“Have you ever heard of XYZ shotgun?”
That question pops up so often in shotgun social media groups. XYZ often stands for some oddball Turkish-made shotgun no one has ever heard of.
These are on the affordable side of the firearms market and have various, often very long names that combine words and numbers to create some interesting titles.
Affordable guns aren’t necessarily bad guns by any means, and Turkish shotguns aren’t inherently terrible. However, purchasing a cheap Turkish gun can sometimes be disappointing.
Some suffer from reliability, long-term durability, accessorizing, parts replacement issues, and more.
But many people see the appeal of budget-friendly shotguns…a pump-action is a pump-action, right? Why spend $300 when you can spend $150?
We’re going to spend some time talking about Turkish shotguns – pros, cons, why you might want one, and why you might prefer to look elsewhere.
So, keep reading to learn more!
THE QUICK LIST
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Best Options
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Best Pump-Action
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Best Mag-Fed Model
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Best Budget Home Defense Shotgun
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Best Features
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Best Gas Guns
Table of Contents
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The Problem with Turkish Shotguns
The market is flooded with these shotguns…hundreds of them are now available.
And Turkish companies keep pumping them out at a variety of price points.
Sometimes the same shotgun has completely different names. For example, the GForce GFP3N shotgun is the same as the Dickinson XX3B-M-2.
The problem comes from reliability issues, parts breakage, and a lack of accessorizing.
All these little companies pop up and disappear seemingly overnight.
How exactly can you ensure you purchase a Turkish shotgun with confidence? Well, that’s why you came here, right?
What to Look for When Buying Turkish Shotguns
Brand Matters
Who is importing and selling the Turkish-made shotgun? That’s a pretty big deal.
Not all Turkish shotguns are made the same; some are decently high-quality weapons at a budget price point.
American brands like Mossberg and Italian brands like Stoeger both sell some Turkish-made shotguns that are very well made.
Some companies only import Turkish-made shotguns but have good quality control and customer service.
For example, Armscor and Rock Island Armory import the VR series of semi-auto shotguns, and they work, and RIA stands behind their product.
How Long Has the Shotgun Been on the Market?
A lot of importers of Turkish shotguns are seemingly fly-by-night companies. They pop up with a random name, pump out a ton of shotguns, get a bad reputation and fade away.
Then they pop back up with a “new” shotgun with a new name…but the same problems.
Look at how long the shotgun has been on the market. That’s a good indicator of success.
If you’re looking for the Eagle Hawk 900XS N M2 and don’t see a lot of results, then it’s likely new, or it’s been renamed.
Obviously, consulting reviews can help, and so can looking for customer experiences. I typically type in “Eagle Hawk 900XS N M2 problems,” and at the end, I’ll use a forum I respect like the Shotgun World, ARFCOM, or even Reddit.
Ultimately, the best thing to do is how long the company has been around and look at how long they’ve been selling that particular model. That’s a pretty good indicator of a good shotgun.
What Does the Aftermarket Look Like?
Typically, if a shotgun is successful, it will gain some form of aftermarket support.
Even Turkish guns often achieve some level of support if they don’t suck. Sure, it might never touch the Mossberg 500 or Remington 870 series in aftermarket support, but a little aftermarket can go a long way.
If an aftermarket exists, then the shotgun likely has staying power.
Is it a Clone?
Some Turkish-made shotguns will clone a gun, or at least clone parts of it to produce a new shotgun.
Sometimes it’s an official, licensed or legal clone; other times, it uses expired patents, and sometimes it’s a straight rip-off.
For example, Stoeger, which is owned by Beretta, who also owns Benelli, has Turkish-made guns using the Benelli Intertia system. Remington’s 870 also sees a healthy amount of clone designs.
Cloned designs use a proven-to-work system, although materials matter as well.
A clone doesn’t always indicate a quality gun but is a clue that it’s at least using a proven design. Plus, the aftermarket might be opened to you as well.
Best Turkish Shotgun Companies
Some people like things simple, and they want to know what shotguns from Turkey work.
With that in mind, I’ve put together a list of companies with various shotgun formats that come from Turkey and function well.
1. Mossberg SA-20 & Reserve Series
Mossberg imports a few guns from Turkey, although most of their shotguns are American-made.
Two series that stand out in the Mossberg lineup are the SA-20 and the Reserve series shotguns.
The SA-20 shotguns bring the light recoiling 20-gauge round to an affordable, semi-automatic platform.
Mossberg imports this gun in various configurations, including numerous hunting, youth, and even tactical models. It’s lightweight, affordable, reliable, and easy to shoot.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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The Reserve series includes the Silver and Gold models.
Both are made by Khan in Turkey and provide a nice over/under shotgun setup for clay pigeons and upland birds. The Gold Reserve comes with a variety of features that are tough to beat at this price point.
