Has anyone had any experiances with the new Turkish line of SKB shotguns?
There is a dealer on GI that is saying that SKB is phasing out the side by side line.
Is this true as well? My gun club sells them and I have been looking at the 410 version.

I believe that the new SKB guns are made in the AKUS factory in Turkey where the Dickinson guns are made and previously the S&W sxs shotguns were made. I'm going off memory here, so I could have it wrong.

I've never had any experience with an AKUS built shotgun but from what I've read, it seems they're a decently made gun.

Yes they are made by AKUS same as Dickinson. I talked to SKB about the being discontinued thing this summer because I had read the same thing. And was looking for more choke tubes for my Dickinson and are interchangeable as they are basically the same gun.

The gunsmith at SKB I talked to was great and honest. He said they have not imported any guns for almost a year now. Because they are making some changes and waiting for the factory to start shipping them. Goal is early Spring for them to come in but with COVID he said who knows.

Changes include finally having slots in choke tubes instead of Teauge style. Although Briley will cut slots easily enough for you and of course make bore matched tubes which is what I had them do. And the new ones will have selective single trigger instead of non selective. SKB sent them forearms off a Winchester 21 in 12 ga. and 20 and the new guns will have that shaped forearm going forward.

Said Spring or early Summer for the 12 and 20 ga. guns to be available. 28 and 410 will be later in the year. Unfortunately SKB does not have 16 ga. guns made. However Dickinson and Pacific Sporting Arms will do it for you which is the route I went. But wouldn't be afraid to go with SKB if I wasn't afflicted with the purple shell disease. And may eventually with a SKB 28 410 30" combo once they come in, time will tell.

EDIT to add: I thought the non selective trigger would be an issue but the more I shoot them the more I like them. Just put the darn tubes in and shoot the bird. One less thing to think about. If you can get a 410 for a decent price I would not hesitate.

For whatever reason, ever since SKB cut its deal with Ithaca back in the 60's and continuing forward to the present with the current SKB's being made in Turkey, they have never offered double triggers. I've never shot one of the current Turkish-made guns, but I've dropped snap caps in several and tried the trigger. Haven't run across any that were really heavy, which has long been an issue with Turkish-made doubles. Fit and finish seem decent too. But if I were looking for a 20 or a 12, I'd still look for a used Ithaca import. Other than no choke tubes, you've got everything the new ones offer for quite a bit less money. And those guns now have a 50+ year record of reliability.

If you are handy, you can make them DT!

I've shot two late model SKBs...a 20 Ga and a 28 ga. The 28 Gauge was a nice handling gun, not because it was light... it seemed well balanced and proportioned. The 20 gauge felt slower and kind of klunky. The owner kept the 28 and pretty quickly sold the 20 bore.

I've owned at least three of the 1970's vintage SKBs in 20 and 12 gauge. They are well made and reliable. The last 12, a 200E, was pretty klunky, too.

I'd be researching reliability before buying.

As far as the single selective vs non selective trigger...the only true barrel/choke selector on a double is on a gun with two triggers.

All my shotguns, including two O/Us have two triggers for that reason...

The Japanese-made 28's, which were among the last SKB sxs to come from Japan, were on the heavy side. Made on a 20ga frame. Likely OK for skeet, but not what most hunters are looking for in a 28ga. The Turkish 28's, as noted above, feel more like a 28ga designed for hunters should feel. That being said, they also make a version with a high rib that's designed with target shooting in mind. So you can pick your poison.

Spoken like someone who doesn't shoot sporting clays seriously. I like two triggers better, but have no problem admitting that a selective trigger is a "true barrel/choke selector". It's just not as good (as quick, or as intuitive) as double triggers for hunting, IMO.

SRH

Spoken like someone who doesn't shoot sporting clays seriously. I like two triggers better, but have no problem admitting that a selective trigger is a "true barrel/choke selector". It's just not as good (as quick, or as intuitive) as double triggers for hunting, IMO.

Stan-you're right I don't shoot sporting clays much these days. The best range in Alaska closed a few years ago. Had a great walk thru with towers, etc. But I do hunt all sorts of birds and mostly use shotguns with widely different chokes in each barrel. Single triggers have value, too.

In the northern Lower 48, single triggers also come in handy if you're hunting on a really cold winter day. I imagine even more so in Alaska. I prefer double triggers for hunting, but if it gets down to single digits, I'll probably tote my Parker Repro 16ga with a SST.

double trigger skb gun...

https://www.gunauction.com/buy/17119562

The Royal Lights were made for the European market. Never imported by either Ithaca nor after Ithaca ceased importing SKB's. They do show up on occasion in this country.