Does anyone have any experience with the Turkish Charles Daly side-by-side imports? I was looking at some of the cheap SxS 12 gauges at the local shop last week and compared to the Baikals (Remington), Stoegers, and even CZs it seemed very well made. I think the model was 306(?) with 28” barrels, choke tubes, and 3” chambers. I was actually very impressed with the quality of the action, solid lockup, hand-cut checkering, decent walnut, good wood to metal fit, and it pointed great too. For $450 I thought it would make a nice field gun if it shoots straight. I just want to see if anyone has heard good or bad about these—CD has imported some decent stuff but a lot of crap. I’m not looking for a precision sporting clays gun just a shooter that won’t breakdown on me. I’m mostly into semis but have always liked the feel of a SxS. Unfortunately I don’t have the budget or need for a $1,000+ heirloom although I respect the craftsmanship.
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Turkish Charles Daly SxS any good?
- Thread starter jford1
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evbutler462
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In general Turkish made guns are of questionable quality. I have had one and I traded it shortly after I bought it. The quality just wasn't there. These guys in Turkey don't have the skills that are necessary to build a quality gun, IMO and experience. Some shooter get along with them until they can afford a decent gun and they are history. Only occasionally do you find a satisfied owner. CD in their day had the best of the best in quality and workmanship when they had their guns made in Japan and Italy. Their name is mud now. It is a shame that such a fine company has stooped so low.
The quality is all dependent on the manufacturer. It's silly to talk about "Turkish guns" as if all manufacturers are equal. That's like picking up a Hi-Point and concluding that "American guns" are junk.
In my experience, firearms made by Sarsilmaz and Kirikkale are first-rate. The budget SxS manufactured for export by Huglu, Kahn, etc. are of considerably lesser quality.
FWIW, Turkey is known for their walnut and they have a very long tradition of shotgun production. Even some of the brand-name Italian manufacturers contract production to certain factories in southern Turkey. If you travel to Turkey, you'll find some fine shotguns for the domestic market. Of course, most of the export models are not built to the same level. But to say that "they don't have the skills to build a quality gun" is simply false.
In my experience, firearms made by Sarsilmaz and Kirikkale are first-rate. The budget SxS manufactured for export by Huglu, Kahn, etc. are of considerably lesser quality.
evbutler462 said:These guys in Turkey don't have the skills that are necessary to build a quality gun
FWIW, Turkey is known for their walnut and they have a very long tradition of shotgun production. Even some of the brand-name Italian manufacturers contract production to certain factories in southern Turkey. If you travel to Turkey, you'll find some fine shotguns for the domestic market. Of course, most of the export models are not built to the same level. But to say that "they don't have the skills to build a quality gun" is simply false.
Smitty in CT
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evbutler462 said:...These guys in Turkey don't have the skills that are necessary to build a quality gun, IMO and experience.
The problem is not the "guys in Turkey not having the skills", it is the US gun manufacturers not wanting to import anything but the CHEAPEST gun they can get. When I was stationed overseas, I saw a Kahn (the company Mossberg imports from) over/under that was amazing, the engraving was perfect and the wood was as good as anything I have ever seen. That gun was over $3,000 back in '91, it is no where close to what is being imported by anybody today.
It all boils down to the old addage, "You get what you pay for"...
Quality doesn't come cheap, that being said, out of the choices you list for Side by Sides, the Stoegers that I have seen haven't bad...
The new Smith & Wesson's that I have seen (only at the shows, so far) have been really nice...I haven't seen one in a shop yet, though.
The new Smith & Wesson's that I have seen (only at the shows, so far) have been really nice...I haven't seen one in a shop yet, though.
Those are sure no bargains, though. There are plenty of good, time-proven guns in that price range.
It's probably true that you get what you pay for, generally.
I have heard some good things about DeHaan's Huglus being genuine bargains, not just cheap guns. I'm not sure how they differ internally from CZ-imported Huglus, though. http://www.dhshotguns.com/
However, it's pretty safe to say that TANSTAAFL.
A Turkish gun that looks nice, with a price that sounds too good to be true, probably isn't a good choice.
Turkish guns are often finished rather nicely. It's the metallurgy that seems problematic. Stoeger's Brazilian guns are not so pretty. Hell, they're clunkers. But they seem to run fine.
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