We’ve dug deep to bring you the top 10 law enforcement shotguns we have reviewed. 

Remington 870 Express Tactical Magpul

The Remington 870 Express Tactical Magpul is an excellent blend of a well-proven platform and Magpul’s newest furniture, providing for a highly practical and very flexible shotgun setup. And flexibility is exactly what is needed when a long gun is being used by a variety of officers. “Magpul’s new polymer-based shotgun furniture is innovative and solid-feeling, as one would expect,” author D.K. Pridgen writes. In keeping with its “ambidextrous, user-configurable” description, the SGA stock is chock full of features. Improved recoil control, a stock easily adjustable to fit a variety of body sizes, and the Remington 870’s proven ease of operation and durability—what’s not to like?

FNH P-12

FN’s SLP 12 gauge has really taken the semi-auto market by storm, and many of its features carry over to the P-12, such as the Picatinny rail on top, blade rear and dovetailed fiber-optic front sight. “As a died-in-the-wool ghost ring guy, it took me a while to warm up to the sighting system of the SLP and P-12. But, once I did, it became quite clear that I would not be going back,” author Dave Bahde states. “This setup is fast, simple and about as versatile as you can get.” The P-12 features an 18-inch barrel that is Belgian-made and chrome-lined and a stainless steel Improved Cylinder choke installed. With its excellent fit and finish, the P-12 rivals any pump action on the market. If you are looking for a complement to your SLP semi-auto, this just may be the perfect pump shotgun.

Beretta TX4 Storm

Beretta’s name is synonymous with solid firearms, particularly shotguns. The Tx4 Shotgun is advertised as “the perfect solution for home/self-defense and law enforcement agencies,” and there is nothing present on the Tx4 that precludes it from serving in either classification well. “The Tx4’s light weight and balance made its handling quick and responsive,” author D.K. Pridgen notes. “pluses in a duty shotgun that may be called on to do a building search, handle an armed confrontation, or punch its way through a barrier with slugs.” With its size, weight, and recoil control, the reliable and controllable Beretta’s Storm Tx4 Semiautomatic Shotgun should make an excellent LE weapon.

Wilson Combat Border Patrol

Although the Border Patrol starts with a new Remington 870 receiver, the internal components are replaced with Wilson Combat parts and its action is slicked up for smoother operation. On the range, the Border Patrol performed flawlessly, devouring both 00 buck and slug ammunition with ease. “Even with slugs, the Border Patrol’s recoil was noticeably light,” observed author Richard Nance. “This shotgun was flat-out fun to shoot.” Utilizing an adjustable Track-Lock Ghost Ring rear sight and a front ramp-type sight containing a tritium insert, the Border Patrol makes for fast target acquisition and solid accuracy. The advantage such a shotgun affords the officer on the street is immeasurable.

Mossberg 590A1

Today’s tactical shotgun can be as cutting edge as the most advanced tactical carbine, and a perfect example of this is the 12 gauge, 3-inch-chambered 590A1 Special Purpose Series from Mossberg. Developed exclusively for law enforcement and military agencies (and only recently offered for sale on the civilian market), the pump-action 590A1 is the culmination of decades of development, enhancement and refinement of this classic Mossberg shotgun. “Recoil was very manageable, and follow-up shots were quick and easy,” author Mike Humphries wrote. “I found the SureFire forend to be comfortable to handle and easy to operate.” With its reasonable price, tough features and ability to accept numerous enhancements, the 590A1 may be an excellent example of the future of the tactical shotgun.

Kel-Tec KSG

The KSG is a bullpup design, giving it an ultra-short length of 26.1 inches and Kel-Tec’s trademark use of polymers to help keep the overall weight down to a minimum. But capacity is the where the KSG radically steps away from most of its competitors, as each of its tubular magazines have an onboard capacity of seven rounds, for a total of 14+1 for the shotgun. “Patterning results at 15 yards were quite good, particularly considering the cylinder choke, with it showing a preference for the Hornady Superformance buckshot,” author Mike Humphries notes. “Recoil was manageable, and the short overall length made the KSG extremely handy.” Combining entry-gun short length, light weight, massive capacity and the ability to switch between loadings with ease, the KSG is rewriting the playbook on what makes a cutting-edge tactical shotgun.

Savage Stevens 320

With a set of hefty action bars, exceptional ghost-ring sights and a pistol-gripped stock, the Stevens 320 Pump Security 12 gauge has everything essential to hit the street. “The shotgun held patterns that were tight enough to hold on a human chest cavity out to 25 yards without a single flier,” author Dave Spaulding observed. “At 15 yards, both ammo styles shot patterns that could be covered with a man-sized hand.” The gun’s adjustable ghost-ring sights are excellent, and its green fiber-optic sight would be an asset in the pandemonium of combat. Considering the price point of the Stevens 320 and comparing it to the budget problems facing many law enforcement agencies nationwide, the 320 may appeal to many officers and agencies looking to swap out or purchase a solid, reliable pump-action shotgun.

CZ 612 HCP

Chambered for 2¾- or 3-inch shells, the HC-P is built on a forged aluminum receiver, making it plenty strong yet very lightweight. The 20-inch barrel is topped off with a protected green fiber-optic front sight, and threaded for CZ chokes, it comes with one cylinder bore choke installed. It balances well, points quickly and ran without a hitch. “Federal’s LE132 #1 buckshot shot so tightly that I checked to see if a slug had been loaded inadvertently. All 15 pellets fell inside 1.2 inches,” wrote author Dave Bahde. “Shooting slugs is as much about the shooter as the gun, but this shotgun was as accurate as any using combat-oriented sights.” If you need a shotgun that works with a price tag that won’t break the bank, be sure to take a close look at the CZ 612 HC-P.

Beretta LTLX7000 Less Lethal

The LTLX7000 is a 12-gauge shotgun with a collapsible stock that fires a specially designed rubber projectile out of a rifled barrel. Its special barrel is permanently mated with a red-dot scope and a system of gears that opens and closes ports in the barrel to vent precisely varying levels of gas when the round is fired and allow the operator to automatically compensate for the distance to the target. This is an extremely versatile system that is unique in its ability to deliver equal amounts of on-target, less-lethal force at a wide range of distances. Beretta has managed to successfully deliver a solution that allows for an easy transition with minimal training, low possibility of user error, precision and versatility with a single round.

Elite Tactical Advantage 12 GA.

Remington 870 Police Magnum shotguns are known for their rugged reliability. This tricked-out 870 was no featherweight, but it was incredibly solid. This meant that recoil was minimal, even with the harsher loads. When the tactical or low recoil loads were used, it was downright pleasant to shoot. “Patterning was excellent, something you expect these days with quality ammunition,” author Dave Bahde wrote. “The tightest pattern for the test was accomplished using the Hornady TAP Light Magnum loads… Given the weight of the gun, the recoil was minimal.” With the appropriate accessories, this shotgun is just about perfect for patrol or entry work.

MANUFACTURER INFO:

berettausa.com, 800-929-2901
cz-usa.com or call 800-955-4486
elitetacticaladvantage.com, 888-317-8523.
fnhusa.com, 703-288-3500
keltecweapons.com, 321-631-0068
mossberg.com, 203-230-5300
remington.com,800-243-9700
savagearms.com, 413-642-4260
wilsoncombat.com, 800-955-4856