Gun test: Yildiz Sporter

It might not win any beauty contests, but Mike Yardley finds the Yildiz 12-bore instinctive and forgiving to use

The grip has a well formed palm-swell and the trigger blade has a good shape

credit: Archant

First impressions are adequate. Frankly, they are a little spoilt by the fairly crude laser engraving on the (steel) flat-walled action. The rest of the gun looks business-like. Machining is of a good standard. Wood-to-metal and metal-to-metal fit is A1. The stock wood is not spectacular, but it is very well chequered (by laser, too) and competently and practically oil-finished. The barrel is nicely presented inside and out. The 10mm ventilated rib is well laid. Joining ribs – also vented – extend most of the way, but beneath the fore-stock the barrel is ribless (a common weight-saving measure). All sound.

The barrels – 3” chambered and Fleur-De-Lys proofed – are built, as the vast majority of modern over-and-unders, on the monobloc system. Both internal and external finish of the barrels, bored at 18.5mm, was good for a mid-priced gun. The forcing cones are fairly short and the bores are chromed. My only real criticism is that the sides of the monobloc could have done with a bit of engine-turning, or similar, to improve aesthetics. The top surface of the rib – which is a pleasant and practical design – was expertly machined. There is a red translucent rod-type fore-sight.

The action of the test gun is of typical Italian – and now Turkish – pattern. Plainly decorated and matt nickel-plated, it could have done without the clay and squiggly lines. This is something that might very easily be rectified though. Mechanically, the barrels pivot on studs in the usual manner. There is a central flat cocking bar, and a Browning-style flat bolt to the rear, engaging a bite beneath the bottom chamber mouth. Coil springs power the tumblers. All well proven. The single trigger is mechanical. The pulls are not bad either – there is a little creep, but they are not too heavy. The safety and barrel selector are combined in the manner of a Browning. The trigger blade was elegantly formed, though I thought that the thumb-piece of the top lever was too small.

The stock of the Yildiz generally impresses as well. Forward, the schnabel fore-end is of classic style. To the rear, the grip – which has a well formed palm-swell (not always my favourite thing) – fills the hand nicely. I liked the shape of the comb too – not too thin or thick. The measurements: 14½” for length (+1/8” at heel and 3/8” at toe), drop of 13/8” and 21/8” and slight cast-off were textbook. The vented recoil pad was inoffensive, though my aesthetic preference would be for a solid design.

The action is plainly decorated with a simple flying target design