Rifleman Review: ATA Arms NEO Shotgun

by
posted on April 28, 2021
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
ATA Arms is a well-known manufacturer in Turkey, even if its name isn't as well-known in the U.S. market. The company's NEO shogun also borrows some features from another well-known brand. The ATA Arms NEO is a 12 ga. semi-automatic shotgun that is inertia-driven, meaning that there is no gas system as is the case with some other typical shotgun designs.

Shooting the ATA Arms NEO shotgun.
Shooting the ATA Arms NEO shotgun.

Instead, the NEO uses a Benelli-style lugged rotating bolt to delay the action, instead of a gas acting to unlock and drive the bolt. As the NEO lacks a gas system, only the magazine tube is located under the hand-guard. The barrel has an extension at the rear with both the locking surfaces for the bolt's locking lugs and a spring-loaded ejector built in.

A look at the dual locking-lug bolt on the ATA Arms NEO.
A look at the dual locking-lug bolt on the ATA Arms NEO.

The controls are similar to other popular semi-automatic shotguns on the market, with a charging handle for the bolt and a bolt-release button located on the right side of the receiver. Behind the trigger guard is a manual push-button safety, with a red indicator for the fire position. The ATA Arms NEO is chambered for both 2.75" and 3" shot shells.

A closer look at the trigger pack of the ATA Arms NEO.
A closer look at the trigger pack of the ATA Arms NEO.

The stock and hand-guard are both synthetic, and feature checkering for improved grip. A shim kit comes included with the NEO to allow the cast and drop of the stock to be fine-tuned. The butt itself has a rubber recoil pad that is not overly soft, with a heal plate at the top rear to prevent the pad from snagging the user's clothing. A finger groove is also molded into the front hand-guard.

The action of the ATA Arms NEO shotgun cycling a fresh shell.
The action of the ATA Arms NEO shotgun cycling a fresh shell.

The barrel comes with a red rider-optic bead as a front sight along with a wide target-style rib running along the top. The barrels are available in several different lengths including 24", 26", 30" and 32" and can accept common types of interchangeable choke tunes. It weights in a 6 lbs. 12 oz. unloaded, thanks in part to its lightweight receiver, which is machined from aluminum.    

To watch complete segments of past episodes of American Rifleman TV, go to
americanrifleman.org/artv. For all-new episodes of ARTV, tune in Wednesday nights to Outdoor Channel 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. EST.

Latest

Proof Research
Proof Research

The PROOF Research PXT: A New Approach to Barrel Rifling

PROOF Research has introduced PROOF eXponential Twist (PXT)—an advancement in rifling that improves durability, accuracy and shootability—to the commercial market.

Review: Springfield Armory Model 2020 Heatseeker

Back when American Rifleman reviewed Springfield's Model 2020 Waypoint, we noted that we ...couldn’t help but wonder if a tactical-version Model 2020 rifle might be a logical future offshoot of the Waypoint hunting rifle." With the Model 2020 Heatseeker, that version is finally here.

Marlin Goes Mad: The Marlin Mad Pig Customs Model 1894

Marlin’s latest Model 1894 lever-action rifle, a collaboration with Mad Pig Customs that is a far cry from traditional, delivers “modern, factory‑installed features previously found only on custom builds.”

I Have This Old Gun: The Southern Derringer

People carrying small firearms for personal protection is not a new concept, and in the middle of the 19th century, many pocket pistols were designed with self-defense in mind. One such gun, the Brown Manufacturing Southern Derringer, was among the earliest cartridge-firing self-defense guns.

The Jewish Community Is Embracing Our 2A Freedom

In this episode of the NRA’s The Armed Citizen Podcast, we interview Gayle Pearlstein, COO and co-founder of Lox & Loaded, a Jewish-owned and -operated gun club that now—after being launched only a year ago—has 50 chapters around the United States.

Affordable & Feature-Rich: The Springfield Armory Echelon Alpha 4.0C

Springfield Armory entered the world of modular, striker-fired handguns in 2023 with its Echelon line of pistols, and for 2026, Springfield is introducing an entry-level Echelon model with the Alpha 4.0C.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.