January 29, 2015
By FAN Online Editors
After the gun-buying surge in the past couple of years, gun makers are finally able to catch up by devoting more resources to research and development instead of simply meeting demand. The result has been some great and innovative new firearm introductions at the 2015 SHOT Show , and shotgun manufactures aren't excluded from this.
Competition-inspired and dedicated left-handed shotguns seem to be trending with gun makers, and the over/under also seems to be making a resurgence, but there are many other excellent new shotguns slated for production this year.
Below are several of our favorites for 2015:
Benelli 828U Benelli made a splash last year with its
Ethos autoloader, and this year the company has done it again with its first-ever over/under: the
828U . In typical Benelli-fashion, the company didn't just bring out a new over/under, it re-imagined the over/under concept and introduced several innovations. A new, patented locking mechanism with a free-floating locking plate was added, a shim system was introduced to adjust the stock's cast and drop, and a redesigned lever was included to re-cock the hammers and prevent failures. Other features include impulse-driven ejectors, the
Progressive Comfort System and a removable trigger group. 26- and 28-inch barreled versions are available with two receiver options: anodized black and nickel-plated.
Price: gallery= 171,499 for the black anodized version; gallery= 171,999 for the nickel-plated option
Beretta A400 Left-Handed Beretta is another company that's offering a dedicated left-handed shotgun option. For 2015, the Italian gun manufacturer introduced its very first left-handed shotgun: a left-hand version of its widely popular
A400 Action auto-loading shotgun. With the exception of the ejection port on the left side of the receiver, the A400 Left-Handed shotgun contains all of the same features as the original A400 and will be available initially in a 12-gauge version with a 3-inch chamber. The
Kick-Off recoil reduction system is available as an add-on option.
Price: [imo-slideshow gallery= 171],500
CZ 812 Waterfowl The
812 Waterfowl is an innovative product from
CZ-USA in that it is the company's first gas-less semiauto shotgun. The field shotgun swaps previous CZ gas systems that tend to run a little dirtier for a cleaner short recoil-operated design. The shotgun wears a waterfowl camouflage, is equipped with a 28-inch vent-rib barrel and comes with a removable magazine tube plug and five extended black choke tubes.
Price: $699
Perazzi SXS DC12 SC3 For those who can afford them,
Perazzi offers a large line of premium sporting shotguns for the discerning sportsman. The company released several new models for 2015, including the new side-by-side
DC12 SC3 shotgun. Featuring an ornate stock and an elegant plated receiver, this new double barrel certainly reflects Perazzi's history of quality and attention to every detail.
Price: $23,800
Weatherby Orion I Long known for their rifles,
Weatherby has also made moves in the shotgun industry recently. One of the company's new additions for 2015 is the
Orion I , an over/under that mixes classic styling with performance. The Orion I combines a traditional box lock action with a forged low profile steel receiver and an elegant 'Grade A ' walnut stock. It has automatic ejectors and an ambidextrous top-mounted tang safety, and its barrels feature chrome-lined bores and a ventilated top rib with a brass bead front sight. The Orion I is available in 26- or 28-inch barrel versions and comes with improved cylinder, modified and full chokes.
Price: [imo-slideshow gallery= 171],099
Winchester SX3 Composite Sporting Carbon Fiber A number of shotgun manufacturers are now crafting guns specifically for competitive shooters, and the new
SX3 Composite Sporting Carbon Fiber shotgun from
Winchester can be added to that list. Featuring
Briley oversized controls for easier manipulation, this new shotgun is ready for competition. The barrel is also ported and features a ventilated rib with a
TRUGLO fiber optic front sight and a chrome-plated chamber and bore. The 12-gauge shotgun has a 2 ¾-inch chamber and is gas-operated with the Active Valve System. It is available with a 28-, 30- or 32-inch barrel and comes with five
Signature Invector-Plus chokes. A standard
SX3 Composite Sporting shotgun is also available for [imo-slideshow gallery= 171],679.99
Price: [imo-slideshow gallery= 171],739.99
Stoeger M3K 3-Gun New from
Stoeger for 2015 is its
M3K 3-Gun shotgun. Purpose-built for the competitive shooter, the M3K begins as Stoeger's standard
M3000 autoloader before receiving a series of competition upgrades. Oversized controls — safety, bolt handle and bolt release — are added to the platform for easier use during competition, and a much larger loading port is engineered that allows shooters to utilize tactical reloading methods such as quad loads, plus two and weak-hand techniques.
Price: $699
Mossberg L-Series 500 In recent years, shotgun manufacturers have been making a more concerted effort to produce shotguns tailored for southpaws, and at the
2015 SHOT Show ,
Mossberg introduced 15 new
left-handed versions of their 500, 590 and 590A1 shotguns. These new additions range from general field shotguns to tactical models and everything in between. This gives lefties a host of new shotgun options for a variety of purposes.
Price: $518-$942
Remington V3 The VersaPort gas system has been a popular design ever since
Remington introduced it on their
Versa Max shotgun, and the company's new
V3 shotgun expands on the concept with a modified VersaPort system. While the new system still regulates the amount of gas used to cycle the action based on the length of the shell fired, it also helps alter the balance of the gun, providing a smoother swing for shooters. The V3 also swaps a recoil spring in the butt stock for two recoil springs located within the receiver itself. Overall weight on the new V3 shotgun is 7 pounds.
Price: $895
More 2015 SHOT Show Coverage CLICK HERE for complete coverage of the 2015 SHOT Show.
