20-bore ATA Arms SP Elegant Gold Game £999

The Turkish manufacturer is ready to challenge Italian dominance with its mix of high quality and unbelievable value, says Matt Hunt

The quality of the wood is superb, with wax oil creating an excellent matt finish

The more conventional pommel is a major improvement to the length of the pistol grip on the 20-bore model

“ATA has disrupted the gun trade in a way not seen since AYA’S arrival in the 1950s”

Arms has disrupted the gun trade in a way not seen since AYA’S arrival on the UK scene in the late 1950s.

The latest addition to the ATA SP range of over-and-under shotguns is the 20-bore Elegant Game — a strikinglooking sideplate game gun. As with the rest of the ATA SP range, the style and design mirrors the Beretta 680 series. The lines, shapes and styling of this design are, I believe, among some of the most beautiful of all the overand-unders available.

The review gun was supplied with 30in barrels and a factory-fitted multichoke system. The choke tubes are a simple and lightweight design based on a Beretta Mobil system — five choke tubes are supplied. The profile of the barrels adequately allows for the multichoke system, but you notice the swell at the muzzle when the gun is mounted.

The barrels are of monobloc design with chrome-lined tubes. The build quality is very neat, although ATA

still feels the need to engrave over the external barrel joints. The top rib is a 6mm vented type, with a precise machine finish. The blacking of the barrels is a superb high gloss that gives a durable and traditional look.

Unfortunately, the barrel engraving of the maker’s name and ‘instructions for use’ is on the naive side, detracting from an otherwise stunning set of barrels. The gun has a 3in chamber and bears the fleurde-lys CIP proof stamp for use with high-performance steel. That said, in a gun weighing a little over 6lb, I can’t see high-performance steel being that comfortable to shoot in volume.

The action depth is perfect to allow an adequate gap for loading, and the sideplate is slim and of the appropriate length to give the gun the correct lines aesthetically.

Although striking, the engraving lacks a quality feel. The shaded scroll and gold-inlaid game scenes are a bit loud for my taste. A simpler pattern would enhance the quality look of the gun. The action is finished in a bright and polished coin style.

The stock measurements will suit most, with a length of pull of 14¾in and a fairly standard 1½in drop at comb and 2in drop at heel. Different length recoil pads are not currently supplied to adjust length, but I’m sure they will come.

There has been a great improvement to the length of the pistol grip on the 20-bore model and it now has a more conventional pommel, more suited to a game gun. The fore-end shape has a deep belly to allow for the catch, but other than that I like the length and shape. The wood

The engraving is striking, but the shaded scroll and gold-inlaid scenes may be too loud for some tastes when a simpler pattern would have enhanced the look