Hunting for dove is a lot like hunting quail, grouse, or other upland game birds. They’re small, they move fast, and when they take to the air, you shoot them down with your boom-stick.
Common sense would seem to dictate that the size of your gun should correspond to the size of your prey. In general, you’d be correct. However, when you’re shooting birds on the wing, a bigger gun’s wider spread will be significantly more accurate.
As a result, most of our candidates for best shotgun for dove hunting are 12 gauge guns. That said, we appreciate that not everyone is comfortable with the recoil on a big bore shotgun, so we’ve included a few smaller dove hunting shotgun choices as well.
Beyond bore sizes, we also looked at a variety of muzzle lengths and action types, to give you a better idea of what’s out there.
Ready? Let’s begin!
Best Dove Hunting Guns
The Browning BPS features a bottom shell ejector, which makes it a good fit for southpaws.
Key Features
- 12 gauge bore
- Pump action
- 26-inch barrel
- 3 1/2-inch chamber
- 4-round tube magazine
- 14.25″ length of pull
- Weighs 8 pounds
- Woodland camo finish
- Fully ambidextrous
The Browning BPS is a pump action shotgun with a 12-gauge bore. It combines the classic feel of a wood stock with a woodland camo finish, with a bottom shell ejector. This is a lifesaver if you’re left-handed, since it lowers the risk of hot brass launching straight from the ejector port to your skin.
This is primarily a waterfowl hunting shotgun but will work for dove hunting too. Featuring a large composite trigger, this shotgun is easy to handle while wearing gloves. There are also 3 flush choke tubes to choose from – full, modified and improved cylinder making this the perfect dove hunting gun.
Pros
- Quality construction and hardware
- Great for left-handed shooters
- 3 choke options
Cons
- No iron sights
This shotgun is ideal for hunters who want to use one shotgun for both ducks and dove.
2. Weatherby PA-08
The Weatherby PA-08 is long, accurate, and lightweight.
Key Features
- 12 gauge bore
- Pump action
- 28-inch barrel
- 3-inch chamber
- 4-round tube magazine
- Weighs 7.25 pounds
- Black synthetic stock
The Weatherby PA-08 is a 12 gauge, pump action shotgun with a long, 28-inch barrel. This extended barrel makes the Weatherby more accurate than most shorter-barreled shotguns, and can be bought for a more reasonable price. It’s fairly lightweight considering the length, weighing in at only 7 pounds, 4 ounces. That said, it achieves this by using a hollow stock, which feels flimsy and doesn’t do much to absorb felt recoil.
This shotgun does not have any factory-built iron sight. You’ll need to install your own rear sight to get any serious accuracy out of it. We highly recommend doing this, since accuracy is the main reason to buy the PA-08 in the first place.
This is a cheap, hard-working gun. Throw a rear sight on her and you’re good to go, and still at a lower price than most of the competition.
Pros
- Long and accurate
- Lightweight for the size
- Inexpensive
Cons
- No iron sights
- Very powerful recoil
This is a good entry-level 12 gauge for beginning dove hunters.
3. Savage Arms 320 Field Pump Shotgun
The Savage Arms 320 Field Pump Shotgun accepts large, 3 ½-inch shells for maximum power.
Key Features
- 12 gauge bore
- Pump action
- 28-inch barrel
- 3 ½-inch chamber
- 5-round tube magazine
- Weighs 6.95 pounds
- Black synthetic stock
The Savage Arms 320 Field Pump Shotgun is a 12 gauge shotgun with a pump action on an extended, 28-inch barrel. This gun features a 5-round tube magazine, and a chamber that accepts large, 3 ½-inch shells. That lets you sling the maximum amount of lead with each pull of the trigger. It has a front bead but no rear sight, so you’ll need to install one.
