Best Over/Under Shotguns [Field Tested]

Discover the best over/under shotguns for upland, waterfowl, clays & more. Compare specs, prices & top picks for every budget and hunting style.

My perfect day is in the fall, following a bird dog and carrying a fast handling, nicely balanced and beautiful to look at over/under. I have had a lot of perfect days.

Over/under shotguns exuded class and elegance, yet they are exceptionally practical, with two barrels and two chokes to choose from with just a flick of your thumb. Why is that practical? You know how pheasant flush. Some wait until you nearly step on their tail feathers, while others are overly jittery and flush farther down the corn row. With an over/under, you can choose your barrel and choke; however, the action plays out and take your best shot.

Over/under shotguns are ultra-reliable and will shoot any shell without a hiccup or jam. The actions are smaller than a pump or semi-auto, so they are usually more compact.

I like the safety aspect of over/unders. With the break action open, you know the gun is safe, as do your hunting pals. Depending on the manufacturer, an over/under will have extractors or ejectors. Extractors mean you don’t have to bend over to pick up empty shells. It also means the shotgun is less expensive to manufacture.

How I Chose The Best Over/Under Shotguns

The more you shoot over/under shotguns, the more you notice the subtleties in the designs. Balance and swing are two features you can’t fake in an over/under. Some swing like a six-foot-long 2×4 while others are lithe and naturally shoulder. I have used all the over/unders on this list either for upland hunting or on a sporting clay course. Some are exceeding better than others in the same way; there’s Buffalo Trace and Pappy Van Winkle 23. I have purposely left out some of the high-end guns like Perazzi, Krieghoff, FABARM, and others. Those brands are aspirational. Be forewarned. Once you indulge in fine over/under shotguns, it’s hard to go back to a pump or semi-auto shotgun.

Best Over/Under Shotgun Specs Comparison

Make/Model	Gauge	Choke	Sight	Barrel Length (inches)	Overall Length	Weight	Trigger	Stock	Barrel Finish	Stock Finish	MSRP
Franchi Instinct SLX	12	Franchi Instinct	Fiber-optic red-bar front sight	28	46	6.3	Single Select	Walnut	Matte Blue	Oiled	$2,349
CZ Swamp Magnum Camo	12	Beretta/Benelli	Brass Bead	30	48.25	7.1	Single Select	Polymer	Realtree Max	Realtree Max
Mossberg International Silver Reserve Eventide	12	Accu-Choke	Front Fiber Optic	20	38.25	6.75	Single Select	Polymer	Mossy Oak Greenleaf	Mossy Oak Greenleaf
Stoeger Condor Field	12	Beretta/Benelli	Brass Bead	28	44	7.3	Single Select	Polymer	Black	Black
Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon	12	Optima	Brass Bead	28	46	6.3	Single Select	Grade 2 Walnut	Blued	Gloss
Browning Citori CXS	12	Invector-Plus Midas	Ivory Bead	28	45.5	8	Single Select	Black Walnut	Blued	Gloss

Best Over/Under Shotguns

• Best Upland Over/Under: Franchi Instinct SLX
• Best Waterfowl Over/Under: CZ Swamp Magnum Camo
• Best Turkey Over/Under: Mossberg International Silver Reserve Eventide
• Best Under $500 Over/Under: Stoeger Condor Field
• Best High End Over/Under: Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon
• Best Sporting Clays Over/Under: Browning Citori CXS

Best Upland Over/Under: Franchi Instinct SLX

Instinct SLX Spes
Gauge: 12
Chamber: 3″
Choke: Franchi Instinct, includes C, IC, M, IM, F
Sight: Fiber-optic red-bar front sight
Barrel Length: 28″
Overall Length: 46″
Weight: 6.3 lbs.
Trigger: Single Select
Stock: Walnut
Barrel Finish: Matte Blue
Stock Finish: Oiled
MSRP: $2,349

The Franchi Instinct SLX features fine, traditional Italian craftsmanship at a price that won’t make you cringe, especially when your excited pointer steps on it in the back of the pick-up truck. The balance is nice with the Instinct. The SLX model offers lightweight, slightly over six pounds in 12 gauge, which is ideal for those long days chasing pheasant, grouse, quail or chukar.

I like the traditional features, such as the Prince of Wales pistol grip stock and Schnabel forend and gold-plated single select trigger. The silver finish receiver is engraved with a floral pattern that gives the Instinct SLX classy good looks.

You might consider that the SLX’s beauty means it is a safe queen, but the beauty in this gun is when you hunt it. This over/under offers a lot of value and good looks for upland hunting.

Instinct SLX Deals

Scheels	$2,100
EuroOptics	$1,700

Best Waterfowl Over/Under: CZ Swamp Magnum Camo

Swamp Magnum Camo
Gauge: 12
Chamber: 3″
Choke: Beretta/Benelli, included S, IC, LM, M, F
Sight: Bead
Barrel Length: 30″
Overall Length: 48.25″
Weight: 7.1 lbs.
Trigger: Single Selectible
Stock: Polymer
Barrel Finish: Realtree Max
Stock Finish: Realtree Max
MSRP: $1,300

The CZ Swamp Magnum is a no-nonsense duck and goose gun with a full camo finish. It is made to be hunted hard in the toughest conditions.

The long 30-inch barrels help you to reach out to the edge of the decoys, especially with 3-1/2-inch shells. You want a heavier gun when shooting magnum 12-gauge loads. The Swamp Magnum weighs in at a little over seven pounds, so it is heavy enough to swing smoothly when shooting from a blind or boat. The added weight also helps soak up the added recoil from magnum loads.

