ATA?

[scobydog]

14 hours ago, Newbie to this said:

Have you had a look at the Bettinsoli range, I bought an Xtrail and can't knock it.

On my 2nd X trail, now a 20 bore, 1st was a 12 bore. Great shotguns at the price and very easy to handle. My friend has just got 1 as well after trying mine out on the corvids.  

Know a couple of lads that have ATAs and swear by them too. 

Personally I think everything at a similar price point is going to be of a similar quality,  so try lots before you make a decision. 

Good luck with your choice.  Scobydog 

[udderlyoffroad]

Coming up on 2 years of ownership of an ATA SP as my first shotgun.

It's been faultless.

At the time, all the usual suspects were saying getting a secondhand Silver Pigeon or Browning for similar money.  All I could find locally was secondhand ones starting at least £250 more.  I liked the way the Silver Pigeon handled, but the ATA was fine too.

Yes I've taken the hit on the depreciation (bought for less than £600, seen them shift for £450 when sold privately), but I don't actually intend to sell it.  It goes bang, and kills clays/quarry when pointed in the right place.  The other (shotgun) shooting I do is mostly rough shooting, where I'm using another Turkish gun, a Hatsan Escort.

I don't yet have that 'second gun' itch, even though I know a bit more about what I'm doing now than 2 years ago (although if you'd seen me shoot clays last Sunday...), and if anything it would be to upgrade the Escort, not the ATA.

I've shot some very nice guns, a Guerini, B725s, etc, in the ~£3k bracket.  Still no urge to save the pennies to get one.

So in short, the only reason I can think not to get one is if it doesn't fit you.  As suggested, go to a dealer with a ground and try a few.  Take your time.

[Fred Flintstone]

3 hours ago, johnphilip said:

Fred , is it the ally or mild steel action your looking at . My wife has had her ATA  for a long time now . At one time the main dealer for ATA arms was in Ireland . They were the main supplier.  If its the ally action you will need a light load as they do kick . My pals wife has one aswell . As they say a lot of gun for the money plenty of guarantee  , how much would you get on a secondhand one . The company  was good enough to make barrels for  Berretta . And have been on the go a long time the woods used on there stocks are amazing . 

thanks John... appreciate the heads up on the action. I’ll be sure to check on that. Agreed on the wood, definitely better on the Turkish guns.

 

2 hours ago, button said:

I was talking to my gunsmith who does not mince his words and he said he was very impressed with the quality of them at their price point 

Thanks For the info Button

1 hour ago, scobydog said:

On my 2nd X trail, now a 20 bore, 1st was a 12 bore. Great shotguns at the price and very easy to handle. My friend has just got 1 as well after trying mine out on the corvids.  

Know a couple of lads that have ATAs and swear by them too. 

Personally I think everything at a similar price point is going to be of a similar quality,  so try lots before you make a decision. 

Good luck with your choice.  Scobydog 

Scobydog - Not looked at Bettinsoli, I’m in a mind melt already! Thanks for the info re your pals ATAs.

[Fred Flintstone]

1 hour ago, udderlyoffroad said:

Coming up on 2 years of ownership of an ATA SP as my first shotgun.

It's been faultless.

At the time, all the usual suspects were saying getting a secondhand Silver Pigeon or Browning for similar money.  All I could find locally was secondhand ones starting at least £250 more.  I liked the way the Silver Pigeon handled, but the ATA was fine too.

Yes I've taken the hit on the depreciation (bought for less than £600, seen them shift for £450 when sold privately), but I don't actually intend to sell it.  It goes bang, and kills clays/quarry when pointed in the right place.  The other (shotgun) shooting I do is mostly rough shooting, where I'm using another Turkish gun, a Hatsan Escort.

I don't yet have that 'second gun' itch, even though I know a bit more about what I'm doing now than 2 years ago (although if you'd seen me shoot clays last Sunday...), and if anything it would be to upgrade the Escort, not the ATA.

I've shot some very nice guns, a Guerini, B725s, etc, in the ~£3k bracket.  Still no urge to save the pennies to get one.

So in short, the only reason I can think not to get one is if it doesn't fit you.  As suggested, go to a dealer with a ground and try a few.  Take your time.

Hi Udderly... your story sounds very much like my thinking!
I’d always keep the gun even if I did upgrade, simply as a spare, or something for a friend/family member to use if they want to come along and have a go.

how is the West Country? I’m often down that way... my wife comes from around that neck of the woods, so family visits etc.