This gun Is both cheap and accurate, which are two words you don’t often see in the same sentence. Although it’s fairly long, it’s relatively light, just under 7 pounds. This is due to the hollow polymer stock, so prepare to feel some mule-like kick. Removing the butt pad and stuffing the stock full of old socks is one way to help alleviate this.
Pros
- Accepts 3 ½-inch shells
- Long and accurate
- Lightweight for the size
- Inexpensive
Cons
- No rear sight
- Poor recoil absorption
This is an accurate bird gun for beginners or the budget-conscious.
4. Remington 870 Classic Trap
The Remington 870 Classic Trap has the longest barrel of any credible shotgun we looked at.
Key Features
- 12 gauge bore
- Pump action
- 30-inch barrel
- 3-inch chamber
- 4-round tube magazine
- Weighs 8.25 pounds
- Classic walnut stock and furniture
- Includes 3 choke tubes
The Remington 870 Classic Trap is a specialized, 30-inch variant of the 870, one of the world’s most iconic shotguns. It features a 4-round magazine, and a smooth double-rail pump action with a walnut grip.
The name of the game here is accuracy. You’re shooting at flying targets, after all. So what’s more accurate than a 28-inch shotgun? A 30-inch shotgun. If the accuracy isn’t enough to get you excited, Remington sweetens the pot with three Trap Rem choke tubes: the Singles, the Mid Handicap, and the Long Handicap. Try them out with a few clay pigeons to see which one works best for you.
This shotgun has a heavy oak stock, with crosshatching on the butt pad. This keeps it from getting too front heavy, and also provides more recoil reduction than you get from a polymer stock. Of course, you’re going to pay a premium for a gun this nice, but this is the kind of bird gun that stays with the family for generations.
Pros
- Classic, rock-solid design
- Exceptionally accurate
- Customizable
- Good recoil reduction
Cons
- Pricey
This 30-inch version of Remington’s classic 870 is perfect for shooting airborne targets.
5. Mossberg 88 Security
The Mossberg 88 Security is designed for shorter range use, but is long and accurate enough to work as a bird gun for shorter people.
Key Features
- 12 gauge bore
- Pump action
- 20-inch barrel
- 3-inch chamber
- 8-round tube magazine
- Weighs 7 pounds
The Mossberg 88 Security has a relatively short barrel for a dove hunting gun, and we almost didn’t include it. But not everybody is big enough for a long-barreled gun. And just because you’re short doesn’t mean you can’t fire a 3-inch, 12 gauge shell with the best of them.
This shotgun stacks a 8-round tube magazine under the 20-inch barrel. Needless to say, you won’t have to worry about having enough ammo for follow-up shots. Better yet, you can avoid the need for follow-up shots by installing a tight choke, which we strongly recommend you do on any short-barreled bird gun.
This is inexpensive gun with a hollow, polymer stock, so you’ll feel a significant amount of recoil. That said, this is a Mossberg, and those guns last for years. All the hardware is high quality, the action cycles smoothly, and shells load effortlessly.
Pros
- Compact and portable
- Durable design
- Large magazine capacity
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Relatively short barrel
- Poor recoil reduction
- No rear sight
This is a tough, compact shotgun with plenty of follow-up potential.
6. Mossberg 590A1 Retrograde
The Mossberg 590A1 Retrograde packs an impressive ammo tube onto a 20-inch barrel.
Key Features
- 12 gauge bore
- Pump action
- 20-inch barrel
- 3-inch chamber
- 8-round tube magazine
- Weighs 7.25 pounds
- Walnut stock and furniture
- Pre-installed ghost ring sight
The Mossberg 590A1 Retrograde is another good choice if you want a smaller gun but don’t want to downsize from a 12 gauge bore. It’s only 20 inches long, with a pump action, 8-round magazine that cycles smoothly and cleanly.
This shotgun features a solid walnut stock and fore grip. The butt pad is a 1-inch thick rubber cushion that makes the 590A1 kick less roughly than a lot of guns in this bore. It also comes with a pre-installed ghost ring sight, so you’re all set up to go shooting.
