Turkish semi-automatic guns and discussion about them
The debate about which inexpensive semi-automatic shotgun is the best has been going on for a long time.
Some hunters prefer domestic semi-automatic weapons, others insist on the advantages of foreign brands. Experts from the World of Hunting chain of stores agree that any “semi-automatic” from our range will cope with most hunting tasks, and its safety margin will be enough for many years. You will get tired of the gun faster than it will exhaust its service life.
In general, semi-automatic shotguns from Turkey are carefully made; many consider them to be more actionable than Russian models. Outwardly, they look more expensive than their real price. There are few frankly heavy models among them. They shoot well out of the box and have good shot and bullet action. You can buy a Turkish gun and not worry about its reliability. Watch our new video, in which World of Hunting experts openly talked about the characteristics and performance qualities of each model from the release. Everything so that you can make an informed choice when you come to the store to buy a new gun.
Hunting rifle ATA ARMS Companion E
Turkish hunting rifles have been the subject of controversy and controversy among shooters for quite some time, especially in our country. It is difficult to understand how good or bad they are, because the opinions of hunters are divided, in addition, there are a lot of flashy advertisements on the market, which indicate the high quality of Turkish guns. It is worth noting that such guns are very good in appearance, many models are exact copies of Italian guns and very accurate, but we are talking only about external similarity.
As always, fuel is added to the fire in the form of numerous rumors that are very similar to the truth, and as a result, it is no longer clear what to believe. Without a thorough check and, as a rule, personal verification, it will no longer be possible to figure it out. So we have to fight rumors about Turkish guns, trying to figure out which of them are worthy of attention, and which of this mass is just scrap metal with a beautiful shell.
The great variety of Turkish weapons in Russia is truly impressive; smooth-bore shotguns include inertial semi-automatic and gas-operated ones; there are also a small number of double-barreled shotguns and pump-action ones, which are not used by the Turks. In order to at least a little clarify the situation with Turkish guns, it is worth considering their advantages and disadvantages using the example of some models, which will be discussed in this article.
To be honest, in our age it is easier, cheaper and faster to make a semi-automatic gun than a double-barreled gun, and we are not talking about handmade guns, but about standard consumer goods, although they can be of fairly decent quality. The problem is that today's designers and manufacturers themselves have begun to decide how many years a gun should serve; this is done using low-quality materials. Moreover, the manufacture of guns is most often carried out by people who are far from not only the weapons business, but also without any technical qualifications at all. Actually, it is not needed there, all gun designs are extremely simple, and the main work is performed automatically on CNC machines.
It turns out that any person who has the money to buy machines can engage in such production; in addition, you need to find a couple of designers and specialists to set up these smart machines, and absolutely anyone can do the assembly.
It is worth noting that the Turks, although a warlike people, did not excel in firearms either in the 19th or 20th centuries and never had their own famous masters or schools. But now this is not required, what was described above is quite enough, in other words, if there is a desire. However, this is expressed not only in the production of guns that are identically similar to Italian models. If you wish, you can even negotiate with the Italians, who will allow them to place their logos on them and give guarantees for these guns, a simple example of the Turkish-made A-12 and A-20 models.
Companion E shotgun
Design features
It’s worth immediately understanding that there is no originality here, and this gun is made in the image of the famous Beretta A301 model. Structurally, this is a semi-automatic gas-operated gun; the return spring is located in the butt, however, as usual. The barrel is 76 cm long with a monolithic ventilated rib. The Companion E shotgun is available in two calibers: 20/76 and 12/76, in addition, the barrel is immediately made with the possibility of installing an extension. In addition to the basic version, there is also the “Combo” version, this model with significant differences, with a 510 mm barrel, the magazine is designed for 4-5 rounds, the gun is lighter than the previous version and, according to the manufacturer, weighs 3 kg. It is noteworthy that the default kit includes two valves for the piston, each of them optimally suited for a specific cartridge.
You need to pay attention to the striking Turkish difference - the trigger mechanism, as it should be for a Turk, is made of plastic, for many hunters this is an indicator of an unusable gun. It should be said that this particular model had reviews about the trigger breaking when fired. The Companion E kit includes 5 interchangeable choke tubes. Depending on the configuration (level), the gun is produced with a plastic butt or nut, but the weapon is equipped with sets of gaskets, with their help you can change the stock or the shape of the pitch to suit yourself.
It is worth paying tribute to the ATA ARMS company in the fact that for metal parts and especially for barrels, they purchase very high-quality steel from Europe, so there is no need to blame the quality of the metal. Manufacturing of all parts incl. and barrels, takes place on the latest machines with software that allow you to perform the most delicate and varied technological processes.
