. 

Last Ideas on the Finest Residence Protection Shotguns of 2024

This was an thrilling discipline of house protection shotguns to check, and thru severe use and evaluation we may actually see how one gun differs from the following. 

As a result of these shotguns is perhaps employed in a life-saving situation, we dinged those who didn’t feed correctly, and that had been harder to handle with highly effective defensive hundreds. These are two non-negotiable points for a correct tactical shotgun in our mind-set, and are mirrored within the scores and feedback above.

One shotgun that isn’t within the take a look at is the Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol. We needed to get one, however weren’t in a position to observe one down in time for this analysis. That stated, we plan to check it quickly and replace this story with the outcomes.