Getting into waterfowl hunting can add up fast. Between waders, decoys, blinds, and all the other gear you need to hunt ducks and geese, a premium shotgun may not be in the cards. That said, waterfowl hunters are hard on their guns—battling cold, water, and mud all season can take their toll on even premium shotguns. Choosing a budget waterfowl shotgun can be tricky. Hunters need to find the right balance between rugged reliability and affordability. In an effort to find the best budget duck guns out there, we tested a mix of semi-autos and pumps last season. The results are a list of our favorite budget waterfowl shotguns for any hunter’s budget.
How We Made Our Picks:
To find the best budget waterfowl guns, we looked at two major categories: semi-autos and pump shotguns. While you can hunt ducks and geese with an over-under, the lack of a third shell isn’t ideal for waterfowl hunting, so we chose not to include any in our list.
There is often a notable price leap between a pump and a semi-auto, but with it comes some advantages, like quicker follow-up shots and less felt recoil. To keep our picks budget-conscious, we picked guns at or below the $1000 price point.
Best Budget Semi-Auto Shotguns
Franchi Affinity 3 V.2
Affinity 3 V.2
Key Features:
- Chamber Size: 3-inch
- Action: Inertia Driven
- Barrel Length: 26- or 28-inch barrel
- MSRP: $999
Pros:
- New slimmer design improves feel and swing
- Drilled and tapped receiver for optics during turkey season
- Oversized bolt release
Cons:
- At the higher end of budget-gun pricing
Franchi is a sister company of Benelli, and with that comes trickle-down technology. It’s no surprise that the Franchi Affinity looks and feels like a Benelli, but at a fraction of the cost. Now you don’t get all Benelli’s fancy recoil management tech and proprietary coatings, but you do get a very similar inertia-driven action. This inertia-driven action is reliable beyond belief, going bang in just about every condition, including the coldest days of the year.
The previous version of the Affinity was a solid contender for a budget duck gun, and this new version gets even better. A slimmer design means you can mount and swing the V.2 even easier than before. In addition, hunters benefit from oversized controls, which are helpful when operating it with gloves and in the cold. This version is available in a 3-inch chambering, which, for most waterfowl scenarios, is more than enough, especially considering the advancement in modern shot shells. This whole package comes in at $999, just under the $1K price threshold, in black with a 28-inch barrel. For camo models, expect to pay an extra $50 to $100.
Stoeger M3000
M3000
Key Features:
- Chamber Size: 3-inch
- Action: Inertia Driven
- Barrel Length: 26- or 28-inch barrel
- MSRP: $629 – $679
Pros:
- Very budget-friendly pricing
- Includes three chokes
- Drilled and tapped receiver
Cons:
- Feels front-heavy
Stoeger is the other sister company to Benelli, and is widely touted as the budget-friendly company of the three. The M3000 is Stoeger’s answer to an affordable auto-loader. At just $649, for the most expensive option, this gun is a bargain. It features an inertia-driven action built to withstand the elements, and over the years, it has rarely failed us. The main downside we found when hunting with the M3000 is the overall balance. The M3000 feels very front-heavy, and while this is not a deal breaker, it takes some time to get used to. If you opt for a 26-inch barrel, you’ll definitely notice this less. Hunters also get an oversized bolt release button—a nice feature for a gun under $700.
Retay Ace
Ace
Key Features:
- Chamber Size: 3-inch
- Action: Inertia Driven
- Barrel Length: 26- or 28-inch barrel
- MSRP: $1049
Pros:
- New slimmer design improves feel and swing
- Drilled and tapped receiver for optics during turkey season
- Oversized bolt release
Cons:
- At the higher end of budget-gun pricing
Retay has built a reputation for building reliable and budget-friendly shotguns. The trend in the budget gun space is to build firearms in Turkey, where they can be manufactured and imported at a substantially lower cost. With that, some manufacturers cut corners to try to make the cheapest gun possible. Retay, however, has found the middle ground between reliable and affordable.
Their newest shotgun, the ACE, which stands for Air Controlled Extreme, fits the bill as an affordable, performance-driven waterfowl shotgun. This gun comes in at $1049, just over the $1000 price point, but the features make it worth it. The ACE recoil management system helps lessen felt recoil substantially. It’s also paired with an inertia-driven action that is strategically designed not to come out of battery. The gun also comes with an oversized bolt-release, three flush chokes, and one extended waterfowl choke. It’s also available in an R model, which has a slightly raised receiver.
