The Best New Turkey Shotguns From SHOT Show 2026

The Spring 2026 turkey season is almost upon us, and this year could be described as the year of the sub-gauges. While there haven’t necessarily been many brand-new designs for turkey shotguns, many companies have expanded popular, established shotguns with sub-gauge offerings, mostly 20s with a sprinkling of 28s and .410 bores.

Modern turkey shotshell manufacturers have embraced high-density shot such as bismuth and tungsten. Modern loads are proven to ethically take birds beyond 50 yards with sub-gauge shotshells. Federal Premium’s Heavyweight TSS is available in 20 and 28 gauge and .410 bore. Winchester Long Beard is another tungsten shotshell loaded for sub gauges. Remington, Hevi-Shot, and many more manufacturers all have high-density metal sub-gauge shotshells on the market.

Why note this? A hot-loaded 12-gauge turkey shotshell is well-known to be a shoulder-kicker. The same offering loaded in a sub-gauge has greatly reduced recoil, yet it still offers plenty of lethality at extended distances beyond 50 yards. A 20-, 28-gauge or .410 bore shotgun is always a good option to teach new or youth turkey hunters. Even experienced hunters get tired of sighting in magnum turkey loads. For 2026, maybe it’s time to consider a new sub-gauge shotgun and take advantage of the modern technology found in sub-gauge turkey loads. In no particular order, here are the latest and greatest offerings from SHOT Show 2026.

Mossberg International Series (New Gauges)

The Mossberg International Series has three new line extensions, which also include 28 gauge and .410 bore offerings. The International SA-28 – Turkey is a semiautomatic model now chambered in 28 gauge. This model has a 4+1 capacity, 22-inch barrel, included turkey chokes, and is finished in Mossy Oak Greenleaf camo, the same for each of the new turkey shotguns.

Now available in .410 bore, the International Silver Reserve Eventide – Turkey is possibly the perfect starter shotgun for youth hunters. The break-action over/under requires sure shot placement, as it’s slower to reload than a semi-auto. The compact 37-inch length is ideal for hunting in blinds, and the two barrels offer two choke options for close or far shots. With modern .410 turkey loads, you’re not limited in firepower.

The International SA410-Tactical Turkey is much like the standard semi-auto model, but it includes a tactical-style pistol grip. It, too, is now available in 20, 28 gauge and .410 bore. Many find the pistol grip superior in tight shooting conditions. Regardless of model, these Mossberg turkey guns are proven to be highly reliable

Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 A.I.

The Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 (Guns & Ammo 2022 Shotgun of the Year) is well-established as one of the most popular semiautomatic shotguns on the market today. New for 2026, Benelli has introduced an Advanced Impact (A.I.) edition with a Patriot Brown Cerakote finish and chambered for 20 gauge.

Advanced Impact stems from an extra-long forcing cone paired with an elongated Benelli choke designed for AI shotgun barrels. The technology offers increased energy on target while also reducing perceived recoil, an important factor when shooting heavy tungsten turkey shotshells.

Now available in 20 gauge, the SBE3 with an A.I. barrel offers great terminal ballistics on target at greater ranges and a much-lessened recoil perception. With an MSRP between $2,849 and $3,099, it’s an expensive turkey gun. However, it will also serve well in a multi-purpose field gun role, perfect for any bird hunt.

Browning A5 Camo 20 Gauge

This SHOT Show special has been long awaited by fans of the Browning A5 (Guns & Ammo 2024 Shotgun of the Year). The A5 lineup has been expanded with five new offering in 20 gauge. Models include three different camo options along with two walnut stock shotguns.

The A5 is a great general-purpose field shotgun. Many waterfowl hunters prefer the A5 platform, but turkey hunters will also be well-served with the A5’s reliability and shootability. The 20-gauge models blend light weight, smooth pointing and quick aiming on target with a milder recoil impulse.

The Browing A5 ships with three Invector-DS chokes, a fiber-optic front sight, and a nickel Teflon coating for durability. Browing A5 shotguns are iconic for the humpback design, which more naturally aligns the sighting rib with your eye. Impressively, the A5 has a 100,000 round or five-year warranty. With the tight groups produced by the A5, it’s a great turkey gun.

Stoeger M3000 Sporting

If affordability is a priority, the Stoeger M3000 Sporting is a reliable shotgun with an MSRP of only $849, making it the least expensive shotgun in this roundup. Chambered in 12 gauge, it is the one sub-gauge exception in this round up, but the cost was too good to pass up. Despite its price, this Turkish-manufactured field gun is feature-rich. Using an inertia-driven action, the M3000 is a reliable semiautomatic, and the Turkish walnut stock looks good with a nice, warm feel.

The oversized controls are welcome for faster loading and operation, even with thick gloves on. The receiver is also drilled and tapped for potential optic mounting. When loaded with 3-inch magnum turkey loads, the purpose of the porting in the barrel will become obvious. They take just a bit of bite out of the recoil, diverting gasses to the side instead of straight back. Affordable and reliable, the Stoeger M3000 Sporting is worth checking out the next time you walk down the shotgun rack.

Franchi Affinity 3

If you’ve not experienced shooting a Franchi yet, the Affinity 3 is an excellent example of Franchi quality. The Affinity 3 has several line extensions for 2026, and the 20 gauge models are strong contenders for your next turkey hunt.

The design is a do-it-all concept that Franchi engineers developed by looking at the five most common shooting positions used by hunters. They wanted a gun that is comfortable while being quick on target. Several shims are included to adjust length of pull and cast. Also, the Franchi TSA recoil pad claims to reduce perceived recoil by 50 percent. Another recoil-reducing feature of the Affinity 3 are the proprietary forcing cones.

The inertia-driven action is highly reliable, and the chrome-lined barrel is accurate. All-in-all, the Affinity 3 boasts all of the modern features expected in a field gun. You’ll be able to find these shotguns for less than $1,000, and they’re backed with a seven-year warranty and are available in multiple barrel lengths and camo patterns.

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