Find the right shotgun. Know the law where you live.
Plain-English picks for home defense, duty-style and competition shotguns — with maker specs, list prices and your state's rules, all sourced.
Three ways in
Which shotgun fits me?
Three cards — use, budget, your build and state — and three ranked matches.
02 · LAWShotgun laws by state
SBS, Shockwave-type "firearms," feature bans, magazine limits, permits, waiting periods.
03 · COMPAREEvery model, side by side
15 pumps and semi-autos, sortable by barrel, capacity, weight and price.
Where to start
Picked on published specs, features and maker list price — not paid placement.
Is it legal where you live?
Pick your state to see its short-barreled shotgun rules, Shockwave/TAC-14 status, feature and magazine limits, permits and waiting periods — each with a source.
Read before you buy
Best home-defense shotgun
Our picks by budget, and what actually matters inside a house.
Buckshot explained
00 vs. #4 vs. #1 buck, reduced-recoil loads, and why birdshot falls short.
SBS after the $0 tax
The $200 tax is gone. Registration isn't. Here's the paperwork route.
Pump vs. semi-auto
Reliability, recoil, cost and the short-stroke problem.
Will it fit you?
Length of pull, in plain English — and how to check it in a store.
Set it up right
Light, sling, side-saddle. What to add first and what to skip.
Specs come from the maker. Laws come from the statute or an official source. Every page has a "last checked" date, and we write "not listed" instead of guessing. More about our process.