 

[udderlyoffroad]

On 08/11/2020 at 13:39, Fred Flintstone said:

Hi Udderly... your story sounds very much like my thinking!
I’d always keep the gun even if I did upgrade, simply as a spare, or something for a friend/family member to use if they want to come along and have a go.

Not saying it's the right path.  If you're planning on spending the £800 or whatever the adjustable comb one is (yes get the adjustable comb version) and aren't worried about seeing much of that again, then do it.

Reality is, you've got the next 3.5 weeks to over-think this till the lockdown eases and you can go to places where you can try before you buy.

But again, I've yet to meet someone who actually regrets their purchase of an ATA.

On 08/11/2020 at 13:39, Fred Flintstone said:

how is the West Country? I’m often down that way... my wife comes from around that neck of the woods, so family visits etc.

Full of too many shooters chasing too few perms...   But we still point and gawk at those big metal birds in the sky, and marry our attractive cousins.

[Fred Flintstone]

Lol  ✈️ 🚁 ✈️

I do miss a pint or two down their with friends... 

[Wingman]

Just to add my two pence worth on this topic, my view is that the ATA's make some excellent guns for the money. You can search back on some of my older posts and will see of that I've been considering one the Supersport adjustable models for quite a while no and if it wasnt for a temporary move into rented accommodation while our new build is finished I would have one in my cabinet by now.  There is too much of this if its isnt Beretta, Miroku, Browning etc its carp but that just simply isnt true, my gunsmith rates them very highly for the build and overall quality. Like most on here I have made my fair share of purchases of the so called better makes and have ended up with a Perazzi that keeps cracking its forend, a Beretta 692 that failed to eject and Miroku MK70 that didnt fire the bottom barrel.  All had to be fixed at additional expense to me (apart from the 692 which GMK fixed for free as it was new).  So now as I find myself thinning out my collection what I am keeping are my old Auto-5's a nice Cogswell side by side and the Perazzi MX8 which annoys the hell out of me but I still like it and lastly my Benelli M2.  BUT I will get one of the Supersports at some point as I could do with a OU that may not carry a big brand name but does what it should.

[Fred Flintstone]

Thanks Wingman... seems the ATA is ‘holding its own’ amongst some, and at the price point, for a new gun, I’m more inclined to not worry too much about the odd dink, should it happen.

(Would cry if I dinked a perazzi!)

Edited November 9, 2020 by Fred Flintstone

[Taileron]

Just to thrown into the mix my experience of ATA. I purchased the junior stocked game variant for my wife as it seemed to represent excellent value for money. She loves it, it’s not missed a beat, so I picked one up as a rough gun as I didn’t want to bash my miroku based on the gun my wife had. I ordered a 30” laminate version, the first one arrived with a dink in the stock, the second arrived with a dented rib, the third was ok and it performs well. Unfortunately the safety started to play up so I took it back to my RFD who exchanged it for a new W&S 912b. It appears to me that if you can get hold of a good one they represent excellent value for money. The guarantee is 2 years, so you will have confidence there.

 The W&S is a different beast altogether, much higher build quality of the mechanical aspects but needs to have the stock properly treated from new, failure to do this and the first time it gets wet the finish turns to a dull washed out mess.

I have now given up on finding a good/cheap/new rough gun and am back to taking my chances with my MK70.

[udderlyoffroad]

37 minutes ago, Taileron said:

I have now given up on finding a good/cheap/new rough gun and am back to taking my chances with my MK70.

If it's a dedicated rough gun does it have to be new?  Could pick up a baikal or an old sxs for <£100?

[Fred Flintstone]

Thanks taileron... I must admit, it looks as though there is more chance of getting a bit of a rough ride with them... more than 1 or 2 tales of woe which I rather suspect are in much less quantity (in terms of ratio to physical numbers) with, say, a browning.

Damn... I’m on the roundabout again!!! My missus can pick shoes easier than this, and that IS saying something!!

[Scully]

A lad I know bought a W&S 912 which developed a fault beyond repair. He has a new one now and shoots very well with it; if it doesn’t develop a fault it will be the first one I have personal knowledge of which hasn't. 
I have no experience of ATA at all, but they seem a nice enough gun although they look too much like a Beretta for me to be interested. 
As for Baikel, they have their knockers as the Lada of shotguns, but the truth is far from it. They are and were designed as tough, practical and affordable workhorses, a role they fulfill better than any other shotgun I know. 
They attract scorn and derision  amongst many a shooting party, but not when a friend of mine is using his in a local syndicate.
He uses his skeet/skeet fixed choke OU Baikel to great effect on shoot days and puts more birds in the bag than any other two guns combined. 