As with other shorter shotguns, this one isn’t quite as accurate as longer barreled models. To get the best performance, we recommend installing a narrow choke to keep your spread as tight and centered as possibles.
Pros
- Compact and portable
- Durable design
- Large magazine capacity
- Good recoil absorption
Cons
- Relatively short barrel
- Pricey
This shotgun is a good choice for smaller framed people who don’t mind spending a few bucks on a premium gun.
7. Mossberg 500 Bantam Cruiser
The Mossberg 500 Bantam Cruiser is designed with an extra short pull for kids and small adults.
Key Features
- 20 gauge bore
- Pump action
- 22-inch barrel
- 3-inch chamber
- 6-round tube magazine
- Weighs 5.3 pounds
- Polymer stock and fore grip
- Pre-installed ghost ring sight
- Shorter pull than the full-sized 500
The Mossberg 500 Bantam Cruiser is a scaled down version of the standard Mossberg 500. It’s chambered in 20 gauge instead of 12 gauge, and the barrel is shortened from 28 inches to 22. This puts it on the short end for dove hunting, and the fixed cylinder bore means it’s impossible to throw a narrow choke on the end.
We really liked the short action on this shotgun. If you’re on the petite side – or of you shoot with a lady who can wear kids sizes – this is a great choice. It’s a Mossberg, so it has the smooth, reliable cycling that we’ve come to expect from this brand.
Pros
- Durable and smooth-cycling
- Can fire large, 3-inch shells
- Well sized for small individuals
Cons
- Short barrel
This is a powerful, long-lasting 20 gauge scattergun.
8. Winchester SXP Turkey Hunter
The Winchester SXP Turkey Hunter is built as a turkey gun, but brings down upland game birds just as easily.
Key Features
- 20 gauge bore
- Pump action
- 24-inch barrel
- 3-inch chamber
- 4-round tube magazine
- Weighs 6.25 pounds
- Polymer stock and fore grip with Mossy Oak Break-Up camo
- Adjustable fiber-optic rifle sights
- Drilled and tapped for optics
The Winchester SXP Turkey Hunter is designed as a turkey-shooting gun, so it’s more accurate than you need in a dove gun. If you’re shooting a 20 gauge, that’s a good thing. Not only does this gun have a 24-inch barrel, but it comes with adjustable fiber-optic rifle sights pre-installed.
This shotgun is chambered for large, 3-inch shells, which are the longest available in a 20 gauge. The only thing we didn’t like was, ironically for a Winchester, the weight. It’s made to be lightweight for young people to carry, but the end result is a harsher kick than you get on a bulkier gun.
Pros
- Durable design and smooth-cycling
- Can fire large, 3-inch shells
- Long and accurate
Cons
- Poor recoil absorption
The Turkey Hunter’s exceptional accuracy will have you dropping doves from the sky as fast as you can point and pull the trigger.
9. Mossberg 505 Youth All-Purpose Field
The Mossberg 505 Youth All-Purpose Field is a .410 bore shotgun that’s great for getting your kids out in the field for the first time.
Key Features
- .410 bore
- Pump action
- 20-inch barrel
- 3-inch chamber
- 6-round tube magazine
- Weighs 5.75 pounds
- Faux wood polymer stock and fore grip
We’ll start by stating the obvious: strictly speaking, the Mossberg 505 Youth All-Purpose Field isn’t a dove gun. The .410 bore has a significantly smaller spread than the 12 gauge, and is hard to hit a moving target with.
That said, this bore offers the lowest recoil of any shotgun, and the Mossberg 505 further reduces that with a generous rubber butt pad. The pump action is easy to cycle, with durable parts that can stand up to drops and bumps without any trouble.
Pros
- Good recoil resistance
- Durable and smooth-cycling
- Sized for small shooters
Cons
- Small spread for dove hunting
This is the smallest shotgun we can imagine hunting dove with.
