It’s hard to dispute that handguns and rifles stole the show in 2025, but there was still plenty to love for shotgunners at 2025’s SHOT Show in Las Vegas. Whether you pursue gobblers, waterfowl, upland birds, or even clays, there’s something coming to pique your interest. Here’s a look at our top picks in hunting-related scatterguns.
CVA Scout Spur
Even little guns make big news at SHOT. The new CVA Scout Spur is a baby bore .410 turkey hunting darling. There’s a 20-inch smoothbore barrel fitted with an XX-Full Browning Invector extended choke tube. The blued metalwork pairs with an OD green synthetic stock with sling studs and molded grip panels. A Picatinny rail makes adding optics a snap, as more gobbler hunters opt for red dots or scopes.
There’s a 1-inch removable LOP spacer and black comb risers for customizing length of pull. An ambidextrous hammer extension makes the platform even more lefty friendly. The break-action Spur, which joins an expansive Scout series of single-shot rifles, weighs 6.7 pounds and targets a budget-conscious market with MSRP at $465.
Retay Air Control Extreme (ACE)
For 2025, Retay debuted its latest and perhaps most advanced repeating shotgun yet: the Air Control Extreme. The ACE stems from the company’s earlier series of inertia-driven actions, with both new variants geared toward hunters. Marketed as “the next generation” of Inertia Plus, the ACE builds on the earlier Masai Mara with a list of upgraded features.
Two distinct model variants are launching simultaneously. The standard has lines similar to the company’s previous designs, along with something a bit different in what they’re calling the ACE Type-R. That one bears a passing resemblance to the old Browning humpback A5s with a more raised and squared flare to the rear of the receiver. They’re both available in 12-gauge with a 3.5-inch chamber, 20-gauge with a 3-inch chamber, and a 28-gauge 3-inch chamber. Barrels are either 26 or 28 inches.
Improvements come to the guns’ ability to cycle light loads, as well as a revamped bolt design aimed at reducing cycling friction. Upgrading to a stainless-steel recoil buffer spring adds to the corrosion resistance, an important consideration for waterfowlers. The receiver is drilled and tapped to accept Benelli rail mounts, while the safety is reversible for lefties. Both guns wear what the company calls an Airy recoil pad that allows for LOP adjustment, plus a soft stock comb pad. Retail pricing starts at $1,049.
Browning Citori 825
If you had a new Citori on your SHOT Show bingo card, you’re a rare winner. It’s difficult to improve such a proven platform as Browning’s Citori over/under series of sporting and hunting shotguns – yet here we are, checking out a wall of newbies. The 2025 lineup of Citori 825s covers everything from field hunting use to hardcore clay competitions.
Changes on the 800-level O/Us include enhanced controls and a lower overall profile, the latter geared toward putting the shooter’s eye closer to the barrel’s axis. There’s a full-width hinge pin and tapered locking lug, which seems to be similar, if the not the same as on the 725.
Browning adds a mechanical Fire Lite 2 trigger, which advertises a lighter pull and crisper break, along with reduced overtravel. Chrome chambers, a floating rib, and Inflex II recoil pad round out the package. Everything partners with upgraded wood stocks checkered to match the sleek lines of the receiver. Invector-DS choke tube systems come standard. The Citori 825 Field is the most affordable of the lot, with MSRP starting at $3,149.99.
Mossberg Turkey Updates
Mossberg’s biggest news came at the tactical end of shotgunning goodness. The 940 Pro Turkey can now be had as a Holosun/Indian Creek combo. That wicked gobbler setup pairs a factory-mounted low-profile Holosun HS507K X2 optic with a premium Indian Creek Diamond Strike ported extended choke tube. It’s a distributor exclusive and can be quickly identified by its unique Kryptek Obskura Transitional camo finish. All the other popular features of the 940 Pro Turkey series remain.
In smaller bores, the semi-automatic SA series of turkey guns gets a few newbies. In years past, the SA-410 and SA-28 Turkey repeaters came solely with a pistol grip. With a call from shooters for a broader-use small bore, these turkey guns can now be had with a shorter barrel and without the pistol grip. No matter your intended hunting pursuit, it’s always nice to have more options.
TriStar Raptor II
TriStar’s pocketbook-friendly semi-automatic Raptor family gets a full-service makeover for 2025. The Raptor II aims to continue its role in blending reliability and affordability, with a refreshed aesthetic and a dose of practicality thrown in for good measure.
The stock and forearm have been redesigned for a sleeker look and more comfortable ergonomics. The recoil pad has been swapped for one that is softer and touted to absorb more of the kick. The operating handle and bolt release get upsized, in keeping with the trend toward oversized controls popular on hunting shotguns.
The chrome-lined barrel and chamber and the Beretta/Benelli Mobil Style choke tubes remain. The tubular magazine’s shot plug can be quickly and easily removed by unscrewing the magazine cap. A fiber-optic sight has been added to all variants as well. Speaking of variants, the Raptor II is filling out quite a roster, with three separate styles/purposes. There will be 12- and 20-gauges, along with a Youth specific selection, and all three variants will be available in a 20-gauge compact with a shorter 24-inch barrel.
Henry Single Shot .410 Turkey
Henry debuted its first turkey gun in 2021, and it has stood alone until now. Henry joins the baby bore turkey hunting revolution with the introduction of the Single Shot Turkey Camo .410 Bore. The 3-inch chambered baby-bore single-shot break action wears full Mossy Oak Bottomland camouflage coverage, distinguishing it from the fully camo clad 12-gauge, which is duded up in Obsession.
The .410 goes to a longer, 26-inch barrel that is drilled and tapped for optics, but comes factory dressed with fully adjustable front and rear fiber optic sights. There’s an ambidextrous bi-directional action lever. The included extended Invector-style choke tube is optimized for use with TSS hunting loads, extending the effective range of the small bore shotgun. MSRP is set at $780.
Heritage Badlander
The Heritage Badlander series of side-by-side shotguns is not particularly new, but Heritage was showing some additional offerings at SHOT Show. Caught somewhere between the old West and upland classics, these double barrels now include the four most popular gauges: 12, 20, 28, and .410. The guns’ initial launch was a shorty, coach gun style. Luckily for us hunters, that has evolved into the full lineup we see today, with bores and barrel lengths favoring hunters and clay shooters.
Each Badlander uses a corrosion-resistant black chrome finish against Turkish walnut stocks. The Badlander is defined by its double triggers and two-position tang safety. The latest 28-gauge, with its 28-inch barrels, hits a sweet spot for upland hunters. We all know double barrels don’t come cheap, but Heritage positions itself at a fairly accessible price point with these Turkish-built SxSs retailing from $893.99.
Beretta A300 Ultima Solid Series
Plenty of new things were happening at Beretta, not the least of which being the advent of AI barrel technology on multiple shotgun variants. One that was sneaking through the cracks, though, is a revamped series of the company’s bread-and-butter A300 Ultima repeating shotguns. The A300 Ultima Solid Series is built for the waterfowlers. There’s a choice of two: Solid Marsh to match with grass and reeds, or Solid Timber for the darker hunting holes.
The new series features an RMR-footprint red dot mount machined into the receiver. The guns on display were showing a CyeLee, but the optic is not included. There’s the same reliable gas system for cycling 2.75 and 3-inch 12-gauge shells. The Kick-Off Recoil Reduction system comes standard, as does an enlarged loading port and controls. Retail price on the A300 Ultima Solid Series opens at $1,089.
