Toros Copolla T4

The Toros Copolla T4 shotgun is a recent introduction from a Turkish maker. The shotgun isn’t anew design, only a recently introduced shotgun. Turkish makers have extensive experience in manufacturing shotguns. Over the years they have developed a strong working relationship with Beretta and Benelli, both respected and well established Italian manufacturers. The Stoeger line of shotguns and handguns is another example of firearms manufactured in Turkey. Turkish makers have jumped into the marketplace in a big way.

The Toros Copolla T4 is a straight up clone of the Benelli M4. The Benelli shotgun is a good example of "Big Rand Little M" as it excels at reliability and demands little maintenance. The T4 is a direct copy of the M4, down to the fact that all parts are interchangeable according to the importer. We would find out after making aside by side comparison. The T4 is manufactured by Sarsilmaz Silah Saniyah and seems The front sight is interchangeable with Benelli sights and also the XS aftermarket sight.

Top: The author considers the Toros Copolla T4 one of his front line shotguns. well made of good material. The fit is good and the finish may not quite equal the Benelli but then the Toros T4 carries a price tag closer to $800 rather than the Benelli’s $1,800. The Benelli M4 is often regarded as among the most reliable shotguns of all time. Superbly well made and reliable, the M4 was developed to meet U. S. military demands. The original Benelli shotguns used a reliable inertia drive.

The shotgun the Army and Marines wanted had to be gas operated as the inertia drive proved less reliable when optics and accessories were added. Benelli’s patented Auto-Regulating Gas-Operated (ARGO) system is clean and reliable, making the M4 among the most reliable shotguns ever designed. The Toros Copolla T4 tested was imported by Aztec International Inc. doing business as Ocala Armory in Ocala, Florida. The T4 follows the Benelli M4 outline closely—perhaps exactly—and features ghost

ring sights identical to the Benelli. There is also a light rail for mounting optics. The shotgun has been tested thoroughly and so far seems as reliable as a machine can be. There have been no failures to feed, chamber, fire, or eject with full Bottom: During the initial disassembly the barrel, barrel nut, and forend halves are removed. power loads including birdshot, field loads of all types, slugs, and buckshot. While our test sample is just one shotgun, the results are encouraging.

In appearance the only thing truly different is the slightly enlarged trigger guard. The trigger action is lighter and crisper than the Benelli, which was an unexpected bonus. The shotgun is supplied with three choke tubes. The specifications are identical to the Benelli M4, being chambered for 2 3/4 and 3-inch 12 gauge shotshells, 5-shot magazine, 18.5" barrel, 14 3/8" length of pull, 40" overall length, 7.7 pounds and $895 average retail price.

Lets look at the nuts and bolts break down of the Toros Copolla T4 and parts interchangeability with the Benelli M4. Disassembly is simple enough and straightforward. Be certain the magazine isn’t loaded and the chamber is clear. Lock the bolt to the rear. Grasp the magazine cap and unscrew it. There are generous gripping surfaces making this quite easy and the cap is easily tightened as well.

Once tension is relieved on it, the forend is easily pulled apart and is two parts marked left and right with an arrow pointing toward the muzzle to ensure proper reassembly. With that removed, pull the barrel forward off of the shotgun. At this point we confirmed that the Toros T4 and Benelli M4 barrels interchange. With the barrel out of the receiver the bolt may be removed next. By twisting the bolt handle out and away the bolt may be pulled forward on its rails. A word on removing the bolt handle.

It doesn’t screw out. There is an indent in the bolt and the bolt han-

Far dle is twisted and removed. While the Toros T4 was quite tight and demanded considerable effort on the first try, simply pull the bolt straight forward and out. At this point you may wish to remove the firing pin in order to clean the firing pin channel or replace the firing pin spring or firing pin. Depress the bolt together and pull out the locking head retaining pin. The firing pin and firing pin spring may be removed. These parts are also interchangeable with the Benelli M4.

Removing the trigger group is simple enough. Use the bolt handle to depress the trigger group retaining pin. The pin is captive and presses out right to left. Press the shell carrier release and pull the trigger group down and out. Next, take a look at the heart of the shotgun the ARGO-type gas pistons. You will notice that the Toro T4 cover and pistons have some type of oxide coating while the Benelli M4 is stainless steel. Use the bolt handle to screw the operating piston covers out.

The gas pistons are then pulled out. The gas pistons interchange with each other on either shotgun. On close examination we were able to detect some differences between the Benelli M4 and Toros T4. The barrel nut is slightly larger on the Turkish shotgun. Not a problem but a consideration with some aftermarket forends. We also confirmed the Toros Copolla accepts all Mobil/Benelli/Beretta-type choke tubes. We placed the trigger groups in either receiver.

The Benelli trigger group fit right into the Toros T4; no problem at all, a nice tight fit. However, the Toros T4 trigger group did not fits as well in the Benelli M4 receiver. The rear wing, tang, or extension of the Toros T4 trigger group was just slightly larger.

The lever with the red dot forward of the trigger is the firing pin decocker. I do not think I would have had any difficulty at all fitting the part, perhaps a pass of the file a time or two. Perhaps I could have forced the part with a bit of pressure but the fact remains the Benelli trigger group slid into the Toros receiver while the opposite was not true. This was the only issue of compatibility that I was able to determine.

Another caution, the trigger group on the Benelli design doesn’t sim- The Benelli uses stainless steel components. Bottom: The Toros Copolla T4 hasn’t been cleaned at any point during the evaluation. Fouling was modest. ply snap into place. Carefully line the trigger group up and depress the shell carrier release as you move the trigger group into position. It is easy to press the trigger group too far into the receiver. Move slowly and line the trigger group pin hole up with the retention pin hole in the receiver.

Moving to the rails and sights of the shotgun, these were looked over closely. It is important to be able to mount combat lights, lasers, red dots, and optics. I had previously mounted a shotgun-type scope from Tru Glo on the Toros for use in a shotgun slug evaluation. The rails and the screw geometry are identical in the Turkish and Italian shotguns to the smallest fraction I was able to measure. After more than a year of evaluation, the Toros Copolla T4 has proven reliable.

If the shotgun comes into the shop for work you may be confident aftermarket accessories designed for the Benelli M4 will fit the Toro Copolla T4. An exception might be a particularly close fitting forend due to the slightly larger barrel nut, however, I believe that the dimensions are close enough for fitting to achieve a good fit. The trigger group will not quite fit the Benelli but would fit properly with minimal fitting. The Benelli trigger group, however, fits the Toros Copolla without any difficulty.

The Toros Copolla T4 by all indications in extensive testing seems a viable personal defense shotgun. AG