r/canadaguns • u/-Cokeman on • May 22 '26
Buy recommendations Does anyone have experience with Churchill shotguns?
I'm considering getting one (I'm looking at the 612 with a 12" barrel) but I'm seeing mixed reviews everywhere. Not mixed in the sense they're mixed across the board, some websites they're rated extremely well and some are rated poorly. It makes me think either certain retailers mess with their item ratings, or their quality is truly all over the place.
Does anyone have one or know anyone who has one? What's your experience with them? $300 for something that always goes bang when you want it to would be a dream.
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u/Next-Swimming-4270 May 22 '26
Not really that reliable. Mine has feeding issues. Also has extracting issues. If you like the short barrel might as well get the 590 shockwave when its on sale its around 600 dollars and the mossberg is super reliable
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u/JipJopJones May 22 '26
It's funny, I've had no issues with my Churchill beyond the sight rattling loose.
I bought a Mosburg as an upgrade - first time I went to fire it I had a major ejection issue and it lodged a steel in the barrel. Sketchy.
Granted after that I had no further issues and it does feel a lot more sturdy and well put together than the Churchill
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u/Piqued-Larry May 24 '26
Same, I have had feeding issues with my Mossberg500 and my Churchill 612 always runs flawlessly.
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u/Next-Swimming-4270 May 22 '26
Well, in my opinion Turkish guns always have quality control issues. You wont know what the issues are until you shot it.
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u/JipJopJones May 22 '26
For sure. I'm not advocating for or against. I'm just sharing my experience.
For the price - it's hard to go wrong though.
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u/Foreign_Active_7991 May 22 '26
I've got a little 14" barrel bird's eye/raptor grip Churchill pump shotgun, I call it my "Trash Cannon." It's pretty fun, not terribly practical aside from something light and compact to carry in the bush to scare off bears, but it's never failed to destroy beer cans and pumpkins once I figured out exactly how high it shoots vs where you aim it. Probably 500 rounds of mixed bird/buck/slugs through it and so far so good.
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u/cmiller82 Rouge River Arms May 22 '26
Turkish shotguns can be good and bad. Pick the brand that has good customer support behind it. Buy it from a shop that cares about your post sales experience. In order, I would buy Federation Firearms, Revolution Armory, Churchill. The other brands work too as long as the shop you buy it from cares about your business.
Also, remember that most people that are happy with a product will not post a good review, but everyone that is unhappy will post a bad review.
"Trouble customers" that have issues that are their own fault are the loudest. Make sure to actually read the bad reviews. The "crazy" will show through.
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u/CollectibleHam May 22 '26
I have that 612, it's been very reliable and shoots pretty good for such a stubby little guy.
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u/Unlikely_sniper May 22 '26
I have a shockwave, basically a 14" 612. Uses all the same parts and what not.
It's been reliable, we usually use it too "toughen up" some of the people we know who think they can handle a "big gun" because it kicks like a God damn mule. But otherwise mine eats whatever I put in the tube,, doesn't matter what breed or how heavy, it just shoots. Mine has probably 12-1300 rounds through it at this point.
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u/Remarkable_Vanilla34 May 22 '26
I don't think the 612 has anything in common with the mossberg Shockwave. Its cosmetically similar to the 870, and it could have some parts compatibility but its not really a clone of either gun
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u/Unlikely_sniper May 22 '26 edited May 22 '26
I don't have a mossberg shockwave. I have a Churchill sockwave.
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u/FenderFanatic May 22 '26
I have one of the over under Churchills (812?) and I've put it through about all I can. Days of trap/skeet, years of waterfowl hunting, upland hunting, and just general wear from hauling it around in not so gentle fashion. Never had issues with it. Always fires, always ejects, always works, and always hits the mark when I do my part. Don't really know what else to say, I've fed it countless rounds of all varieties of lead and steel shot from light target load to heavy 3 inch waterfowl load and it just always works. Fit and finish could be better but function has been perfect every time. I do know the reputation of Turkish guns though and can say I'm not keen to get another just to avoid acquiring a lemon.
