It is too bad that Consumer Reports stopped grading firearms. Many glossy gun rags have apparently been petrified or stupefied at the notion of actually reviewing firearms with a critical eye, from the consumer's point of view. In any industry, there are good and bad actors, fair and honest brokers, and then again smarmy carnival creatures that will say most anything to scam you out of your money.

Unfortunately, shotgun manufacturing in the United States by American companies has been vanishing. The only sizable mainstream shotgun manufacturer left is Mossberg. ATF data from 2022 shows that shotguns are the smallest segment (662,350) vs. 6,150,667 handguns and 3,577,951 rifles. Not many U.S. shotguns are exported, either: 43,312 in 2022.

The 2021 ATF report run in July, 2024 shows that Mossberg made 253,569 shotguns. No one else is remotely close: Ithaca made zero shotguns, Kel Tec made 37,439 shotguns. This steep downward spiral continues.

I don't like getting ripped off, I don't suffer blatant liars well, and there is no reason to play Russian Roulette with companies that are not reputable in word or deed, and do not stand behind their products. You do get what you pay for: if you buy overpriced junk that's exactly what you get.

Reportedly, the new head of the Ministry of Truth for Benelli. "Simply Perfect."

No one wants a shotgun that does not go where it is pointed. Apparently, Benelli, the "Redneck Rolex,” has shot itself in the foot, or tried to . . . as they were high and to the left. It has been going on for well over five years: https://randywakeman.com/OntheBenelliSBE3Disaster.htm with no end in sight.

Retay USA stupidly claims that their shotguns put “over 20% pellets in the kill zone” in order to cheat their customers. It is apparently easier just to print bombastic lies than to build a higher quality shotgun. If low-information consumers tolerate this, they will get more of it: sooner or later they deserve what they have perpetuated. Retay and Benelli should both be embarrassed, but Bernie Madoff should have been as well. All too often, this is amounts to little more than a merciless money grab based on lies, fraud, and various manufacturing crimes.

Over the years, I've received more complaints (mostly niggles) about Beretta, Browning, and Mossberg. The explanation, in large measure, is that there are just more Beretta, Browning, and Mossberg shotguns in regular use than other brands.

Now we have the “good for the money” discussion vs. “just plain good.” A shotgun that does not do what you want it to do is never good for the money, and a product that you have to buy twice is never, ever, a bargain.

The brands of shotguns that I would steadfastly avoid are Benelli, RemArms, and Retay USA. You can call them crime companies, fraudulent companies, or whatever suits you. Roundhill RemArms is a bit different category, for they have abandoned long-time Remington customers completely, no longer have any competitive product, nor do they have any written warranty whatsoever.

Anyone can do far better for themselves, their families, and their friends from the numerous reputable companies out there.