| Pros | Cons |
| ✅ Lots of different cool variants | ❌ Not exactly cheap |
| ✅ Well-made, durable with metal receiver | ❌ Fixed Hop Up |
| ✅ Models look and feel very realistic | |
| ✅ Select fire with 3 and 6 round burst shots | |
| ✅ Good power, useable indoors and out | |
| ✅ Easy to accessorized | |
| ✅ Extremely gas efficient | |
| ✅ Fast, responsive trigger | |
| ✅ Replacement parts available if needed |
The Remington 870 Express is probably one of the most famous and widely-used examples of a pump action shotgun out there, a favorite among hunters, homeowners, angry fathers and military/law enforcement officials alike.
The JAG Arms Scattergun line has successfully brought the classic 870, in all its forms and variants, to airsoft, making something of a big splash among airsofters and making its way to the top of our list of best airsoft shotguns.
If you think you might be interested in picking up a Scattergun for your next game, or you just want something to rack intimidatingly at home, then read on as we explore the JAG Arms Scattergun line in more depth.
Specifications
| Manufacturer | JAG Precision Inc |
| Action | Gas |
| Gas Type | Green Gas |
| FPS | ~330-350 FPS |
| Hop Up | Three fixed hop ups |
| Inner Barrel | Triple inner barrel design |
| Total Length | Variable – 21.25 in (540mm) to 37.8 in (960mm) |
| Weight | Variable – 4-6 lbs |
| Construction | Metal alloy frame with polymer or wood furniture |
| Rounds | 28 |
JAG Arms Scattergun Variants and Styles
| Classic Shotgun Style | Tactical / defense | Sawed-offs |
| HD | SP | Sawed-off |
| HDS | SPX | Reaper |
| SPX2 | Super CQB | |
| TS | ||
| TSS |
How closely do JAG Arms Scatterguns resemble real steel Remington 870s?
| JAG Arms Scattergun HD | Remington 870 Express | |
| Weight | 6.14 lbs (2.8 kg) | 7.6 lbs (3.45 kg) |
| Overall length | 37.8 in (960mm | 38.5 in (977.90 mm) |
| Action | Pump | Pump |
| Gauge | 6mm | 12 gauge |
| Capacity | 28 BBs | 6 rounds |
| Construction | Metal alloy receiver with polymer or wood furniture | Steel receiver with polymer/wood furniture |
The JAG Arms Scattergun series is inspired by the Tokyo Marui m870 models of airsoft shotguns, which in turn are based on the classic Remington 870s, in particular the Express model.
In the table above, we compared the most standard (and easiest to compare) variant of the JAG Arms Scattergun, the HD, series and as can be seen it is pretty close (accounting for natural differences between an airsoft gun and a real steel firearm, of course) to a real steel Remington 870 Express in terms of overall size, weight, action and even build.
JAG Precision, of course, builds several different models of the Scattergun, including tactical and CQB that bear strong resemblance to various different Remington variants (such as their different Express Tactical and Breacher models) and sawed-offs that are, well, illegal to own.
One difference users may note is that most models of JAG Arms Scatterguns (with the exception of the wooden sawed-off versions) come with top picatinny rails, which isn’t always standard on real steel 870s.
Users should also be aware that since these are not officially licensed replicas they won’t see any Remington trademarks on them, or really any trademarks beyond “JAG Arms” printed on the side.
How Well Does the JAG Arms Scattergun Perform as an Airsoft Shotgun?
Build-quality and construction
JAG Precision offers the Scattergun in a few different flavors.
There are classic looking, Remington 870 Express Tactical-style versions with full stocks, tactical shotguns with M4 pistol grips and even a few, CQB-oriented sawed-off versions.
That said, despite their looks, they are all more or less built using the same platform and are all about the same in terms of build quality and internals.
The JAG Arms Scattergun is made of a strong metal alloy receiver with either wooden or polymer furniture.
The shotguns themselves are very sturdy and durable as a result, and are nicely put together with great fit and finish and very little rattling, wiggle or looseness and a smooth, firm pump action that typifies the series and is a lot of fun to rack.
The models range in weight from about 4 to 6 lbs empty, which isn’t too far off from an actual 870, and feel fairly realistic to hold.
Most models come with a standard picatinny rail on the top, should users feel like adding optics to a shotgun, and models in the SPX series come with an aluminum keymod slide, which allow users to easily attach flashlights, lasers, hand stops, vertical grips and more.
This can be kind of cool, although users do need to make sure whatever they attach doesn’t interfere with the pump action.
The JAG Arms Scattergun series are green gas shotguns and their gas tanks are located in the buttstocks or handles (in the case of sawed-off or CQB models), giving them plenty of room to fill up and they are removable on full sized models, which is nice.
First generation models were prone to developing tank leaks, but this has been fixed in subsequent models and they now function quite nicely and any leakage is covered under JAG Arms’ rather extensive warranty, which is reassuring.
