Retay has been building quite the following in recent years for building budget-friendly, yet performance-focused firearms. Their latest addition, the ACE (Air Control Extreme), is the newest flagship model, and fits nicely into that motto. It retails at just $1,049 for the black synthetic model (add $100 for camo models), considerably less than most other manufacturers’ flagship models. Its counterpart, the ACE R, retails for the same price and features a modest humpback receiver. To see just how much gun you get for the price, we hunted with the ACE all last season. Here’s what we think.
The Gun
ACE
Key Features:
- Gauges: 12, 20, and 28 gauge
- Chamberings: 3.5-inch 12 gauge, 3.5 and 3-inch 20 gauge, and 3-inch 28 gauge
- Action: Inertia
- Choke Tube Thread: Benelli Crio
- MSRP: $1,049–$1,149
Pros:
- Easily removable trigger group
- Comes with six chokes, including a long-range waterfowl choke
- Does not come out of battery
- Oversized controls
Cons:
- Stock can get water in it
Retay offers the ACE series in two models, the standard ACE and the humpack ACE R. Personally, I prefer shooting traditional-style receiver guns, so I opted for the standard ACE. Other than receivers, the two models feature identical actions, barrels, stocks, and other components. The ACE also comes in various gauges; for my hunting, I opted for the 20-gauge chambered for 3-inch shells. Sub-gauge hunting has been gaining popularity lately, and I find a 20-gauge to be the sweet spot in terms of sub-gauge fun and performance.
Testing
To test the Retay ACE, I hunted with it for an entire season in South Florida. Hunting the Sunshine State can be pretty demanding on gear. The mucky bottoms of parts of the Everglades seemingly always find a way into your gun. Add to that, standing waist-deep in water in some spots, and your shotgun will inevitably get wet. A majority of hunting consisted of targeting blue-winged teal, notoriously fast and hard birds to shoot.
What I Liked
After a season of hunting with the Retay ACE, I can confidently say this gun impressed me. Admittedly, I’m a big fan of Benelli shotguns and have been shooting their inertia actions almost exclusively. They fit me well and have never failed me in the field—the same reasons I was impressed with the ACE. The 20-gauge ACE weighs just 6 pounds 6 ounces and feels light in the hand. It also has a slim profile, which I prefer, and mounts with ease. Throughout the season, the ACE’s action never failed to cycle, and was never cleaned. In fact, I only had one shell fail on me the entire season. After closer inspection and a firm primer strike, I believe the shell was to blame, not the gun.
The ACE also has a number of features you won’t find on some premium guns for a budget-friendly price. Features like the oversized bolt release and safety make loading and firing the ACE comfortable and easy. Even with heavy gloves, I had no issues operating the gun safely. In addition, the ACE features a push-button trigger mechanism release. Rather than removing pins to access the trigger housing, simply press the button and pull out the entire trigger assembly. In the field, this makes it easy to work on your gun if needed. The gun also features a Cerakote finish, protecting it from weather and rust. Hunters also get a full line of chokes, including an extended long-range waterfowl-specific choke.
What I Didn’t Like
The Retay ACE is all around a great gun, but one issue I had was with the recoil pad. The ACE features the new AIRY Recoil Pad that claims to reduce felt recoil by 30%. After shooting it for a season, I can say it has confidently reduced felt recoil. However, the air bubble enclosed in the stock did not hold its full, inflated shape. Now this is purely cosmetic; the bubble didn’t pop, and only collapsed slightly on one side while maintaining full function. Considering this is my only issue with a $1,000 gun, I’d say it more than exceeded expectations.
Final Thoughts
The Retay ACE and ACE-R fall into the category of performance waterfowl shotguns, but at an affordable and wallet-friendly price. The reliable inertia actions, paired with a plethora of features, make it an appealing offering in today’s shotgun market. It’s also proven durable and reliable, something I can’t say for all shotguns at this price point. Whether you’re a diehard waterfowler or a newcomer to the sport, the ACE is a gun you can rely on for seasons to come.