A dramatic drop in price among affordable shotguns makes them even more attractive. Be a smart shopper and choose the shotgun that suits your needs and performs best. The market today is much more of a buyer’s market than a year ago.

During the pandemic, shortages of firearms and ammunition created a seller’s market. Folks were worried about their safety and grabbed whatever they could. Quality brand-name traditional pump-action shotguns were few and far between. Our Gun Tests field staff saw tactical versions of the Remington 870 edging one thousand dollars, and the price of the Mossberg 590 doubled. So it was with some appreciation when we saw Turkish makers step in with literally thousands of affordable pump-action shotguns that were half the price of domestic brands, often at $500 and below.

The Turkish guns developed a reputation for reliability. Some are well fitted and finished, others not so much. The situation is difficult to nail down because the many Turkish brands rival the old Basque makers in the day of Ruby pistols. Reliable information indicates there are more than 20 separate manufacturing plants making shotguns in Turkey. Some of these guns are re-branded by major importers and importers, such as European American Armory and Legacy Sports. They may specify the furniture and barrel length in different offerings. It is interesting that one of the shotguns tested here, the Rock Island Armory Meriva, is a Turkish gun. A previous chrome-plated Rock Island Armory shotgun tested was manufactured in Armscor’s home country, the Philippines.

Generally, these shotguns are made to sell and to sell as cheaply as possible. So, corners are cut in fit and polish. We will explore some of these drawbacks and also advantages. One thing for certain: It isn’t that difficult to make a completely reliable pump-action shotgun. The action may be rough and the trigger heavy, but the firearm functions. We found three reliable shotguns selling for a pittance, and prices seem to be dropping further. We have seen certain models for $99, well below their original cost to the dealer. Yep, a certain class of firearms is being sold off for less than the dealers paid. The three in this test, the EAA Churchill Akkar 612, the Citadel PAX, and the Rock Island Armory Meriva, all feature personal-defense barrel lengths, open Cylinder chokes, no choke tubes, and 3-inch chambers. Here’s more on how each firearm fared in head-to-head shooting tests.

Gun Tests Grade: B

$230

This is a chrome-plated shotgun often called a marine-style firearm that should be the most resistant to the elements. The Meriva differs from the other two shotguns in that it uses a semi-pistol-grip stock. This stock ends in a cushioned recoil pad. The stock features a sling swivel, with another swivel post in the end of the magazine cap. The barrel is 18.5 inches long.

The shell carrier had a cut down the center line. This feature would allow running a knife into the carrier to loosen a shell that has short cycled. The primary difference in handling is the straight stock. Some felt that this shotgun handles quickly, in a natural manner, as a shotgun should. The pistol grip guns must be aimed. The chrome-plated safety is the trapezoid type.

There are two advantages of the Meriva immediately apparent, other than the chrome finish. The magazine cap is a large fluted design that is much easier to unscrew and tighten than the smaller magazine caps on the Akkar and Citadel shotguns. This is a good design feature that makes field-stripping and maintenance easier. The fore end is similar to the other two; however, the Rock Island Meriva fore end features a rail for mounting combat lights. The trigger action is heavy, although not as heavy as the Citadel. The Rock Island trigger action breaks at 9.0 pounds.

We fired the Meriva with the same shells as the other two shotguns. In combat shooting and firing quickly, it was similar to the Citadel shotgun. It was not as smooth as the Akkar shotgun, in our estimation. The action was stiff, but not as stiff as the Citadel’s. Perhaps these shotguns may smooth out with use, but after many cycles in dry fire and a fair amount of live fire during our test, they didn’t. This shotgun and the Citadel pattern about as loosely as most police-style riot guns from Remington and Mossberg.

Another consideration. When we speed-loaded the shotguns on the shoulder, all were pretty much equal. When flipped upside down, as many of us like to do when loading a tubular-magazine shotgun, the pistol grips of the Akkar and Citadel shotguns were in the way, and that wasn’t an issue with the Rock Island. Just another detail to consider.

Our Team Said: The stock is a good fit for most. The patterning isn’t great, but it is adequate for personal defense and home defense. We liked the chrome finish for use in humid or wet climates. We liked the ability to mount a rail light, and the magazine cap is easy to use. We did not like the stiff action, but did not dislike it as much as the Citadel’s even stiffer action. Many will prefer the Meriva’s straight stock. If we found a Rock Island Meriva on the shelf that was smooth in operation, the rating between it and the Akkar might be reversed.

Value Guide: Self-Defense Shotgun Rankings