Matt and Jason from Classic Firearms introduce a Top 5 Fight focused on sporting and hunting shotguns, with an added twist: their list is competing against an AI-generated ranking. They note their own experience with clay shooting and hunting, mentioning time on the range at SHOT Show. The AI announces itself as their competition, claiming access to vast online knowledge about hunting shotguns. Matt and Jason react with humor, comparing it to science fiction villains and joking about unplugging it. They set the stage for a combined human list, emphasizing practical experience with shotguns in the field and on the clay range rather than purely theoretical rankings.
For the number five spot, Matt and Jason choose a tie between the Remington 870, specifically the Wingmaster, and the Mossberg 500 Field configuration. They highlight that the Remington 870 has been around since the 1950s and is often an economical entry into sporting shotguns. Both are pump-action 12-gauge designs known for reliability and long service life. The hosts describe them as suitable for a wide range of roles, from bird and deer hunting to clay shooting, and joke about using 12-gauge loads to keep birds off the lawn. The AI counters with the Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 at its own number five, praising its inertia-driven action, fast cycling, reduced recoil, and 3.5-inch magnum capability, which the hosts acknowledge as a strong choice but surprisingly low on the AI’s list.
At the fourth position, the AI selects the Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon I, describing it as a classic over/under that blends attractive design with solid handling for both upland birds and waterfowl, as well as clay shooting. It emphasizes Italian craftsmanship and Beretta’s reputation for quality. Matt and Jason are surprised because the 686 Silver Pigeon I is exactly what they had independently chosen for their own number four. Matt notes he handled and shot this model at a Beretta range day and found it to be an excellent platform for breaking clays, with handling that helped him make accurate shots. Jason comments that while Beretta’s craftsmanship is well known, the Silver Pigeon I is not one of Beretta’s highest-end competition guns, but still represents a strong, versatile sporting over/under at a more approachable level than the company’s top-tier competition models.
For number three, Matt and Jason select the Mossberg Gold Reserve. They point out that it is manufactured in Turkey and joke that it is a shotgun that can bag a turkey and is also made in Turkey. The Gold Reserve is described as a sub–$1,000 over/under that offers features often found on more expensive guns. It uses a Turkish walnut stock and has 3-inch chambers with chrome-lined chambers and bore for corrosion resistance and improved durability in adverse weather. They see it as suitable for bird hunting and clay shooting, noting that it points naturally and swings well. At a little over 6 pounds, it is not the lightest option, so they suggest it may be more at home on the skeet or sporting clays range than carried all day, though still light enough for field use. The AI responds with the Winchester Model 12, praising its smooth slide action, balance, and traditional craftsmanship, but the hosts argue that for sporting use, over/unders and semi-autos offer faster follow-up shots on multiple clays than pump actions.
In the number two slot, the hosts choose the Browning Citori 725, describing it as an evolution of John Moses Browning’s original B25 Superposed design. They characterize the Citori 725 as a classic over/under sporting shotgun with numerous variants tailored to different shooting styles. Options include different comb heights, rib heights, and adjustable combs and lengths of pull, allowing shooters to tune the fit to their body and shooting preferences. Jason mentions that if forced to pick a single variant, he might choose the 725 Feather model, designed as a lightweight field gun intended to be carried all day while hunting. They present the Citori 725 as a quintessential sporting shotgun for bird hunting and clay sports. The AI counters by elevating the Remington 870 Wingmaster to its own number two, emphasizing its reliability, versatility across bird and deer roles, and affordability, but the hosts maintain that an economical pump does not represent the pinnacle of sporting shotguns.
The AI offers the Ithaca Model 37 Featherlight as an honorable mention, highlighting its lightweight design with an aluminum receiver, bottom ejection that directs spent shells downward, and smooth pump action. It notes that bottom ejection benefits left-handed shooters and prevents hulls from striking nearby hunters, and describes the Model 37 as an American-made classic with a long heritage. Matt and Jason do not have an Ithaca 37 on hand but show a Panzer Arms–manufactured remake styled after the Ithaca design. They acknowledge the AI’s preference for pump actions but question that emphasis for top-tier sporting rankings. Their own honorable mention is the Salient Arms GLD, originally manufactured by Breda and then enhanced by Salient. They describe it as a semi-auto shotgun with a ported barrel, enlarged charging handle, and other oversized controls. Both hosts have used it for sporting clays and fast shotgun drills, finding it extremely quick, accurate, and easy to run due to the upgraded controls and overall tuning.
For their number one pick, Matt and Jason select the Benelli Super Black Eagle, aligning with the AI’s earlier choice but placing it at the top rather than low on the list. They focus on the inertia-driven operating system, which significantly reduces felt recoil compared to many traditional 12-gauge designs. This softer recoil impulse makes it approachable for smaller-framed or less-experienced shooters who might otherwise be hesitant to shoot full-power 12-gauge sporting loads. They mention that it is comfortable enough for a teenage shooter to use effectively. The Super Black Eagle’s 3.5-inch chamber provides broad ammunition flexibility, from lighter loads to heavy 3.5-inch magnum shells for waterfowl and other demanding hunting scenarios. The hosts present the Super Black Eagle as a modern, highly capable semi-auto that combines reliability, reduced recoil, and wide load compatibility, making it, in their view, the leading choice among contemporary hunting and sporting shotguns.
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