Maxed Out: Derya's New MAX Shotgun

Turkish-made firearms, from lever-action rifles to concealed-carry handguns, have taken a huge share of the U.S. market. After years of being marketed under other brand’s names, recently, these manufacturers have not just opened U.S. subsidiaries that sell guns under their name, they have also begun manufacturing complete firearms in the U.S. The Derya Arms MAX is an example of both, a new semi-auto shotgun designed for serious competitive shooters that is made in the USA.

Over the years, semi-auto, magazine-fed shotguns made by Derya have become prolific in the U.S. While the MAX builds on that success and reputation, it is a brand-new proprietary design from the ground up. Its advanced gas-operated operating system uses a self-cleaning gas piston that can cycle all 12 ga. cartridges from light 7/8 oz. target loads to 3-inch magnum hunting loads. The proprietary progressive muzzle brake combines with a double-buffered recoil system that the company claims cuts felt recoil by roughly 20 percent.

Though there is a standard pattern of Turkish shotgun detachable magazines, the MAX uses a new proprietary magazine design that is made of polymer with metal feed lips that is “specifically engineered to solve the reliability issues that magazines typically create on magazine-fed shotguns, even high-end ones.” Magazines are available in both 5-round (MSRP $25) and 10-round (MSRP $35) versions. Screw-in chokes are of the Mobil pattern and a set of five are included.

Controls on the MAX are similar to an AR-15, with a bilateral safety selector, a right-side magazine release button, a bolt hold-open device with a “Battery Assist Device”-like extension and a charging handle that can be switched to either side of the bolt. The stock can be adjusted for length-of-pull, and it has an adjustable cheek riser, as well as a recoil pad that can be canted. Three interchangeable backstraps make the AR-pattern grip customizable as well, along with an adjustable hand shelf. An enlarged magazine well aids in reloading.

The MAX has a Picatinny optics rail built into the receiver and front and rear flip-up iron sights are included. On the maintenance side of things, the polymer handguard is removable without tools for maintenance, which allows the entire firearm to be disassembled. Finally, the Derya MAX is completely manufactured at the company’s Jacksonville, Fla. facility. Each shotgun ships in a custom hardcase with a full tool kit.

The MAX shotgun will be sold in two configurations. The base model has a black finish, comes with two magazines (one 10-rounder and one 5-rounder), is available with either an 18-inch or 14-inch (all NFA rules apply) barrel, and has an MSRP of $2,299. The Factory Exclusive model is available with Black, Black Cherry, Olive Drab Green, or Flat Dark Earth finish options, is available with either an 18-inch or 20-inch barrel, comes with six magazines (four 10-rounders and two 5-rounders) and a Derya D-TAK D02 red dot optic installed. It retails for $2,499. For more information, see the company’s website.