The 12-gauge pump shotgun or shotshell-firing pump firearm is a mainstay for home defense and as a truck gun. Pump actions offer ease of use, easier maintenance, and versatility because they can be loaded with shells that range from non-lethal types and bird shot to 00 buck and slugs that can still be cycled through the gun. Also, pump shotguns are typically less expensive than semi-autos, which require more maintenance and can be finicky with light target loads.
Gun Tests has gathered many 12-gauge pump shotguns and shotshell-firing pump firearms over the last five years and put them in the hands of our testers to evaluate the guns with an eye toward gauging affordability and assessing performance, two traits that are not usually found together. The pump guns matched up in this review include models from Mossberg, Maverick (Mossberg’s budget brand), Savage, SDS Imports, Tokarev, Remington, Winchester, and EAA.
All are designed for defense work, are chambered for 2.75- or 3-inch 12-gauge shells, and are equipped with polymer or wooden stocks. We found features we desire in a defense gun, such as ease of loading, smooth cycling, easy recoil management, sights that are fast to acquire, and adequate round capacity. If there are aftermarket parts available, that’s all to the better so we could customize the shotgun to fit our needs.
In this list, there is both affordability and performance, with some non-domestic nameplates getting highly ranked because they work. We’ve also included some guns that are only available used, but that doesn’t worry us. A well-worn pumpgun only gets smoother with age, so if it’s worth prowling pawn shops and online sellers to find one, we’ll tell you.
With that in mind, we’ve compiled our Top 5 12-Gauge Pumpguns list below. We haven’t tested every shotgun on the market, of course, so we’ll be interested to see which one is your favorite in the comments. As always, prices reflect what we paid for the gun at the time of the test. Expect the prices of new and used guns to be different as a result. — Todd Woodard
GUN TESTS GRADE: B+ (BEST BUY)
Light and quick to swing, and mimicking the familiar controls of the Remington 870, the Tokarev TX3 also functioned perfectly. If Tokarev develops this line further, making it possible for consumers to accessorize their shotguns with existing Mossberg or Remington aftermarket parts, this will be a real winner.
GUN TESTS GRADE: A- (OUR PICK)
We thought the M-Lok fore end was a great idea, but it was just a bit too slick, which slowed the times during our speed drills. The rest of the shotgun worked perfectly. It has almost the full list of features as on the 870 and is about half the price of the tricked-out Remington.
GUN TESTS GRADE: A- (BEST BUY)
Based on the old Winchester Model 1300 design. Easy to load, cycled smoothly and comfortably. The shorter 18.5-inch barrel was maneuverable. We liked the heat shield, sights, and Picatinny rail to mount a light. Recoil was tolerable.
GUN TESTS GRADE: A-
This is a basic 12-gauge pump stripped down to the essentials. We liked the 7+1 capacity, ease of use, and smooth cycling pump action. The brass-bead front sight was basic, but it was not a liability. Plenty of aftermarket parts are available. Recoil was tolerable.
GUN TESTS GRADE: A (BEST BUY)
This shotgun has a comfortable pistol grip stock. While all three shotguns are reliable, the Akkar Model 612 is the smoothest. The trigger is crisp; it is the only trigger of the test that could be called nice. Plus, disassembly was easier with this model.
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OTHER SHOTGUNS AND SHOTSHELL-FIRING GUN BY ISSUE
Citadel Tidalwave CBSTW1214 12 Gauge, $324 (February-March 2026)
GUN TESTS GRADE: B
The Tidalwave had initial FTE jams, and shells stuck in the magazine tube. Those issues worked themselves out after break in. The fore end needs a strap for better control and a heat shield on the barrel for support-hand protection.
SDS Imports Duo-Sys Force DSF12 12 Gauge, $469 (June-July 2025)
GUN TESTS GRADE: B+
Only ran on high-velocity high-brass ammo in semi-auto mode; low-velocity loads did not cycle in semi-auto. The LOP was too long for an average person to comfortably cycle in pump mode. Patterns were surgical with the Full-choke tube, and slug groups were tight.
Mossberg 590S Shockwave 51601 12 Gauge, $536 (October 2023)
GUN TESTS GRADE: B
The Mossberg 590S performs almost flawlessly with mini shells, unlike previous factory guns; also allows firing 2¾-inch and 3-inch shells. As a result, this is the most desirable of the shotshell firearms.
Mossberg 590 Shockwave 50659 12 Gauge, $455 (October 2023)
GUN TESTS GRADE: C
Reliability with the mini-shells was poor, and this was primarily a test with the mini-shells. Standard 2¾-inch shells functioned fine, however, so it wasn’t an F. Still, the Shockwave is hard to shoot accurately. We’d pass.
Remington 870 TAC-14 81230 12 Gauge, $423 (October 2023)
GUN TESTS GRADE: C-
Despite the low grade, we really liked the Remington. It is smoother than either of the Mossberg 590 variants by a noticeable degree. It is reliable with 2¾-inch shells. The problem is reliability with mini shells, which doesn’t seem possible with Remington shell carrier design.
Remington 870 Tactical 12 Gauge, ~$500 (October 2022)
GUN TESTS GRADE: B-
Price would be near $1000 with mods. The smoothest and fastest of the shotguns tested, perhaps because of the way Remington built things back when and partly because it is 10 years old and use has made this piece a lot slicker to operate. It is somewhat picky about ammo. We had two different factory rounds fail to eject, forcing us to do a couple of malfunction drills. It is also the most expensive piece in this group.
Rock Island Armory Meriva Chrome MR25-P101-MC 12 Gauge, $230 (May 2022)
GUN TESTS GRADE: B
Reliable. The chrome finish and the ability to mount a combat light are good features. We simply could not get past the rough pump action.
Legacy Sports Citadel PAX FRPAX1220 12 Gauge, $229 (May 2022)
GUN TESTS GRADE: C
A heavy trigger action, difficult disassembly compared to the EAA Akkar, and one round fewer capacity than the other shotguns put the PAX at the bottom of the totem pole. Most raters did not like the longer length of pull. The fiber-optic front sight and shell carrier built into the stock are good features.
Winchester 1200 Speed Pump 12 Gauge, $225 (October 2020)
GUN TESTS GRADE: A (BEST BUY)
The Winchester 1200 lived up to its name. The Speed Pump is smooth, reliable, and provided good results. While it doesn’t have a modern synthetic stock, the wood furniture provided good gripping surfaces. Function was fine, so the Winchester will make a formidable home defender.
Remington 870 12 Gauge, $275 (October 2020)
GUN TESTS GRADE: A-
This is a solid shotgun with good performance. It performs well and offers reliable function. The Remington begins with a four-round magazine versus the 1200’s five-round magazine, and the extended tube offers a single extra shell, so we rated it down a half grade. The Remington is a classic home defender well worth its price on the used market.
Winchester SXP Marine Defender 512268395 12 Gauge, $255 (October 2020)
GUN TESTS GRADE: B
This shotgun has many good points, including the chrome finish on major components. Function is good and the ability to mount a red-dot sight is a big plus. We like the easy takedown and smooth action, almost as smooth as the original speed pump. We did not like the forend on this sample, but most SXP shotguns have a plain forend. This is available as a new product.
Note: Older firearms in this listicle may still be available as NIB products or as used guns. It pays to check around.