Impressions of handling the gun
This is where a very strange thing appears. Taking the gun in hand and examining it a little, the impression remains good. If we talk about the lightweight “Companion E” 20 caliber, then it is very comfortable, plus everything is light, quite practical at a glance, it is also worth noting that it is well balanced.
As for the appearance, there is nothing to complain about, both wood and metal are made without reproach, there are no problems with gaps, grinding or the operation of surface mechanisms, the wood looks great. The bolt is chrome-plated, the barrels are perfectly polished and covered with a dense gloss. The trigger is soft, but it was worth considering that they might shoot a bullet; loading the gun is quick and without unnecessary tricks.
Like all automatic rifles today, the Companion E can be easily disassembled into its main components; the finishing of the internal parts is of course weaker, but nevertheless at a decent level.
The receiver is engraved in a very oriental style with a bright and eye-catching design that aims to take the eye away from small imperfections, however, the quality of the box, the coating and the design are very well done.
Shooting impressions
If we compare the Companion in question with the well-known Benelli-Vinci model, then here too there are no differences in shooting with shot and the same cartridges. As a minus, it is worth noting that out of a certain number of shots, a Turkish gun will definitely show a minus in the misfire when loading or ejecting a cartridge, which, of course, is not the case in the Benelli.
Perhaps such moments spoil the overall impression, when in all respects a good gun, in terms of external and technical characteristics, pleases and suddenly a similar situation occurs that darkens the whole picture. Here an analogy with Chinese goods immediately emerges, but the Turks have a good trait - they constantly monitor negative aspects and try to eliminate them, because the world market does not forgive such mistakes, and this is where the Turks strive.
Bottom line
Based on the inspection and the addition of all the pros and cons of the Companion gun, it must be said that it is excellent, perhaps even one of the best in all respects among Turkish guns. It should be taken into account that the manufacturer offers several versions, different calibers and barrel lengths, equips the weapon with various accessories, and all this against the backdrop of a low price and decent quality.
According to technical and shooting data, our MP-153, unfortunately, is inferior to the Companion E, which is a shame, because our manufacturers should fill the semi-automatic niche with a worthy serial gun.
Ata Arms gas exhaust models
Ata Arms Pegasus - This gas-operated gun has a softer recoil than inertial models. Includes a generous set of 5 replacement chokes. The automatic system is highly reliable; it comes with two gas pistons for firing light and heavy loads, respectively. The return spring is located in the butt, this has improved the balance and made a thinner, ergonomic forend. The plastic is reliable, not afraid of moisture, and resistant to impacts. The gun is camouflaged, the color is light reed. This set is ideal for hunting waterfowl. Also, you can buy other configurations of Ata Arms shotguns at an attractive price.
Shotgun Ata Arms Pegasus Standart Plastic Camo Max-5 12x76 760mm 54,590 ₽
Shotgun Ata Arms Pegasus Standart Plastic Camo Max-5 12x76 760mm
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Companion Weapon
Photo by the author
Weapon designers approached the law very scrupulously, taking into account the clause that “the length of the barrel or the length of the barrel with the bolt box” must be at least 50 cm, and the weapon in “working condition” must be at least 80 cm, and based on the well-known MTs 20 gun -01 made a very compact and successful sample.
Externally, the gun looks like a real sawed-off Mosin rifle from the Civil War. It was this similarity that gave him one of the names - “Death of the Chairman”. Of course, structurally the gun has little in common with the Mosin rifle. In fact, they are united only by a longitudinally sliding bolt, which is locked by turning two lugs; otherwise, the rifles are completely different.
TOZ-106 has a detachable single-row magazine; The gun came with two magazines, both of which were fitted to a specific weapon (third-party magazines usually require fitting and debugging). In my practice, my local stores always worked well, without failures. Many complaints of “magazine drop” are usually attributed to poor fit or incomplete mag locking. The magazine latches are located on both sides, and if one of them fails, the magazine may fall out when firing.
What happens is the following: the shooter inserts the magazine, hears a click and thinks that the magazine is fastened, but only one of the latches worked. You can easily verify this by shaking the magazine. Many people struggle with this problem by sending the magazine into place with a sharp blow, in most cases this helps. I saw how the magazine problem was solved globally: it was simply welded at two points. Loading the gun becomes cumbersome and extremely inconvenient.
The owner said that he equips it in a calm environment, and if he needs to shoot more than three times, he uses the weapon as a single-shot weapon, simply throwing the cartridge out the window to eject the cartridge case.
In addition to the original two-shot magazines, four-shot ones are also available for sale. Unfortunately, they are not so reliable and very expensive (up to 2000 rubles). Just recently I saw new magazines on sale: 3- and 5-round magazines, original design, well suited to the profile of the gun, but I have not yet been able to test their reliability.
