5 of the Coolest Modern Shotguns You Can Buy

Image Above Photo Source: The Truth About Guns

Move over granpappy - this ain’t about yer over/under scattergun. While shotguns might seem like a technology not much can be done with to most of us, nothing could be further from the truth. Many companies are pushing the envelope to create a modern tactical and home defense shotgun that looks like it probably should be in the latest Terminator movie. These might not be as well known but here are five modern shotguns you can blow your money on this holiday season.

KelTec

KelTec is pretty well known for having a unique look at everything and the KSG is ZERO exception. Originally formed in 1991 by George Kellgren in Florida, Kellgren is a Swedish designer with a long history working with Swedish firearms companies, who, unlike Ikea, developed some pretty unique firearms. KelTec originally was a manufacturer that produced parts for other companies.

KelTec KSG 12

If you want to get your John Wick on, get this shotgun. From the company that brought you folding guns and all sorts of other cool and weird stuff comes the Keltec KSG 12. The KSG is a unique gun. I remember the first time my Australian buddy who had just become a citizen, handed me one. He was super stoked on his latest purchase of the KelTec KSG 12, and I was skeptical. About two minutes later this writer was giggling like a school boy. What fun! Also, what pain! (This thing kicks like a mule.)

The KelTec KSG 12 is truly more like an engineering work of art than a shotgun. Completely ambidextrous and featuring two magazine tubes that may be switched between using a selector switch, the KSG 12 is a pump-action shotgun that ejects spent shells downward from the rear. The bullpup design of the KelTec KSG 12 allows the weapon to remain compact and the twin tube magazine design allows the Keltec KSG Capacity to log in at a 15 shell capacity. All of this comes in at an MSRP of about $900.

Photo Source: Ash Tactical

Israeli Weapons Industry

In 1933 the Israeli Military Industry (IMI) began producing firearms in Israel. From this would come the legendary Uzi Submachine gun, the Galil and assorted other small arms. Fast forward to 2005 when the Israeli government decided to privatize the small arms division of IMI and call it Israeli Weapons Industry or IWI. Today IWI are known for the Uzi, Galil ACE, Tavor Bullpup, the Jericho handgun and others - but most don’t know about their shotgun offering, the TS12.

IWI Tavor TS12

Photo Source: Armed Forces Int 

The IWI Tavor TS12 is one of the most unique shotguns many will ever see. The Tavor 12 gauge shotgun is a futuristic scattergun that is a gas-operated, semi-auto bullpup design - but that’s not where the uniqueness ends. The IWI Tavor TS12 bullpup semi-auto shotgun utilizes a unique rotary magazine consisting of three tubes. Each magazine tube can hold 4 3-inch shells or 5 2/34 inch shells.

Once one tube is emptied, simply rotate the magazine and the next tube clicks into place. The ability to hold either 12 or 15 rounds is a huge advantage in the world of modern tactical shotguns. If you are looking for a futuristic looking shotgun, don’t skip the IWI Bullpup Shotgun - the Tavor TS12.

Fostech

Fostech is a veteran and family owned company based out of Indiana that manufactures AR-15 rifles and pistols, but are primarily known for their Echo family of binary triggers. From these folks in Indiana comes another unique shotgun - the Fostech Origin 12.

Fostech Origin 12

Photo Source: All Outdoor

The Origin 12 is a gas-operated, magazine-fed, AK-style shotgun that was designed from the ground up to be a modular combat shotgun. The Fostech Origin 12 features a long-stroke gas system which will work with lower power shells as well. Changing barrels is easy and it features Picatinny rails for mounting lights and optics. Billed as the “World’s fastest shotgun” it will chew through the 5-8 round box magazines in a hurry, so be sure to snag a Fostech Origin 30 round drum mag to keep up with the shotgun.

FabArm

Fabarm was started in the early 1900s in Italy. World renowned for making some of the best over/under and side-by-side shotguns in the world, they have branched out to embrace their tactical side these days as well as hunting rifles etc. The Fabarm STF 12 is a unique offering we thought worthy of this list.

Fabarm STF 12

Photo Source: Guns Week 

The Fabarm STF 12 is a completely modular pump-action shotgun. When we say modular we mean it. 5 different barrel lengths are available, 4 separate stock options, chokes, muzzle brakes etc. The STF 12 is milled from a single block of aluminum and is hard anodized. It doesn’t get more sturdy than that in the shotgun world. Fabarm thought of everything with the STF 12, including twin action bars on either side of the magazine tube and two hard coat-anodized aluminum inserts that are inside and at the front of the forearm ensuring a glass-like slide operation. If a modular pump-action is on the list, the Fabarm STF 12 is worth a solid look.

Rock Island Armory

Rock Island Armory are known for inexpensive options and the VR80 shotgun is no exception. The Rock Island VR80 shotgun is starting to pop up more and more in 3-gun tournaments across the nation. Let’s look at some of the features of the Rock Island Armory VR80 shotgun.

Rock Island Armory VR80 Shotgun

Photo Source: Ballistic Mag
The Rock Island Armory VR80 Shotgun is a magazine-fed, semi-automatic shotgun with ergonomics and controls that will be familiar to AR-platform shooters. The VR80 shotgun has a very affordable MSRP of $699, and features a 5 + 1 (9 round magazines, drum mags and long extended banana mags available separately) magazine box capacity, flip up sights, 3 different choke options, two different gas pistons and is chambered in 12 gauge. A gas-powered blowback system, the VR80 shotgun, as stated above has controls that are darn near identical (outside of side charging) to an AR-15. For shooters looking for a really cool shotgun on a budget, the Rock Island Armory VR80 shotgun is certainly worth a look!

Now is the Perfect Time to Trick Out a Modern Shotgun!

We hope this little look into some of the newest modern shotguns was a fun one for you. It sure was for us! It’s always great to see companies pushing the limits and thinking outside the box when it comes to shotgun design. Thanks for reading! When you get that newest tactical scattergun make sure to check out our optics section to put a sweet piece of glass on it!