It's that time of year again. Some of the hottest new firearms are being unveiled at the 2025 SHOT Show in Las Vegas. Read on for the best shotguns from the show floor this year.
Browning Citori 825 Field
What It Is: The latest evolution of Browning’s time-tested over/under shotgun line
The new Citori 825 Field over/under features a trim receiver and a new Fire Lite 2 mechanical trigger. Its blued barrels look great alongside the engraved silver nitride receiver and grade II/III gloss oil black walnut stock, and the 825 is a striking gun that’s suitable for almost any upland hunting or clay target games. It’s currently available in 12-gauge with a choice of 26- or 28-inch barrels and all 825 Field shotguns are equipped with an Inflex II recoil pad and three Invector-DS flush-fit choke tubes (IC, M, F). The ivory front bead is a stylish and classy touch, and as you might expect these guns are beautifully balanced and fit and finish is excellent. The 825’s blend of classic styling and modern lines and features make this a working over/under that you will appreciate for years to come. For more information, visit browning.com. MSRP: $3,149.99
Retay ACE and ACE Type-R
What They Are: Purpose-built waterfowl guns that won’t break the bank
The new ACE (Air Control Extreme) shotguns are based on Retay’s successful Masai Mara line of shotguns. The standard ACE shotguns features a traditional sloped-back receiver profile while the new Type-R features a very cool humpback profile. Both guns come with Retay’s Inertia Plus operating system which has proven to be very reliable, and the barrels of these guns are machined using Retay’s deep drilling process. The result is a dead-straight bore for more consistent patterns and improved performance in the field. The ACE and ACE Type-R are both available in 12 gauge (3.5-inch chamber) and 20 gauge (3-inch chamber), and both are compatible with Crio Plus choke tubes. A new recoil pad and comb pad make these guns comfortable to shoot all day, even with magnum waterfowl loads. The ACE and ACE Type-R are good-looking guns that are built to very high standards, and if you’re a duck or goose hunter they should be on your short list when purchasing a new scattergun. For more information, visit retayusa.com. MSRP: $1,049
Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 AI
What It Is: Benelli’s classic Super Black Eagle waterfowl gun with improved ballistics thanks to AI chokes and barrels.
Benelli never fails to bring something innovative to the table. A few years ago it was their BE.S.T. surface treatment; now it’s their Advanced Impact (AI) barrel and choke system. Benelli claims that the new barrel bore contour and Advanced Impact Crio chokes provide 50-percent better on-target penetration and a more uniform pattern. There are four SBE3 AI shotguns debuting in 2025 including both 12 and 20-gauge versions with CORE OPTIFADE camo and BE.S.T. coated barrels and two Cerakote models (12- and 20-gauge) with camo furniture and either FDE or Patriot Brown Cerakote finishes. The 12-gauge guns will come with 3.5-inch chambers and all four shotguns feature 28-inch barrels. In addition to the updated AI chokes and barrels these guns come with Benelli’s ComforTech 3 stocks and the time-tested Inertia-Driven operating system. For more, check out benelliusa.com. MSRP: $2,999 to $3,199
Tristar Raptor II
What It Is: A reliable, affordable gas-operated semiauto shotgun that offers upgrades over its predecessor
The Turkish-made Tristar Raptor was a very good gun at an unbeatable price, and this year the company is launching the updated Tristar Raptor II. Like the original, this gun utilizes a gas operating system that runs reliably and helps reduce felt recoil. The Raptor II comes with an enhanced, updated stock with soft-touch inserts on the pistol grip and forearm and a comb insert that makes this gun more comfortable to shoot. Also new to the Raptor II are enlarged controls for easier operation of the shotgun while wearing gloved hands. Both 12- and 20-gauge models are available in Mossy Oak Country Roots camo, walnut and basic black, and there are compact versions of this gun with all three finishes. Three choke tubes come standard and MSRPs start under $500. Check out tristararms.com for more on the Raptor II. MSRP: $489 to $579
Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 28-Gauge Turkey:
What It Is: The ultimate sub-gauge autoloader for turkey hunting
TSS has changed turkey hunting forever, and more and more hunters are carrying 28-gauge shotguns in the field. This year Benelli is offering a 28-gauge Super Black Eagle 3 semi-auto shotgun designed specifically with sub-gauge turkey hunters in mind. It comes with a 24-inch barrel, bright fiber-optic front sight, extended chokes and a polymer Comfortech 3 stock with recoil reducing chevrons. The Mossy Oak Bottomland camo on the stock and Patriot Brown Cerakote finish on the metalwork helps conceal the gun from gobblers, and since this gun weighs in well under six pounds it’s easy to carry all day. Of course, this gun utilizes Benelli’s refined Inertia-Driven operating system which is extremely reliable and clean and the three-inch chambers handles all 28-gauge turkey loads. If you’re searching for the ultimate sub-gauge gobbler gun the new SBE3 is certainly worth a look. Visit benelliusa.com for more information.