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u/LongjumpingChipmunk May 22 '26
TFBTV does a YouTube 500 round burn down series for shotguns and the Turkish OEMs tend not to fare well consistently. The mixed reviews may be reflective. 12" barrel at $300 and reliable is a tough ask today. If you're budget is fixed, and going new I'd go Blueline, but it's not that short. If you're up for a hunt, used 870 and config it later with a short barrel.
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u/FDR--Logging May 22 '26
i have the 612 put about 500 rounds through it, no issues but id buy a mossberg over this if i could go back, my buddy has the MB88 and its super smooth action and just feels better built, my churchill feels bit cheaper quality but no hate as it hasnt let me down either
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u/OkLack5468 May 22 '26
I have two. No issues. Not as solid as my mossberg, but they go boom every time the way I want.
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u/DireNight114 May 22 '26
I have one and probably have 500+ shells through it of all kinds. It'll run fine but I know one day there will be a serious malfunction. In terms of use cases my favorite part about it is if theres ever a time you really needed it, fire all the rounds and drop it on the ground. Its a negligle cost to get one and the fact that you have a disposable 5 shell shotgun is pretty neat.
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u/Remarkable_Vanilla34 May 22 '26
Its a turkish firearm, the reviews are all over the place because the guns are. You might get one that runs fine, you might get one thats a piece of junk. On top of that its a 300 dollar gun 😆 you can't expect much.
If you're really not willing to gamble get a mossberg maverick or save up a bit extra and get a 500 or 870.
I had one once, it was fine, it was a clunky cheap shotgun that went bang. There was and probably still is no aftermarket parts for it. If you get the Maverick 88 there is better parts, support and quality.
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u/Previous-Season-8800 May 22 '26
I've heard good things (and bad) about Churchill.
I got my Mossberg 88 with long barrel for clays; it was on sale for 279.99 or something.
Bought the security one later with an eye on feeding it minishells at some point. It was under 300 on sale as well. There's really nothing to them, and they go bang every time.
I appreciate the Churchill makes some interesting shotties, but when the Mavericks can regularly be had as cheaply, there's no reason to go any other way as far as functionality. IMO, of course.
One of the Mavs was from g4c, one was from Cabela's/Bass Pro.
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u/pooshlinger May 23 '26
I bought a 612 with the 12” and its a sweet throw around for 300 bucks. Only bought it cus i camp alot and dont feel like carrying around a heavy full size for bear defence, that being said, ive only put 10 rounds thru it since its new. My SXP is my go to camper gun but ive also had that jam and fail to extract on me once or twice. Like others are saying a maverick 88 was my second choice but went for the churchill cus it came with a pistol grip and i wanted something tiny for the car
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u/coffeeofwar May 23 '26
I mean I had one was 200 bucks never broke always worked so there is that but also you get what you pay for lol
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u/Piqued-Larry May 24 '26 edited May 24 '26
I bought the churchill 612 torso that came with a bird head grip and pistol grip on top of the regular stock.
The action and pump is not as smooth as my Mossberg 500, almost feels a bit sticky, and the plastic stock is very cheap.
BUT it's been reliable so far and a blast to shoot. I always bring it with other shotguns when we go shoot clays and it's been a fan favorite. Recoil is about the same as other pumps I have, but the sound is very distinctly loud and sharp. I love it. If it dies on me, I am replacing it with another. Well worth the price.
(I know you can get a Maverick around the same price but I wanted a SBS, Mossberg doesn't have a 12" barrel model so... for me it's apples and oranges)
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u/YetAnotherWTFMoment May 24 '26
don't cheap out. just take time and save more and buy something decent.
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u/LumberjackCDN Gold'n Loan Outfitters & Pawn May 22 '26
As with everything from turkey, the sticker price is attractive but it is a dice roll
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u/Shoddy-Ad-9009 May 22 '26
IMO the best budget shotgun is by far the Mossberg Maverick 88. Most gun stores will have a used one in great condition for a good price.