I picked up a ATR-100 in .270win, I decided to give it a try based on the good reviews I saw on this board and the write up in american rifleman. I got it a few days before deer season started, put on a scope ( simmons 4-12x40A.O.) did a quick bore sight. Took it to the range, with out even touching the dials it shot a nice MOA group about 1.5 inches high at 100 yards with win 130g cx-2's. Rem corlokt were about 1 inch low at the same range. I shot from a few diff ranges, it was a very easy rifle to get used too, trigger was great at first and only got better as i worked it in.
Well I dragged, droped, banged, bumped and hauled that rifle through the woods and brush for the whole season. I got my buck with a sweet 100 yard shot, it was running full throttle through a hedge row. it droped with a shot to the lungs right behind the sholder. I have to say that it has not had a single problem or issue. The "cheap, sprayed on looking" coating did not rub off as some predicted, it did not even scratch. The trigger is awsome, light crisp, smooth. I am supprised that such a cheap gun can be so great. i would recomend it to anyone. I have not heard of anyone else's reports about how well they held up in the hunting enviroment. courious to see how all the other ones worked.
The only reason I bought the gun was because of the fact that we were allowed to use rifles for the first time here in NY. I have a SMLE No.4 I sporterized when I was 13 ( my parents did not buy me $$$$$$ guns). I made it into an enforcer clone, and it looks pretty cool. Well i have always used 175g BTHP's, which shoot MOA but are not good for deer. I tried 150g ( win, fed, horn) factory loads and could not keep it in 6''. I did not have the time to cook up a handload, so I bought the Mossberg. The funny thing is, i sold another SMLE I had kicking around to a friend for $60 he went and bought 180g win's. I had never tried these becasue I thought that they were round nose like the 180 rems. and i considered them too heavy, but boy do they shoot out of my SMLE. I am glad that I never tried those 180's untill i had already bought the mossberg or else I would have never gone and bought a new gun. I guess I got lucky with my ignorance. I would recomend the ATR to anyone, great gun at a great price.
