Yildiz O/U Sporter

Yildiz is one of the best-known Turkish gunmakers in the UK. Its guns have been imported and distributed by Entwistle Guns in Preston, Lancashire for a number of years.

Initially, the company’s guns have been game or field guns, with many models being built on a lightweight alloy action. This has been welcomed, particularly when it comes to some of the smaller gauges, such as .410s or 28-bores, where the lighter weight makes the guns handle particularly well.

Yildiz has been in business for about 40 years, and has invested heavily in technology, using modern machine tools to produce parts that are then hand assembled and regulated. Yildiz produces about 45,000 guns a year, and exports to 65 different countries.

Yildiz is value for money

Always affordable, Yildiz has recently started to look towards the sporting clay market, and has come up with a Sporter. It’s a relatively plain-looking gun, but is designed to be a value-for-money tool rather than a thing of great beauty. Having said that, the gun boasts good wood — a lot of walnut comes from Turkey these days.

The action frame is finished in a matt satin silver. There is little engraving on the gun, with just the maker’s name and a picture of a flying clay etched on to the action sides. The top lever is finished bright, but has some attractive etched scroll lines, which looks okay.

The mechanics of the gun are basic, but clean and well put together, with hammers pivoting from the floor of the action and the sear suspended above and from the underside of the top strap. The action frame itself is in one piece, which gives it maximum strength. The hammers are powered forwards by coil springs.

The sears have small tails — when they are lifted by pulling the trigger, they have push the selector block back, disengaging it from the sear as the hammer falls. This makes the gun select the second barrel mechanically, so even the lightest cartridges will work in this gun.

The ejectors are picked up by trip rods that are connected directly into the hammers and pick up the ejector trip in the fore-end when the gun has been fired. The ejectors themselves are directly spring-loaded by coil springs in the monoblock.

Cocking is achieved by a cam in the fore-end that pushes back a cocking lever in the floor of the action as the gun is opened. The safety is manual, working through a gate to select either top or bottom first.

A very traditional look

The barrels are nicely finished with a glossy black. The bores are chrome-lined for maximum protection. The top rib is parallel, 9mm wide with almost horizontal matting to reduce glare. The top and side ribs are ventilated for weight and to maximise cooling. The chambers are 76mm or 3in and have special steel shot proof. There are five flushfitting stainless steel chokes.

The woodwork has some figuring and is quite dark, with an oil finish. Together with the chequer pattern, which finishes in points, this gives it a very traditional look. The 14¼in stock has all the features: palm swell and adjustable comb — the length includes a ventilated pad approximately 20mm thick.

The pistol grip is quite full and, with the palm swell, is pretty comfortable. The fore-end is in the Schnabel style, finished with a subtle beak at the nose end. With the stock in its lowest position the drop is 39mm at the comb and 60mm at the heel. The stock is slightly right cast of 1mm at the heel. The version on test had an adjustable comb and had 30in barrels, but there is a 28in barrel version available. The gun weighs 8lb 5oz, which is on the heavy side. On the plus side, however, when firing light loads, unless you hear the bang to know the gun has fired, it’s unlikely you’ll feel the recoil.

The Yildiz Sporter comes in an ABS case with cloth sleeves to protect it when it is broken down. There are spare chokes, a key and hex keys for the adjustable comb if that is the version you have.