Home Forums Birds & Dogs Turkey Hunting Retay shotguns

we have a couple of guys in our waterfowl circle that bought them. I havent seen any issues with them in the field nor have the guys discussed any issues with the guns. I don't care for the feel of them but thats personal preference. some fo the issues with Benellis are accurate. I've had the dreaded "Benelli Click" in a duck blind before and it's pretty well documented that SBE's, all generations of them have some POI/POA problems. I solved mine by mounting a speed bead on it. that said I've used mine to break ice, as a walking stick, you name it. it's seen every condition from pouring down rain, snow, and dry dusty snowgoose fields to black swamp muck. In fact it went close to 3000 rounds of Steel waterfowl loads before I ever cleaned it. all that said I don't know if I would buy another Benelli or not

Improved according to whom? Lots of copies out there now that the patents have expired, but I don’t recall seeing any reviews that say the copies are better, just cheaper. If it were me, I’d look for some serious reviews not only of the one you’re interested in, but other stuff they make and sell under their name or other brands. There are very nice guns and clunkers both coming out of Turkey, sometimes from the same makers, just like with Chinese optics.

Here’s a positive one from someone I trust:

https://www.fieldandstream.com/retay-masai-mara-shotgun-review/

EDIT: Looked at their website and they look pretty good. Nice-looking pump too at a nice price.

Another review. Seems they recommend you run a few boxes of heavy loads through to break the gun (Gordion) in before you can expect it to cycle light loads reliably. The reviewer also demonstrated that the Benelli Click won’t happen with it. There’s a handy unload feature as well.

https://youtu.be/SYs4aTcuOPo

Another reviewer showed a target he shot and claimed it put 25% more number 8s in a 12”circle.

Both reviews complained about the ineffective recoil pad (one changed it out), and it seems the trigger pull is a bit stiff.

They look like a nice gun.

They also look to be $250-$300 more than a Belgian made Super X4. I've not seen too many threads asking if the FN Winchesters are quality guns or not.

Easy pass on the Retay for me if I were in the market.

Browning makes the Winchester SX4 in their Viana, Portugal plant, along side their other semi autos, the Maxus and Maxus II, A5 and Silver.

Well, see ??

Now I learned something today.

The SX4 is the one I do not have. I just assumed (yeah......... I know........) that the 4 was made by FN in Belgium, same as it's older mates, the SX2 and SX3.

Thanks for filling me in.

Yeah, the Maxus guns and A5 are marked "Designed at Browning Belgium" on one side, and "Made in Portugal by Browning Viana" on the other. The SX4 is marked only marked "Made in Portugal by Browning Viana".

Try finding a 20 gauge Winchester SX4 turkey model lately. I'm certainly no computer guru, but I can navigate around pretty good and have been unable to find one.
Retay makes the claim that it's an "improved inertia system", it does have some really good reviews, and they seem to be available. There's also aftermarket turkey choke tubes available, as that is a consideration too. They're not cheap, but not expensive either as far as some other 20 gauge semi-autos go. People claim they're the lightest feeling shotgun they've ever handled, which would make them a nice carry gun. But we all know lightweight equals more recoil. And in the turkey woods, that really wouldn't be a problem. Patterning loads and chokes would be a little different.
Still haven't talked myself into one and will probably continue hammering away with my little 870 for now...

I don't own any "made-in-Turkey" guns. But Turkey turns out enough guns, and parts for other makers, to make them a top player. More shotguns are imported from Turkey than any other country, including Italy. The nation makes guns for many brands, Weatherby, Stoeger and Winchester (current Winchester pumps) to name a few, their own brands, and parts for several top makers. Rumor has it the Beretta 300 has major components made in Turkey to meet its pricepoint. You can't really tell where a gun is actually "made" anymore based on the stamp on it.

10-4

I'd definitely not let that scare me away...... again.......if I were in the market for one.

Some VERY sought after Brownings (80's and 90's Hi-Powers in particular) were made in the Portugal facility. They turn out quality guns.

Both 28" guns. That wouldn't turn me away. But different strokes for different folks...........

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/922616477

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/923573450

Here's a riddle for you yOder.....

What do you call a guy that claims he's been paid by the turkey hunting and choke tube industries for two decades won't tell who paid him and hides behind a bogus user name on the internet ?

They're hard to come by. Elk County Ammo and Arms in Pennsylvania seems to get a steady supply of Winchesters, but they go fast. I keep my name on their "Notify Me" list for several guns I'm considering and I get notices for one here or there with some regularity. Then if you get a notice, you can decide if you really want it at the moment you get the notice. That's what I'd recommend.

https://ammoandarmsstore.com/511214690/

Or you can buy a SX4 20 gauge in a vent rib configuration:
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/922616477

And then buy spare a cantilever turkey barrel for it:
https://www.midwestgunworks.com/page/mgwi/prod/615214653

That one sold by Reed Sports is a 28" barrel, but that would make a great turkey gun. The SX4 are drilled and tapped for scope mounts.

I bought my Maxus II from Reed Sports. They shipped the same day I paid. Great seller.

I never even considered the Winchester guns, though they popped up while I was looking for a 20ga AL for my grandson last year, unavailable of course. Not in the market myself after finding a like-new Browning Gold Hunter late last year, but the SX 3&4 look pretty good.

There’s a sprinkling of Turkish ALs among the guys I shoot clays with, Weatherbys and a G-Force. All of them have occasional malfunctions, and I had an ejection failure with my Browning last week, first so far in several hundred rounds. The Berettas also fail once in a while, so I guess it’s just an AL “thing”. My A5 (real one) works perfectly as long as I don’t try to cheat with the friction rings.

I'd agree with you before I bought a Winchester SX4 I'd just keep my 870.

Made in Belgium only meant quality because John Browning moved there and over saw the production of his beloved A5....i believe he died there.

Before John Browning Beligium made guns were know as JABCs....just another Belgium cluncker.

The Belgium gun makers were known for their cheap and poorly made trade guns that offen leaned on the name of famous English makers. They even used the American Parker name.

The "Made in Beligium" badge of honor belongs to one man John Browning.

Yep. We're on the same page. Elk County isn't showing any 20's in stock at the moment. Bud's or Grice's, either.

You do understand that if he has you on ignore, that he can not see you post.