10. Panzer Arms AR-12
The Panzer Arms AR-12 is an AR-style repeating shotgun with an ergonomic pistol grip.
Key Features
- 12 gauge bore
- Semi-automatic
- 20-inch barrel
- 3-inch chamber
- 5-round removable magazine
- Weighs 6.5 pounds
- Polymer stock, pistol grip, and fore grip
- Pre-installed flip-up iron sights
- Full length Weaver top rail with M-LOK attachment points on the sides and bottom
The Panzer Arms AR-12 is technically a tactical shotgun, but some hunters love a semi-automatic because it allows for instantaneous follow-up shots. A semi-automatic also uses some of the heated gas to cycle the chamber, slightly reducing recoil. This gun has a 12 gauge bore, and accepts up to five 3-inch shells in a removable magazine.
This shotgun’s pistol grip makes it easy to get on target, and the pre-installed iron sights help you stay there. The top features a full-length Weaver rail. The sides and bottom of the handguard have full-length M-LOK attachment points for adding even more accessories.
While the AR-12 is inexpensive for a semi-automatic, it does have a couple of issues. The first is the short, 20-inch barrel, which will require a choke for proper hunting use. The second is the fact that the choke threading is proprietary, so you’ll need to get your choke from Panzer Arms.
Pros
- Great for follow-up shots
- Ergonomic, AR-style design
- Good recoil reduction
- Lots of room for attachments
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Very short barrel
- Requires a proprietary choke
This shotgun gives you plenty of opportunity for follow-up shots.
11. Remington Versa Max
The Remington Versa Max is a reliable gun that will last you for decades.
Key Features
- 12 gauge bore
- Semi-automatic
- 24-inch barrel
- 3 ½-inch chamber
- 8-round tube magazine
- Weighs 7.75 pounds
- Polymer stock and fore grip
- Picatinny top rail
The Remington Versa Max is a semi-automatic shotgun that looks more like a standard shotgun than anything fancy. It features a dense polymer stock and fore grip, with secure receiver mounting and an action that’s as reliable as Remington’s classic 870 pump. The dense stock also significantly cuts down on recoil, which we appreciated.
This shotgun is expensive, which makes it disappointing that you’ll need to provide your own rear sight. Then again, there’s a Picatinny top rail on the receiver for easy installation. The Versa Max accommodates a 3 ½-inch shell, so you can put a lot of lead down range in a hurry.
Pros
- Extremely reliable
- Good recoil absorption
- Accurate
- Allows for fast follow-up shots
Cons
- Expensive
- No rear sight
This is the Cadillac of semi-automatic hunting shotguns.
Bottom Line
At the end of the day, a lot of what makes a shotgun the “best” for any purpose comes down to who you are and how you’re using it. For example, if you’re 6 feet 4 inches tall and hunting in relatively open ground, a big, 30-inch shotgun is a good choice. If you’re 5 feet 4 inches and hunting in dense scrub, a 20 or 22-inch barrel is more appropriate.
The same goes for what kind of action you prefer. The vast majority of hunters use a pump action, based on economics alone. A semi-auto shotgun runs about twice the price of an equivalent scattergun in a pump action. That said, nothing beats a semi-automatic for fast follow-up shots.
We believe we presented a good set of candidates here, and at least one of these guns will be ideal for your next dove hunting trip. But even if you decide to go another direction, we hope our reviews helped you become a more educated consumer.
The Review
Best Shotgun For Dove Hunting
Check out the following ratings of the best shotguns for dove hunting before making your choice!
Review Breakdown
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Browning BPS
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Weatherby PA-08 Synthetic
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Savage Arms 320
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Remington 870 Classic Trap
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Mossberg 88 Security
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Mossberg 590A1 Retrograde
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Mossberg 500 Bantam Cruiser
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Winchester SXP
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Mossberg 505
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Panzer Arms AR-12
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Remington Versa Max
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