Despite the fact that today smooth-bore guns are practically not used in the armament of the army - they were replaced by weapons with a rifled barrel - they are still in some demand. They are used for hunting, as well as in police and special military units. Shotguns themselves have a low range, but the use of various accessories allows one weapon to solve many different problems. Utas UTS 15 is designed and created in Turkey, and is a good analogue of the guns of famous world brands.
What are smooth-bore pump-action shotguns
The gun is a pump action and smoothbore. Those who are used to dealing with rifled weapons are considered to be something like a toy. However, this is actually not the case. Turkish smoothbore weapon Utas is positioned as a 12-caliber assault rifle. It is suitable for use by civilians (for example, for self-defense), and for some military purposes.
For reloading, a sliding front handle is used, which allows not to remove the hand to set a new charge. The fore-end works on it like a pump, moves the bolt group, at the same time throws out the shot sleeve and sends out the cartridge.
Utas UTS 15 Appearance History
The country is not only a famous resort, but also a manufacturer of goods worthy to compete with global brands. Modern small arms manufactured by Turkey can compete with American, German or Russian both in quality and price. Therefore, there is nothing surprising in the release of a pump-action shotgun. Although initially it was only to be produced at a Turkish factory.
The idea of creating such a shotgun has long stood before the designers. It began to be implemented in 2006 by Smith & Wesson. Prior to this, smoothbore guns were too large due to the layout and could not be used for certain purposes. The basis was taken Neostead African gun. The company has acquired a patent for the use of certain parts of this weapon. All elements were studied by designers and redesigned.
However, a lot of weight nullified all the efforts of the creators. As a result, the Turks joined in the work - they repeatedly fulfilled the orders of the company. After they were able to achieve weight loss, all other developments were sold to them by Smith & Wesson. So the shotgun Utas UTS 15 became Turkish.
Device and mechanism of work
So, the gun is a pump action. Utas UTS 15 has a bullpup layout; the barrel is locked with three shutter turns. The window for the ejection of shot shells is located on the idea of the designer on the right. It has a dust cover that automatically opens when necessary. The design of the gun is well thought out, therefore, retaking is possible with any position of the weapon in space. The manual fuse is located on the left.
The body of the gun itself is made of high-strength plastic, which was reinforced with carbon fiber to improve performance. Replaceable chokes are provided for the shotgun barrel, the barrel channel is chrome plated. For mounting various sights in the upper part of the body there is an integrated Picatinny rail. You can attach a flashlight, block flashlight, or laser sight to the cavity of the forend .
Utas Shotgun Specifications
Advantages of a smoothbore Turkish gun
Despite the unusual appearance, handling a gun does not present any difficulties even to an inexperienced shooter. The compact size and high firepower allows you to effectively operate in almost any difficult conditions. The twin double magazine for 15 rounds can be charged from various sides in any order. A fundamentally new arrangement of levers of feeders allows you to quickly reload the shotgun. The rest of the cartridges in the store can be seen by the position of this mechanism.
The Utas UTS 15 shotgun is well balanced, with incomplete disassembly, special tools are not required. Thanks to the twin double magazine, it is possible to switch between bullet and shot charges.
Melee Gun Modifications
Only five modifications of this weapon have been developed - Desert, Navy, Marine, Hunting and Mmilitary. The latter option is designed specifically for buyers from Russia. Has a store not for 15, but for 7 rounds.
The Utas UTS 15 Desert shotgun is designed for use primarily in sandy desert regions. It has a special coating that is resistant to the mechanical effects of the environment of the territories and a digital camouflage pattern.
Modern Utas small arms in the Navy modification were initially positioned as a “ground attack aircraft” for the Navy. Its distinctive feature is a glare-free dark water camouflage. The springs have a special anti-corrosion coating, and nickel is applied to all exposed parts for resistance to the effects of sea water.
The modification of the Marine shotgun is intended for the Marine Corps. A special coating of parts and moving mechanisms protects against the effects of dirt. The surface of the gun is rough for a more comfortable hold.
The Utas UTS 15 Hunting shotgun is simply originally painted and has a built-in infrared flashlight.
No changes or additions to the "stuffing" are not in any of the modifications. The difference is only in additional coatings and colors.
Expert Opinions
To date, the opinions of weapons experts have been divided. According to some - the gun is uncomfortable, too large for combat in urban conditions. In this case, special emphasis is placed on the fact that it cannot be correctly and quickly charged, therefore, the probability of a gun failure increases. On the other hand, to eliminate this problem, it is enough to remove the top cover at least for the duration of the battle. Other experts believe that the shotgun is just perfect for use in the city or confined spaces. Therefore, to buy or not to buy - you need to decide based on your own opinion.
In general, the Utas UTS 15 is really suitable as a short-range shotgun for close combat. The price for it is quite reasonable - depending on the modification, it is about $ 400-500. True, there is a small, and not very pleasant moment - the outer metal parts are made of steel of not very good quality. By the way, this is the main reason why the Utas UTS 15 was not adopted by the army. From all this we can conclude that the idea was just great, but its implementation so far leaves much to be desired.