Due to its compactness (50 cm when folded), the gun fits into any backpack, it is convenient to take it with you on trips where hunting is not planned, but you would like to have a weapon with you.
There are backpacks in which TOZ can even be placed in external pockets. Several types of cases were produced for guns, including pistol holster types, but I have a case for an AKSU assault rifle that has taken root. Surprisingly, it fits perfectly, is cheap (300–350 rubles), and practical. In addition, not a single police officer will say that such a case does not meet any requirements.
The technical design of the gun is also interesting. It's simple and reliable. The blocker is very well made: it blocks the trigger, which is correct and competent.
First, you can load and unload the gun with the stock folded. Secondly, when the butt is folded, you can remove the safety, while the gun remains completely safe, at the same time, to start shooting you only need to fold back the butt. From the above it follows that a gun with a folded stock is always safe. You can carry or store a weapon, and if necessary, instantly unfold the butt and start shooting without bothering with looking for a safety lock. Compare this with the Saiga blocker, and you will understand how much the TOZ-106 wins in this aspect.
There is a lot of debate about caliber. They say 12 gauge would be better. I can't agree with this. The fact is that with a limited barrel length (and for TOZ it is extremely short for smooth-bore weapons), the caliber becomes the only way to optimize the weapon, because it is more correct to measure the barrel length not in centimeters, but in calibers, and here, of course, in 20 calibers the barrel is longer than in the 12's.
The same applies to complaints about why they didn’t make a 20-magnum. Of course, it’s nice when a gun is “omnivorous”, but shooting a magnum from such a short barrel is useless: the increase in speed will be insignificant, only the flash will become even larger, and it’s not small anyway.
| Photo by the author |
What can you say about the user experience? The gun is very convenient to transport; it can even be hidden under clothing, not to mention bags or backpacks. Easy to maintain, reliable and inexpensive. Shots surprisingly well with a bullet. Almost as good as other models of shotguns with normal-length barrels.
Some owners even install an optical sight on the TOZ-106 and rejoice in the accuracy of the battle. It shoots satisfactorily with shot, large is better, small is worse, but if necessary, it is quite possible to shoot game at 25-30 m “for the boiler”. What else is needed on a hike that was not planned as a hunt?
Thanks to its compactness, the gun is always at hand; in the car you can put it under the seat or put it behind it - other models are not capable of this. I saw it carried on the hip, in a holster, like a pistol. True, it seems to me that there is little point in this; this method is good if you can shoot immediately after removal, but on the TOZ you still need to unfold the butt. I like best to carry it in the pocket of my backpack, where it is at hand and out of the way.
Of course, there are specifics to shooting from a short gun with a folding stock, and even a longitudinally sliding rotary bolt. To learn how to shoot quickly and accurately from it, you need to practice. So, mastering any weapon requires training and developing muscle memory. It’s a good idea to develop the skill of quickly deploying a gun, especially in confined spaces (of course, such training should be done with an unloaded weapon).
Among the owners of the 106 there are amateurs who are returning it to the category of full-size weapons. To do this, the barrel with the receiver is transferred to the stock from the MC 20-01, and the butt is shortened slightly, the result is a very nice gun of the “Carpathian carbine” type, with a fore-end to the end of the barrel, swinging and compact. Of course, such a gun is much more convenient to shoot, but the ultra-compact nature inherent in the 106 is lost.
Unfortunately, TOZ-106 is not produced today, and you can only buy it secondhand or through a consignment store. The price of a used gun in good condition ranges from 7 to 9 thousand rubles. Quite accessible for weapons with the described features.
When purchasing, you should pay attention first of all to the blocker. It must work, this is a critical moment. If the lock is broken, let alone removed, the gun will not be registered, and it will not be easy to prove that it was not you who did it. The mechanics of the gun must work clearly, without sticking or distortion. It is advisable that the kit includes two magazines. And it would be good for your relatives - the gun numbers are scratched on them.
As I wrote, third-party stores may not work correctly or will not be attached at all. The wood of the stock has sharp corners and is prone to chips, so a gun that has been in use for a long time often looks battered and shabby.
What can we say in conclusion? In my opinion, the TOZ-106 is the best companion gun. It’s not a pity to carry it with you in any conditions and in any weather. Perhaps the only thing better than it would be a pump-action pump with the same layout and the same dimensions, but it does not exist and is not expected.
Alexander Kudryashov July 18, 2014 at 00:00
Armsan
Armsan A612 is another gas-operated semi-automatic, in concept it is similar to the Ata Arms Pegasus, but has its own characteristics. The return spring is located on the magazine tube, the tube itself is steel, so the A612 weighs slightly more than the previous model.