Most models come with a functional magazine tube that can be unscrewed to fit several shotgun shells inside, much like a real pump action, although we prefer a side saddle for easier shell changing and, of course, a much cooler look.
On the inside, the JAG Scatterguns feature three aluminum inner barrels, which give the gun its shotgun-like burst firing and spread.
Interestingly, each of these inner barrels has its own hop up unit providing critical spin.
These are fixed hop ups, however, which limits the gun’s accuracy at range to some degree with standard BB weights.
This is unsurprising and fairly common with better tri shot shotguns (the cheaper quality ones tend to do without hop ups), as there are three barrels to deal with (and three hop up units) and adding adjustable hop ups to each would probably be quite expensive.
Keep in mind, however, that this is a shotgun and pinpoint accuracy over 150 feet is not really part of its intended purpose.
Performance and Accuracy
On the field, the JAG Arms Scattergun shotguns can be useful in laying down some impressive fire.
JAG Scatterguns have 3 and 6 round burst modes, allowing them to select fire 3 or 6 BBs per trigger pull with the flip of a switch located under the mock ejection port.
In terms of firepower, after a high initial chrono (370 or so) the Scattergun settles in around a decent 330-350 FPS with 0.20g BBs on Green Gas, which means they can be used indoors and at CQB fields, which would be their natural home, and outdoors.
In case you live near ranges with very strict FPS limits, there are Super CQB versions with even lower FPS ranges, at around 300 to 320 or so.
While not an FPS monster, factor in that you can release up to 6 BBs per burst at your opponents and the JAG Scattergun becomes a force to be reckoned with on any field.
Trigger pull for these shotguns is pretty light and easy and, of course, you can learn to slam fire it (holding the trigger down and pumping to fire), although keep in mind this will put a lot more strain on the slide mechanism and loading arm.
In terms of accuracy, well…this is an airsoft shotgun and it is designed to have some spread.
That said, it should hit a center mass sized group at around 80-100 feet (25-30 meters) out. While it can hit targets at more than 100 feet, it does become more difficult due to the fixed hop ups and the nature of the gun so, as might be expected, these are really ideal for close in/medium range engagements in our opinion.
In terms of gas efficiency, the JAG Arms Scatterguns really shine.
As might be expected, gas usage varies depending on shot mode (3 or 6 shots per trigger pull), but overall should get over 100 shots on one tank of green gas on the more gas efficient 3 shot mode, with users reporting well getting over 120-140 shot burst mode in some cases.
Handling and feel
JAG Arms Scatterguns tend to feel very substantial and very true to the 870 Express, particularly the full length full stock HD and HDS models.
The guns are full metal and well balanced overall, and they come with a variety of grips and stocks.
Depending on the model, users can get a JAG Arms Scattergun with either a traditional shotgun grip and full stock, an M4 pistol grip with adjustable stock or as a sawed off.
Most versions of the JAG have their grips nicely textured, making them easy to hold in all conditions, with the full stock models having something of a stylized diamond pattern, while those with a pistol grip use a traditional M4 texturing.
In game, our preference is towards the traditional shotgun grip or M4 style pistol grips, as sawed offs can be hard to hold steady over long periods and tend not to be textured.
Interestingly, because JAG Precision sells a variety of replacement parts, and because these are fairly compatible with Tokyo Marui 870 parts, users can, with a little work, customize their stock and grip to their own preference, which is nice.
So those who choose to go with a Super CQB but find it hard to handle over longer periods can easily find a solution and make the gun their own.
In terms of use, the pump action on these is pretty good.
Being gas-powered they are a lot easier to rack than a spring powered airsoft shotgun, so they shouldn’t wear you out over a long game quite as much, and the sound of the pump action is very realistic and extremely satisfying whether in-game or if you’re just toying around with it.
Loading the gun is quite easy as well, users only have to pop the lever and begin loading a shell into the gun from below.
Which version should you choose?
The JAG Arms Scattergun comes in quite a few variations, as we mentioned earlier, and there really is a version to suit just about any taste, from full length, classic shotgun replicas to tricked-out tactical versions to wood-furnished sawed offs and everything in between.
And, by and large, they are all pretty well made and function more or less the same as airsoft shotguns.
That said, there are some practical considerations we feel users should take into account when selecting a JAG Scattergun.
If you plan on using your JAG as a primary or for Milsim games, you should probably go with one of the full sized models, such as the HD, the HDS.
They look fairly true to life, are quite intimidating and their full stocks are easy to shoulder for longer games and make holding and firing them over medium distance quite easy.
If CQB is more your game and you still want to use a shotgun as a primary, the TS and SP series (SP, SPX, SPX2, etc) will probably serve you best with their adjustable stocks, pistol grip and more room for CQB accessories, particularly on those with keymod slides.
