Another great video Lloyd! Love the honest call it as you see it style of your reviews! Might just buy one, but definitely with the considerations you mention. Take care!
I bought one at the game fair grade 3 30” barrels and I’ve used it every weekend and it’s not missed a beat, although when I got caught in the rain the finish on the wood came off in my hands ! Not a problem for me as I did a tru oil finish on it and it’s made the wood look so much better. I bought this after seeing this review and I knew what I was in for with the wood being so unfinished ! All in all I love it and I’ve shot a pb with it and it will serve me well until the Perazzi arrives. Great gun and after nearly 2000 rounds through it it still pleases me and my mediocre ability. Great video Lloyd keep em coming 👍👍
After shooting browning’s; miroku and zoli for the past 20 years I tried the yildiz 32”sporter out last year and got on with it so well I brought one and it is now my go to gun for game and clay shooting
Hi Lloyd great review. I got one of these 3 weeks ago from Orston as a first gun, tried out the 525 as well. But the Yildiz was a a lot more gun for the money IMO and was a better fit for me. The wood is on another level compared the 525. 5 year warranty whats not to like.
Great review! I had been looking to move to a 32 inch gun from my Silver Pigeon and had intended to get a P-Gun (still do). With the lockdowns, it seemed a good time to change, but couldn't get in any gunshops to choose a P-Gun, and a trip to Italy is well off the table for now. So I bought a Grade 5 Pro Black Adjustable, refinished the stock myself (London), I love it. Scores are up too, 3 class wins out of 5!😁
Lloyd, thanks for another very good, fair review, haven’t seen one in person. I have a couple of P guns and couldn’t help wondering what these were like.
Hi Lloyd, could you please explain a "London Finish" to a complete newbie. Love your videos, that's probably one of the first things I've not understood. Can't understand why you don't have more followers. Keep it up, love the no BS approach.
Thanks for a true honest review. Out of curiosity do some of the Beretta 692's suffer reliability problems I'm now subscribed and look forward to future reviews 👍
Thank you. They certainly do, however I think most of the issues have been fettled, and the troublesome bits are completely revised in the design of the 694.
Lloyd great review I had bought one since I last emailed you about doing the review on it and I like it quite a bit is a good not great shooting but it's up there with some of the best even doo it does not cost as much it seems to me that its well made and better then what you could get for the price in another brands.
Hi Lloyd. A great review. I´m a follower from the other side of the Atlantic. Could you add more about the barrels bore and the length of the cones. Indeed an interesting gun. Would like to see one after 50-60 K rounds but I think more than one of us will be surprised about the quality of some Turkish manufacturers. Regards and Thanks in advance
I really appreciate the review. Yildiz is not a well known brand here in the US (A lot of fudds have silly notions about Turkish products) and I was a little concerned about the great looking but weirdly cheap gun I had just come across. Thanks again and I'm off to have a second look.
Great review and helpful as seeking out my first gun. Have my eye on Yildiz/ATA but keep getting told a 30yr old browning would be miles better! Unsure if that’s just gun snobbery or experience! Your reviews help a lot. Thanks!
I have a 30 year old Browning satori love the gun nothing wrong with it a lot depends on how much it has been shot that ATA looks like that fine gun if you intend to put lots of rounds through it over the next 10 years Mild satori has already had 20000 rounds through it so I would take the ATA today
It's not snobbery they are just saying they hold money and are made to a higher standard, entry ata/yildiz are good cheap guns, but they are still a cheap gun, buying an older good condition browning/miroku etc for the money you are getting a better made piece easily- compare them side by side in build quality/materials, but as a first gun either choice will work for you, my experience is most who buy an ata move on within a year or so, most who buy a used miroku etc stay with the gun, something to keep in mind, buy what you like and what fits the best
@@fullchoke01 I fit into the first gun buying group that Lloyd describes as a new ATA buyer, don’t regret buying it as I knew I would get hooked and would want to buy another gun. I knew I would lose a fair chunk of that investment so always decided to keep it as a gun my sons could use if they decide to start clay shooting (bank of Dad dependant) or I use it around my friends farm. The trouble with this is I now need a bigger gun cabinet, I imagine this is very common problem with this addictive pastime. Welcome to the dilemma, have fun.
