Not I, but I have two friends who have them, and can't say enough good about them.

 

You can buy a new Benelli Montefeltro for $700. A much more proven gun.

 

I've tested six of them and currently own two. They are far better made than most Benelli's, with better triggers and a better action.

 

Smells fishy but I'll answer.
My local shop has a few. They aren't selling and don't really show well next to better finished guns like Benelli and are perhaps more comparable (in terms of finish) to the Franchi.

 

Inertia guns are fairly easy to field strip in the store. Take bolts and guts out and look at them. Do the same for a Benelli and compare. Make your own judgement. Benelli are currently overpriced relative to competition now that there patent protection has expired. Take the removable trigger out of the retry and look at it. I have handled and looked at them. I would not hesitate to buy one but have no need for a third inertia operated 12 gage. They start making a 20 and I might bite. Franchi affinity has recoil return spring on mag tube. If you are a waterfowl hunter I'd consider that an advantge.

 

I'm also intrigued by them. I'm not an inertia guy persay, but they are attractive guns. I may eventually end up with one myself, unless a common flaw is discovered once they've been out for a while and hunted hard. Should you decide to get one, please make sure to post your thoughts on occasion, so those of us who are also interested can learn more about them.

 

Who works on them? Easy to find parts?

 

Who works on them? Easy to find parts?

I understand that Briley is the service center for Retay Arms.

 

I understand that Briley is the service center for Retay Arms.

That is correct and they have a lot of parts. No one seems to need them, though.

 

I just looked at a couple at my lgs. I thought they were a bit pricey at $1200 but that could just be at that store. They were nice looking guns and appeared finished nicely. They had a wood stocked version and a tactical version there that was real nice and would make a good turkey gun. It was light and had a scope rail but only an 18" barrel. Would like at least 20 personally. If the price was lower I would gamble on one.

 

My LGS is currently considering becoming a dealer. I am interested in the wood stocked model with the grey receiver, as I am set on waterfowl guns. My concern is that they won't take off, and in a couple of years there won't be any dealers in the States. I understand that Briley will service them, but what happens if Retay discontinues sales in the US, and Briley runs out of replacement parts? They appear to be well made shotguns, but there doesn't seem to be much info on how durable they will be over time. The shotgun purchase I make this year will be a V3, however, I will likely be looking to purchase a Masai Mara next year. Hopefully by then there will be more reviews on them, and light will be shed on any flaws the gun may or may not have. I personally hope Retay is able to set up a strong dealer network in the US, and they gain a reputation for being as dependable as Benellis.

 

My concern is that they won't take off, and in a couple of years there won't be any dealers in the States.

They already have taken off, world-wide. Retay is a very healthy company.

 

That's good to know Mr. Wakeman. I just haven't seen any in my area, nor even heard about them until seeing your video review and reading a little about them here. They are impressive looking shotguns. There just aren't any dealers anywhere in the area where I live yet where I can go lay hands on one.

 

The more problematic guns can be the ones that are "spec guns" . . . imported in batches, then sold under names like Charles Daly, Traditions, Savage, H & R, and even Weatherby. If you are looking for Chinese Savage M37 parts, or even Weatherby Orion D'Italia II parts, you might be looking for a while.

If you do get a Retay 3 inch semi, there aren't that many parts to begin with. The trigger group comes out with the push of a button, all the barrels are interchangeable made from Böhler steel, the breech-bolts are interchangeable, the choke tubes are interchangeable, the shims are interchangeable, and right now . . . they are all 12 gauge. It is a modular, simple inertia design, with very few parts and those parts are mostly modular.

 

Seeing as how the trigger group is something that is a new concept, I think that's the main part I have reservations over. I know a trigger group with pins won't suddenly fall out, but I wonder how this style trigger group with the button release will hold up over time and use. I do realize how simple the design is in reguards to inertia guns. Fewer parts usually does equal to fewer failures. The only other part of the gun that I have any question about is the bolt. The rotating bolt is a well tested design, but the spring added to it to help alleviate the issues with returning to battery is something I also wonder about. How will it hold up after the gun has had 20,000 rounds or so through it. Those are two of the features that make the gun intriguing to me, but the main two I have questions about. The other thing about them that has really caught my attention is how attractive the wood stocked guns look. I have never really cared for a wood stock gun, because of the guns that are in my budget usually don't have such attractive furniture. I sure hope there aren't many issues found in them over the next year. If there isn't, I will be owning one.

 

The trigger group is milled metal, not plastic. I actually prefer walnut and polished blue, in general and specifically for pheasant hunting. My favorite Masai Mara is a 24 inch polished blue / walnut. If you bought one two years ago, I suppose you could call that an 'early adopter' kinda sorta, but today . . . not so much.

They've made great progress in the last three years. I'll probably go to the factory this year in Turkey to see how they are made.

 

The removable trigger is the answer to a question nobody asked. Any other brand it's two pins and you're out. What's the big deal with that?

The brands ability to find staying power will depend on whether they continue to market using PAID advertisers who masquerade as impartial reviewers. I personally will never purchase one thanks to these deceptive practices. On a more practical note the small price difference between these guns and the Benelli guns they want to compete with is simply not large enough to get real numbers of hunters to consider them. A lesser quality finish (I've handled this model in my LGS---it doesn't compare), price close enough to Benelli to be inconsequential, and dishonest marketing practices by 'experts' tells me the brands days will be limited.

