Charles Daly Honcho
The Charles Daly Honcho is one of the most compact pump-action shotguns available — a 12 gauge built around a bird’s head grip that eliminates the traditional stock entirely, trimming overall length dramatically for close-quarters use, truck storage, and applications where a full-size shotgun simply won’t fit. Available in standard, Tactical (with a 14” barrel), and Triple Barrel configurations, the Honcho lineup covers everything from a conventional 18.5” pump to a genuine three-barreled compact.
Read our full Charles Daly Honcho Buying Guide ↓
Standard Honcho: 18.5” Barrel with Bird’s Head Grip
The standard Honcho is a pump-action 12 gauge with an 18.5” barrel, 3” chamber, 5-round capacity, and a bird’s head grip that replaces the traditional buttstock. The result is a shotgun that’s dramatically shorter than any stocked pump and can be stored or deployed in spaces where a full-size shotgun won’t work. Available in a CA-compliant configuration as well.
Honcho Tactical: 14” Short-Barrel Configuration
The Honcho Tactical pushes compactness further with a 14” barrel and the same bird’s head grip, available in checkered walnut or synthetic grip options. The 14” barrel makes this a short-barreled shotgun (SBS) — note that since January 1, 2026, the NFA $200 tax stamp has been eliminated, making SBS ownership significantly more accessible than it was previously. The Honcho Tactical in 14” is one of the smallest 12 gauge pump-actions commercially available.
Honcho Tactical Triple Barrel
The Honcho Tactical Triple Barrel adds a third barrel to the compact package — three 18.5” barrels with a bird’s head grip, delivering three rounds of 12 gauge from a break-action design. It’s one of the most unusual production shotguns available and combines the Honcho’s compact bird’s-head-grip design with the raw firepower of three simultaneous barrels.
Frequently Asked Questions: Charles Daly Honcho
What is the Charles Daly Honcho?
The Honcho is a compact 12 gauge pump-action shotgun with a bird’s head grip instead of a traditional buttstock, designed for close-quarters use and maximum compactness.
What is the barrel length of the Honcho Tactical?
The Honcho Tactical is available with a 14” barrel (SBS configuration). Since January 1, 2026, the NFA $200 tax stamp has been eliminated.
Is the Honcho a bullpup?
No. The Honcho uses a conventional pump-action layout with a bird’s head grip for compactness, rather than a bullpup design. It achieves a similar goal — a very short overall length — through a different approach.
See Also: Charles Daly • Bullpup Shotguns • Short Barrel Shotguns • Pump Shotguns