Over/under shotguns are often associated with high price tags and fancy engravings, but the JTS E60.2 aims for a different target. This is a Turkish-made utility gun imported by JTS out of Texas. It is designed for the hunter who wants the reliability of a break-action without the four-digit investment.
I recently took this out pheasant hunting to see how it handles in the field and whether the extra features are worth the added weight.
Overview
The JTS E60.2 is a 12-gauge over/under manufactured by Sevunma Sila in Turkey. It stands out in the budget category by offering features usually reserved for more expensive sporting guns, such as an adjustable cheek riser and extended chokes. While it looks a bit more refined than your average entry-level shotgun, it is built on a heavy steel receiver that prioritizes durability over portability.
Specifications
- Action: Over/Under (Break action)
- Receiver: Steel
- Chamber: 3 inch
- Furniture: Turkish Walnut with adjustable cheek riser
- Chokes: External, color-coded chokes included
- Sights: Fiber optic front bead
- Safety: Tang-mounted, manual
- Weight: 7.4lbs
- MSRP: Approximately $650
Usability
The Good
The first thing you will notice is the anti-glare rib on the top barrel. Even under bright overhead lights or the midday sun, the rib does an excellent job of cutting down reflections. Combined with the fiber optic front sight, the gun is very quick to get on target and easy to get flat on.
The external chokes are a massive win for practicality. You do not need a tool to swap them out, and since the constriction is printed clearly on the side, you don’t have to count notches or use a decoder ring to figure out what is in your barrel.
The Bad
This is shotgun is heavier than others. Because it uses a steel receiver instead of aluminum, you will feel it after a few hours of walking through tall grass for pheasants. Though that extra weight is nice for soaking up recoil if you’re pounding out boxes of clays.
The action is also quite stiff. You really have to muscle the gun open to get it to break, and oiling the hinge didn’t seem to help much during my testing. Similarly, the forend removal is difficult. The spring tension is very high, making disassembly for cleaning more of a chore than it should be.
The Shooting Experience
The gun features ejectors rather than just extractors. When you open the action, it forcefully kicks the spent shells out, which is a nice touch for fast reloads in the field.
One quirk I noted during patterning: the under barrel seemed to shoot a bit low rather than a true 50/50 point of aim/point of impact. It is something you can compensate for, but it is worth noting if you plan on using this for precision clay work.
Aftermarket and Potential Modifications
Since this is a budget-oriented Turkish import, the aftermarket is somewhat limited compared to a Browning or Beretta.
- Butt Pad: The factory pad is fairly thin and basic. Given the weight of the gun, recoil is manageable, but a “grind-to-fit” Limbsaver or Pachmayr pad would be a smart upgrade if you plan on shooting high-volume clays.
Competitors
Stevens 555 Aluminum receiver (much lighter), but uses extractors instead of ejectors.
Stoeger Condor More basic, no adjustable furniture or external chokes.
Conclusion
The JTS E60.2 is a solid choice for the “cheapskate” hunter or the beginner who wants a feature-rich over/under without breaking the bank. It looks better than most guns in its price bracket and the adjustable cheek rest ensures you can get a proper fit right out of the box.
It is heavy and the action is stiff, but for around $600 CAD, it is a functional tool that gets the job done. If you don’t mind a little extra weight on your shoulder, you could do a lot worse for a starter shotgun.
