13-Aug-2026
Ask around any UK clay ground, and you’ll find Mirokus everywhere, often with six-figure round counts behind them and owners who wouldn’t swap them for guns costing three times as much. The Japanese maker has been quietly building some of the most durable over-and-unders in the world since the 1960s, and for British shooters, they remain one of the smartest buys on the racks, new or used.
This guide covers what makes Miroku special, how the model range fits together, MK38, MK60, MK70, MK11, and the older numbered guns, and what to look for when buying one in the UK.
Who is Miroku? The Browning connection
Miroku Firearms of Kochi, Japan, has been making guns since the late nineteenth century, but its modern reputation rests on one fact: since the 1960s, Miroku has built the majority of Browning’s over-and-under shotguns. Pick up a Browning B525 and a Miroku MK38, and you are handling close cousins, both descend from John Moses Browning’s B25 design, built in the same factory to the same standards.
The practical upshot for buyers: a Miroku-badged gun gives you Browning build quality, often at a friendlier price, because the Miroku name carries less brand premium in the UK. That’s precisely why experienced shooters rate them so highly; you’re paying for steel and walnut, not marketing. If you’re weighing the Browning side of the family, our Browning B525 and B725 guide makes a useful companion to this one.
The modern range: MK38, MK60 and MK70
Miroku MK38. The flagship clay gun and the model you’ll see most often at registered shoots. Typically a 12-bore with 30" or 32" barrels, a solid mid-rib, and a weight around 3.6 kg that soaks up recoil over long days. The Grade 5 versions add handsome wood and engraving, but even standard grades share the same action. Trap and Sporter configurations both appear on the used market; check MK38 listings to compare. As an out-and-out competition workhorse, little at any price outlasts it.
Miroku MK60. The game gun of the range: lighter, usually with a game rib and often in high grades with well-figured walnut. A 30" MK60 makes an elegant driven-day gun that will also handle a clay session without complaint. Sporting grades and special editions turn up regularly in the UK, browse current MK60 examples.
Miroku MK70. Think of the MK70 as the MK60’s slightly plainer, harder-working sibling, a game-styled gun at a keener price point, and a favourite first over-and-under. The MK70 Sporter variant, which shows up steadily in UK searches, adds a sporting-style stock for shooters who split their time between game and clays. See what’s about on the MK70 page.
The classics: MK11, 3800, 6000, and the numbered guns
Older Mirokus are where the bargains live, and they wear their age remarkably well.
The MK11 has a particularly strong following, a quality sporter built to a standard that embarrasses some modern guns, and prices on the used market remain very reasonable for what you get. Current MK11 listings are worth watching if you want maximum gun for your money.
The numbered series, Miroku 600, 700, 3800, 6000, and relatives, date mostly from the 1970s and 80s. The 3800 in particular, was a serious trap gun in its day and still shoots as well as ever; the 700 series made fine field guns. These guns predate some modern niceties (fixed chokes are common, and older 2¾" chambers appear), but mechanically they were built like bank vaults. A tidy 1970s Miroku that’s been looked after will likely outlive its next owner too.
Why UK shooters rate Miroku: Build and value
Three things come up again and again with Miroku owners. First, longevity: the actions are famously overbuilt, and guns with enormous round counts routinely stay tight. Second, consistency: Miroku barrels are well regulated, and the guns tend to shoot where you look, with sensible stock dimensions for British shooters. Third, value retention, because used prices start sensible, a well-kept Miroku loses little money, making it one of the lowest-risk ways into a quality over-and-under.
Against comparable Berettas, the 686 family being the obvious rival, the Miroku is typically a touch heavier and steadier, where the Beretta feels livelier between the hands. Neither is better; they suit different shooters, which is why both dominate UK gun racks.
Buying a used Miroku: What to check
Miroku’s durability means most used examples are sound, but apply the usual over-and-under checks. Confirm the gun is tight on face with no rattle when closed, and the top lever sits right of centre; a lever at or past centre suggests wear. Check barrels for dents, lifted ribs, and pitting, and confirm chamber length and proof marks suit modern loads, especially on older numbered guns; some pre-1990 guns have shorter chambers and may not be suited to steel shot. Look at the wood-to-metal fit around the head of the stock for cracks, and favour guns with evidence of servicing. On competition guns, ask about round count honestly, though with a Miroku, even a big number is rarely a deal-breaker. Our guide to the best shotgun cartridges for clay shooting has more on matching loads to older guns.
FAQs
Are Miroku shotguns the same as Browning? They’re built in the same Japanese factory and share the same design lineage from the Browning B25. Specifications and styling differ between the brands, but the fundamental engineering and build quality are the same, which is exactly why Mirokus are considered such good value.
Which Miroku is best for clay shooting? The MK38 is the dedicated competition gun and the default choice for sporting, trap, and skeet. An MK70 Sporter is a fine lower-cost alternative, and older MK11s and 3800s remain very capable if the stock dimensions fit you.
Which Miroku is best for game shooting? The MK60 is the range’s game gun, with the MK70 offering similar handling for less money. Lighter weight and game ribs make both natural, driven-day choices.
Are old Mirokus worth buying? Generally yes, they were over-engineered from the start and age well. Just check chamber lengths, proof, and choke suitability for the cartridges you plan to shoot, particularly if you need steel shot.
Browse Miroku shotguns on Rightgun.uk
Whether you’re after an MK38 to campaign at registered shoots, an MK60 for the peg, or a classic MK11 at a price that leaves money for cartridges, there’s rarely been a better time to buy Japanese. Browse all Miroku shotguns for sale from trusted UK sellers on Rightgun and see how far your budget goes.
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