Turkish guns have become popular in the States over the last couple decades, primarily because they are affordable. But not all Turkish firearm factories provide products of equal quality. Some Turkish import guns are plain cheap. Others, like the Spandau Premier Field, offer good quality at an attractive price point.

Boxlock over/under actions have been around for over a century, and there’s no secret recipe on how to build these guns. The variations from one gun to the next largely boil down to the quality of the machining and the component parts in the gun. Some very cheap Turkish guns in the past have had serious fitment and mechanical issues, but Spandau is different. Their guns are top-notch, with clean lines and quality craftsmanship that rivals some European guns. The Premier Field over/under is rather austere, with a brushed stainless receiver, blued 28- or 26-inch barrels, and a Turkish walnut stock, but the austere looks are enhanced by even finishes on the metal, quality checkering, and nice Turkish walnut on the stock. Chamberings options include 12-, 20-, and 28-gauge, and .410 bore, and the guns ship in a hard plastic case with five choke tubes in a Mobil choke thread pattern. These guns are currently being imported by SDS Imports, based in Knoxville, Tennessee.

The Spandau Premier Field is priced at $1,349, slightly above the Mossberg International Silver Reserve ($820) and Tristar ($655-$685) but less than the Italian-made Franchi Instinct L ($1,449). Unlike the Mossberg and Tristar, the Spandau guns come with auto ejectors. The monoblock is also jeweled on the Spandau, which adds a nice touch. The Spandau’s safety/barrel selector is designed similarly to the Browning Citori since the tang safety shifts to the left or right to select which barrel fires first and forward/backward for safe and fire. The safety is not automatic, and the Spandau is equipped with a mechanical trigger that is quite good. The test gun’s trigger broke at an average of 5 1⁄2-pounds for 10 pulls on a Wheeler gauge, which is excellent, and the trigger is crisp and predictable. This is the type of trigger you’d expect to find on a premium shotgun, and it’s one reason why the Spandau is an excellent value.

The Turkish walnut stock isn’t as fancy as some Italian or Japanese guns, but it doesn’t look cheap. The diamond checkering is far crisper than what you’ll find on less expensive Turkish guns, and the recoil pad is thin but dense and does a good job managing recoil. Length of pull is 14 3/8-inches, which is average for most full-sized over/unders.

Unlike many of its rivals, the stock doesn’t feel bulky. Instead, it’s trim and svelte, especially on the 28-gauge model tested. The forearm features a takedown lever and comes with a Schnabel forend. These guns are equipped with pistol grips, and the 28-gauge’s wrist is very trim. The boxlock action is petite and scaled to gauge; the 28-gauge version’s action measures just over two inches deep. This keeps weight to a minimum, too. Unloaded, the 28-gauge weighed just 6 pounds, 1.3 ounces.

The balance on this gun is excellent. With the balance point right at the hinge pin, the Spandau feels lively between the hands and swings nicely. The website mentions a fiber optic front sight, but the test gun came with a simple bead front sight. No matter, I think that the bead is a more traditional look for a field gun.

Though the recoil pad is relatively thin (not much concern on a mild-recoiling 28-gauge), the heel is radiused nicely. That’s extremely important on a field gun since you likely won’t have time to slowly and carefully mount the gun. Shooting at a flushing covey of quail or a grouse in thick timber demands a rapid gun mount, and since you’ll likely be wearing a coat or vest, you need a gun that mounts quickly and won’t hang-up. The Spandau fits the bill.

Shooting the Spandau Premier Field at the Range

The Spandau Premier Field performed extremely well in field testing. Both barrels shot to point-of-aim with Fiocchi and Winchester 28-gauge ammunition. This gun shoots very flat, but the 50-50 pattern it offers is ideal for a field gun.

Shooters often refer to light field guns as “lively,” and while I’ve never cared for the term, I believe that it’s probably fitting for the Spandau. As field guns go, it’s well-balanced and comes smoothly to the shoulder. The six-pound 28-gauge handled recoil well, too, and it was easy to track targets. I shot outgoing and crossing standard and mini targets with the Spandau and found that even after fifty rounds, there was no fatigue. It wasn’t built as a sporting gun (Spandau offers a version of the Premier designed for that purpose, though, and it’s as good a value as the field version I tested), but the Premier Field is one of those shotguns that thrives in the field and on the range.

The action was tight when I began shooting but seemed to loosen when I was well into testing. I do enjoy having selective ejectors, which is a relative rarity on Turkish shotguns under $1,500.

I was particularly impressed with the mechanical trigger, though. With a clean 5.5-pound break, it’s better than many competing guns. Some shooters focus almost exclusively on the fit and finish of a gun, but aside from safe and reliable function, a gun that shoots to point-of-aim/point-of-impact and has a great trigger will always help account for more birds. There’s a reason why serious competition shooters are so obsessed with good triggers, for they know in a competition where a score of 96 won’t earn you a spot on the podium, a good trigger might be the difference between medaling and going home empty-handed.

The same is true for field guns. Clean triggers help you maintain a smooth swing and good follow through, and that helps kill more birds.

The stainless steel/blued finish looks good, but this gun will show debris and fingerprints. A bit of scroll engraving or a game scene goes a long way toward obscuring oil stains and fingerprints, and the mirrored surface of the Spandau will be slightly mussed up after a long day in the field. But the receiver is rugged and durable, and everything fits properly. The forearm and buttstock geometry are excellent. The forearm is thin enough to fit comfortably in the hand and offers excellent control over the muzzles.

With its hard case and five chokes (with included choke tube wrench), the $1,349 Premier Field is a fantastic bargain. I don’t like the finish or wood quite as well as the Italian Franchi L, but this gun is $100 cheaper. The overall fit and finish is far better than I’ve seen on any sub-$1,000 Turkish over/under, and there are no weird proportions or cheap, tacky bits on this gun like you’ll see on entry-level stack-barrels. The bluing is rich and holds up well to the elements, although the gun I have did come with an excess amount of grease that will need to be wiped clean. I do like that the gun comes with individual sleeves for the barrels/forearm and receiver/buttstock.

The Spandau isn’t extravagant, but it does everything well and functions beautifully. It’s mechanically solid with no obvious corner cutting, and even the interior metalwork is free of burrs and ugly machine marks that are so common on sub-$1,000 guns. The thing I love most about this gun, besides the proper proportions and great trigger, is that there are no major compromises for owners. It’s not overly heavy or oddly proportioned or balanced, and the fit and finish and mechanics are good. There are some that will always shake their head at Turkish shotguns, but for that, I’d suggest you pick up a Spandau before you decide to write-off every gun from that country. I think what you’ll find with the Spandau Premier Field is a no-nonsense working over/under with everything you need for years of hard hunting, without the added cost.

Spandau Premier Field Specs

• Action: Boxlock over/under, mechanical trigger
• Gauge: 28 (tested), 12, 28, .410
• Barrel Length: 26”, 28” (tested)
• Stock: Turkish Walnut
• Finish: Brushed stainless receiver, blued barrels
• Chokes: 5 flush fit
• Weight: 6 lbs. 1 oz. (as tested)
• MSRP: $1,349
• Website: sdsimports.com