chris handsley: Very interesting to hear your concerns, exactly my concern 4 months ago. Doing a little research on Turkish Gun Manufacturing/I picked out a quality Brand, shooting under 500 rounds per month, *still a happy camper* New Buyers beware..Do your research..Trap Guns vs. Sporting Guns - Gun Fit ... (my 2 cents, Lloyd😊)
Enjoyed the review. One thing which would be interesting is a side by side (no pun intended) review with the SP and 525. That way we can see and hear the pros and cons of each gun real time. SPs and 525 are common enough. As you said, the reviews often focus on perazzi comparisons which isn't fair on the gun.
I think at this stage it's best to let the gun stand on it's own merits and mature in the market. There is no shortage of people investing in turkish guns at the moment so we will see over the next little while how things develop.
Nice review 👍🏻 All Yildiz have a 5 year warranty in the UK - the Pro has been being made for 7 years; it’s not a new product so there shouldn’t be any concerns on its reliability. Yildiz itself has been in the UK for 17 years and is a proven reliable product. As for resale value I personally buy guns to shoot them, but there’s no reason these shouldn’t hold their value. A long time ago Italian guns had the same criticism when compared to English guns, but now English guns are unsaleable 🤷🏼♂️
Thanks Lloyd. Sound review as ever. I bought one as a second gun - 30/g4/adjustable. Agree on the wood - very nice but yes would benefit from some skilled TLC, blueing in mine is decent actually. Found the palm-swell a bit too big but that’s easy to sort. Very happy with it - a sensible gun to take out in bad weather and not too bothered about resale. As a second gun I’m more likely to keep hold of it for the long term. Let’s see how it fares mechanically. Look forward to your next review. Tony.
Lloyd, The Yildiz Pro is a fine gun for the money. I currently own two of them in Black with 32 inch barrels and am pleased with there performance. The internals are all steel and are better than any Beretta 690 or 692.
@@lloydyp It is not a bold claim. My gunsmith at the NSSA and NSCA Shooting Complex in San Antonio, Texas examined them both and was pleased with the internals of both guns.
I bought one about 11 months ago. I have about 6-8ks through it, no issues. Shoots great and the wood attracks a lot of attention. One issue I had was the stock is very neutral so I had to finagle it to fit me right and not beat the hell out of me. Being Turkish gun they are even less known here in the US than in the UK so I believe this gun has found its forever home. 😂🤣😂
Hi Lloyd. I’ve been watching more and more of your reviews and I really enjoy your candid attitude regarding the products. Thanks for your expertise! Also, just wondering if you wouldn’t mind including an estimated US dollar retail value as you are stating the British values for your reviews.
I could do that, but I’d have to Google it, and googling it for yourself will likely yield more accurate results based on your own state availability and taxes etc.
@@lloydyp Lloyd, thanks for your reply. Unfortunately, sometimes I have a hard time understanding exactly what you said in terms of the British value… I playback the video a few times to hopefully hear it better but sometimes just can’t make it out. Anyway, I really do appreciate the reply and I will look forward to more of your videos while trying to ascertain US retail values on my own. Happy New Year to you and your family!
@@lloydyp Please sir, no apology is necessary. I actually love British, Scottish and Irish accents…they are all part of my own ancestry among others. And for many years I worked with people from many nations around the world…I particularly enjoyed working with my British & Canadian counterparts. I actually think it’s more an issue of my hearing as I am beginning to feel the effects of my aging. It seems that even in certain television shows I have to roll back the scene to understand what a particular character said. Anyway, I certainly meant no offense, I enjoy your video reviews and look forward to more.
@@lloydyp Thanks! As a Yank, I wondered what language you lapsed into from time to time. Probably as you would if you heard my Southern English dialect.
Really hoping that the 20ga, 30" bbl version becomes more available, at least here in the US. Would also like to see the 20ga with out the Schnabel forend - give me a beavertail forend! (or tell me that an MX20 or MX8-20 forendcwill fit 😅)
For 1800 quid I'm personally not going to be worried about resale value, I'm going to shoot it until it falls apart in my hands. Great review, thorough and fair.
you would be lucky to get a grade 2 on the wood from browning or beretta. Browning, Beretta are lazer cut. It looks to be way out in front of both browning or beretta.
