EAA MKA 1923 Review: Bullpup Shotgun

In this EAA MKA 1923 review I will cover the European American Armories bullpup shotgun. To do this, we’ll take a look at the specs and dig deep to see if the MKA 1923 is the right choice for your next shotgun purchase.

EAA MKA 1923

European American Armories, or EAA, are already well known in the shotgun world thanks to their 1919. Now, the company has returned to the market with the EAA MKA 1923.

So how does this bullpup shotgun stack up, and is it worthy of being your next shotgun purchase?

The purpose behind the MKA 1923 was to bring the quality associated with MKA weaponry to a new bullpup shotgun packed with innovation and quality.

However, if you’ve read other Gun University reviews of bullpup shotguns, you’ll know this compact firearm isn’t without its problems. The guns sometimes have performance issues. So how does this semi-automatic, 12 gauge offering from EAA perform?

If you’re reading this MKA 1923 review, you’re probably interested in a bullpup shotgun for home defense purposes. After all, that was EAA’s primary purpose when introducing the 1923.

So read on to get the full Gun University take on this bullpup shotgun. There are a few things you’ll definitely want to know before proceeding any further.

EAA MKA 1923 Features

1 Continuous Picatinny Rail Mount

Ideal for mounting sights and other accessories to your MKA 1923.

2 Fully Adjustable Rear Sights

Removable and fully adjustable.

3 Trigger Thumb Block Safety

Helps prevent against accidental discharge.

EAA MKA Review – Our Take

Looking for an inexpensive bullpup semi-auto shotgun with a detachable drum magazine? Well, the EAA MKA 1923 is it.

The EAA 1923 isn’t really the “best” of anything – there are surely “better” shotguns out there (check out our best bullpup article) but none of them have all of these features in such a budget-friendly package.

We got to play with one a bit and it ran great!

This shotgun, amongst others in its category, seemed the most like a regular semi-auto shotgun in a bull-pup shell.

What we loved: A fun to shoot and reliable semi auto bullpup that didn’t break the bank. The detachable box magazines are REALLY cool – it makes reloading, and even changing shell types (slug to birdshot to buckshot) fairly easy. We also like the forward charging handle and that it already comes with functional iron sights. Also, the cutlass style grip has an improvement (in our book) over the cutlass style grip on IWI bullpup firearms: it has a separate trigger guard! You may not like this, but the open cutlass style on the IWI firearms makes us a bit nervous. For a bullpup shotgun it also has very good recoil management. A lot of this is because of the weight and distribution.

What we didn’t like: The EAA bullpup 1923 shotgun is a little rough around the edges. At this price point, that is to be expected. If they used a nicer polymer for the shell or refined some of the design, the price would surely increase.

EAA MKA 1923 Pros and Cons

EAA MKA 1923 Starter Pack

Owning a bullpup shotgun like the EAA MKA 1923 is a big responsibility. Make sure you prepared with these key essentials.

• Gun Cleaning Kit: Otis All Caliber Elite Range Box on Amazon or build your own personalized cleaning kit with premium components.
• Shooting Glasses: All it takes is one piece of rogue hot brass, and you’ll learn the importance of shooting glasses. But not all glasses are built the same. See our recommendations for the Best Shooting Glasses.
• Hearing Protection: Firing a gun without wearing proper ear pro can be very dangerous and detrimental to your hearing. Find out the best hearing protection for you in our full length review.
• Storage: Check our our article on the Best Biometric Gun Safes
• Magazines: ProMag MKA 1923 10RD at Brownells
• Storage: Pelican 1750 Rifle Case on Amazon

With these out of the way, we can get down to business on outfitting your MKA 1923 with some awesome upgrades.

Best Accessories for the EAA MKA 1923

Thanks to the top mounted picatinny rail, you have some options for attachments and adding sites. Furthermore, there are a couple of other things you might want to consider if you were to add to you MKA if you were to pick one up:

EAA MKA 1923 Accessories

1. EOTECH HWS 512		Reliable & Durable Water Resistant	Check Price
2. Leupold DeltaPoint Pro		Lightweight aluminum housing Wide Field-of-view Auto-Brightness sensor	Check Price
3. Trijicon RMR RDS		3.25 MOA adjustable LED Eight different brightness settings Battery Conservation Mode	Check Amazon
4. Surefire X300U Weapon Light		1,000 lumens Attaches securely to both Universal and Picatinny CR123A Batteries	Check Amazon
5. Surefire M600U Weapon Light		Ultra-high-output LED generates 1,000 lumens TIR lens shapes versatile beam Scout light has a M75 Thumbscrew mount	Check Amazon

I personally like the EOTech HWS 512 when it comes to sights for a shotgun. I prefer their larger sight design and the ability to change intensity. It just feels right for shotguns. However, the Leupold DeltaPoint pro is another option – especially if size is important. The DeltaPoint Pro comes with a wide field of vision with classic red dot targeting. But what really does it is the Auto Brightness adjust tech and the Motion Sensor Activation.

Other Tactical Shotguns of its Class to Check Out

While the EAA MKA 1923 is a pretty solid choice as a bullpup shotty, I wouldn’t go as far as to say that it’s really the best in anything. One of those solid all-around guns but just make the top spot. Here are two other bullpup shotguns and a “breeching-style” shorty that you may prefer instead.

We personally prefer our bullpup shotguns to be semi-auto, but there’s plenty of you out there who’d disagree. And that’s quite OK. Luckily for you, the KelTec KSG can provide a quality pump action for you. It’s relatively lightweight, cheap, and reliable. And if you’re a KelTec fan, this is right up your alley…READ MORE

If you’re looking for the best bullpup shotgun, look no further than the IWI Tavor TS-12. Believe me when I say, this gun has no glaring weaknesses–save one. It feels great, shoots great, and has a serious ammo capacity. It’s that premium shotgun you wouldn’t mind bringing home to Mom. The only downside would be its premium cost…READ MORE

Although not a bullpup, this Bird’s Head Grip tactical shotgun is pretty sweet. And I know I just said I prefer semi-autos…but that’s for bullpups. This pump action is exactly what you need it to be for a shorty shotty. Plus, Mossberg did it right when it comes to the gun’s controls. They just feel natural. Definitely worth a look…READ MORE

How to Care for Your EAA MKA 1923

There aren’t too many good videos out there demonstrating how to really care for and breakdown an EAA MKA 1923. And that’s a shame because–frankly–it’s not the easiest gun to handle. Thankfully though, Gregory Dearth put together a nice video on how to disassemble one.

• GUN CLEANING KIT: Gloryfire Universal Cleaning Kit on Amazon

Important Links And Manuals For Your EAA MKA 1923

Need more info on the MKA 1923? Check out these resources–including the owner’s manual–to get a better sense of the weapon.

• EAA MKA 1923 Manual
• EAA MKA 1923
• Gun Test: EAA MKA 1923 Bullpup Shotgun
• EAA Showcases the MKA 1923