17-Aug-2026
A thousand pounds doesn’t buy what it used to at the new-gun counter, but on the UK’s second-hand market, it remains a genuinely powerful budget. Spend it well, and you can own a shotgun that will outlast you: a proven over-and-under from a major maker, a workhorse semi-auto, or a pump gun that shrugs off decades of abuse.
The trick is knowing where the value hides. This guide covers the shotguns that consistently deliver under £1,000 in the UK used market, what each does best, and the checks that keep a bargain from becoming a project.
A note on prices: the used market moves constantly, and condition, grade, and barrel length swing values significantly. Treat the £1,000 line as a guide to where these models commonly trade, and check live listings for today’s reality.
The over-and-under sweet spot
For most buyers, this budget’s best home is a used over-and-under from one of the big three: Beretta, Browning, or Miroku.
The Beretta 686 family, including the much-loved Silver Pigeon, is the definitive starter-to-stayer gun. Beretta’s low-profile action is light, reliable and cheap to service, and the sheer number sold means used examples are always available. Older 686s in honest condition regularly sit within this budget, and our Silver Pigeon guide explains what separates the grades. Its competition-bred sibling, the Beretta 682, is worth seeking out too: built for high-volume clay work, unfashionable enough to be underpriced, and famously durable.
From the Browning stable, an older B525, or its predecessors, the B425 and B325, brings Miroku’s build quality at prices that undercut the newer B725. These guns wear their round counts lightly; a tight action matters far more than the year on the proof mark.
Miroku’s own guns (the MK38, MK60, and older 6000-series) deserve a special mention: mechanically close cousins of the Brownings, often at friendlier prices because the badge carries less glamour. Many club shooters regard a used Miroku as the single best value in British clay shooting.
Semi-autos: The most gun per pound
If your shooting leans towards wildfowling, pigeons over decoys, or pest control, a gas-operated semi-auto stretches the budget furthest.
The Beretta A300/A400 lineage and the Browning Maxus (reviewed here) both appear under £1,000 used, with older generations comfortably so. They’re soft-shooting, quick for follow-ups and tolerant of heavy loads. Turkish-made alternatives from makers like ATA and Hatsan Escort come in far cheaper still, fine working tools, though resale values are weaker than the big brands.
Remember that most semi-autos are Section 2 shotguns only if restricted to a two-plus-one capacity; anything holding more requires a firearm certificate. Our guide to UK shotgun law covers the details.
Pumps and side-by-sides: The value outliers
The Remington 870 and Mossberg 500-series pumps are the toughest guns on this list, usually available well under budget, and ideal for hide work, boats, and rough weather where you’d rather not risk a nice over-and-under.
Meanwhile, the side-by-side market is quietly the biggest bargain in British shooting. Fashion moved on, prices followed, and a beautifully made AYA or English boxlock can now be had for a fraction of its build cost, our AYA overview makes the case. For walked-up days and traditional game shooting, nothing at this money feels finer.
What to prioritise at this budget
Condition beats age, and mechanics beat cosmetics. A scratched stock is a haggling point; a loose action is a bill. Check the gun closes tight with the top lever right of centre, look for pitting in the bores, confirm chokes turn freely on multichoke guns, and ask about proof status, especially on older side-by-sides. Fit matters more than brand at this level: a gun that mounts naturally to your eye will break more clays than a prestigious badge that doesn’t.
If you’re new to buying, read our first shotgun guide and our advice on buying from a registered firearms dealer before you part with money. All transfers must go through the proper certificate process; a legitimate seller will expect nothing less.
Don’t forget the running costs
A shotgun budget shouldn’t stop at the gun. Cartridges are the real long-term expense; a regular clay shooter can put the gun’s purchase price through it in ammunition within a couple of seasons, so it pays to buy a gun chambered and choked for the cartridges you’ll actually shoot. Our guide to the best shotgun cartridges for clay shooting is a sensible companion read.
Budget, too, for a slip, a cleaning kit, and secure storage that satisfies your police force’s requirements, and leave headroom for a service if the gun’s history is unknown. A used gun bought at a fair price with £100 held back for a strip-and-clean is a better buy than one that swallows the whole budget on day one. If the gun will see game duty, factor in non-lead cartridge compatibility as the UK transition continues; older guns and modern steel loads don’t always mix, and proof marks matter here.
Our shortlist at a glance
For all-round clays and game: Beretta 686 or older Browning B525, deep supply, easy servicing, strong resale. For pure clay volume on a budget: Beretta 682 or a used Miroku. For the field and foreshore: Browning Maxus or Beretta gas gun, with budget Turkish semi-autos as the cheaper working alternative. For rough duty: Remington 870 or Mossberg. For tradition and sheer craftsmanship per pound: a side-by-side AYA.
Any of these, bought in honest condition, will still be earning its keep in twenty years.
FAQ
What is the best shotgun for under £1,000 in the UK? For most shooters, a used Beretta 686 or Browning B525, both offer major-maker build quality, deep used supply and easy servicing. The best choice depends on whether you shoot clays, game or fowl.
Are second-hand shotguns worth buying? Generally yes. Quality shotguns are built for six-figure round counts, so a well-kept used gun from a reputable maker has most of its life ahead of it, at a significant saving over new.
What should I check when buying a used shotgun? Action tightness, top-lever position, bore condition, choke movement, and proof marks, plus how the gun fits you. If in doubt, have a gunsmith inspect it before purchase.
Do I need a licence to buy a shotgun in the UK? Yes, you need a shotgun certificate (SGC) issued by your local police force, and transfers must be properly recorded. See our guide to UK shotgun law for how the process works.
Browse shotguns under budget on Rightgun.uk
The models above appear constantly among the shotguns for sale on Rightgun, listed by trusted UK sellers with condition and spec you can compare side by side. Set your budget, shortlist a couple of this guide’s picks, and see what today’s market is offering.
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