Enjoyed your video review on this gun. Have not seen one here in the U.S. yet. I especially thought your comment on not comparing this gun to the real thing. If they are going to copy a Perazzi then it's only fair to compare it to it.
@@lloydyp in terms of mechanics internally, the reciever, monoblock it is every bit as well made as a p gun, besides some finishing extremes not sure where the gap is?
I've never worried about a trigger on a shotgun, i keep my finger off until i see the target and its a sudden pull and accuracy is not a big an issue as with say a rifle or pistol.
Thanks for the great review. Asking as a complete beginner, is this gun compatible with steel shot, and if buying a first gun would you recommend buying one that is steel compatible over a second hand gun that isn’t?
That's a more complex question than you might think. Yes this is superior steel proofed, and yes buying a gun suitable for steel shot is sensible these days. But... You might never need to shoot superior steel pressures, so don't rule out a gun just because it's not Fleur de Lis stamped.
Calling it a hack undervalues it. IMHO. Its a damn fine gun. i know I have had a few.. Personally I dont care about depreciation. Yildiz have been around for a very long time and the steel comes from Italy. Nuff said.
Agreed, i usually love all his content but this whole review came across as sour grapes to me, he didn't want to like it in anyway, saying an £1800 gun should be a hack or a first gun-especially when it is identical in materials and mechanics to a gun that is 10x as much and considered one of the best olympic level guns is a joke, not everyone sees that money as an entry gun, and besides that they are no entry gun, it's a slightly less finished mx12 direct copy
@@fullchoke01 I agree. I took my gun to a really experienced gunsmith who told me that the trigger mechanism was completely inter-changeable with A Perrazzi and he felt as a well above average shooter himself that the Yilditz was a 'very fine gun indeed, only surpassed by an Beretta's'. and 'fantastic value for money. Its no 'Hack', Bloody cheek.
at that price range you will get drab looking G1wood on your BIG 3 makers and as you say it might fall apart in a couple of years or last a lifetime it is a roll of the dice but it does look very nice and maybe that's what your looking for in that price bracket .
A B gun will definitely have drab wood in that price range, but the up close details in the fit and finish is far superior IMO. Yeah they look cool from 10 feet away, but they always seem cheap once you get them in hand.
Bought one of these for my son ( first gun) cost £1600 new, i then sent it off for a London Finish (£200) it came back looking stunning, it shoot well, nice balance, all in all amazing value for money
I had an opportunity to shoot with it- same as you - it was good initially to the point where it got overheated and the barrel/leaver kept getting stuck.... Several attempts - and no.... Not there yet🤷♂️
Thank you for the review. In my very humble opinion, it would help the viewer if you could show where the wood to metal is poor, where the finish is not so great and the blueing is not even.
I just bought the scroll engraved gun. Absolutely stunning. I ordered a couple LM chokes from Comp N Choke. I had the LOP increased with a spacer and Kickeez pad. The highly figured stock and forearm are being finished out to complement the beautiful engraving. The Turks have access to really nice walnut. I would like to see them take more time with the wood finishing, since this is a HUGE selling point for these guns.
I have a mate here in France who shoots a Yildiz model, not sure exactly which one. It is a nice gun to shoot, if a little agricultural but it is nowhere near as nice as yours there. His is a few years old so maybe they have really improved the look recently. For the money I doubt you could do better for a new gun. When you talk of Beretta and Browning being as safe as houses that might be true sort of but I have an immaculate Browning Ultra XTR which I have owned for 7 years. New they were 3300 euros but now worth about 1800-2000 euros which thankfully a little more than I paid for it. Good video Lloyd.
Nice round up as always Lloyd ! Might try one in 32 in the future and a 525 sporter one in same format to thrash some steel through (don’t want to abuse my much love 682 gold). For the debate over is it a Perazzi it’s not coming close in my eyes ,offer all the Yildiz pro lovers/owners a Perazzi for 1800 quid which they gonna buy then! Keep up with the reviews much appreciated cheers!
