Back in black
John McDougall delights in the updated Miroku MK10
Japanese-made Miroku shotguns have been around as long as I can remember. They have an excellent reputation and have been used by most of Australia’s top Sporting Clays shooters at one time or another. Indeed shooting identities Danny Galea, CEO of Australian distributor Outdoor Sporting Agencies along with sales and development lead Rod Laidlaw, have secured the services of Robert Hall, one of Australia’s highest-rated shotgun shooters who now uses a Miroku. In the spotlight here is the updated MK10 Black Sporter.
Barrels
Being an over-and-under and especially a Miroku, the barrels at 760mm (30”) are perfectly polished and blued with a deep blue lustre. Both side and top ribs are ventilated to balance the weight of the barrels and enable quick cooling when shooting is continuous. At the muzzle end is a Trap-like white font bead sight with another small brass mid-sight halfway down. When the gun is correctly mounted these should form a figure-of-eight, ensuring the barrels are vertically aligned perfectly.
At the end of the muzzle the gun’s fitted with fully internal and interchangeable choke tubes, five of these supplied from cylinder to full choke. The spanner for installation and removal is solidly constructed and works efficiently for fast removal and installation, though I’d suggest buying a Briley speed wrench if you’re aiming for super-fast changes.
This gun is chambered for 76mm (3”) cartridges which gives you the option to use it for field hunting with magnum loads, an added bonus for those seeking a multi-use shotgun for Sporting Clays and duck or rabbit shooting. The monobloc of the Miroku is remarkably strong and retains a design which has proven its worth for decades.
Being an under-pinned shotgun the profile is usually marginally higher than a bifurcated jointed gun as found with many European models. The hook formed by the forward lumps slot into the pin transversing the front of the receiver (this is how the gun is jointed). When the fore-end is fitted to the barrels it completes the housing of the transverse pin in the front of the receiver. Ejectors are individual for each barrel and of two-piece construction, throwing fired cartridges well clear of the breech and are well-timed to make swift reloading a breeze.
Receiver
This gives the MK10 Black Sporter its name as the engraving is completed in black, significantly different to the standard model which is basically all silver. The engraving is slightly different in that the manufacturer’s name on the receiver is inletted in black, while the standard version reviewed a few years ago featured red lettering. Engraving is much the same as the standard model about all sides of the receiver and none on the fore-end release catch.
Design of the barrel selector/safety catch is excellent with positive activation for ease of operation and firm enough not to be easily moved, while the top lever functions smoothly and positively with more than sufficient resistance to lock the barrels. The lever itself doesn’t do this but operates a trapezoid-faced slide in the bottom of the receiver which locks into the ‘bite’ of the rear barrel lumps. It’s an excellent locking mechanism and time-proven more than a century on from the original John Moses Browning design.
Trigger guard design is excellent and can accommodate those who favour thin leather gloves, the trigger foot interchangeable with three options supplied. Length of pull adjustment is also possible and very practical as I’ll address later. Trigger pulls are identical for both barrels and dependent upon an inertia cocking system, whereby the first barrel must fire before the second can be activated, typical of Miroku superposed shotguns.
All metal-to-metal and metal-to-wood surfaces are well fitted and inletted courtesy of CNC machinery. Overall the receiver is quite striking in its new black tones and attention to quality assurance on the finish of the gun is excellent.
Stock and fore-end
These are made from Grade 3 walnut and in its standard configuration, the gun came up well to the mount straight out the box, well suited to a stocky person with average body dimensions. Character and colouring of the stock and fore-end are a perfect match with checkering running at around 20 lines/inch. The swirls of grain in the stock are quite appealing and the adjustable comb piece already fitted is a bonus (tools necessary for adjustment are provided).
As the gun is chambered for 76mm (3”) cartridges in 12-gauge, there’s a significant recoil pad fitted to the butt of the stock to make shooting more comfortable and maintain correct gun mount, especially when firing at overhead targets (see Specifications for stock dimensions).
Over the traps
On unpacking the MK10 and assembling the shotgun I thought what a sensational looking firearm, this level of presentation being what we’ve come to expect from the Miroku factory in Japan. I was itching to visit my local gun club and swing it into action. Using the Clever Mirage Pro Extra cartridges provided for review, I had difficulty with the trigger release as I’d occasionally freeze on the trigger. After a quick phone call to a gunsmith friend in Melbourne, I moved the trigger foot forward which solved my problem, so many thanks to Ben Eu.
From then on I’d no such problems as target after target was smashed using an Improved Cylinder choke in the bottom barrel and Improved Modified in the top. Closer targets were destroyed while those further out (beyond 37m) were convincingly broken but not completely turned to dust. Naturally a few ‘breeder’ targets were missed but over two rounds all were broken satisfactorily.
Recently I shot at Frankston Gun Club on their simulated field ground with a young man from Morwell. He coincidentally had bought a Miroku MK10 Black Sporter with a 32” barrel configuration and I watched as he casually destroyed target after target. I mentioned I’d just tested that model and inquired as to what he thought of his new purchase. He was rapt and the results achieved with young eyes and fast reflexes were most impressive. The gun has a five-year warranty and carries a recommended retail price of $3399 but, as always, is pays to shop around.
Specifications
Make: Miroku
Model: MK10 Black Sporter
Manufacturer: Miroku Gun Company, Japan
Distributor: OSA, Melbourne
Overall length: 1207mm (47½”)
Overall weight: 3.88kg (8½lb)
Barrel length: 760mm (30”)
Barrel weight: 1.52kg (3lb 5oz)
Bore size and chamber: Under 0.739”, Over 0.739”, 76mm (3”), 12-gauge.
Chokes: Cylinder 0.745”, Imp. Cylinder 0.740”, Modified 0.728”, Imp. Modified 0.717”, Full 0.707”
Trigger pulls: Under 1.85kg (70oz), Over 1.85kg (70oz)
Stock dimensions: Drop at comb adjustable, drop at heel adjustable, Length of pull 380mm (15”), right-hand palm swell, checkering around 20lines/inch
Price: $3399 (but shop around)
Warranty: Five years
- Next month: We run the numbers on the Miroku MK10 Premium Sporter.