If you want to use your JAG as a backup to your loadout, you’ll probably want the lightweight and far more compact versions, such as the Sawed-off, the Reaper or the breacher-style Super CQB and TPGs, that can be more easily thrown over your shoulder or behind your back for easy deployment.
Maintenance
Maintenance on the JAG Scattergun series is pretty simple and mainly involves keeping the gun and its parts clean and checking the O-rings under the pistol grips and stocks connections as prescribed by the manual.
Like other non-blowback gas airsoft guns, these guns aren’t really designed to be field stripped.
The internals are complex, tightly packed and contain a lot of small springs and screws that can and will pop out of place if users try to do a little home modification or maintenance.
In terms of replacement parts, in addition to operating its own technician service, unusually for an airsoft shotgun JAG does provide quite a few parts (replacement barrel assemblies, stocks, expansion tubes, gas tanks, buffer tube adaptors, keymods) on its website that users can buy and use to repair or modify their scatterguns, which is actually pretty helpful.
Shell type and capacity
The JAG Scatterguns come with 2-3 transparent JAG shells (depending on the model), which contain 28 BBs, as well as a speed loader to help full them quickly, which is considerate.
A popular airsoft shotgun, replacement JAG shells are readily available, but the JAG Scatterguns are highly compatible with Tokyo Marui standard airsoft shotgun shells, so users have a lot of choice and can easily find shells that suit their taste and budget.
Price
Note: All prices correct as of writing, all prices in USD.
In all, JAG Arms Scatterguns are cool to look at, metal bodied, well built, shoot really well, are tactically flexible and have a model to suit just about anyone’s taste or requirements.
Unsurprisingly, they also aren’t the cheapest airsoft shotguns out there, coming in around $165-$240.
At this price point is is more expensive than many quality spring airsoft shotguns, such as the CYMA Trishots, but is considerably more affordable than some other gas shotguns, such as the Tokyo Marui M870 series.
That said, in a world filled with cheap and unreliable airsoft shotguns, the JAG Arms Scattergun stands out as a model that can deliver a fun, realistic and less frustrating shotgun experience, and sometimes quality is worth paying for.
Advantages of the JAG Arms Scattergun
Lots of different models to suit different needs
From traditional pump actions to tacticals to sawed-offs, the JAG Scattergun series has a model that can suit just about anyone’s tastes or game preference.
If you want a longer, intimidating tactical airsoft shotgun, you can take your pick from the TSS or SPX series, and if you need something compact for close-in work, there’s always the sawed-offs, the Reaper or the Super CQB.
Well made and durable
JAG Arms Scatterguns are made with aluminum receivers, making them durable and solid enough to take just about any reasonable bump or drop that can occur in-game.
Feels and looks very realistic
Modeled on the Remington 870 series, the JAG Arms Scatterguns look, weigh and feel very much like real steel pump action shotguns, avoiding the toy-like feel that many airsoft shotguns are plagued with.
Good power with 3 and 6 shot burst modes
With FPS in the 330-350 range (and around 300 or so with CQB models), the JAG Arms Scattergun series is quite flexible and usable in indoor, outdoor and dedicated CQB games, where FPS limits may or may not apply.
In addition, the guns allow users to select between three and six-shot modes, letting them conserve gas or deliver more firepower as the situation may warrant.
Some models are very accessorizable for a shotgun
Most models in the Scattergun line come with at least a top picatinny rail for mounting optics, and some have extended rails and aluminum keymod slides that allow them to fit flashlights, vertical grips and more.
Highly gas efficient
JAG Arms Scatterguns are known for their gas efficiency, with users reporting being able to go a whole game without having to refill on green gas.
Good shell availability and compatibility
The JAG Arms Scattergun comes with several transparent shells and JAG replacement shells are quite easy to find online and in stores. In addition, JAG Arms Scatterguns can use most TM-compatible shells, giving users more choice and making it easier and more cost-effective to use them over time.
Replacement parts available if necessary
In case things go wrong, JAG Precision offers repair services, as well as a selection of replacement parts that users can buy online and use to repair their guns.
Disadvantages of the JAG Arms Scattergun
Expensive
Costing around $165-$240, depending on model, JAG Arms Scatterguns aren’t exactly the cheapest airsoft shotguns around.
Fixed hop up
As with most airsoft shotguns, because of the complexity of a three barrel system, the three hop up units on a JAG Arms Scattergun are fixed.
While they do provide good out of the box spin, it does limit the gun’s accuracy at range to a degree.
Bottom Line
If you are in the market for an airsoft shotgun, a JAG Arms Scattergun should be near the top of your list.
They may not be the cheapest to buy, but their cool looks, reliability, performance and build quality all make them an excellent choice as a gas powered airsoft shotgun.
Ted Clark– Hailing from Florida, Ted has been an avid airsoft enthusiast since he was in middle school. When he’s not checking out and reviewing airsoft guns, he enjoys picking off his enemies one by one on the field as a sniper.