Hi Jamie, I have a Perazzi MX8 SC3 Trap, and my son has a Yildiz Pro Trap. Believe it or not, but everything fully interchanges! Both use 4140 steel from Italy, and both use Walnut from Turkey. I have since bought a Yildiz Pro Black in 20 bore, and a Yildiz Pro Black adjustable in 12 bore. They really are fantastic value for money, shooting far better than there price tag suggests. So much so, that I personally think that Yildiz are currently, the best value for money gun on the market today.
@@martinhambleton5076 hi thanks for reply to my comment! All Beit my personal opinion of the guns in question ! Yes I have compared the yildiz pro to a old perazzi mx4 and I’m still holding my opinion yes not doubting the yildiz is a good fun for the money! But it’s not in my eye made aswell or feels as good as a 20yr old perazzi! P/s wouldn’t change the parts from 2 different guns and shoot them! Yes they may fit but somethings are put together for a reason!
@@jamiemcdonald1488 Hi Jamie. A gunsmith has since looked at my MX 8 sc3 with me demonstrating the interchangeable Yildiz Pro Trap Barrels and Forends in the shop, and confirmed that it would be safe to fire. Perazzi wood is Turkish Walnut. Both Yildiz and Perazzi use Italian 4140 steel. My son won the West Midlands Automatic Ball Trap championship with the Yildiz 96/100. Hope that this helps.
I would find it hard to hand over $1800 for an unknown Turkish built gun! You can buy a Miroku mk10 grade 3 sporter for $2500 brand new in Australia and the quality of fit and finish is outstanding. I have a couple of Winchester lever actions model 94 and a take down trapper version with hex barrel, built in the Miroku factory and the build quality is second to none. Cheers love watching the channel
I have the new mk10 grade 3, came down to that vs the yildiz pro, and the taller actions feel better to me, but to be honest the yildiz is very good, and i know of many high volume trap como guys with many 10s of thousands through them, it's not as well finished externally as my miroku- wood oil mainly, but they are well worth a look
@@lloydyp no worries. Just getting into the sport myself so that was more out of curiosity really. I've got my eye on either the Beretta 686 silver pigeon or Browning 525. I rather fancied that B525 SL laminate you reviewed and comparing that with the B725. That's about as far as my budget would stretch though as a first shotgun. Would appreciate your feedback on that.
@@ratelmike8825 You cant go wrong with any of those choices new or used. See if you can get some trigger time before buying and you will have a better idea which one to go for.
@@ratelmike8825 I have the 525 LS laminate, and its a great gun for the price, especially when it has a adj comb as standard. I looked at the 752 which is also a great gun but it was £500 more and no Adj comb stock?
Pretty enough gun as a hack. Certainly keen to keep an eye on the brand. Do you think they will stay as an entry level brand or try and make a dent in the market of more established brands? Bit like Kia trying to build an M3 beater with the Stinger GT...
Lovely video. One thing, though.... We do already know what happens to the value of Turkish made guns, whatever the reason They lose half their rrp value, the moment you walk out of the gun shop. More than half, perhaps, in the UK, as gunshops need to also cover the 20% VAT on top of profit. Spending a little more on a used Beretta or Browning will save money!
Lloyd, excellent review. The shotgun looks good, but I agree with your cautions. A problem that can get quite frustrating is the availability of parts and gunsmiths skilled in that brand. I have a lovely Renato Gamba here in California, and getting service has been a challenge. Happily, Perazzi USA is here in Southern California for us Perazzi shooters. Perry P.
I have have a yildiz pro with the exact same issue of lack of blue finishing in the mid rib, ive had it around 6 months with no issues as of yet with rust etc but with the 5 year raytrade warranty im not worried
I have three SPZ's, and from Lloyd's description I'm guessing the Prostar barrels have a black chrome finish like the SPZ, as my guns all show quite a bit of silver in the space between the side ribs. My guns haven't seen a lot of weather, but I've yet to see any rust in that area. I suspect the blacking portion of the process simply doesn't get into that area easily, but the metal still has a protective finish.
Nicely judged piece Lloyd. I think many may be seduced by the better figured wood and parazzi 'style'. I own a SP and the wood flooring in my lounge is far superior to that of the gun but mechanically it is as you say proven. What are your thoughts on upgrading to a custom stock and forend from MR for example? For a few hundred additional pounds you get a gun that actually fits you with nicely figured and finished wood and a proven action. Is this the way to go?
