What distinguishes a pump-action shotgun from other types?

A pump-action shotgun is distinguished primarily by its operational mechanism, which requires manual cycling of the action by the shooter. This system involves the shooter pulling the fore-end or forend of the shotgun back to eject the spent shell and then pushing it forward to chamber a new round. This manual operation allows the shooter to have control over the cycling process and can be advantageous in certain shooting scenarios, such as hunting or home defense.

In contrast to other types of shotguns, such as semi-automatic models that automatically cycle the action after firing, the pump-action mechanism places the responsibility for cycling squarely on the user. This design is simple and reliable, often leading to more effective handling in various conditions, particularly when used by shooters who may not want a more complex operating system.

The other options do not accurately represent characteristics unique to pump-action shotguns. For instance, the automatic ejection of spent shells is a feature of semi-automatic shotguns, fixed chokes are found on some shotguns but not a distinguishing feature of pump-actions, and bolt-action refers to a different type of firearm entirely, typically associated with rifles, not shotguns. Understanding these differences helps in recognizing why the manual cycling of the action is the defining characteristic of a pump-action shotgun