Top Duck & Goose Hunting Shotguns for 2025

If you need a new shotgun for this season, WILDFOWL has you covered with our list of top shotguns for 2025!

October 09, 2025 By Jace Bauserman

My amazing bride of 22 years recently told me, “Babe, your shotgun safe is full.” I smiled slightly and replied, “Then we need to get another one.”

I’m a shotgun addict. My problem is I test too many, fall in love with too many, and break out the Visa. There are worse vices to have, I suppose. Manufacturers are doing a remarkable job crafting purposeful shotguns that duck hunters from Cold Bay to the Gulf can depend on to make their dreams come true.

Maybe you fly a brand flag, and maybe you don’t. If you do, chances are the shotgun-brand nation you belong to has a new waterfowl gun, or at the very least one offered in a new camo coating or color. Perhaps, though, you’re hungry to test, tinker, and find a new waterfowl shotgun from a manufacturer you’ve never put your trust in before. Regardless, we have you covered. From 3-inch autoloaders to over/unders to sub-gauges, 2025’s shotgun crop is a winner.

Browning Maxus II Solid

Browning’s latest Maxus II offers nothing new or improved except for the solid (Earth and Stone) color offerings, and that’s a good thing. I’ve made the skies rain with multiple Maxus II models, and I love the SoftFlex cheek pad and rubber over-moldings in the grip and forearm to improve fit and feel. The shotgun is smooth and slim. It shoulders like a dream and swings smoothly, and the HiViz Tri-Comp fiber-optic front sight and white mid-bead grab the eye for enhanced on-target aim. The Power Drive Gas System easily cycles 2-¾-, 3-, and 3-1/2-inch shotshells, allowing you to puff flying orange discs in the offseason and fold wings all fall and winter. The composite stock will take a beating, and Browning’s all-new solid-color options are stunning.

$1,980 | browning.com

Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 A.I. BE.S.T.

Benelli’s expansion of its legendary SBE 3 lineup isn’t shocking. What is astonishing is the devastating results SBE 3 A.I. models are producing. Available in 12 and 20 gauge, Advanced Impact (A.I.) barrel technology increases penetration, allowing waterfowlers to shoot standard steel loads and make quick, decisive kills. Advanced Impact barrels produce a more uniform and tighter shot string that provides up to 50 percent more penetration on target. I gave the SBE 3 A.I. a little dance last winter. I love the 28-inch barrel and the fit of the Comfort Tech 3 stock configuration. The shotgun killed big geese stone dead with 3-inch #1s in standard steel. I could crush a bird quickly, pivot off and swing through another. Of course, BE.S.T. technology means superior corrosion resistance, so you can withstand Mother Nature’s worst mood and fill limits.

$3,200 12 gauge; $3,000 20 gauge | benelliusa.com

Franchi Affinity Waterfowl Elite

Franchi is always at the forefront of product innovation and has an always-forward mindset. For 2025, this gun manufacturer upgraded its award-winning Waterfowl Elite Series. When ducks pour into the decoys but Mother Nature is at her worst, you’ll appreciate the more robust checkering, slimmer forend for enhanced control and swing, and more extensive controls. The new two-piece shell latch is also innovative and makes reloading quick and easy. The Affinity Waterfowl Elite models receiving a facelift include the Affinity 3.5 12 gauge and the Affinity 3 lineup in 12 and 20 gauge.

$1,600 | franchiusa.com

Spandau S2 28” Realtree MAX-7

If you’re looking for a reliable auto-loading duck/goose gun that doesn’t break the bank and sports a clean camo look, consider Spandau’s S2. The shotgun is light, streamlined, and the Inertia Operating System is reliable. The Benelli/Mobil choke tube system is customizable, and the fiber-optic front site allows for rapid target acquisition in any lighting condition. The controls are oversized, and Spandau enhanced the loading gate for quicker, improved loading. The shotgun is compatible with Benelli M2 accessories.

