What is an AR-12 shotgun?

The AR-12 is a semi-automatic shotgun that resembles the AR-15 rifle in the way it looks and works. It’s gas-operated and shoots 12-gauge shells, and you can use it for hunting, home defense, and sport shooting. It accepts detachable magazines and has a similar layout to the AR-15, including a pistol grip, adjustable stock, and Picatinny rail for attaching accessories like optics and lights.

All these may lead you to easily mistake an AR-12 for an AR-15 from even a short distance. As far as design goes, that’s not bad at all. But let’s check some of the reasons that might attract you to the AR-12 in the first place.

First of all, the AR-12 platform offers some features you don’t get with a classical shotgun. These are, of course, some of the previously mentioned, such as the layout of the AR-15, the ability to use detachable magazines with up to 12 rounds of capacity, enhanced precision you’ll get by mounting an optic sight on the MIL-STD-1913 rail, and the ergonomics you get with the pistol grip and ergo stock.

AR-12 Tech & Specs

Although not all AR-12s are the same (which depends on the manufacturer), they match to a great degree. Here are some tech & specs commonly found in AR-12 shotguns:

• Caliber: Chambered in 12 gauge.
• Action: Semi-automatic.
• Barrel Length: Typically around 18 to 20 inches, but can vary based on the model.
• Overall Length: Varies depending on the stock and barrel configuration, typically around 36 to 40 inches.
• Weight: Usually ranges from 7 to 9 pounds, depending on the specific model and materials used.
• Magazine Capacity: Varies from 2 to 10 rounds in standard detachable box magazines, with aftermarket options offering higher capacities.
• Operating System: Uses a gas-operated system for cycling shells.
• Sights: Often equipped with adjustable sights or a Picatinny rail for mounting optics such as red dot sights or scopes.
• Furniture: Features a pistol grip, adjustable stock, and forend grip, similar to AR-15 rifles.
• Materials: AR-12s are made from a combination of steel, aluminum, and polymer for durability and weight management.
• Accessories: Typically compatible with a wide range of AR-15 accessories such as grips, stocks, rails, and muzzle devices.
• Usage: Suitable for various applications including hunting, sport shooting, home defense, and tactical use.

These are some quite impressive features for a shotgun, right? We think so, too. So, let’s keep going.

AR-12 Advantages

The greatest advantage of a shotgun packed up in the AR-15 body its high capacity. You can load up your AR-12 with up to 20 shells. There are plenty of aftermarket magazines that offer a capacity this high. Another thing is aesthetics.

The AR-12 Design

As we all know, this is a popular design, and not without a reason. This goes back to the AR-10 rifle, followed by the AR-15 design, which turned out to be an M-16 rifle, very popular not only in the States but all over the world. Some of the most famous firearm manufacturers worked out and improved the design over the years. The list includes brands such as ArmaLite, Colt, Panther Arms, Bushmaster, Rock River, Smith & Wesson, Daniel Defense, and LMT. Pretty impressive, right? The resemblance with the AR-15 combat rifle is both pleasing to the eye and intimidating, which is another reason people who like shotguns decide to adopt the AR-12 platform.

1913 Picatinny rail

One more thing we found very useful is the Picatinny rail, which allows you to take advantage of modern optical scopes, which is not a small thing. An optical sight will, without a doubt, help you with accurate shooting, and the ergonomics of the AR-15 design will allow you longer shooting sessions without getting tired as you would with a plain shotgun.

The rest of the specs are pretty decent and will allow you to benefit from a modern firearm at a fair price. That brings us to another thing, which is affordability. Prices of the AR-12 shotguns vary, but they usually go for about $400-$600 for higher quality models at the moment of writing this article.

Best AR12 Models for Home Defense

If you’re looking for a home defense firearm that combines the assertiveness of a combat rifle with the advantages of a shotgun, such as a broader shot pattern, then the AR-12 is tailor-made for you. There are, of course, different AR-12 models available on the market. Although very similar, there are some differences among them. This can make you opt for a different manufacturer, so additional research about the particular model is advised. Nevertheless, here are, in our opinion, some of the models offering the best value and performances you can find in the AR-12 platform:

Panzer Arms AR-12

A great piece of the Turkish manufacturer, the Panzer Arms AR-12 is a mid-priced piece of excellent quality, typically featuring an 18-20-inch barrel and an overall length of 40.5 inches. The factory magazine capacity is 5+1 rounds, but you can upgrade that with an aftermarket detachable magazine.

Typhoon Defense Industries X-12

Another quality Turkish manufacturer has given us the improved design of the AR-12 platform, embodied in their X-12 series. Also a mid-priced piece, the X-12 series features a 7075 T6 aluminum upper receiver, a lightweight and very durable polymer lower receiver, AR-15 ergonomics and controls, a 5-round factory capacity magazine, ambidextrous controls, adjustable sights, and a Picatinny rail for mounting optics such as red dot sights or scopes.

SDS Imports Lynx 12

The Lynx 12 resembles the AK-style rifles and features a robust design, a comfortable pistol grip, adjustable stock, and a forend grip for comfortable handling. It’s made of high-quality steel and polymer with durability in mind. The Lynx 12 operates on a semi-automatic action, allowing for rapid and efficient cycling of shells,  offering a good balance between maneuverability and accuracy.

LKCI Vezir B100

Slightly different in design, the Vezir B100 features a detachable magazine behind the pistol grip, compact polymer stock, removable angled forward grip, flip-up sights, and Picatinny rail along the top of the upper receiver for easy mounting of optics or accessories. It also features a side charging handle for right-handed shooters. The Vezir B100 is designed to be as compact as possible without sacrificing firepower.