2. Stoeger M3000/M3500
As mentioned, Stoeger is owned by Beretta (and Beretta owns Benelli). These three companies make fantastic shotguns.
The Stoeger brand can use some of Beretta and Benelli’s features and operating systems but produce the guns in Turkey to help lower the price.
The M3000 and M3500, for example, use the Inertia System that made Benelli famous.
These guns come in all manner of configurations. You can get snow goose guns, deer guns, tactical home defense models, and even 3-Gun-specific designs.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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The pump-action P3000 series share a lot in common with the always awesome Benelli SuperNova and Nova series shotguns, including the rotating bolt.
These are very competent shotguns that are also in tons of different configurations.
What do you think of Stoeger? Rate them below!
3. Armscor/Rock Island Armory VR-80
Rock Island ArmorylArmscor imports a variety of shotguns. This includes my favorite Turkish-made, mag-fed shotguns, the VR-80 and VRBP-100.
The VR-60 and VRPA-40 are fine, but I love the VR-80’s design and embrace the VRBP-100.
These shotguns have been around for a few years and have gained the respect of many shotgun fans, especially for 3-Gun.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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They have magazine capacities between 5 and 19 rounds, and the VR-80 can use AR stocks and pistol grips. The designs are solid, they are reliable, and they are a ton of fun to shoot too.
4. Hatsan Escort
When I say Hatsan shotguns, I can only speak to the tube-fed, pump-actions. I’ve used a Hatsan Escort extensively.
It was my home defense choice for many years because I could afford it.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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I’ve hunted with it, enjoyed it at the range, and still enjoy it.
The Hatsan pump-action shotguns are solid shooters with little to complain about.
5. TriStar Viper G2
Okay, as I said about Hatsan, I can only speak for the traditional tube-fed guns with TriStar.
TriStar does this cool thing where they import top-of-the-line shotguns outfitted with tons and tons of features at a great price point.
Their tactical shotguns are cool, but their sporting shotguns take the cake. The Viper G2, for example, is a fantastic shotgun. It’s also imported from Turkey and is affordable.
The semi-auto, gas-operated gun gives you a featured-filled design without breaking the bank. It’s soft shooting, ergonomic, and swings brilliantly.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Their tactical shotguns are surprisingly well made and quite simplistic but effective. TriStar is one of the more prominent importers and has earned its reputation for quality.
6. Charles Daly 601 Series
Charles Daly used to manufacture a variety of guns, but now they act as an importer, and their imports include a variety of Turkish-produced shotguns.
Chiappa, an Italian firm, owns them, and Italians seem to know their shotguns.
The current crop of Charles Daly shotguns that bear mention is the 601 series. These come in various configurations, from clay pigeon shooting to tactical guns.
They are affordable gas-operated guns stuffed with several features. This includes rotary bolt operation; Beretta chokes compatibility, plenty of sight options, comb adjustments, and more.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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The options are not endless, but they’ll fill any shotgun niche you have. They tend to be soft-shooting and lack the overgassed nature of many imported shotguns.
I’ve owned a few Charles Daly firearms, including a .410 AR-15 upper and a 9mm AK pistol.
I’ve reached out with questions and requests for manuals, and their customer service has always been super responsive.
7. Winchester SXP Series
The Winchester of today is nothing like the Winchester of old. In its past, Winchester made some awesome shotguns, like the M1897, 1200, and Model 12.
The SXP series tout themselves as the fastest pump-action on the market. They do feature a rather slick action that’s easy to work.
These guns descend from the old Model 1300 Speed Pump guns. It’s important to note that these are American designs but Turkish produced.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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They are all-around great little guns with a wide variety of models on the market. My personal favorite is the new trench model. However, there is something for everyone in the SXP lineup.
Final Thoughts
Though Turkish shotguns sometimes get a bad reputation, with the right knowledge and some good brands by your side, you can make these budget-friendly guns work!
The guns currently on the list stand out amongst a crowded and seemingly ever-growing field of Turkish-produced scatterguns.
Have I missed any? If so, let us know below. Looking for something for home defense? Check out our list of the Best Home Defense Shotguns!
18 Leave a Reply
what about the derya mk12?
I have dozens of shotguns and have learned to stay away from Turkish guns, whose quality declines with price points. Laid off ISIS fighters with CNC machining do a good job, but parts are difficult to find; My new Mossberg SA-20 has zero customer support from Mossberg, even for parts, and SA seems to stand for SIngle Action, since it function like a bolt action.