$500 | spandauarms.com

Fabarm XLR5 Waterfowler

A favorite of those looking to crack clays and climb the podium, Fabarm engineers took a list of features in the XLR5 and crafted a shotgun for those who crave feet-down action. Enter the XLR5 Waterfowler. Covered in True Timber Viper with an O.D. Green Cerakote action, this 3-inch chamber auto-loader utilizes the kick-hulls-far Pulse Piston system, which acts as a progressive brake. The action easily handles low and high-brass loads by eliminating any valve system. Plus, the braking of the Pulse Piston system reduces felt recoil when firing heavy payload goose killers, allowing you to keep that cheek weld, swing through, and kill more birds. The tapered bore also reduces recoil and improves pattern performance. The TRIBORE HP barrel comes in 28- and 30-inches long, and you get a trio of chokes (Medium, Long, and Extreme).

An over/under crafted for those chasing fowl on foul days, Mossberg’s International Silver Reserve Eventide is an uber-durable break-action, bubbling with features that attract duck and goose killers. The break-action design is durable and the lock-up is absolute. Both 28-inch barrels and chambers are chrome-lined for added corrosion resistance, and this over/under 12 gauge handles 2-3/4-, 3-, and 3-1/2-inch shotshells. Extractors ensure easy ejection, and the tang-mounted safety/barrel selector is easy to operate. The shotgun comes with five chokes for maximum pattern customization depending on what and how you’re hunting, and we love the Patriot Brown Cerakote finish on the barrel blended with Mossy Oak’s vintage Shadowgrass on the stock.

$980 | mossberg.com

Beretta A300 Ultima Realtree Max-7

Priced right and ready to go through waterfowl hell and come out slinging steel, Beretta’s A300 Ultima Realtree Max-7 is available in 12 and 20 gauge. Both shotguns sport a 28-inch Mobil choke barrel, and when the conditions are frigid and the shooting is fast, you’ll appreciate Beretta’s Kick-Off recoil reduction system. Boosting comfort and shooter control, this system and enlarged controls ensure maximum shooting confidence. The 7x7mm stepped rib is fitted with a mid-bead and front fiber-optic sight, and the oversized loading port and low-profile receiver maximize handling.

$1,080 | beretta.com

Syren XLR5 Waterfowler

With a fighting weight of 7.1 pounds and a barrel length of 28 inches, Syren’s 3-inch chamber waterfowler balances and swings perfectly. On a mission to create top-end shotguns that fit female hunters perfectly, Syren created a Soft Touch finish stock equipped with a recoil-reducing soft black rubber 22mm Microcell recoil pad. My wife says, “The stock quickly finds the shoulder pocket, and recoil, even when shooting heavy 3-inch loads, is manageable.” The Stainless-Steel Pulse Piston drive cycles spent hulls quickly, slamming another round into the chamber. Finished in Realtree MAX-5, this autoloader disappears in any environment, comes with five chokes, and a hard case with a fit interior.

$2,425-$2,650 | syrenusa.com

Tri-Star G2 Pro Sporting Select Walnut

Tri-Star continues to make positive waves in the scatter-gun arena, and new builds like its G2 Pro Series are a big reason why. Duck and goose hunters should look to the G2 Pro Sporting Select to make fowl dreams a reality. At 7.4 pounds, this gas-operated shotgun sports a reach out and touch them 30-inch barrel and removable, extended choke tubes (SK, IC, M, F) that let you customize your pattern to your pursuit. The comb is adjustable to ensure perfect fit and exact eye-to-rib alignment. The Tri-Star Select Turkish Walnut stock and forearm with cut checkering provide a sexy look and solid grip in less-than-par conditions. The shotgun boasts a chrome-lined chamber and barrel, and the barrel wears a fiber optic front sight.

