Franchi – Instinct Sideplate

This year, Franchi is offering their Instinct shotgun with an aesthetic upgrade. The new Instinct Sideplate model features steel side plates that offer more space to show off the color case hardening that covers the receiver metal and the Franchi’s detailed engraving. Gold inlaid gamebirds on the sideplates contrast nicely with the gold trigger. Five extended black choke tubes are standard, as is an AA-grade satin walnut stock with a Prince of Wales grip and Schnabel forend, and the whole elegant package ships in a custom fit hard case for a surprisingly affordable price considering the build quality of the Italian over/under.

$2,229 | franchiusa.com

Mossberg – 940 Pro Waterfowl

Mossberg’s 940 Pro Waterfowl comes with a True Timber Prairie stock and Patriot Brown Cerakote finish. The shotgun comes with nickel boron-coated internals and a new gas operating system that helps cut fouling and helps increase manufacturer recommended cleaning to every 1,500 rounds. This American-made gun comes with a long list of features that includes a self-draining stock, HIVIZ sights, extended Briley X-Factor chokes, and adjustable cast, drop, and length of pull.

$1,126 | mossberg.com

Tristar – TT-15 Field

This Turkish-built over/under offers a host of features including a durable solid frame and mono-block barrel construction. The stock is made from Turkish walnut, there’s a top-mounted barrel selector/safety, and it comes with chrome-lined chambers and barrels. Both the tip and mid rib are ventilated and there’s a fiber optic front sight. Five extended Benelli/Beretta Mobil pattern choke tubes come standard. These guns are available in 12-, 20-, and 28-gauge and .410 and, with the exception of the 28-gauge model, are equipped with 3-inch chambers. Ejectors come standard, and weights vary from 5½- to 7-pounds depending upon gauge.

$945–$975 | tristararms.com

Benelli – Super Black Eagle 3 28-Gauge

Perhaps the biggest news to come out of Urbino this year is the launch of Benelli’s new 28-gauge Super Black Eagle III shotgun. Available in four camo patterns (Realtree MAX-5, Realtree Timber, GORE OPTIFADE and Mossy Oak Bottomland) and black with either 26- or 28-inch barrels, these guns come with three-inch chambers that allow hunters to boost the performance of their sub-gauge SBE 3. Of course, these shotguns offer the long list of standard features found on Benelli’s flagship semiauto shotgun line, including a polymer stock with Comfort Tech 3 and a shim kit, a red carbon fiber front sight, Crio barrels, and the reliability of Benelli’s proven Inertia Driven system. The 28-gauge version weighs in at just 5.5 to 5.6 pounds, and it comes with two extended (IC and M) and three flush-fit (IC, M, F) chokes.

$1,800-$1,900| benelliusa.com

Browning – A5 Sweet Sixteen

Fans of the 16-gauge will be pleased to hear that Browning is offering three new A5 Sweet Sixteen semiauto shotguns this year. Both the Lightning version and the Upland model feature grade I walnut stocks (gloss finish for the Lightning, oil finish for the Upland) and come with 26- or 28-inch barrels and 2¾-inch chambers. The Lightning version comes with a Lightning style rounded pistol grip and a gloss black anodized receiver, while the Upland version has a traditional pistol grip and brushed nickel receiver. Duck hunters who’ve longed for a waterfowl specific Sweet Sixteen also get their wish with the launch of the Mossy Oak Shadow Grass Habitat version with a full camo dip. There’s also a new A5 Sweet Sixteen Wicked Wing which comes with Mossy Oak Shadow Grass Habitat or Realtree MAX-7 camo and Cerakote Burnt Bronze surface finish.

$1,930–$2,380 | browning.com

Caesar Guerini – Invictus IX Sporting

As usual, Guerini is offering up stunning new shotgun models for the new year, and one of those is their Invictus IX Sporting. Central to this gun are its Invictus cams that eliminate the need for traditional hinge pins and trunnions while extending the life of the firearm. Since the Invictus system offers a modular design, it doesn’t wear like traditional shotguns. Instead, the Invictus IX lasts for hundreds of thousands or even millions of rounds—and that’s why it's so popular with dedicated competition shooters. The Invictus IX Sporting is eye catching with its premium hand-rubbed oil stock, intricately engraved receiver with Invisalloy finish and incredible wood-to-metal fit. A long list of other features like six MAXIS screw-in competition chokes and a crisp, clean DPS competition trigger all come standard.

$19,995 (RH), $20,265 (LH) | gueriniusa.com

Fabarm – XLR Chesapeake

Named in honor of one of waterfowling’s great destinations, the Fabarm XLR Chesapeake is a gun worthy of the name. Like other XLTR guns, the Chesapeake features Fabarm’s Pulse Piston operating system, which uses a piston with a polymer insert to regulate reloading and reduce recoil. This semiauto 12-gauge gun is available with 28 or 30-inch barrels, and like so many Fabarm guns, it’s available in a left-handed version as well. Unique to the Chesapeake is its True Timber camo soft-touch polymer stock and Cerakote Midnight Bronze metal finish which gives this gun unmistakable eye appeal, yet keeps it hidden from passing birds. These guns also come with a TRIBORE barrel and three INNER HP choke tubes.

$1,995 (RH), $2,200 (LH) | fabarmusa.com

Syren – Julia Field

Syren shotguns are built for female shooters with input from female shooters, and the launch of the company’s Julia Sporting in 2021 was such a success that the company is now adding a Julia Field shotgun to the lineup. Available in either 20- or 28-gauge, these guns feature color case hardened receivers with sideplates and lots of subtle but stylish engraving and inlay. The 20-gauge version weighs in at just over 6.5 pounds and the 28-gauge weighs about 6.25 pounds, though weights may vary slightly based on the density of each hand-rubbed oil stock. Barrel lengths are 28-inches, and the list of features for both include five flush-fit choke tubes, Invisalloy protective finish, and a Schnabel forend and a hard case. There’s a left-handed version as well.

$5,925 (RH), $6,195 (LH)| syrenusa.com

Winchester – SX4 Universal Hunter

This year, Winchester is offering their gas-operated semiauto SX4 Universal Hunter shot-gun with a full Mossy Oak DNA camo dip. The SX4 comes with Winchester’s time-tested Active Valve system which is easy to clean and runs reliably with a broad range of loads. Hard chrome-plated chambers and bores are resistant to damage or corrosion and the SX4’s large bolt handle and bolt release make it easy to operate while wearing gloves. And, as the name implies, the SX4 Universal Hunter is a versatile shotgun capable of handling everything from 2¾-inch dove and target loads to 3½-inch magnums. The Universal Hunter Mossy Oak DNA is available in both 12- and 20-gauge with barrel lengths from 24- to 28-inches.

$1,170–$1,200| winchesterguns.com