Shot my Optima MP-A today

Woodbeef

Woodbeef

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
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In the Badlands of Alberta
Just picked up a MP-A off of the EE. I must say for the price I'm very impressed. Put a couple of hundred rounds of everything from low brass heavy game loads to 00 and slugs through her with no problems what so ever. Fit and finish is amazing at this price point,the fiber-optic ghost ring sights are great too.Would be very hard to beat this gun at twice or more the price. I did remove the extended mag tube though. Like the look of the original one better.
 
The more I hear about these shotguns, the more I'm convinced that they're good as anything not in the Benelli, Beretta or FN SLP class.

I'm going to wait for the sliding stock version, especially if it has multiple length adjustments, as seems to be the case from the pictures.
 
I LOVE my MP-A. I call it 'the Goat' because it will eat anything. I have yet to have a stoppage which pissed off my buddy with a Benelli M4. His $2400 shotgun could not cycle trap loads whereas my $400 gun never skipped a beat.

I have added an AR style forward grip for better muzzle control and a retina scorching LED light mounted on the top rail.

My MP-A is my go to home defence gun and is kept next to me while I sleep.(trigger locked of course)
 
How easy it is to load the magazine on these guns? That's one of the things that turned me away from getting a Benelli semi.
 
LOL! I would have phased my question better if I'd known it was going to be featured on a Youtube video.

Anyway, does the lifter of the Hatsan require as much force to depress and can it "bite" your thumb as easily as with the Benelli? Those are the biggest issues I had with the Benellis given that I always load with the gun shouldered.
 
870P said:
LOL! I would have phased my question better if I'd known it was going to be featured on a Youtube video.

Anyway, does the lifter of the Hatsan require as much force to depress and can it "bite" your thumb as easily as with the Benelli? Those are the biggest issues I had with the Benellis given that I always load with the gun shouldered.
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Imo shotguns are the hardest firearm to master. Reloading fast and smooth is as important as hitting the steel plate.

The MP-A requires more "force" to activate the double gate. Too much force will result in a jam or thumb bite.

Its a balancing act with lots of dexterity.

IMO it can bite much easier than the M4 when loading as fast as possible while a clock is running.

I load the MP-A different than I do with the M4 because of this.

Under normal conditions this is not an issue - its just under pressure during a timed run.

Practicing over and over the same reload motion helps prevent severe thumb bite.
 
whats your take on the trigger of this shotgun i have the mp pump model and the trigger pull is up at an angle rather than straight back is this normal in shotguns or an optima(hatsan) thing?
 
Thanks for the detailed replies!

With the Hatsan is it possible to press a horizonally oriented shell upwards and activate the release gate with the rim of the shell, or do you have to hit it nose first?
 
870P said:
Thanks for the detailed replies!

With the Hatsan is it possible to press a horizonally oriented shell upwards and activate the release gate with the rim of the shell, or do you have to hit it nose first?
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Yes hit the gate horizontal will open it the gate - complete follow thru motion afterwards is important or thumb bite and a shell jam will occur.

This is the difference with a standard gate, where as being a bit sloppy wont cause a jam or thumb bite.
 
dweenz said:
whats your take on the trigger of this shotgun i have the mp pump model and the trigger pull is up at an angle rather than straight back is this normal in shotguns or an optima(hatsan) thing?
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The semi MP-A has the same trigger pull action. I noted this on my first review with this shotgun.

The feel is very different from an 870 or any other shotgun for that matter. It took me a few boxes to adjust.

I understand however that older designed shotguns have this type of trigger so I just go with it.
 
sendmorebrains said:
Yes hit the gate horizontal will open it the gate - complete follow thru motion afterwards is important or thumb bite and a shell jam will occur.

This is the difference with a standard gate, where as being a bit sloppy wont cause a jam or thumb bite.
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I've gotten thumb bitten many a time with standard lifters, even including my 870's. Of course I'm usually getting them in there fairly quickly {.75-1 second a round} and am hindered a lot of hand soreness issues that can make fine control difficult at times.

Anyway I wonder if we'll see an aftermarket lifter setup equivalent to the Remington 1100 Easyloader for the Hatsan?
 
dweenz said:
whats your take on the trigger of this shotgun i have the mp pump model and the trigger pull is up at an angle rather than straight back is this normal in shotguns or an optima(hatsan) thing?
Click to expand...

I think it is a Hatsan thing. My MP-A's (love it) trigger is up and at an angle. Whereas the HP9 I own is straight back. Can't speak for any other brands/types.
 
As previously mentioned, some older model shotgun designs like the Winchester 1897, Model 12 and Browning Auto 5 have similarily upwards canting triggers, these work a little better with a conventional style stock than a pistol gripped stock like that of the MPA, but its not a big deal.

You don't hear a lot of complaints going the other way when you have a more rearward pulling triggered design like the 870 is being used with a conventional stock.
 
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