Swamp Magnum Camo

Sportsman’s Warehouse	$1,070
Gritr Sports	$1,150

Best Turkey Over/Under: Mossberg International Silver Reserve Eventide

Silver Reserve Eventide
Gauge: 12
Chamber: 3 1/2″
Choke: Accu-Choke, Included XX-Full, IC
Sight: Front Fiber Optic
Barrel Length: 20″
Overall Length: 38.25″
Weight: 6.75 lbs.
Trigger: Single Select
Stock: Polymer
Barrel Finish: Mossy Oak Greenleaf
Stock Finish: Mossy Oak Greenleaf
MSRP: $952

While most turkey shotguns are either a pump or semi-auto, which can have high magazine capacity, the fact is, one, maybe two shots are all you need—or all you will get—when turkey hunting. That’s why a break-action over/under makes perfect sense.

The Mossberg Silver Reserve Eventide Turkey shotgun wears a full Mossy Oak Greenleaf camo finish and is outfitted with short, 20-inch barrels, which are ideal for easy maneuvering. There are 12, 20 and 28 gauge versions that weigh 6.7, 6.5 and 6.5 pounds, respectively. The sub-gauge versions are 37-3/4 inches long, and the 12-gauge is 38-1/4 inches long.

Three extended choke tubes come with the Eventide: two XX-Ful and one improved. Those XX-full chokes throw a baseball-sized pattern out to 50 yards, depending on the load, so even if Tom is being cagy and refusing to come in close, you can punch his ticket. Opt for a sub-gauge if you are recoil sensitive.

Silver Reserve Eventide Deals

EuroOptics	$712
Sportsman’s Warehouse	$800

Stoeger Condor Field

Condor Field Specs
Gauge: 12
Chamber: 3″
Choke: Beretta/Benelli, Includes IC, M
Sight: Brass Bead
Barrel Length: 28″
Overall Length: 44″
Weight: 7.3 lbs
Trigger: Single Select
Stock: Polymer
Barrel Finish: Black
Stock Finish: Black
MSRP: $329

The Stoeger Condor Field is not going to win any beauty contests, and it is a little muzzle heavy, but it is an excellent option if you want to try out an over/under and not eat Ramen noodles for a month.

The gun has a non-select single trigger, so the bottom barrel will fire first. It comes with extractors and two flush-fit choke tubes to keep the cost down. It is available in .410 bore, 28, 20 or 12 gauge.

This is the type of over/under that you don’t need to baby for fear of it getting a scratch or nick in the wood stock. I had a pal who used his Condor for pheasant hunting and trap shooting. Stoegers are good, economical options.

Condor Field Deals

Scheels	$550
Sportsman’s Warehouse	$300

Best High End Over/Under: Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon

686 Silver Pigeon Specs
Gauge: 12
Chamber: 3″
Choke: Optima, Includes F, IM, M, IC, C
Sight: Brass Bead
Barrel Length: 28″
Overall Length: 46″
Weight: 6.3 lbs.
Trigger: Single Select
Stock: Grade 2 Walnut
Barrel Finish: Blued
Stock Finish: Gloss
MSRP: $2,849

There are two over/unders that need to be mentioned on any over/under shotgun list, and one of them is the Beretta 686.

The 686 has withstood the test of time since it was introduced in 1994 and performs exceptionally. I have used a 686 Silver Pigeon for the past 20 years on nearly every upland bird species on the East Coast, plus I’ve used it at skeet, trap, and sporting clay ranges.

The 686 is available in 12 gauge with 26, 28, or 30-inch barrels. The Silver Pigeon is not the most expensive over/under shotgun, but just south of $3k makes it a high-end over/under according to my wallet. The balance point is at the hinge and the weight is between your hands. A 686 swings smoothly and shoulders naturally. The engraved receiver and wood are beautiful and it begs to be hunted.

686 Silver Pigeon Deals

Midway USA	$2,500
Sportsman’s Warehouse	$2,209

Best Sporting Clays Over/Uner: Browning Citori CXS

Citori CXS Specs
Gauge: 12
Chamber: 3″
Choke: Invector-Plus Midas, Includes F, M, IC
Sight: Ivory Bead
Barrel Length: 28″
Overall Length: 45.5″
Weight: 8 lbs.
Trigger: Single Select
Stock: Black Walnut
Barrel Finish: Blued
Stock Finish: Gloss
MSRP: $2,730

The second over/under that needs mentioning is the Browning Citori, which has been used to hunt birds and blast clays since 1973. It’s the inexpensive version of the Superposed, but that doesn’t mean it is low-cost.

I used a Citori 425 Sporting for clays and pheasant and have long lost count on how many rounds I’ve put through it. The Citori CXS is perhaps the best crossover shotgun design for those who want to target shoot and hunt birds. The action is strong and reliable while still having a low profile. Features like an adjustable trigger and palm swell pistol grip stock ensure it fits you and is comfortable to shoot.

Citori CXS Deals

Midway USA	$1,920
Sportsman’s Warehouse	$1,920

Advantages of an Over/Under shotgun

Over/Under shotguns offer two chokes that you can instantly choose from if your over/under is equipped with a barrel selector. This means two different choke constrictions for longer or closer shots. Over/Unders are reliable, no gas system to jam up like in a semi-auto and no accidental short stroking like with a pump shotgun. Balance with a quality over/under puts the balance point between your hands, making it seem effortless to mount and swing.

Single Selective Trigger vs Single Non-Selective Trigger

Most over/unders come with one trigger. A selective trigger allows the shooter to fire either barrel first by flipping the safety (it’s usually integrated into the safety) left or right. A non-selective trigger means the bottom barrel always fires first.