My first 20 gauge was a High Standard Supermatic Trophy autoloader and it was a pretty good-looking single shot. Country of origin today is largely an obsolete term in shotgun land, but branding sourced parts and marketing things from somewhere is anything but new. The "perfect uniform shot-to-shot functioning with all loads" is a fine thing; it is a pity that isn't exactly what happens.

The short version is, “pretty gosh darn awful.” Like anything else, the short answer doesn't tell the full story. We had the idea that the Japanese could not properly manufacture anything beyond an A.M. radio at one time, yet it is now clear that they can do a lot more than that, having thoroughly embarrassed the electronics, automobile and optics industries of other nations. The same is true of Chinese product, once universally the object of derision, the United States runs on Chinese product in several areas and they are capable of both excellent and poor quality product.

It isn't that any country is immune from forgettable product. Rumor has it that Italy might actually have some crime and corruption, somewhere. Yet, by and large, the sole reason to consider a Turkish shotgun is a cheap price.

The United States has its own firearm standards, voluntary standards at that, but they are still published standards. In Europe, we have the C.I.P. body of standards for firearms, standards that more or less carry the force of law, yet can be ignored in shipments to the United States, which is not a CIP signatory. The standards for Turkish product are dubious, for Turkey is not part of the C.I.P. nor need they pay any attention to SAAMI voluntary standards. The “cooperative” type of company, as in Turkey, often has piece-workers and the person that is supposed to be in charge of quality control is sometimes the same person making the part. This is not an environment that is conducive to consistency or quality.

A recent poll asked the question, "What two brands of shotguns leave you LEAST SATISFIED?"

While not scientific or based on specific criteria (you might want to contract Scott Rasmussen for something of that nature), the trend is a very clear one. The only brand to hit above 20%, Stoeger at 26%, is Turkish through and through. Add in the 5% of Yildiz, the 7% of Huglo, and whatever part of the 15% attributed to Mossberg you'd like to attribute to the Khan-made “Silver Reserve,” you have, at the very least, a very weak reputation when it comes to shotgun brands of Turkish origin.

There are some bright spots, though, as in the recently reviewed Weatherby SA-08 twenty gauge autoloader. While CZ-USA has had better luck with their O/U models than their autoloaders, based on what I've tested, they do offer a five-year warranty and dependable warranty service.

Country of origin is not usually precisely defined. Most often it means "assembled in." Most shotguns are full of internationally sourced parts, from stocks to shims, choke tubes, shell elevators, sight beads, screws and springs. “Made In” is largely an obsolete concept and has been for years. Nevertheless, the notion that Turkish shotguns are inferior has proven to be more right than wrong. However, thankfully, there are exceptions. The best advice is to employ a health dose of skepticism and to be a bit cautious if you don't want your shotgun to actually be a turkey.