Weatherby Element II
Element II
Key Features:
- Chamber Size: 3-inch
- Action: Inertia Driven
- Barrel Length: 28-inch barrel
- MSRP: $749
Pros:
- Redesigned Element features an updated design
- Oversized controls
- Comes in 4 different configurations
Cons:
- You don’t get all the premium features of Weatherby’s flagship models
The Element II from Weatherby is their newest budget-friendly shotgun. It was released earlier this year as a continuation of the original Element shotguns and is packed with new features. For starters, the Element II runs on an inertia-driven action that is easy to operate and works in the worst conditions. Weatherby pairs that action with an oversized slammer button, safety, and charging handle for a gun that can be quickly and safely operated. It also has a cut receiver, meaning the bottom of the receiver, where you load shells, is shaved down. This allows you to load shelves quickly, without jamming your fingers in the mag tube. The Element II points and shoots well, and retails at just $799. That’s a lot of gun for the price.
Berreta A300
A300 Ultima
Key Features:
- Chamber Size: 3-inch
- Action: Gas-driven
- Barrel Length: 28-inch barrel
- MSRP: $879
Pros:
- Soft shooting
- Several different configurations
- Oversized controls
Cons:
- Speciality models come with a significant price increase
The A300 has been Beretta’s intro-level semi-auto shotgun, and it recently got some major upgrades. Cosmetically, the new version looks very similar to the older models but with a few key changes. These include oversized controls, a cut receiver, and an improved recoil system. In other words, Beretta made this new model a lot more user-friendly. Of all the semi-autos on our list, the A300 is the only gas gun to make it. If you’ve never shot a gas gun, you’re in for a treat. Gas-driven guns help reduce recoil substantially. It’s often tough to find gas guns for under $1000, but Beretta’s A300 starts at just $879 for the black synthetic model. If you want specialty models, expect to pay more.
Best Budget Pump Shotguns
Winchester SXP
SXP
Key Features:
- Chamber Size: 3- or 3.5-inch
- Action: Pump
- Barrel Length: 28-inch barrel
- MSRP: $299
Pros:
- Coated receiver
- Inertia-assisted pump action speeds up follow-up shots
- TRU-GLO fiber optic front sight
Cons:
- Not drilled and tapped
If you’re looking to get into waterfowling and don’t want to break the bank, then a pump shotgun is the answer. The Winchester SXP is one of the most affordable and still reliable pump shotguns on the market. It comes in at just $299, half the price of our cheapest semi-auto on the list. It’s also available in models with a 3.5-inch chamber in case you want to take it into the turkey woods in the spring.
While it’s a pump-action, meaning you have to manually pump the forend to load the next shell, Winchester did include some fancy tech. The SXP has Winchester’s Inertia Assisted Speed Pump Action. In other words, when you shoot, the recoil from the shell starts the cycling action, bringing the slide and forend back. Then you can take over and quickly pump the gun and load the next shell.
Remington 870
870
Key Features:
- Chamber Size: 3- or 3.5-inch
- Action: Pump
- Barrel Length: 26- or 28-inch barrel
- MSRP: N/a
Pros:
- Reliable
- Classic and proven shotgun
- Smooth Action
Cons:
- New guns are hard to find right now
There are few guns as beloved as the Remington 870. For many across the country, this reliable and affordable gun was their first shotgun. Its classic wood stock, reliable action, and ability to be found at just about any gun store have made it a sure winner for everything from waterfowl to turkeys, and even deer.
Unfortunately for new hunters looking to buy a legendary piece of shotgun history, Remington is currently not selling new 870s. In fact, they aren’t selling any new shotguns at the moment. While we can hope this changes soon, the best bet is to look for old 870s at pawn shops, gun shows, and online gun stores. Ideally, look for pre-2007 models, and if you can find a Wingmaster, don’t hesitate to buy it.
Benelli SuperNova
SuperNova
Key Features:
- Chamber Size: 3.5-inch
- Action: Pump
- Barrel Length: 26- or 28-inch barrel
- MSRP: $679 – $699
Pros:
- ComforTech Recoil Pad lessens recoil
- Lightweight feel
- Smooth action
Cons:
- Expensive for a pump
The last gun on our list is the Benelli SuperNova. This shotgun offers the fit and finish of a Benelli, along with the tech, but in a pump shotgun platform. It’s a lightweight gun that fits well and swings even better. On top of that, it features Benelli’s ComforTech gel recoil pad to help significantly reduce felt recoil. It comes chambered in 3.5-inch, allowing hunters to shoot 2 3/4, 3, and 3.5-inch shells through this shotgun. It retails at $679, which is on the higher end of pump shotguns. That said, the tech Benelli put into the SuperNova makes it worth it for those who love shooting pump guns.
Final Thoughts
A budget waterfowl gun needs to live up to the demanding and ever-changing conditions of the season. Sure, most guns will work fine in the early days of the season, but finding a budget waterfowl gun that won’t fail on the frigid last days of the season when the migration is on is crucial. The guns that made our list meet that criteria and are all available at or below $1000. Consider what features you want in your shotgun and what fits in your budget, and choose the shotgun that is the best fit.