American Tactical Nomad: Unboxing

First In Series: ATI Nomad: Ordered

Previous In Series: Nomad Mock Unboxing ... Coming Soon

I picked up this shotgun from a local gun dealer several months ago, so this is a mock unboxing.

The ATI Nomad is an 18"-barreled, break-action, single-shot, folding shotgun. ATI lists it for $109.95 on their website. I got it for $99 out the door including taxes and shipping. The actual price I paid before the government bite and S&H was $83.

The Box

When I was at the gun counter getting my Nomad, I noticed that there was a hole in the side of the box, when the clerk took the gun out of the box to show me the shotgun. The hole was where the trigger could hit the box.

There was also interior damage to the box, but the box still protected the gun at those points. I'm surprised the box actually held together. I can visualize that the box was part of a pallet stacked 15 high with a variety of Nomads and was wrapped, dropped in a cargo container, trucked to a port, left Turkey on a container ship, trucked to American Tactical's home office in South Carolina, and then was recklessly shipped to my FFL. I'm surprised the box actually held together on the last leg of my gun's journey.

Internal box damage circled in red.

According to American Rifleman magazine, the Nomad is manufactured in Torun, Turkey for American Tactical.  I am assuming that Torun  Arms is the actually manufacturer, because it is the only shotgun manufacturer that I can find in that town.

Stuff

A manual, cable lock and instructions, and a ketchup-sized packet of Lucas Oil gun oil were included in the box.

Basic Operation

The trigger guard doubles as a sliding release that opens the action. The shotgun can be relatively easily opened one handed, but I am wary of closing it one handed by flinging it shut. Does it have an inertial hammer safety? Rebounding hammer? That's something to look into. There are no external safeties on the gun. I am also concerned about wear between the trigger guard and the screw that retains it, because the trigger guard slides back and forth.

Sliding action release and some very-early wear.

The Nomad folds neatly in half giving it a folded length of 20 3/4" and a depth of 7 1/4" from an overall length of 34 1/4". It is interesting to note that this shotgun can be folder a little more compactly (depth: 7"), but that pushes the trigger guard/action release to the rear. I wonder if that would weaken the release spring over time, if it is stored that way.

Folded Nomad with after-market shell carrier; slot for trigger guard in forestock.

Fit and Finish

The butt plate is held on with two screws and feels just about as hard as the synthetic. stock.

Things seem to go a little south when looking at the sling "swivels." The rear one is screwed directly into the plastic stock, and it's not straight. I didn't bother to tighten it in order to straighten it, because I don't know if I'll keep it, replace it, or just take it out. 

The front sling attachment can actually "swivel," but it doubles as the forward-stock screw, so I plan on leaving that one alone. It is also interesting to note that the rear sling attachment is plastic molded over a screw, while the forward one is all metal and does "swivel" back and forth, but that "swiveling" is really a loose screw.

Front sling attachment; front forestock removed.

The lettering and logo are nicely does, and the shotgun has been oiled. But there are a couple places of poor finish. The finish on the end of the barrel is worn, and the paint on the lower front edge of the trigger guard is chipped.

Ergonomics

Everything seems fine, but the cheek weld feels like a wooden sword against your fact, and it seems a little low.  I'll have a more detailed opinion after I take this Nomad to the range.

Accessories

You can easily fit some of the universal shotgun stuff to this gun, but I think the stock might be a little narrow to fit slip on butt pads. The receiver is drilled and tapped on both sides. It would be interesting to see what type of scope mount would fit the Nomad.

Overall

For a sale price of $83, my copy of the Nomad is one hell of a gun. But when I shoot it, it's probably gonna kick like a mule, because it only weighs 5 pounds. So I bought some lower-recoil 12 gauge ammo. I'm hoping the Nomad will hold up.

Specs

SKU: ATIG12NMD18

Action: single shot, single action, break action

Gauge: 12 (3" chamber)

Capacity: 1

Choke: fixed

Furniture: synthetic

Overall Length: 34 1/4"

Weight: 5 lbs

Folded Length: 20 3/4"

Folded Depth: 7 1/4"

MSRP: $109.95

NEXT: ATI Nomad Accessories