LSI Citadel Boss-25

Another example of a quality semi-auto 12 GA shotgun, the LSI Citadel Boss-25 operates on a semi-automatic action, allowing for fast and efficient shooting. Some models include features such as a muzzle brake for recoil reduction, adjustable chokes for improved shot patterns, and ambidextrous controls for ease of use. The design allows for customization with a range of accessories, enhancing its versatility, which makes it an excellent choice for home defense, tactical shooting, hunting, and sport shooting.

The Verdict: Definitely Yes!

The AR-12 is a good choice for home defense due to its versatility, ease of use, magazine capacity, effective range, stopping power, and deterrent effect. The gun provides ample firepower for close to medium-range encounters typical in home defense situations. You can also customize the AR-12 with accessories such as an optical sight or a higher-capacity magazine. The advantages of the AR-15 design and the wide shooting pattern of a shotgun, combined into one piece, make it ideal for beginners and seasoned shooters. Add the affordability, and you’ll get a pretty impressive piece of a gun for home defense with a great price-to-performance ratio.

As with other firearms, semi-automatic shotguns have both advantages and disadvantages. Let’s take a closer look and see what they are.

Advantages of semi-automatic shotguns:

• Rapid Fire: Allows for quick follow-up shots without manual action cycling.
• Reduced Recoil: Absorbs and redirects recoil energy for improved shooter comfort.
• Ease of Use: Requires minimal effort to cycle the action, suitable for different users.
• Versatility: Handles various loads and ammunition types for different shooting applications.
• Quick Reload: Automatically chambers the next round for faster reloading.

Disadvantages of semi-automatic shotguns:

• Cost: Generally more expensive than other shotgun types.
• Maintenance: Requires regular cleaning and maintenance, especially gas-operated systems.
• Sensitivity to Ammunition: Some models may be picky with ammo types.
• Complexity: More intricate mechanisms that may require more maintenance or be prone to malfunctions.
• Legal Restrictions: Subject to specific regulations in certain jurisdictions.

It’s important to consider these factors and evaluate specific shotgun models before making a purchase.

Semi-automatic shotguns differ between themselves due to a system of operation.

Gas-Operated Shotguns

Gas-operated shotguns use the high-pressure gases produced when a round is fired to cycle the action and load the next round. Here’s how it works:

• Gas Port: A small port is located near the muzzle of the shotgun, which diverts a portion of the propellant gases from the fired round.
• Gas System: The diverted gases enter a gas system, typically consisting of a gas piston or a gas cylinder located near the front of the shotgun’s barrel.
• Gas Piston or Cylinder: The gas piston or cylinder is driven rearward by the pressure of the gases. This movement transfers energy to the shotgun’s bolt assembly.
• Bolt Assembly: The rearward movement of the gas piston or cylinder pushes the shotgun’s bolt assembly backward. The bolt assembly typically includes a bolt carrier, bolt body, and a locking mechanism.
• Extraction and Ejection: As the bolt assembly moves rearward, it unlocks from the chamber and extracts the spent shell casing from the chamber. The casing is then ejected from the shotgun through an ejection port.
• Loading and Locking: The action spring pushes the bolt assembly forward, loading a new round from the magazine into the chamber. As the bolt assembly moves forward, it locks into the chamber, ensuring a secure seal.

Inertia-Operated Shotguns

Inertia-operated shotguns use the recoil energy generated when a round is fired to cycle the action and load the next round. Here’s how it works:

• Recoil Energy: When a round is fired, the shotgun recoils backward due to the force generated by the propellant gases and the weight of the shot charge.
• Inertia System: The shotgun’s bolt assembly is designed with a heavy bolt body and a spring-loaded inertia block or weight located within the bolt assembly.
• Rearward Movement: As the shotgun recoils backward, the heavy bolt body and the inertia block move rearward within the bolt assembly. The inertia block compresses the recoil spring.
• Extraction and Ejection: The rearward movement of the bolt body unlocks it from the chamber, allowing the spent shell casing to be extracted and ejected from the shotgun through an ejection port.
• Loading and Locking: The compressed recoil spring pushes the bolt assembly forward, loading a new round from the magazine into the chamber. As the bolt assembly moves forward, it locks into the chamber, ensuring a secure seal.

Gas-operated and inertia-operated – The Differences

The main difference between gas-operated and inertia-operated shotguns lies in how they harness and utilize energy to cycle the action:

• Gas-operated shotguns rely on redirected propellant gases to operate the action, while inertia-operated shotguns use the recoil energy generated by the shot.
• Gas-operated shotguns tend to have a softer recoil feel, as the gas system helps to absorb and redirect the energy, reducing felt recoil. Inertia-operated shotguns may have slightly more felt recoil due to the direct transfer of recoil energy.
• Gas-operated shotguns can often handle a wider range of loads and have a reputation for reliability, even with lighter loads. Inertia-operated shotguns may require a minimum level of recoil energy to cycle reliably, making them more suitable for medium to heavy loads.
• Gas-operated shotguns may require more frequent cleaning and maintenance, as the gas system components can become fouled over time. Inertia-operated shotguns have fewer parts in the gas system and may require less maintenance in this regard.

Both gas-operated and inertia-operated shotguns have their advantages and considerations. The choice between the two will depend on factors such as personal preference, intended use, and the specific make and model of the shotgun. It’s recommended to handle and shoot both types to determine which system best suits your needs.

Best Semi Auto Shotguns in 2023

Now that we know more about semi-automatic shotguns, let’s explore some high-quality models great for hunting and home defense. There are some older models in the list too, but due to their features, we think they are still relevant in 2023, especially if you consider the price drop.