GUN TESTS GRADE: A (BEST BUY)

$420

Black Aces Tactical has offered custom shotguns for some time. They now import Turkish shotguns in various styles. The S Max shotgun is a nicely-fitted and well-finished shotgun. The blue finish is dark and well done. The walnut stocks were nicely finished. The shotgun is supplied with a birdshead grip to allow the shotgun to be used at close quarters and stored easily. With the birdshead grip, the shotgun remains a legal length because the barrel is 18.5 inches long.

The shotgun is supplied with three choke tubes, in common with the other shotguns. The choke tubes were not marked with common terms such as Cylinder and Modified, but rather by a code stamped on the chokes and outlined in the owner’s manual.

To operate the Black Aces shotgun, the same manual of arms is followed as with the Toros Copolla T4. Rack the bolt before loading and then press the decocker button. The Black Aces Tactical featured an extended bolt lever to make racking the bolt easier. Then you begin loading the magazine. The Black Aces Tactical shotgun magazine holds six shells, one more than the other shotguns tested. If you attempt to rack a shell into the magazine without pressing the decocking lever, the shotgun will not load. In other words, the bolt must be released before the chamber is loaded, but the bolt is racked before the shell carrier is pressed upward to load the shotgun. The Black Aces Tactical shotgun has a total shell load of seven shells, with a shell in the chamber and six in the magazine. The recommended home-ready condition, with the chamber empty, allows six shells to be ready in the gun.

The safety was a crossbolt type and was positive in operation. This shotgun is more similar to the Benelli M2 types than the later M4, but the Benelli influence was present in this shotgun. The S Max used a simple front post for aiming. It is easily picked up for fast shooting. The controls were easily manipulated. The trigger is similar in feel to the Toros T4 at 5.0 pounds even.

The shotgun was fired in equal amounts with the standard stock and birdshead grip. The shotgun was surprisingly easy to control with the birdshead grip. The Black Aces Tactical S Max weighs 6.5 pounds, somewhat less than the Toros shotgun, so recoil was greater. By holding the birdshead grip and pushing forward while pushing to the rear with the forend, the shotgun was controllable and good results were had with the birdshead grip to 7 yards. With the standard stock installed, the shotgun was easy to use as well.

The Black Aces S Max shotgun never failed to feed, chamber, fire, or eject. Five slugs were fired with good results, a 3-inch group at 15 yards. This is a simple shotgun well suited to personal defense and home defense. You cannot mount a red dot or light, if that is important.

Our Team Said: The Black Aces S Max is a traditional shotgun with a nice look. It looks like a shortened sporting gun, which it basically is. The short barrel and front-post sight make for rapid handling. With the birdshead grip fitted, the shotgun handles better than we would have thought. It is possibly the best-handling shotgun of this type we have picked up. If you do not have the need to mount a red dot or aperture sights, the Black Aces S Max is a fine choice. We would purchase the Toros Copolla T4 for serious use including security, institutional, and animal defense. But for home defense, the Black Aces Tactical S Max represents the Best Buy.