Retay USA cruises below the radar of many American shotgunners, but a quick look at the company’s SHOT Show booth reveals its dedication to scatterguns. This year, it’s all about waterfowl hunters with the introduction of two versions of the new ACE.
Meet the ACE Series
New for 2025, Retay’s Air Control Extreme repeating shotguns mark yet another extension to what started as the company’s Inertia Plus lineup. Marketed as “the next generation” of Inertia Plus, the ACE builds on the earlier Masai Mara lineup and packs a list of upgraded features. Two unique and distinctly different model variants are launching simultaneously. The Standard has lines similar to the company’s previous designs, along with the Type-R – a style more reminiscent of the old Browning humpback A5s, with a raised and squared flare to the rear of the receiver.
(All photos: Kristin Alberts/Guns.com)
Improvements come to the guns’ ability to cycle light loads, as well as a revamped bolt design aimed at reducing cycling friction and ultimately, reliability. Upgrading to a stainless-steel recoil buffer spring adds to the corrosion resistance, an important factor for wet weather hunting. ACE shotguns will be compatible with Benelli extended magazine tubes and Crio Plus choke tubes.
What’s more, the receiver is drilled and tapped to accept optics-ready Benelli rail mounts. The safety is reversible for lefties, and as we’ve come to expect on hunting shotguns these days, controls (including the charging handle and bolt release) are upsized for easily manipulation. Both guns show off what the company calls an Airy recoil pad that allows for LOP adjustment, plus a soft stock comb pad.
The Lineup
Outward style aside, pretty much all the other specs remain the same between the duo. They’re available in 12-gauge with a 3.5-inch chamber, 20-gauge with a 3-inch chamber, and in a pleasant surprise, a 28-gauge 3-inch chamber. Barrels are either 26 or 28 inches with a single fiber-optic bead front sight.
The trigger group removes with a push button for easy field-stripping. The LOP measures a long 14.5 inches and includes the SHIM kit. Guns were displayed in either Extra Black with a full blacked-out finish or full camouflage coverage. Retay’s firearms hail from Konya, Turkey, with Retay USA’s presence in Easton, Maryland handling importation, distribution, and warranty service. MSRPs are as follows:
- ACE Extra Black: $1,049
- ACE Mossy Oak Bottomland: $1,149
- ACE Realtree Max7: $1,149
- ACE Type-R Extra Black: $1,049
- ACE Type-R Mossy Oak Bottomland: $1,149
- ACE Type-R Realtree Max7: $1,149
The new ACE shotguns are expected to begin shipping in summer 2025, so even if they’re a little late, it looks hopeful that duck and goose hunters could give these a run come fall and winter.
Final Thoughts
The ACE is touted to reliably cycle the broadest range of shells of any Retay shotgun. While we didn’t have a chance to pull the trigger on these newbies yet, we look forward to finding out more about how these promising repeaters stack up with others in their class. The ACE family joins Retay’s returning lineup of shotguns, including the repeaters Masai Mara and Gordion, pump-action GPS, and single-shot Gamelanders.