Pointer FT12
What It Is: A reliable, versatile 12-gauge autoloader at a modest price point.
The new FT12 semiauto shotgun from Pointer is available in 12-gauge in a variety of finishes, and it’s a versatile and reliable autoloader that’s very affordable. The rotating bolt head is designed to reduce recoil and muzzle jump, allowing for faster follow-up shots on birds. Five extended choke tubes come standard with this gun, and so does a 3-inch chamber. This is a versatile workhorse of a shotgun, and knowing Legacy Sports International (importer of Citadel guns) president Andy McCormick, who is himself an ardent bird hunter, you can bet that this semi-auto shotgun was put through the paces before it was ever introduced. The oversized controls make this gun easy to run in any conditions and these autoloaders come with sling attachment points—a nice add-on that’s overlooked by many shotgun manufacturers. For more information, check out pointershotguns.com. MSRP: $499
Mossberg 500 Slugster
What It Is: The return of the Mossberg’s reliable slide-action slug gun
I grew up in rural Ohio where most every hunter carried a slug gun, but new legislation that allows the use of straight-wall cartridges diminished interest in slug-loaded shotguns. However, Mossberg is bringing back their Model Slugster this year, a sign that deer hunting with shotguns is not dead. Available in both 12- and 20-gauge, the 500 Slugster comes with a black synthetic stock, iron sights, drilled and tapped receiver and 24-inch rifled slug barrel. There’s also a new 500 Slugster in .410-bore with a 20-inch cylinder bore barrel. All these guns utilize twin action bars for bind-free operation and the tang-mounted safety is easy to access and operate. Though they’re designed primarily with deer hunters in mind, the 12- and 20-gauge Slugsters would make fine medicine for hogs or black bear over bait, and the handy .410-model with cylinder bore would be an excellent all-around camp gun. Check out mossberg.com for more. MSRP: $518
Dickinson 410 Pump-Action Shotgun
What It Is: A sweet sub-gauge slide-action that’s fun to shoot and affordable to own.
Dickinson Arms is best-known for importing stylish side-by-sides and over/under for upland hunters, but their new .410 Pump-Action is a fun gun at a great price. The checkered stock is made from Turkish walnut and it looks great against the gun’s gloss black finish. There’s a fiber optic front sight and, unlike some .410 pumps, the Dickisnon comes with interchangeable choke tubes. With the advent of TSS and other ultra-dense shot options the .410 has become a more versatile weapon in the field, capable of downing ducks, pheasants, and even turkeys. The Dickinson takes full advantage of these new ammunition offerings thanks to its three-inch chamber. As a pump-action fan I’m excited about this new .410 from Dickinson, a lightweight, light-recoiling sub-gauge with a classic look and the added versatility of interchangeable chokes and a three-inch chamber. And you simply can’t beat the price. Visit dickinsonarms.com for more information. MSRP: $320
Franchi Affinity
What It Is: An updated version of Franchi's world-beating semiautomatic shotgun
The Franchi Affinity is an excellent autoloading shotgun, but this year the company is upgrading their flagship semiauto. These upgrades include a redesigned stock with additional checkered on the pistol grip, a new trigger guard that offers more room for gloved fingers and an oblong bolt release button with new texturing. Perhaps most noteworthy is the transition to a two-piece shell latch that makes this gun faster and easier to load than its predecessor. The Affinity now features a stock that is adjustable for LOP and the redesigned recoil pad cuts kick by up to 50 percent. The 12-gauge version is available now in either black or camo with your choice of a 26- or 28-inch barrel and a 3- or 3.5-inch chamber. Go to franchiusa.com for more on the new Affinity. MSRP: $1,079 to $1,379