Thanks Steve. Based on what I've seen from MR I would say a nice stock with an adjustable comb would be a great way to go but with the caveat that nicer wood with custom dimensions will alter your balance so some tuning might be needed.
Lloyd Pattison thanks for the prompt response. 👍Agree. Saw the TGS piece with Jonny and this is what he appeared to find. Balance at the moment is on the hinge pin so would likely need to get back to that with some form of barrel weight.
@@stevem4038 depends on your stock to a degree, Jonny's stock is three feet long and hence weighs the same as a small child. If you have less mutant dimensions the effect will be less pronounced.
I’m in the market for yet another shotgun. I already have a 525 Sporter One and a 525SL, but I now need a hack for bad weather clay shooting, and my eye falls on the Mk38 Trap. This looks nice and I must say that wood is great, but it doesn’t have the proven pedigre
@@lloydyp No need to apologise, Lloyd. Hopefully the Turkish kit will become as established as the Italian and American / Belgian gear, but I can't help thinking their attempt to break the lower end market isn't doing their reputation any good. Everyone looks down on Hatsan, for instance, and wouldn't think of buying one, even though an Escort will perform as well as other shotguns at twice the price....perhaps not 3 times,,,, Might be interesting to take a Hatsan Semi clay shooting, to see how it performs......
Very tempted to buy one as a stop gap and a spare gun as I can’t afford 4.5k for a better gun right now having sold a silver pigeon after having issues
@@lloydyp I’ve just given Yildiz a message about one I know Avalon have demo guns I’ve been really impressed by what TGS have said about them since they where lunched there a lot of fun for the money and becoming very popular around the south west was there much recoil with the test gun
I THINK FOR THAT PRICE, A 694 IS THE WAY TO GO, GRANTED I AM ARMENIAN AND COULDN'T BRING MYSELF TO OWNING A TURKISH SHOTGUN!!🥴🤷♂️ 😂BUT THE WOOD ON THESE ARE ABSOLUTELY STUNNING. LOYD YOU'RE THE MAN AND YOUR VIDEOS ARE THE BEST MY FRIEND!!😉👉
Hi Lloyd. I am unable to find the Standard Blued ProStar in 12/30” or 32” Grade 4 for less than starting at $4200 USD retail at this particular time…a great deal more than the 1800 L($2436 USD) 7 months ago when the review was completed. I am hard pressed on this price point so would appreciate your opinion based on your usage of this model since first you started shooting it…an estimate of the round count and any wear points/issues at this stage would be helpful. I did find the ProStar Eurospec version in a 12/30” with a starting retail price of $2700 but, in my opinion, the wood grade is substantially less attractive on this model. On the other hand, jumping to $4200 for the higher grade wood and adjustable comb in the aforementioned model is also a bit excessive. I was also interested in the very nice looking ProStar Engraved Scroll Edition in 12/30” or 32” with suggested starting retail at $6300 USD…equally as difficult to find as it is to decide if it’s worth it’s cost. I just got a call back from one dealer that offered a starting price of $5350 USD for the Engraved Scroll edition. I certainly realize that the frame and mechanicals are identical to the Standard Blue and Coin finished models but again, the jump from $4200 USD to $5350 is again the quandary. In comparison, after seeing your review of the Zoli Pernice 12 Ga, I almost feel that my find of an 20Ga Pernice game gun in 29.5” at $7K USD may actually be the better spent pile…your thoughts on this since you’ve handled the Pernice in the field? Anyway it appears, to me at least, that the Yildiz ProStar line has already moved into the same price point area of the somewhat more expensive great quality shotgun makers arena as opposed to where they were when you first reviewed them…at least here in US market. So, I decided to look outside of the United States for these models…surprisingly, I found them much less expensive on your side of the Atlantic: mickleyhall.com/product/yildiz-pro-grade-4-12-gauge-over-and-under-shotgun/ That 1350L ProStar G4 from Mickey Hall equates to $1827 USD…a significant difference compared to the $4200 here. That said, I suspect the Scroll Engraved edition would be delightfully less expensive there as well. I don’t know what it would cost to import one but my suspicion is likely at least a few hundred USD to ship and import plus the usual taxes legal incidentals through Federal Firearms dealers here in California where I reside. I had entertained this idea once before through a UK dealer but the additional costs of importation simply exceeded the value of the excellent condition used shotgun. Just wondering if you have any experience or interest in obtaining them from there and getting one to me here.
