5 Highest Quality Sporting Shotguns on the Market
by Chris Browning, guest author
Sporting guns are perhaps the most interesting yet least understood segment of the gun market.
Because of this, you can be sure that there are countless options to pick from when choosing a sporting gun – and, with that, countless ways to use them. Want to shoot shotguns in Jackson Hole? You can!
Sporting shotguns in particular have the widest range and are used for perhaps the most seriously competitive purpose – their sport being featured in the Olympic Games.
Sporting shotguns are used for sporting clays, 5-Stand, skeet shooting and trap shooting, and the sport itself is just as serious as the people who participate – especially those who compete professionally. And though you can use tactical shotguns for sport (and vice versa), you’ll be better off shopping for a guns that are built for fun — not for defense.
Sporting guns range anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to over ten thousand. Sporting competitors know and understand the value of a good gun and are therefore well prepared to spend their money on a higher end gun, reaping the benefits of their worth.
There are so many different brands and models of sporting shotguns that it can be hard to choose which one is best. When so many companies have years of experience and dedicated customers under their belt, every gun can blend together.
But that’s not the case! Every gun has its own special features that sets it apart from the rest. Because of that, this list has been created to help you find the highest quality sporting shotguns on the market today.
Here are five of those guns, listed in no particular order.
Remington really outdid themselves with the 1100 Competition Synthetic, a sporting shotgun specifically catered to competition use. This gun was the most revolutionary of its time when it was released in 1963, preparing a new path ahead for sporting shotguns in the market.
The gun was designed to soften the recoil even more with a recoil reducer in the stock making it so you barely feel a thing. Because of this, even considering its old age of more than fifty years, the 1100 Competition Synthetic is still one of the highest quality sporting shotguns on the market.
On top of the incredible recoil, Remington also improved upon its pattern consistency from shot to shot. The gun’s parts are made with Remington’s nickel-Teflon® finish, guaranteeing smooth and reliable cycling. To top it all off, the gun also comes with an adjustable comb so you can match it to your dimensions perfectly, making for comfortable use with ease.
The Remington 1100 Competition Synthetic is good for any sporting use – trap shooting, skeet shooting, or sporting clays. It comes at a comparable price, as well, resting in the lower mid-range bracket at a cost of $1,305.
Kreighoff is a German brand known for creating the best targeting guns. They are commonly trusted by Olympian champions to be a durable and reliable top target shooting gun.
However, all types of sporting shooters can respect this gun’s high quality. The K-80 in particular was inspired by Remington’s Model 32 – a gun that is no longer on the market yet still clearly making a difference.
The great thing about the Kreighoff K-80 is that it comes in different models specifically tailored to different shooting sports. For example, there is a K-80 made for skeet shooting, and another specifically for sporting clays.
On top of that, each model is modular and can be completely customized to your specific needs. Safe to say then that Kreighoff’s K-80 can be anything you want it to be – and therefore dominate any shooting sport you want!
The K-80 is clearly a sporting shotgun that dominates the market. The unfortunate (and also fortunate) thing about the market, however, is that you pay for what you get. With that said, the Kreighoff K-80’s value starts at $11,995. It’s clear that Kreighoff knows what they’re doing and knows how much to charge for it, too.
Guerini is a relatively new company, their United States of America branch having only been around for fifteen or so years, but they have sure made their mark.
They are already known for making reliable, high quality guns, on top of delivering five-star customer service. It’s no doubt that the company’s good reputation makes up for their young age.
The Summit Sporting is exactly what the name implies: a sporting gun that reaches (and surpasses) summits. Not only is it an aesthetically beautiful gun (with modern engraving done by the incredible talented and renowned Dario Cortini) but its purpose – for those who shoot for sport – is beautiful, too. The Summit Sporting was designed solely for shooting targets, making it a stand out option for anybody who participates in skeet shooting, trap shooting, or sporting clays.
On top of being designed specifically for target shooting, the gun was also made with durability in mind. Its parts can be easily replaced, even though Guerini notes that it is incredibly unlikely for them to wear out in the first place. The gun is also adaptable as it includes palm swell, cast off, and toe rotation for use by either a right handed or left handed shooter.
Guerini’s Summit Sporting is priced relatively high in the mid-range bracket for sporting shotguns. At $3,895, it’s pretty obvious that Guerini rates their work highly. They know what their gun is worth and aren’t afraid to price it highly even with the company’s younger age (compared to other gun companies).
This gun is the sporting version of the Mossberg 930 semi-auto, which is already a reputable gun and strong favorite among many experienced shooters. On top of its background, the 930 Pro Series Sporting was made in collaboration with professional shooting instructors, Gil Ash and Vicki Ash. This gun is made with sporting in mind and proves its trustworthiness with its backing.
Its trustworthiness can be proven by more than just its background and collaboration, however. The inside of this gun was made to last. With extra polishing implemented on its internal parts, the 930 Sporting is more functional than ever. On top of that, the internal parts are also covered in boron nitride, a substance that helps keep rust from getting into the gun.
This gun is one of the least expensive on the list, making it the most affordable for the most value. At only $1,062, the Mossberg 930 Pro Series Sporting is great for anybody who might want a lower end gun to practice with while still confident in its guaranteed quality.
Beretta is an extremely recognizable name, so you can be sure that with their popularity comes respected guns that prove their worth.
The A400 Xcel is one of those guns. This gun in particular is among the most commonly used and trusted among competitive sporting shooters. Its middle is also colored blue, making it an aesthetically pleasing stand out option.
Its popularity among competitors is due to many things. The A400 Xcel is easy to clean and maintain and will run for a long time before needing maintenance again.
This gun is also considered to be most trusted not to malfunction during competition, ensuring shooters won’t have to deal with misfires or the gun not even firing at all.
Beretta advertises the A400 Xcel as a twelve gauge competition shotgun. They say it cycles faster shoots softer than any other gun, which is a high claim that it seems to accomplish even with the tough competition other guns bring to the table.
Its soft recoil is due to the optional recoil reducer and gas operation. They also advertise their A400 action as being the most advanced and revolutionary semiautomatic action on the market.
The gun is another lower ranged option compared to higher end guns at only $1,750, although it does rest at the top of the lower price range.
The A400 Xcel is great for competitors who want a trustworthy and reputable gun. Beretta makes it an unbelievably easy choice for anybody with those criteria to decide.
Closing thoughts
These rifles are not for the novice shooter. Each one is a top of the line sporting rifle, intended for advanced marksmen and -women who truly want to level up their sporting game.
Do you own one of the above rifles we mentioned in this article, 5 Highest Quality Sporting Shotguns on the Market? Did we forget to include one? Please let us know in the comments!
