When you first dive into bird hunting, it is hard to know what kind of shotgun to buy. For some, a hand-me-down gun might be your first, but eventually, you will want to buy a shotgun that is tailored to your needs. The options are dizzying, with choices in gauge, model, style, barrel length, and more.

Some shotguns cost more than a car, while others can be purchased for less than a nice sit-down dinner. Most novice wingshooters would do well to consider options that lie between these extremes.

Enter our starter shotgun overview. We compared versatility, build quality, price, performance, and looks to bring you our favorite scatterguns for new wingshooters and more experienced bird hunters ready for an upgrade.

Weatherby Element II Upland

The new Element II updates Weatherby’s popular original Element. It keeps many features that bird hunters loved about the Element, but it also introduces some great changes.

The Element II has an improved loading gate that is less likely to hang up on your glove when the action heats up. The bolt handle, bolt release, and safety are now larger, making the gun more intuitive to use. The old Invector choke tubes are gone, with the Element II sporting the much longer Crio Plus tubes, yielding great shot patterns.

The Element II is “one size fits most,” thanks to updated dimensions, including a slightly higher comb and shorter length of pull. We’d prefer a more easily modified buttpad for custom modifications, but the recoil is quite manageable for a 6.9 pound 12-gauge. The Element II is offered in 12- and 20-gauges with 28-inch barrels and is also available in multiple synthetic stock options.

Retailing for $799 and backed by Weatherby’s five-year warranty, the Element II is a hard value to beat in the crowded autoloader category.

Browning Citori CXS

The Citori CXS is built on the venerable action that made Browning over-and-unders famous for durability. A favorite amongst high volume clay sport shooters, the Citori action gets a modern update with the versatile CXS.

Browning bills this gun as a crossover clays and hunting tool, and we are believers. The CXS swings smoothly on both the skeet field and wild roosters. We like the adjustable positions of the inertia trigger and the flatter point of impact.

With features like a vented mid-rib, included Invector Plus extended chokes, and a comfy Inflex II recoil pad, the CXS has premium features for a reasonable price.

The Citori CXS is available in 28-, 30-, and 32-inch barrel lengths in both 12- and 20-gauges. It is occasionally produced in a short stocked ‘CXS Micro’ iteration for smaller shooters. At seven pounds, the 20-gauge is heavier than some, but it's still a comfortable weight for long days of hunting.

The Citori CXS retails for $2,600. It's unlikely you will need the three-year warranty, as this versatile double is built to handle several lifetimes of shooting.

Franchi Affinity 3

The Affinity has been a fan favorite since its introduction in 2022. This year, Franchi reworked the popular autoloader. Built on the same torture-tested inertia action, the new Affinity 3 has a slimmer stock for improved handling. We like the broader checkering pattern and glove-friendly trigger guard, and the two-piece shell latch makes reloading faster and more intuitive in the heat of the moment.

The updated ‘TSA’ recoil pad is comfortable, even with hotter loads, and it has a built-in removable shim that shortens the length of pull for smaller shotgunners. The gun comes with sling attachments, making it easy to transition from a duck blind to the uplands.

The updated version is currently available in 26- and 28-inch 12-gauges configurations, with multiple stock patterns to choose from. Keep an eye out for more offerings soon. With models retailing for $1,050, the new Affinity 3 is one of the best ways to get legendary Italian quality for an attractive price.

Mossberg SA-28 28-Gauge

If you measure a shotgun in fun per ounces, the svelte Mossberg SA-28 punches well above its weight. A 28-gauge will offer significantly less recoil than larger gauges—which is great for newer shooters, or those that just prefer more comfort. Combine that with the SA-28’s recoil dampening gas operation, and you can literally shoot this gun all day with a smile on your face.

Gas operated autoloaders require a little more cleaning, but the reliable action of the SA-28 (and its big sister the SA-20) has proven itself over years in the field. While the trigger is a bit heavy, we love everything else about this gun, from the simple brass bead to the easily modified butt pad. It’s worth noting that the SA-28 is chambered for 2.75” loads, not the newer 3” 28-gauge offerings.

The comfortable stock dimensions fit most shooters, and Mossberg even offers a ‘Bantam’ short stock version for smaller framed hunters. Weighing in at just over 6 pounds and sporting a price tag around $800, the SA-28 is a great value. Buy one for a new bird hunter, and you won’t feel guilty about picking up another for yourself.

Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon

The venerable Silver Pigeon can be found in the hands of bird hunters everywhere, from Southwest quail covers to the New England grouse woods. That’s because this Italian-built gun has a great track record for durability and versatility.

We like the comfortable pistol grip, and although the schnabel forend is a bit susceptible to damage, it provides intuitive hand positioning. The stand-out feature of the Silver Pigeon is its slender action. The lug style lends a sleek European profile while providing good longevity. The gun's reliable Optima chokes pattern well, right out of the box.

The Silver Pigeon is offered in 26-, 28-, and 30-inch barrels in both 12- and 20-gauge. In addition, this gun is made in .410 bore and 28-gauge. The Vittoria rendition offers a shorter length of pull and higher comb, while the sporting model has modified dimensions and a heftier stock.

With so many options, it’s likely that you can find a Silver Pigeon that fits your needs. The 20-gauge weighs in at about 6 pounds 4 ounces and retails for $2,500. That might seem steep for a starter shotgun but consider that your ammunition costs will probably exceed the gun’s price within a few years.

Try Before You Buy

Whatever gun interests you, try to get your hands on one before committing. Look into “demo” days at your local shooting range or sporting goods store. Even if you can’t try before you buy, take your time looking over options on the rack.

If a gun feels heavy in the store, it certainly will feel uncomfortable after a long day of bird hunting. If a gun feels whippy and hard to point in the store, it will definitely be hard to swing it smoothly in the middle of an exciting flush. Most importantly, pay close attention to how the gun fits.

Gun fitting is a detailed science, but when you compare off-the-rack options, simply pull the gun up to your shoulder. Look for a butt that is centered in your shoulder pocket and a comb that comes to your cheek without tipping your head. You should also be able to see the bead and only a bit of the rib without raising your head.

If a gun fits well, you will likely shoot it well. Consider our favorite starter shotguns but keep your options open. A little research before buying your new shotgun will pay off where it matters most: In the field.