Shotguns that earn their keep season after season

Some shotguns are “buy once, cry once” tools that quietly do their job year after year. They’re not always the prettiest or newest, but they cycle when it’s wet, pattern predictably, and don’t complain when they get knocked around in the truck. Those are the ones that actually earn their spot on a homestead.

Here are the workhorses that tend to keep showing up season after season.

Mossberg 500 in 12 or 20 gauge

The Mossberg 500 is about as classic as it gets for a farm shotgun. It’s simple, easy to strip, and the tang safety is easy to run with either hand. In 12 or 20 gauge with a 26″–28″ barrel and interchangeable chokes, it goes from coop duty to small game to the occasional turkey hunt without blinking.

It’s also forgiving about ammo. As long as you keep it reasonably clean and oiled, it’ll run a wide range of 2¾” field loads without drama—exactly what you want from a gun that lives in real weather.

Maverick 88 as the budget workhorse

The Maverick 88 is basically the cheaper cousin of the 500, sharing a lot of parts and the same general layout, just with a cross-bolt safety instead of the tang. In 12 gauge with an 18.5″ or 28″ barrel, it became a go-to “behind the door” gun for a lot of rural families.

It’s not fancy, but that’s the point. You don’t feel bad about dings, you can get parts, and it keeps cycling when you’re tired and muddy and not babying it.

Remington 870 Wingmaster and Police models

Older 870 Wingmasters and the Police variants earned a reputation for smooth actions and tanks-for-receivers for a reason. In 12 or 20 gauge, with 2¾” loads, an older 870 that’s been taken care of will just keep going.

The key is getting one from the better years and keeping the chamber clean. Do that, and it’ll likely still be running long after cheaper pump guns have been swapped out twice.

Mossberg 590/590A1 for hard use

The Mossberg 590 and especially the beefed-up 590A1 were built with abuse in mind—heavy-walled barrels, metal trigger guards, and tube-fed simplicity. In 12 gauge with an 18.5″–20″ barrel, they’re more “serious” than you strictly need for the barn, but they absolutely shrug off rough handling.

If you want a shotgun you can drag through fence lines, toss in the side-by-side, and still expect to work years later, this family is hard to argue with.

Benelli Nova and SuperNova pumps

The Benelli Nova and SuperNova in 12 gauge are one-piece synthetic tank guns. The polymer-and-steel design doesn’t care about rain or dust the same way some wood guns do. They’re known for cycling everything from light 2¾” target loads to heavy 3½” hunting shells.

For most homesteads, you don’t even need the magnum stuff—but it’s nice to know the gun could handle it. These are the guns you hose off, wipe down, and keep using.

Beretta A300 semi-auto for all-around chores

The Beretta A300 gas-operated semi-autos in 12 gauge have built a reputation as soft-shooting, reliable “do-everything” guns. They handle 2¾” and 3″ loads, eat common field ammo, and don’t beat up your shoulder.

If you want a semi-auto that can handle pest control, birds, and occasional clay days without being overly picky, the A300 line is a strong candidate that tends to stay in the rotation for years.

Browning BPS field guns

The Browning BPS pump, especially in 12 or 20 gauge with a field barrel, is known for solid construction and bottom ejection that keeps crud out of the action. It’s a little heavier than some budget pumps, but that weight soaks up recoil and makes it a steady shooter.

They’re not usually impulse buys, but once someone owns one, it tends to stick around and get handed down instead of sold off.

Plain H&R / NEF single-shot 20 gauge

A basic H&R or NEF single-shot 20 gauge is about as simple as it gets: one shell, one hammer, one trigger. They’re light, inexpensive, and nearly foolproof if you keep the hinge and firing pin area clean.

They’re not fast, and they’re not what you reach for with multiple predators in the yard. But for “grab, step outside, and solve a raccoon” type jobs, these old single-shots quietly earn their keep for decades.