I don't see the spring added to the rotating bolt as a negative. Replacing a simple spring now and again is no big deal. I personally have no issues with my M2 guns falling out of battery and consider it a non issue. I can see a grouse hunter going through ridiculously thick cover having a gripe with it but if that were a regular occurrence for me I'd just go gas and skip inertia altogether.

 

Jacksdad, I can appreciate your point of view, but the price difference on the Masai Mara with a walnut finish compared to a walnut Benelli is fairly substantial. At least in my area. Sure, I can get an M2 American version around here for around $900, but it's a black synthetic. If I were to own a Benelli, it would likely be an M2, as I do have experience shooting them and hit well with them.

As to the push button bolt release, I do think it's a good concept. Sure, it isn't difficult to remove a couple of pins to pull one out, unless they haven't been removed in a very long time. I've also had to fumble with lining everything up, and getting the pins started in the holes. The process may only take a few minutes, but the push bottom trigger release is an advantage. I understand Mr. Wakeman's point about the trigger group being all metal, but my concern isn't with the durability of the trigger group itself. It's the durability of the release mechanism. It would suck to be using the gun in the field, and the trigger group falls out. I can see a useful application for it, as well as the spring in the bolt. If the design changes prove to be durable, I don't think anyone would argue that they are improvements over the Benelli design.

 

The removable trigger is the answer to a question nobody asked. Any other brand it's two pins and you're out. What's the big deal with that?

The brands ability to find staying power will depend on whether they continue to market using PAID advertisers who masquerade as impartial reviewers. I personally will never purchase one thanks to these deceptive practices. On a more practical note the small price difference between these guns and the Benelli guns they want to compete with is simply not large enough to get real numbers of hunters to consider them. A lesser quality finish (I've handled this model in my LGS---it doesn't compare), price close enough to Benelli to be inconsequential, and dishonest marketing practices by 'experts' tells me the brands days will be limited.

I don't see the spring added to the rotating bolt as a negative. Replacing a simple spring now and again is no big deal. I personally have no issues with my M2 guns falling out of battery and consider it a non issue. I can see a grouse hunter going through ridiculously thick cover having a gripe with it but if that were a regular occurrence for me I'd just go gas and skip inertia altogether.

Can you be more specific regarding the "dishonest marketing practices"?

 

It will shake out in the long run. If Retay shotguns are really worth their salt, they will earn a share of the already crowded semi-auto market. Otherwise, they'll bomb regardless of who sings their praises.

 

Jacksdad, I have noticed some bias in certain reviews, but everyone has their personal preferences. When I watch and read reviews others have done on products, I don't pay much attention to their subjective complaints. I sift through the information and focus on facts concerning the products. Felt recoil, and the ergonomics of the controls of a gun are subjective. I also ignore unsubstantiated claims concerning the weapon's bolt speed, reliability, and the benefits of any recoil reduction system.

I am purchasing a V3 this year, not because of anyone's review in particular, but because I think it's a good design. I see a lot of comparisons between it and the A300 on here and many other forums, but there have been no true unbiased side by side comparisons I have found. I intend to do such a review once I've gotten enough trigger time with both. I'm currently seeing how long my A300 will function properly without cleaning. I'm at 650 rounds and going without any cycling issues. I'll do the same with my V3.

I know it seems that the drum is being banged pretty hard for products like the V3, and the Masai Mara, but we are all intelligent enough to make our own decisions. I do think the Masai Mara is an intriguing gun with some innovative features. Only time will tell if the gun is as durable and trouble free as a Benelli.

 

Smells fishy but I'll answer.
My local shop has a few. They aren't selling and don't really show well next to better finished guns like Benelli and are perhaps more comparable (in terms of finish) to the Franchi.

Well your instincts and sense of smell are keen.
The O.P. posted 2 threads on this topic but has not returned to comment since his original post.

 

My 2 cents. The Bennelli will suffer sales due to the inertia bolt patents expiration.
Since many others can now produce the same product, it will become a race to
lowest price. If someone can produce and market more features, improve on the existing design like Retay seems to have done; all while being price competitive, they may actually prosper.
If they also offer better customer service we all will benefit.

It's a good thing Bennelli has a head start and loyal buyers because there is
NO reason to believe others are not getting a share of that market. Not just a newbie
like Retay.

I don't see how that can do anything but go up to the detriment of Bennelli, but
to the benefit of us, the consumers.

IMO More competition is a good thing! Time will tell.

 

Agree that if anything this may push Benelli to up their game.

 

The Retay Masai Mara is new in the U.S. Getting great reviews. Friends are saying it the up and coming new semi automatic. Has anyone used one and have an opinion?

I first heard from Retay Arms back in 2014 when the Masai Mara was under development. Stuff like this I hear all the time: it is part of my job.

In late 2016, I tested the first Masai Mara imported in to the U.S.-- straight from the BATF to me. Added to the first one, essentially a prototype, I've tested five more production models. The big improvement was the introduction of the "Inertia Plus" action, patented by Retay.

I'm responding to your post because you asked to hear from anyone that has used one and I've used and evaluated many examples over the last couple of years.