Wanted used shotgun from private owner TriStar. G2 will pay buck above retail
Legacy sports imports the citadel boss 25. Who is the actual Turkish manufacturer? Are the the same manufacturer imported by Touarev usa for tvtbp12AF( bull pup)
The Mossberg Silver Reserve is one of those guns that you want to stay away from. Just about any sub 1000 dollar O/U is going to be junk. The same goes for the cheap Turkish SxS guns. Broken firing pins and doubling (both barrels firing at once) plague these guns all too often. If you must by a cost effective O/U stick with ATA Arms Supersport (Weatherby Orion) or one of the Yildiz offerings. But that being said, I will agree that the Tristar Viper G2, Mossberg SA20 and the Winchester SXP pump are very decent guns that will hold up to some pretty rough use and they are backed very well by their manufacturers/importers.
I don't know if they are made in Turkey or on Mars, but I would be interested in folks opinions on side by side coach shotguns (trying to improve my Fudd cred! ;) ), made by Iver Johnson and Citadel. Really, I just like the look of a classic side by side shotgun with a wood stock, and would prefer to purchase new. I realize that I can get some great values buying used, but at my knowledge level it is just too much of a crap shoot...
I am a gunsmith and I will not work on any Turkish-made guns. I had customers bringing me brand-new guns that would not run out of the box. The stores that sold them would not take them back. If you try and call the importer they have no parts and do not have a service dept. to repair the gun. Most are very hard to get in touch with and most do not respond to phone calls or emails. I will help a customer by trying to get ahold of the importer and I will mail the gun back if I am able to get a response from the importer. I had a Charles Daily that needed a gas piston and it took 14 months to get the part. You get what you pay for so .up your money and get a Benelli, Beretta or a Browning. You are not going to get a gun that will hold up for $200 to $400. I have told customers that that is what you want, just be prepared to throw it away and by another one if it breaks.
Travis Pike, you list the Stoeger M3500 as the Best Pump-action. The M3500 is a semi-auto, not a pump. That is a major detail fail. You should fix your article.
I got a Hatsan Escort MPA semi auto on the advice of a friend. QC on these are hit and miss. His is flawless, mine needed a lot of TLC. Hatsan's customer service is non existent. They suck. I replaced every single pin and screw on the shotty as well as the sights. I got used Hatsan sights off EBAY as my first set rattled apart along with half the pins in less than 50 rounds of buckshot. The Ghost Ring sights are of low quality. Red Loctite everything! It broke in after about 200 rounds and I check to see what rattled loose every time I shoot it. I got a Turkish adaptor to add a Magpul stock with adaptor/limbsaver pad and upgraded the follower and spring. Works well now, but it gets old tapping pins and loctiting them back in. Only got it because there were no shotguns available during the panic. It was 200 bucks but I put in a few hundred more making it better plus the CA anti gun fees and taxes . I should have waited another year and bought a Mossberg 590 or Benelli Super Nova for about the same as what it cost in the end. It's fun, but I'm not sure it's going to make 1000 rounds. Have about 500 through it now.
I've got a couple Yildiz A71, which are almost identical to the Beretta.
The Rock Island VR80 looks identical to the Panzer AR12 w/the exception of the stock...are they made by the same company?
I have a Dickinson marine commando pump action shotgun. Didn’t know much about them, but they got good reviews from reputable gun personalities on YouTube. I put maybe 25 rounds of slugs through it at my local range and it seems to work fine. Once I get a couple hundred through it without any issues or feel better about it. I kind of figured Importers put different names on them. I’ve seen the same Dickinson with different names on it or for about the same price point. Under $300.
I've got a Pointer Acrius in 12 gauge, 28", comes with 5 extended screw-in chokes of the Beretta/Benelli variety, "features a Turkish walnut stock, five chokes, dual extractors, raised vent rib, crisp mechanical trigger, chrome-lined barrels, barrel selector and shot-after-shot consistency". After about 500 rounds fired at clays, the barrel selector screw came loose. Legacy Sports is the importer, but they told me they were running 2-4 months on warranty work, so I ran it down to my favorite gunsmith, who fixed the problem that day and gave it a good going over. Nothing more was found amiss, and we agreed that especially for the money it is a fine shotgun.
What about Panzer Arms M-4 knock-off?
"The Winchester of today is nothing like the Winchester of old. In its past, Winchester made some awesome shotguns, like the M1897, 1200, and Model 12"...but the Turkish made SXP is ok? What are you saying here?
What's the difference between the Stoeger M3000 and M3500? I went to Stoeger's website and all they gave me were a bunch of specs. The only difference I could find (admittedly I did not spend a lot of time on research) was that the M3000 uses 3-inch shells while the M3500 uses 3.5-inch shells. Hence the nomenclature, n'est-ce pas? Rumor has it that the 3-gun guys love the Stoeger M3000. I want to know more about the M3000.
3000 3inch 3500 3.50inch shells
Yeah, I got that part.