It may look like an MX12 but I expect that’s where the similarities end and frankly comparing it to a Perazzi is an insult given my experience with Yildiz and Perazzi!
I've compared them side by side down to individual hammers etc, the quality/materials/machining is every bit as good, the difference is external finish levels, barrel polishing, wood oil etc, perazzi are great but they aren't some unachievable level, kromson, aremberry etc have all done it before
@@fullchoke01 I've not examined a Yildiz Pro right down to the hammers and such but I have done so to other Yildiz guns I've worked on and I can tell you the quality is not there. While the external finishing is nice the machining I've seen inside is third world quality. I've taken coil springs out of their guns and compressed them between my thumb and forefinger and when released they are several millimeters shorter so if that's what you call great quality then you can have them, I'll pass thank you!
@Bob you might want to take a hard look at the internals of a Yildiz Pro in person. It is absolutely nothing like the SPZ models of Academy fame. And yes, internally it is identical to an MX12
i hear all the non sense on over priced over under. i have yildez hps have shot thousands of rounds and have had no failures at all. 699 at academy. great gun if you pay more you are a fool
Yes and no, it is in direct competition with 686 etc price wise, but there is no getting away from the fact that mechanically the pro is an mx12 just not finsihed with as many man hours same materials same machines used, same tolerances, so for someone who is looking at a second hand p gun i'd say its a fair comparison to make, but lets face it no perazzi owner will ever accept they have made something as good as, it won't stop people spending 14k on a perazzi but to people looking to spend 5k on a beaten up mx8 ex comp gun these are a much smarter choice. plenty of comp shooters using them now. And try find a story of one having issues in 4 years on sale
I see enough cautionary tales about $2000 Brownings and Berettas to believe one of these would be a worthwhile gamble at that price point. The difference in the lumber grade would tip the balance. Unfortunately the gun reviewed is closer to $4000 in the US. Which is funny because what is essentially the same as the SPZ Trap or Sporter goes for $700 over here.
@@lloydyp yeah, the pricing structure of the US Prostar importer is set up differently. Most basic is the Field at $2700. It's been promoted as the "Eurospec", but the wood grade is a notch lower than yours and it's delivered in a plastic case. The grade similar to what you reviewed (although also available in white receiver) is $3900. Does come in the nice case and wood is claimed to be a grade above yours but hard to tell the difference between 3 and 4 sometimes. Engraved receiver with grade 5 wood is $5800, and in this case the grade 5 is pretty spectacular.
@@funkla65 I will stick with my Miroku mk10 sporter grade 3 for $2500 Aussie dollars brand new. Hard to beet the build quality of the Japanese built guns. Cheers from the land down under
Its a Nice gun and should shoot well, but at £1600 its too expensive, a Browning 525 is better and is the same price (almost). This gun should be in the sub £1k price range. I am biased because i have a 525LS, but i have shot a hatsan semi, at £350 they are great. In the long term i would recommend another cheaper gun or a Silver pigeon and 525. When it comes to guns i think it is better to buy a better gun and keep it longer.
The Yildiz is only a hack if you own much more expensive and more well known guns. For goodness sake, for the money the Yildiz is a very good gun with amazing wood that the big names can't get even close to unless your'e paying big money ( look at the wood on some Berettas, it's rubbish) The action is pretty good (ask Jonny) Ok, so the QC and finish isn't up to the mark but in my opinion very acceptable for what you pay. The trigger pulls have been reviewed as very good by some others so again, QC plays a part? Although it's a Perazzi copy I don't see the point in comparing the two, it's completely pointless, they are what they are. If you want and can afford a Perazzi then buy one, if your budget won't stretch to that then the Yildiz will be a great choice. As for future values, if you spend 8K then of course your'e more likely to want your gun to hold it's price but if your'e spending around 2K then surely it's not quite so important. Like Lloyd said, you pays your money........
