Best Shotguns On The Market

There are lots of great shotguns available on the market, but it can be time-consuming choosing the best one for you.

From handling to price tag, there are many factors to consider when choosing which shotgun to buy. To help you decide, we’ve chosen the best shotguns on the market. Whether your target is pheasants or clays, there’s a shotgun for you in this list.

Purdey side-by-side

The Purdey is perfect if you’re looking for a gun with a rich history and reputation. Made by James Purdey & Sons since 1814, Purdey shotguns are of the highest quality. Their elite status is demonstrated by their popularity amongst the Royal Family – it was the Purdey family who gave Queen Victoria her first gun.

Priced at approximately £90,000, the iconic Purdey side-by-side shotgun is the absolute pinnacle of classic shooting and has transformed the British sporting gun.

Its hammerless sidelock is well-known for its self-opening mechanism, which uses power from the gun firing to open it and reveal the barrels. This makes reloading a smooth and quick process. After all, those extra seconds are priceless when you’re on a shoot.

The Purdey is also designed with comfort in mind so it’s slender, lightweight and a great fit. This traditional steel shotgun is beautiful too, boasting subtle engravings around the handle and trigger-guard.

Overall, this is an iconic, elite-level shotgun which is historical and beautiful.

Beretta Silver Pigeon 1 Sporter

At least 30% of the UK’s over and under shotguns in the past 30 years have been Beretta shotguns.  Their Silver Pigeon range is extensive, but the Beretta’s Silver Pigeon 1 Sporter is hard to beat. It’s perfect for those learning how to shoot, but not limited to them. In fact, many experienced shooters continue to use it. Without doubt, you get a lot of gun for your money.

The gun’s features include the Optima-bore system with flush-fitting chokes, tapered rib and two choices of drop. Its exceptional pointability and trigger-pulls make this gun a delight to handle.

Overall, the Beretta Silver Pigeon 1 Sporter is the Ford Focus of the shotgun world. It does the job, it’s reliable and it’s great value for money.

Remington 870

The versatility of the Remington 870 is the secret to the shotgun’s success. It can be used for both sport and hunting and you can modify it to suit your needs by altering the choke tubes, barrels, stocks and sights. . That’s why this pump-action shotgun is great for new shooters and experienced Guns alike.

Given the Remington 870’s reliability and sturdy solid steel receiver, it’s the weapon of choice for law enforcement and the international military. It also handles well and has a smooth action. In fact, it’s largely used by game shooters, particularly bird hunters, because its pointability is better than other comparable shotguns thanks to the comfortable stock.

In addition, its price tag will have you smiling from ear to ear – it’s possibly the best shotgun you can purchase for under £350.

Overall, this is a reliable, durable and versatile shotgun with a good price point.

Perazzi MX8

This shotgun arrived relatively late onto the shooting scene in 1968 and quickly became the infamous competition gun, after Elio Matarelli achieved a gold medal with it at that year’s Olympics. The Perazzi guns have since gone on to win 53 Olympic medals, a feat unrivalled in clay shooting history. On top of this, in the 2008 Olympics, 15 of the 16 placed Trap shooters handled a Perazzi. It’s definitely proved its worth as one of the best shotguns in the world.

So, why does it perform so well? Essentially, its handling is superior to other shotguns. Crisp trigger pulls, fast lock time and excellent barrel quality are three of its best features. If these features are good enough for Olympic medallists, they’re clearly good enough for anyone.

Overall, this is a shotgun with amazing quality, handling and a strong global reputation.

Fabbri over-and-under

Fabbri shotguns are in a league of their own. These gunmakers succeed in making elegant, sleek shotguns in true Italian style. Produced by world-renowned designer Ivo Fabbri, the Fabbri over-and-under shotgun has both excellent manufacturing quality and stunning performance.

Fabbri shotguns boast exclusivity, as only around 20 are made every year. Each one is made to order and is built precisely to the client’s specifications. Made from titanium, aeronautical-grade stainless steel and walnut, they’re the hallmark of quality.

With diamond-coasted sears in the locks and barrels to help sustain precision (even in the most challenging scenarios), this gun is made to the finest standard. Its pointability is impeccable and resembles that of a trap gun, whereas the pace and responsiveness can be likened to a game gun. In fact, its trigger pulls are arguably the best in the world.

Overall, this is an exclusive, tailored shotgun which is one of the best that money can buy.

Beretta 692

The Beretta 692 is a bespoke shotgun which can be moulded to fit your body. Its features include an adjustable single selective trigger, adjustable ejection-extraction and balance and optional adjustable comb. It’s dissimilar to other sporting guns, in that it has an over moulded rubber part on the top lever to give you more positive feedback if it’s wet outside.

Although it’s most commonly used for competitive shooting, it would make a great high-bird shooting gun. It shoots beautifully, with natural handling, excellent trigger pulls and relatively soft and controlled recoil. For this reason, it feels closer to other game guns than many sporting guns do.

However, one thing to bear in mind is its weight. At 8lbs 1oz, it might be heavy to use all day in the field, depending on the type of shooting you’re using it for. .

As well as being functional, the Beretta 692 looks attractive and rather minimalist. It appears polished and boasts fine laser chequering on the grip. For its handling and reliability, we think it’s a steal for £3,000.

Overall, the Beretta is a versatile gun with a classic look and feel.

Webley & Scott 1000 Series

The Webley & Scott 1000 Series shotguns are the epitome of Italian styling on a budget. They’re designed as both a sporter and game model, meaning you’re guaranteed a gun which is adapted to your sport. Even then, the difference isn’t drastic.

With high quality walnut, superb classic looking checkering and an excellent wood to metal finish, it’s difficult to believe these guns are typically sold for around £1,000. The 1000 Series also handles well as it’s easy to shoot and has a unique adjustable recoil pad system. To top it off, you also get a hard, high-quality gun case, which is noteworthy considering the cost.

Overall, the Webley & Scott 1000 Series is an attractive gun that’s easy to shoot. For its price tag, what more can you ask for?

Browning 525

Browning is one of the most recognisable brands in the world and its global status is certainly justified. Browning B525s were originally designed as game guns and it was only later on that Browning introduced styles and grades for sporters and traps.

Of course, it’s ideal to choose the gun that was produced with your style of shooting in mind. If, for example, you’re shooting clays with a lightweight game shotgun, the recoil might be too much to handle. So, if you go on a variety of shooting and want one gun, we recommend choosing the more adaptable sporter. This would be perfectly at home both breaking clays and targeting driven game.

The Browning B525 Sporter is light, but still feels sturdy. Thanks to its reduced barrel weight, its handling is easy and responsive. Controlling the shot is also made easier by the reduced felt recoil.

Besides shooting well, it’s an attractive gun with exquisite metal to wood finish and graceful floral scroll patterns. At £1,300, you also get great value for money from this shotgun.

Overall, this is a strong, reliable gun that’s hard to beat.

If you fancy a shooting weekend away, take a look at our top pheasant shooting locations or our ultimate guide to British game birds.

Specialist shooting insurance from Ripe Shooting

Once you’ve bought the best shotgun for you, make sure you’re both protected with specialist shooting insurance.

Ripe Shooting provide specialist shooting insurance which includes up to £10 million of Personal Liability cover and up to £50,000 Equipment cover.

Find out more about our shotgun insurance here and protect your passion.

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