TL;DR
Get sports gear delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
Outdoor Life published a ranked selection of classic and modern shotguns suited to upland bird hunting, with picks spanning over-unders, side-by-sides and semi-automatics. The report emphasizes carry weight, balance and fit, while its recommendations reflect editorial judgment rather than a universal ranking.
Outdoor Life published a guide to its favorite shotguns for upland bird hunting, naming the Browning Citori 825 Field as its preferred modern over-under, the Upland Gun Company Zeus as its side-by-side pick and the Benelli Montefeltro as its favored semi-automatic. The report also highlights classic models, offering hunters a set of editorial recommendations rather than an objective ranking of every shotgun available.
The guide says a suitable bird gun should be light and well balanced, mount naturally to the shooter and swing smoothly on moving targets. Outdoor Life writer Natalie Krebs says she worked with longtime shotgun columnist Phil Bourjaily to assemble the selections, considering value as well as performance. The report also notes that a hunter can succeed with a familiar, affordable gun, including a worn Remington 870 Express; its choices are favorites, not a claim that other firearms cannot serve the purpose.
Outdoor Life lists the 20-gauge Browning Citori 825 Field as its best modern over-under. The model described weighs 6 pounds, 6 ounces, has 28-inch barrels and was priced at $3,389 in the report. The 20-gauge Benelli Montefeltro, selected as best semi-auto, weighs about 6.1 pounds with a 28-inch barrel and was listed at $1,699. The guide says the model was introduced in 1983 and updated in 2023.
For a modern side-by-side, the report selects the Upland Gun Company Zeus, a 20-gauge boxlock built to a customer’s specifications. It weighs 6 pounds, 2 ounces in the configuration described, with a starting price of $3,499; barrel length, chokes and stock dimensions can be selected. Other modern options named include the Beretta Ultra Leggero, Ruger Red Label III, Dickinson Plantation and Beretta A400 Upland. The classic list includes the Browning Superposed, Ruger Gold Label and Browning Auto 5 Sweet 16.
How Fit Shapes a Bird-Gun Choice
The recommendations matter to hunters weighing carry comfort, handling and cost before buying a firearm they may carry over long days in the field. A lighter gun can reduce the burden of walking, while fit and balance affect how naturally it mounts and follows a bird. Outdoor Life’s range of action types also shows that the guide does not treat one design as right for everyone.
The price and configuration details give readers a practical starting point, but they do not establish that the named models will suit every shooter. The Zeus offers customer-selected dimensions, while the production models come in specified configurations. A hunter’s body, experience, preferred gauge and intended quarry all affect whether a gun feels suitable. The article’s recommendations are best read as a shortlist to handle and test, not a substitute for checking fit and local hunting requirements.
Browning Citori 825 Field 20 gauge over under shotgun
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
From Classic Doubles to Modern Actions
The guide groups its picks into modern upland guns and classic models, covering over-under, side-by-side and semi-automatic actions. That mix reflects a longstanding divide in bird hunting between traditional double-barrel shotguns and repeating designs. The Citori line itself connects those categories: Outdoor Life says it was introduced in the early 1970s as a more affordable Japanese-made alternative to the Belgian Browning Superposed.
The Montefeltro represents a different approach. Outdoor Life describes its inertia-operated mechanism as allowing a slimmer fore-end because it does not require a gas system there. The report also says the model received updates in 2023 to its bolt locking, shell latch and ergonomics. These details help explain why the guide includes both heritage models and newer versions rather than limiting its choices to one era.
“A good bird hunting gun should be pleasant to carry (meaning it’s light and well balanced), it should mount naturally, and it should swing through targets with ease.”
— Outdoor Life
Benelli Montefeltro 20 gauge semi automatic shotgun
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
No Universal Ranking or Test Score
The source material presents editorial preferences, not controlled comparative test results. It does not provide a scoring system, test protocol covering all the listed models, or evidence that the selections are objectively the best for every hunter. Prices and specifications are those reported in the article and may vary by seller, configuration or date. The available material also gives fuller descriptions of the three modern category winners than of every other model on the lists.
Readers should check current manufacturer and retailer information for availability, dimensions and pricing. The guide does not establish which shotgun will fit an individual shooter, nor does it compare all gauges, barrel lengths or configurations across the full market.
shotgun case for 28 inch barrel hunting shotgun
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Compare Fit Before Buying
The report offers hunters a starting shortlist, but the next step is to handle candidate shotguns and assess fit with help from a qualified instructor or experienced gunsmith. Buyers can compare the listed models by action type, weight, gauge, price and available stock dimensions, then verify current specifications and local rules before purchase.
Outdoor Life’s selection is a published guide, not an announced product launch or a schedule of future testing. The source material does not specify when the outlet will revisit the list, so any later changes to its recommendations remain unknown.
upland bird hunting shooting vest with shell pockets
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Key Questions
Which shotgun did Outdoor Life choose as its best modern over-under?
It selected the 20-gauge Browning Citori 825 Field. The configuration described has 28-inch barrels, weighs 6 pounds, 6 ounces and was listed at $3,389.
What was the guide’s preferred semi-automatic?
Outdoor Life named the Benelli Montefeltro its best semi-auto for upland hunting. Its listed 20-gauge version with a 28-inch barrel weighs about 6.1 pounds; the report gave a price of $1,699.
Is the Upland Gun Company Zeus custom fitted?
The guide says customers can specify stock dimensions, chokes, barrel length and wood. It describes the 20-gauge Zeus as starting at $3,499, with optional upgrades available.
Does Outdoor Life claim these are the only shotguns suitable for bird hunting?
No. The report says a hunter can shoot birds with a gun they are willing to carry and can shoot well. Its list reflects editorial favorites, not an exclusive set of suitable models.
Source: rss
NFL season / tailgating Picks
team gear
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
