Icon Logo Gun Mart

Miroku MK70 Sporter

Miroku MK70 Sporter

Well, there is a new clay shooting season upon us and a lot of people may be thinking of up-grading or changing their guns. The only problem is that for many of us cash is in short supply too at the moment. This month I am reviewing the new Miroku MK70 Sporter. I have always thought that Miroku guns – made in the same factory in Japan where many Brownings are made – have offered especially good value for money. I have much old experience of the marque, having cut my sporting teeth with no less than three Mirokus. How long ago was that? Dare, I admit it… 40 years. I sold a very valuable stamp collection to buy a double trigger over and under game from Thomas Bland and Sons in London. I used this for sporting, and, a year or so later also became the proud owner of Miroku skeet and trap guns. They were all good. I remember scoring 16 in my first round of DTL, and, still a kid, was congratulated by all the members of the club at Detling in Kent which I was visiting for the first time. Happy days, it would be a year or two before I managed the first 25 straight!

Enough Gun

Anyway, back to our test gun which is an MK70 Sporter with 30” barrels, a 10mm rib and hits the scales at 7lbs 8oz. This is quite light by modern standards for a sporter, but some prefer a lighter gun for sporting targets. A gun like this is ideal for a keen club shot, if you wanted to win big competitions you would probably opt for something 8 pounds plus with even longer barrels. Perhaps the point to be stated, though, is that many people spend more on a gun than they need to, because they are not realistic in assessing what they are going to do with it. I might also say that longer guns (and Miroku offer the very cost effective option of the outstanding MK38) tend to be experts’ tools. They may be a handicap to the intermediate level shot, and are certainly an impediment, generally speaking (I always qualify because there are always exceptions) to the less experienced who have not developed the skills to use them properly.

This MK 70 is well presented with a neatly scroll engraved action, and, most interestingly back-bored barrels. The wood is plainly figured, but well finished and chequered, the metal to metal and wood to metal fit are all excellent (as they usually are on Mirokus). My friend Peter Cardnell of Eastern Sporting a confirmed Miroku enthusiast noted: “These new Mirokus and Brownings with lighter and wider bored barrels really do seem to handle better.” I concur, I have shot three of the new style guns now which also boast Invector Plus long chokes and extended forcing cones; I have been very impressed.

Even if one is considering the aesthetics alone, I think the Grade 1 Mirokus look better than they once did. The fairly open scroll machine engraving looks good. High technology means one can create a very respectable looking gun at moderate money these days.

How much is the bottom line here? The RRP is £1,400 but I would expect you to be able to do better than that at many gunshops. As ever, when you are in the market it pays to phone around a bit. Don’t discount the value of purchasing locally though, it may be worth a slight premium, so you can be assured of good, local service in the future. I note with cartridges some people seem willing to drive 50 miles to save a couple of quid – it is not usually cost-effective to be too tight. If you can, support the local gun shop. They all owe me a beer now!

story continues below...

On With the Test

The action styling and mechanical spec – barrels apart – is familiar. This is the usual modification of the Browning Superposed with which B.C.Miroku have done so well. Bring the gun to the shoulder and positive first impressions are only confirmed. I did note that the comb was a little low, however. I could lose the bead rather too easily. Nevertheless, the gun felt solid, if a bit muzzle heavy. Like many multi-chokes, it could benefit with a bit of extra weight being added in the butt (something that should, ideally, be determined once a gun is stocked – because the wood density can make a big difference). The 30” barrels suited the gun well. For a sporter, 30” is still the best all-round length for the typical club shooter in my opinion (though 28” may be a better choice for game shooting only, or, if you are planning for the gun to do double service.)

Our MK 70’s barrels are monobloc. Although it might be noted that Miroku (and hence Browning as far as their general range was concerned) stuck with demi-bloc construction much longer than most other mass manufacturers. One can argue the merits of either, most would say demi-bloc was superior, but I have never noted any practical difference when shooting. It is also notable that Miroku make an extremely good job of building monobloc barrels – you really have to struggle to see any visible joint. 
The chambers on the test gun are 3” and bears Belgian fleur de lys proof marks for steel shot. Looking inside, the bores are well presented with long, very well machined forcing cones (a new development), and, wider bores. Those on the test gun were both marked 18.7mm – an ideal dimension. The chokes are longer Invector Plus type, and, a bit of bean counting here, only three are supplied with the gun. Looking at the ribs, the side ribs are solid (using a vented design might have usefully reduced barrel weight even more), and, the sighting rib, as already mentioned, is 10mm. It has a shallow centre channel and is equipped with two beads as is the norm on Miroku and Browning guns. They are both white. The white foresight at the muzzles is good, though I might well remove the mid-bead (also white) if the gun was mine. Mid beads are only useful on a trap gun in my view.

Superposed

The MK 70’s action is more-or-less unchanged. It is based on the well proven Japanese modification of the famous Superposed/B25 design as discussed. Unlike a Beretta, it has a full width hinge pin (the advantage of which is increased bearing surface, and the disadvantage slightly, increased action height compared to a trunnion design). The gun locks up by means of a full width, flat bolt that engages a bite beneath the bottom chamber. What is the difference between the Miroku and Japanese made Brownings compared to the Belgian B25? The latter has a forend that stays attached to the barrels when the gun is routinely disassembled.  
The stock on the MK 70 is conventional in all respects. It has a well radiused and hand-filling grip which offers especially good purchase – I am great fan of this simple but effective design. The length of pull was 14 7/8” – perfect too. The butt is finished off with the usual Miroku black plastic plate. Many manufacturers are now making their guns a bit longer which is useful as we are all becoming taller. There was a bit of cast for a right-hander (Miroku have never put much on their guns routinely).  Drop dimensions were a bit low. I noted something near 1 ½” at the comb and a little over 2 ¼” at heel. The gun would have been better with 1 3/8 and 2 1/8” as a shelf dimension. It is always better to have a stock a little too high than even a smidgen too low (often the reason for mysterious shifts in eye dominance).

Shooting Impressions

The MK70 shot fine. All mechanical function was first class. Nothing missed a beat. It is definitely better with the new barrel specification. Felt recoil is significantly reduced. It might, on consideration (I have been shooting it some weeks) be further refined with lighter joining ribs and perhaps an 8mm rib (Miroku usually stick to 6mm on game guns and 10mm on clay guns). Nevertheless, this gun offers excellent specification at a very good price. If you are in the market for a new clay gun at reasonable money this should definitely be a contender.
My thanks to Andy Norris of Browning International and to Lyalvale Express who supplied the cartridges used in this test.

PRICE: £1,400

  • Miroku MK70 Sporter - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Miroku MK70 Sporter - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Miroku MK70 Sporter - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Miroku MK70 Sporter - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Miroku MK70 Sporter - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Miroku MK70 Sporter - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Miroku MK70 Sporter - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Miroku MK70 Sporter - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Miroku MK70 Sporter - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

gun
features

  • Model: Miroku MK 70
  • Type: O/U Sporter
  • Bore: 12
  • Chambers: 3”
  • Barrel: back-bored 30” (28” option)
  • Rib: 10mm with shallow centre channel and mid-bead
  • Weight: 7lbs 8oz.
Arrow