 

[London Best]

21 minutes ago, Scully said:

As for Baikel, they have their knockers as the Lada of shotguns, but the truth is far from it. They are and were designed as tough, practical and affordable workhorses, a role they fulfill better than any other shotgun I know. 
They attract scorn and derision  amongst many a shooting party, but not when a friend of mine is using his in a local syndicate.
He uses his skeet/skeet fixed choke OU Baikel to great effect on shoot days and puts more birds in the bag than any other two guns combined. 

 

Possibly the finest shot I know will use nothing but a Baikal SxS.

It is still an insult to his intelligence.

[Scully]

18 minutes ago, London Best said:

Possibly the finest shot I know will use nothing but a Baikal SxS.

It is still an insult to his intelligence.

Why do you think it is an insult to his intelligence?

Despite having once owned a Baikel ou, I have no idea if they have any cast, but if so, and to rub a bit of salt in the wounded pride of others, he is left handed, and is out shooting them with a cack-handed gun! 😀

[London Best]

You misunderstood, Scully, I was not referring to your friend at all.

[Scully]

8 minutes ago, London Best said:

You misunderstood, Scully, I was not referring to your friend at all.

Sorry, I didn’t think you were referring to my friend, I was asking why you think it is an insult to the intelligence of the person you referred to. 

Edited November 9, 2020 by Scully

[London Best]

1 minute ago, Scully said:

Sorry, I didn’t think you were referring to my friend, I was asking why you think it is an insult to the intelligence of the person you referred to. 

He’s a bit ‘rustic’, but I still think he should know better. Just my sense of humour because I think they’re only good for hedge stakes. 

[Scully]

Ah, I see. Thanks

[Spectra76]

Mine arrived last week. First gun. Loved the look of it. Enjoyed testing it and glad I went for it. Will get a second gun next year  but for now can’t fault it

[alan123shooting]

I have had one for just over a year, I can’t fault it I have the elegance, it may look like a beretta, but it handles nothing like a beretta, the wood is super, you would pay treble for what I paid  on a gun. I have not regretted buying one 

[Taileron]

12 hours ago, udderlyoffroad said:

If it's a dedicated rough gun does it have to be new?  Could pick up a baikal or an old sxs for <£100?

Not for me unfortunately, I’m one of those individuals that have absolutely zero luck with anything 2nd hand (not much better with new) but I have a guarantee to fall back on.

[Taileron]

12 hours ago, Fred Flintstone said:

Thanks taileron... I must admit, it looks as though there is more chance of getting a bit of a rough ride with them... more than 1 or 2 tales of woe which I rather suspect are in much less quantity (in terms of ratio to physical numbers) with, say, a browning.

Damn... I’m on the roundabout again!!! My missus can pick shoes easier than this, and that IS saying something!!

I agree mate, but still worth a good look over. Like I said if you get a good one they are excellent, just I got a couple of lemons ( which could have been damaged in the proof house, not the factory)

Lincoln make a quality gun and are available new for £599 for the base model, for the same you can also get a higher grade 2nd hand. Don’t for one minute think more cash=a better built gun, it should but sometimes it doesn’t. Pre lockdown I was shooting at oak edge following a party where 1 individuals beretta had lost its hinge pin, all manufactures can make a lemon.

The Turks can make a quality product for virtually no money, just ask any Hassan pigeon shooter who has thrashed their gun and it still keeps going bang.

[Fred Flintstone]

8 hours ago, Spectra76 said:

Mine arrived last week. First gun. Loved the look of it. Enjoyed testing it and glad I went for it. Will get a second gun next year  but for now can’t fault it

Thanks for the info... happy shooting!

 

2 hours ago, alan123shooting said:

I have had one for just over a year, I can’t fault it I have the elegance, it may look like a beretta, but it handles nothing like a beretta, the wood is super, you would pay treble for what I paid  on a gun. I have not regretted buying one 

Don’t know about the handling yet, but agreed it certainly looks like a more expensive gun. Will have to try one out then decided! Appreciate your feedback on it. 👍

[alan123shooting]

You are most welcome 

[Demonic69]

I was just arranging to look at an adjustable laminate sporter, then lock-down hit. I'll be heading over as soon as we're able. The TGS review looked pretty positive