SB 749 doesn't just target AR-15s. It quietly reclassifies a huge swath of semi-automatic shotguns as "assault firearms." Here's the full breakdown.
Here's the part most people miss. For rifles, SB 749 uses a two-feature test — you need a detachable magazine plus one additional feature. But for semi-automatic shotguns, the bar is dramatically lower: just one of these features makes it an "assault firearm."
Under the expired 1994 Federal AWB, a semi-auto shotgun needed two features to be banned. Virginia's law needs only one. That single change sweeps in vastly more shotguns than any previous assault weapons ban.
Walk through this quick decision tree to determine if your shotgun falls under the ban.
A Beretta A300 Ultima with a traditional Monte Carlo stock and tubular magazine has zero triggering features. Completely legal.
A Benelli M4 with its factory pistol grip stock — even though it uses a standard tubular magazine. One feature is enough.
Any semi-auto shotgun accepting a detachable magazine is automatically banned under clause (iii), regardless of other features. This is the single broadest clause.
| Model | Origin | Trigger | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saiga-12 | Russia (Kalashnikov Concern) | Detachable mag + pistol grip | Banned |
| VEPR-12 / Molot | Russia (Molot) | Detachable mag + pistol grip | Banned |
| Kalashnikov USA KS-12 | USA | Detachable mag + pistol grip | Banned |
| Rock Island VR80 | Philippines (Armscor) | Detachable magazine | Banned |
| SDS Lynx-12 | China (SDS Imports) | Detachable mag + pistol grip | Banned |
| Panzer Arms AR-12 | Turkey | Detachable mag + pistol grip | Banned |
| Typhoon F12 | Turkey | Detachable magazine | Banned |
| IWI Tavor TS12 | Israel | Detachable mag + bullpup | Banned |
| Fostech Origin 12 | USA | Detachable magazine | Banned |
These use standard tubular magazines but ship with or are commonly configured with pistol grips — enough by itself to trigger the ban.
| Model | Manufacturer | Notes | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benelli M4 | Benelli | Factory integrated pistol grip stock | Banned |
| Benelli M2 Tactical | Benelli | Pistol grip stock option | Banned* |
| Beretta 1301 Tactical | Beretta | Tactical PG models | Banned* |
| Mossberg 930 SPX | Mossberg | Available with pistol grip | Banned* |
| Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical | Mossberg | Tactical pistol grip models | Banned* |
| FN SLP Tactical | FN Herstal | Ships with pistol grip stock | Banned |
Models marked with * are also sold with traditional stocks. A Benelli M2 Field with a Monte Carlo stock is legal. A Benelli M2 Tactical with a pistol grip is not. It's about the configuration, not the model name. Theoretically, swapping to a compliant stock could make a banned configuration legal — but the "like kind" catch-all in clause (v) adds legal uncertainty.
Manually operated = exempt. Doesn't matter what accessories you bolt on.
| Model | Action | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Remington 870 (all variants) | Pump | Legal |
| Mossberg 500 / 590 / 590A1 | Pump | Legal |
| Mossberg Shockwave | Pump | Legal |
| Benelli Nova / SuperNova | Pump | Legal |
| Winchester SXP | Pump | Legal |
The bread-and-butter hunting and sport-shooting semi-autos with conventional stocks and tubular magazines.
| Model | Use Case | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Beretta A300 / A400 series | Waterfowl, clays, upland | Legal |
| Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 | Waterfowl | Legal |
| Benelli Ethos / M2 Field | Upland, all-purpose | Legal |
| Browning A5 / Maxus II | Waterfowl, clays | Legal |
| Winchester SX4 | All-purpose | Legal |
| Franchi Affinity 3 | Upland, waterfowl | Legal |
| Remington V3 Field Sport | All-purpose | Legal |
All break-action shotguns — single-shot, side-by-side, over/under competition guns — are fully exempt. They're manually operated.
The ATF doesn't break out shotgun production data by action type, so precise numbers don't exist. But we can build a solid estimate from market data, retailer inventories, and industry reporting.
| Category | % of All Shotguns | Affected? |
|---|---|---|
| Pump-action (all variants) | ~40–45% | Exempt |
| Semi-auto, sporting/field config | ~25–35% | Legal |
| Semi-auto, tactical/banned config | ~8–15% | Banned |
| Break-action, bolt-action, other | ~15–20% | Exempt |
| Revolving cylinder | <1% | Already restricted |
The tactical/home-defense segment is the fastest-growing part of the shotgun market. That 8–15% is trending upward. The portion of the market this law captures will only grow over time.
Virginia's one-feature test for semi-auto shotguns is stricter than any previous assault weapons ban in the U.S.:
| Jurisdiction | Semi-Auto Shotgun Test | Features Needed |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 Federal AWB (expired) | Feature-based | Two features required |
| California | Mixed (feature + detachable mag) | Varies by combination |
| Connecticut | Detachable mag OR folding stock + PG | One or two depending |
| Virginia SB 749 | Single feature | ONE feature |
Individuals who lawfully owned affected shotguns before July 1, 2026 may continue to possess them. You can transfer them to a licensed dealer, to someone outside Virginia, or to immediate family (spouse, children, parents, grandparents, siblings).
Violation is a Class 1 misdemeanor — up to 12 months in jail and/or a $2,500 fine. This applies to purchase, sale, manufacture, import, and most transfers within Virginia.
As of this writing, the bill sits on Governor Spanberger's desk with a signing deadline of April 13, 2026. Legal challenges from the Firearms Policy Coalition and other groups have been publicly promised.
Violating this law is a Class 1 misdemeanor — up to 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine. Most Virginia shotgun owners have no idea their gun might now be illegal to sell. If you know anyone who owns a semi-auto shotgun in Virginia, send them this page. It could keep them out of a courtroom.