The video presents a very rich set with two barrels 610 and 760 mm long. This will allow you to most accurately adapt the gun to different cartridges (shot, buckshot or bullet) and types of hunting. The barrels are equipped with a front sight LPA LPA
— LPA front sights and slats will especially come in handy for shooters with poor eyesight, since with them a faithful, well-worn weapon takes on a new life for excellent aiming. More details, for more accurate and faster aiming. The stock and fore-end are made of high-quality walnut wood and give the gun a noble appearance.
Shotgun Ata Arms Pegasus Standart Plastic Camo Max-5 12x76 760mm 54,590 ₽
Shotgun Ata Arms Pegasus Standart Plastic Camo Max-5 12x76 760mm
Licensed product Large-sized Not delivered by TC
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Advantages and disadvantages of Ata Arms Neo 12
Neo series shotguns perform well under harsh operating conditions, which is not entirely typical for imported shotguns in this price category. For example, in one of the shooting clubs, after a year of fairly active use, a gun from the Plastic series was disassembled; no seriously worn parts were identified, only the Ata Arms Neo 12 bolt had slight wear. Otherwise, the gun has retained excellent characteristics of accuracy and reliability of combat. The length of the Ata Arms Neo 12 gun allows it to be carried without disassembling it into components, that is, the gun is quite compact.
But these guns are not without their drawbacks - when actively shooting from a Neo of any caliber, many shooters notice that the charge begins to deviate somewhat to the side. Moreover, there are no apparent reasons for this, but the problem can be solved - you just need to adjust the butt. The second disadvantage of these guns is the durability of the wooden parts.
The thing is that they are made from Turkish walnut, and this tree does not like moisture and intensive use.
Therefore, if you plan to actively use the gun for hunting, it is recommended to pay attention to options with either a plastic butt and forearm, or options with varnished wood. But even in the latter case, you will have to closely monitor the gun.
Ata Arms inertial models
Ata Arms Neo 12 is a very successful series of “semi-automatic” from Ata Arms. The inertial reloading mechanism is very simple and consists of three main elements: the bolt, its rotating cylinder and the inertial spring. The bolt is made of alloy steel and chrome plated to reduce friction and improve corrosion resistance. Thanks to their design, the NEO series shotguns are lightweight, which is especially valuable during long hunts. We wrote more about this popular series of inertial shotguns earlier. In the World of Hunting chain of stores you can buy other Ata Arms guns; different models and configurations are available.
Shotgun Ata Arms Neo 12 Synthetic Stream 12x76 710mm 59,990 ₽
Shotgun Ata Arms Neo 12 Synthetic Stream 12x76 710mm
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Description
The Turkish manufacturer of hunting weapons “Ata Arms” appeared on the world market relatively recently - about fifty years ago. But he has already managed to attract the close attention of hunters from all over the world. In 2009, perhaps one of the best Turkish shotguns in the Russian Federation appeared in the company’s catalog – Ata Arms Neo, available in several calibers.
In addition, the gun is distinguished by good production quality, inexpensive price and soft recoil when fired even with homemade cartridges chambered for 12 Arms caliber.
The Ata Arms Neo 12 shotgun with a replaceable barrel is lightweight, ergonomic and excellent in appearance. The buyer can choose from the Ata 12 shotgun in seventeen different configurations, which differ in appearance, barrel length and caliber, as well as the finishing of metal parts. Such an assortment will not leave even the most fastidious buyer indifferent.
Updated Stoeger shotguns
The Stoeger M3000 got rid of the shortcomings of its predecessors of the 2000 series. Its main difference is the use of a more reliable inertia mechanism Inertia Driven® Inertia Driven®
- inertial reloading system used by Stoeger. It is the simplest, fastest, cleanest and most reliable inertia system in the world. Read more, this has resulted in improvements in both ergonomic and shooting performance. With high-quality cartridges, this gun works reliably, produces an even shot pattern, accurate bullet firing, and is equipped with a set of three choke constrictions.
Shotgun Stoeger M3000 12x76 Synthetic 760mm 42,180 ₽
Shotgun Stoeger M3000 12x76 Synthetic 760mm
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Design and operating principle
The motto of the gunsmiths of the Turkish company is simplicity and reliability. They do not use complex solutions to achieve simple goals. That is why Ata Arms Neo 12 shotguns have an inertial reloading system, which consists of only three parts - a bolt, a return spring and a cylinder. Reloading at the moment of firing occurs when the bolt moves backward under the influence of recoil, and at the moment of the return movement the bolt cocks the trigger and forces a new cartridge into the chamber. The inertial system, despite the fact that it was created at the beginning of the twentieth century, still remains the most reliable - it does not collect powder deposits, which makes cleaning the gun easier, the shot energy is not spent on reloading the gun, and weapons with such a reloading system have the weakest return.
