Turkish Shotguns and the Linberta Shotgun

[Plinkin' Logs]

Those of you familiar with shotguns are probably familiar with the recent "Turkish shotgun invasion" or at least that's what one article called it. I know Stoeger, Weatherby, and CZ admittedly make products that are 100% made in Turkey, and Turkish manufactures are quick to remind us know that they make parts for other "well known Italian and American" brands without specially divulging those brand's names of course.....

I am seeing Turkish imports everywhere now. Not just online, and at the local gun stores, but also at Cabela's, Dick's and Bass Pro. I have a perfectly good pump shotgun (Mossberg 590) that I was happy with, and generally I'm more of a rifleman then a shotgunner but I had heard some pretty good things about the Turkish imports, and some things from people who were not able to get past the idea of a shotgun made in Turkey.

I kept bumping into the Linberta line that Buds sells as a "house special", I looked at some of their "home defense" offerings and was surprised by what I heard on the specs. 7150 and 4140 just like the quality brands. Check. Steel trigger guard, hmm nice. Check. Black chrome exterior and hard chrome interiors . Wow that's nice. Most US and most European brands can't black chrome due to environmental concerns, but it is one of the most durable finishes when done right. Bad for the environment but good for the gun owner. Sounds good on paper but was skeptical.

Fast forward. About 2 weeks, and I'm on Budsgunshop. They've got a Linberta pump 5+1 for $229 (PA101). Warranty center is right here in the US (out of Florida), did my homework there. I am grabbing other stuff so I talk myself into giving it a shot. Buds had (has?) a 100% satisfaction guarantee on the Linberta's for up to a year. So its sort of like you get 1 year buds warranty plus manufacturer's.

Honestly I'm not expecting much, but in my mind its better then a Chicom. So I pick it up from the FFL, and the first I notice is there is an extra picatinny rail on the pump. Good for a flashlight I would suppose. I try shifting the hand guard to either side and its doesn't wobble. Okay not bad. Give it the once over, and make sure it goes click, and make the transfer.

They tossed in an shotgun shell belt in the box, and a complete printed FULL-SIZE manual, not instructions on how to download one online or the miniature book of perpetual headaches. Also a magazine limiter for those of you planning on hunting with your home defense shotgun , but its a nice gesture to include it. Not sure if they plan on offering longer choked barrels for these in the future


I take it home and clean it up, set it aside. A day or so later I decide to take it to the range. First thing I noticed is the 5+1 is a close fit. My Olin military 9 pellet 00 only fit 4 in the magazine. Upon closer inspection I realized that is because the Olin shells are actually more like 2 7/8'' then 2 3/4''. When I switched to some regular Federal 9 pellet, I was able to get all 5 in the magazine.

So time to test for function. I wasn't used to the forearm running the whole length of the gun, but I managed to work it pretty well and the forarm has pretty good traction. I ran one of my Big'ol boxes (100 rds of Federal 00 9 pellet and Estate Dove loads), and no problems and a lot of dead water bottles and paper targets. Well color my impressed for the money I spent. Recoil is a tad harder then the 590, but that's because of the weight difference, and the extra limbsaver I have on the 590.

I take it home to clean it and really start looking at the internals. First thing I notice is how much of a breeze cleaning the barrel is because of the chrome lining. If you thought chrome lined rifle bores where easy to clean, try a chrome lined smooth bore. Like snot on a raincoat, slides off pretty easy like grandpa used to say. There was a small "glossy" mark on the receiver were the forearm touches the receiver when racked, but that's about it. Come to think of it I better make sure that not just oil mark. Either way I though it worked out pretty well. Magazine has a captive spring so magazine extensions do not work without cutting a few treads off the cap with a hacksaw. I don't have much interest in doing anything like that. The recoil pad is pretty comfy as long as you shoulder it properly.

The top picatinny rail didn't come loose at all and is grooved to be looked "over" for a clear view of the bead sight. Stock sounds hollow, and probably is. Barrel is labeled as made in Huglu Turkey. I got to thinking, that much like my AR there are not to many points of possible rust on a gun with this finish (Anodized receiver, chromed barrel and bolt), something that makes me smile a bit. Seems like a nice little package.

Overall I would have to say for the price of a cheap .22 or a basic optic, this Turkish delight has some nice things going for it, and I guess you can call me both surprised and impressed. I suppose time will tell about long term endurance, but so far I'm pretty happy.

I am starting to think there is a reason "reputable American and Italian" shotgun makers as well as the Stoeger (made by Benelli), Weatherby, CZ, and others are going to Turkey for shotguns.

How about you guys, any of you out there with positive or negative reviews of your Turkish scatterguns?

P.S. Pics will soon follow if anyone has an interest

 

[oneounceload]

I own a S&W SxS that is a true trigger plate action gun with real charcoal and bone case color hardening. When S&W discontinued them, there were half price and a steal. Same company makes the Dickinsons at Cabela's and the new SKBs and it is NOT Huglu.

 

[rule303]

There are some very high quality guns coming out of Turkey right now, as well as some complete junk. The Turks will build to the quality specs and price point that their American importers specify. In my experience, most of the pumps and autos are equal to their American and Italian competition. The double barrels on the other hand, are where you need to do some research before buying.
The warranty will last as long as the import company. I wouldn't be worried about buying a Turk gun from say Weatherby, Tristar, CZ, or Mossberg, but I would be hesitant to buy from a company I have never heard of.