What are the most reliable least glamorous shotguns?

sounds like a mossberg maverick 88 is calling your name

Biakal.                 

https://youtu.be/3ohXOlWk6SY

The most common and relatively reliable shotguns are the Remington 870 and Mossberg 520 series. They are reasonably priced although there are other no name brands that are cheaper. With that being said, both the 870 and 520 have had their shares of problems not because of any inherent design flaws, but manufacturing defects.

No matter how good a reputation a firearm maker has, it does NOT mean their quality control is 100% perfect. This means you do NOT just buy a gun and put it in the closet because you never know until you actually take it to the range and fire it - and fire it several times.

Also, low maintenance does not mean no maintenance.  And maintenance must be done properly. If this shotgun is to be your last line of defense, then it must work 100% flawlessly the first time if you ever have to use it for that purpose.  

Keep in mind that owning a firearm does not automatically give you the skills to use it effectively. Don't be one of those people fooled by movies and tv shows that depicts a shotgun spraying shots in a wide cone of destruction. That is make believe.  You still must aim a shotgun and you must practice with it.

Mossberg 500 or 590 and Remington 870 fit that description perfectly. Both are available in 12 or 20 gauge, the pump mechanisms are very reliable. Neither of them is outrageously expensive. They're not terribly ugly as far as guns go but neither of them is going to win any "best in show" awards for its appearance.

The 870 has a safety just above the trigger where you can press it with your trigger finger just before firing.

The Mossberg has a safety on the back of the frame where you can disengage it with the thumb of your shooting hand.

That's really the biggest difference. If you have a preference on the location of the safety then use that as the guide for which one to buy. If you don't care where the safety is located just get whichever one is in stock at a fair price at a store near you.

Hmmmm....I suppose that would be a Mossberg 12 gauge pump. Not pretty...not overly expensive...works when you need it. Most people that have high dollar shotguns did not pay that price exclusively for a performance gun but for a "come look at MY gun" with all the fancy engraving etc. and exotic wood furniture.

Russian shotguns are ugly. Example: KSK, Molot Vepr 12, and Saiga 12. On the other hand Tula (Russian) makes a really pretty SxS. What makes the Tula pretty?....just like I said before...all that fancy engraving etc.