$1,050 | tristararms.com

Savage Renegauge

Waterfowl hunting is a dirty business. Hunters commonly find themselves in muddy, messy, sandy, and generally wet environments. Don’t fret. Savage’s Renegauge was built to handle the extreme. Whether you’re in a layout in a cut grain field waiting on that first flight of honkers or huddled against a hardwood in a mallard-infested swamp, Savage’s Renegauge won’t let you down. The patented D.R.I.V. (Dual Regulating Inline Valve) gas system pulls excess gas before the bolt goes into action. This design equals seamless ejection, less felt recoil and rapid cycling. Less recoil and quick cycling mean dead-on follow-up shots to pull more doubles and triples. Available in five 12 gauge-only models, the Renegauge handles shotshell lengths up to 3 inches and comes in finishes of Black, Mossy Oak Shadow Grass Blades, and Desert Sand.

$1,280-$1,350 | savagearms.com

Winchester SX4 Left Hand Waterfowl Hunter

Made for southpaws, Winchester’s SX4 Left Hand Waterfowl Hunter is coated stock-to-barrel in five popular waterfowl camo options from Mossy Oak and Realtree. The total camo cloak reduces fowl-spooking shine and hides the many nicks and dings that come during a hard season. To maximize ease of use, Winchester boosted the size of the cocking handle, bolt release, and safety button. Ready to handle short 2-3/4-inch teal loads and 3-1/2-inch goose killers, this SX4 wears a 26-inch hardened bore barrel with Back-Bored technology fitted and a bright Tru-Glo fiber-optic sight. Tested in every enviroment on earth, the Active Valve gas operating system continues to win. Clean or dirty, this shotgun will perform. The composite stock and forearm feature a rounded close-radius grip and textured gripping surfaces to boost fit and feel when it matters the most.

$1,340 | winchesterguns.com

GForce Arms LEVER12

If you’ve dreamed of being Billy the Kid or Doc Holliday while you’re out killing ducks, GForce arms is helping make that dream come true. Meet the new LEVER12! A distinctive lever-action 12 gauge for hunters who appreciate reliability and unique style. Featuring a stock and forend made from premium Turkish walnut, the LEVER12 offers unmatched elegance complimented by a Cerakote Burnt Bronze finish. Its manual lever operation ensures flawless function and dependable performance, even in demanding conditions. The LEVER12 is not just a reliable firearm; it’s a genuine head-turner in the blind, combining classic charm with modern functionality. Now you can cut those ducks down like Wyatt Earp in Tombstone.

$525 | gforcearms.com

Weatherby Element II - Tungsten

We have always been impressed by these guns, and now they are better. Weatherby’s latest Element, the Element II, was made for those who prefer to spend their days in the swamps, fields, and river bottoms. Waterfowl hunting and frigid weather go together like Michael Jordan and basketball. For this reason, Weatherby fitted the Element II Tungsten with oversized controls, including a more oversized slammer button, charging handle and safety. This means complete control and seamless operation while wearing bulky gloves or when you flat-out can’t feel your fingers. The proven Intertia Recoil System hucks hulls—2-3/4 and 3-inch—far to ensure rapid cycling while cutting down on shoulder abuse. Both 12 and 20 gauge models come with 28-inch barrels, and the flat-ribbed barrels showcase an LPA bead for fast target acquisition. The Tungsten Cerakote with a Chrome-lined bore and synthetic black stock will take a beating and keep shooting.

$730 | weatherby.com

Stoeger M3000 Left-Hand

For 2025, Stoeger offers its darling 3-inch autoloader in a left-handed model cloaked in Realtree MAX-7. The 28-inch barrel and IC, M, and XFT chokes allow you to customize whether you’re crushing fast-flying teal over decoys or pass-shooting snows as they hop between grain fields on a windy day. The Inertia System is a proven winner, and the bolt assembly of the M3000 comes with an inertia spring and rotating locking head. Stoeger includes a shim kit to adjust the drop and cast, and the red-front bar sight doesn’t halo on those bright sunny days, allowing you to move through birds quickly.

$700 | stoegerindustries.com